easy go golf cart

[rocketkart]

i got a easy go golf cart that i want to put a 125 atv engine in and need some insight on the gearing of the trans. it has a 7/8 pto shaft that comes out of the trans. i know i need a sprocket but what size ? it a 2001 gas ds club car golf cart. thanks !!!

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Wait, is it an EzGo or a Club Car? These are different manufacturers. I am not familiar with gas differentials, but with 2 jackstands and a pair of vice grips, you can count the turns of shaft vs. 1 revolution of wheel. That would be your drive ratio from the shaft. Also, post some good pics of the input shaft, is it splined? How many splines?

 

[rocketkart]

sorry its a Club Car. it is a straight 7/8 shaft here are some pics. it takes 6 turns of the shaft for 1 full turn of the wheel.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

I have an electric diff in mine, not sure of the ratio, but my diff to engine ratio is just under 2:1. Engine is a predator 212, no mods. An ATV engine sounds like a fun project.

Do you know the sprocket diameter and wheel diameter of the donor ATV? Knowing what that original final ratio was will help figure out where you need to be. If that ratio was also 6:1 or thereabouts, then the ATV engine to Club Car diff could be 1:1.

 

[rocketkart]

no i dont have the atv just the engine. how fast is your kart ?

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

My golf cart maxes out at an astonishing 10mph. Due to it's weight and small engine, it is geared such that it will accelerate and can climb modest hills. Does your engine's transmission have reverse? Having a multi-geared transmission would be very cool on a golf cart.

Also, does the output shaft on your diff have a keyway or anyway to secure a sprocket to it?

 

[OzFab]

Does the engine include a gearbox or is it single gear drive?

 

[rocketkart]

this cart is a aluminum frame so its somewhat light. yes it has a keyway on the output shaft. the engine i have a 4 gears no reverse but it has reverse on the transmission diff.

 

[OzFab]

Hmm, your life just became a whole lot more difficult...

I'm assuming the stock kart didn't have multiple gears so, no shifter or clutch mechanisms, these will need to be added (not difficult, just a pita)...

Then you need to figure out the gear ratios so we can suggest the optimal ratio between the engine & the final drive input shaft...

Until you advise otherwise, for now, lets assume the tyres ar 18" & the engine has a max RPM around 7000...

Given those figures & the 6:1 diff ratio, with a 1:1 ratio between the engine & diff, in top gear @ WOT, that thing will do 60+mph & still spin the tyres in first gear...

 

[rocketkart]

thanks for the info. i see it all in my head the way it has to go in the kart but unly thing thats going to be a pita is im going to need a jack shaft as the input shaft is on one side and the drive sprocket is on the opposite side of wher the trans/diff shaft is. the tires are 18'' so good guess !!! i dont need to go that fast, i just want to have enough power to get going down the trails but dont wnat to go to slow ether.

 

[OzFab]

How difficult would it be to switch the trans/diff left to right? (see where I'm going?)

How much is "too slow"? Can you live with 40-50mph?

 

[rocketkart]

25 30 mph would be fine with me. i have looked at and the only thing i can see to do is use a jackshaft. will get more pics tomorrow. maybe youll see somethin i dont.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Another thing to consider is that the axle is suspended on leaf springs, so attaching the engine/jackshaft to the frame will cause problems with chain drives. I secured my engine to the axle and differential, so the whole unit is sprung weight. Much simpler that way.

 

[Denny]

Ok here's the biggie CC engines rotate in the opposite direction so that would mean reverse is now forward. That Kawasaki axle is the WEAKEST one ever put in any golfcart of any kind.

Denny