First build, dont roast me too bad.

[jeffstuart92]

Ok guys, I've done lots of research and quite frankly everything is a bit overwhelming. As I sorta stated me and my father are building our first go kart. It's mainly gonna be a yard kart or something we can take with us to have fun. I'm trying to determine, clutch, sprocket, and chain. That's the first and main obstacle we need to accomplish. We are gonna get a 212 predator to start. What's the difference between the amount of teeth on the clutch. Is more better? Less better? We will sacrafice top end speed for torque all day, but we also dont wanna take off too much to still have fun. We want something peppy and have plans on building the 212 or even upgrading to something bigger down the road, we just wanna have a good starting point to get familiar. But basically I've figured for example on our 12" tires with the max rpm 3800 212, with a 10(t) clutch and a 70 sprocket we achieve 7:1. Is that ok? Should we go bigger on clutch, should we just go TC? Then the question of what chain to put it on. It's all sooo much and any help would be appreciated! Thank you so much!

 

[Nosandwich]

Easy peasy. Get a 12t #35 chain centrifugal clutch online for @ $20. Then get a 72 tooth axle sprocket for a #35 chain. Then a #35 chain (10' sections are about $20 at places like Tractor Supply Co.)

 

[Tpdingo]

6:1 is plenty, 7:1 will give a bit more acceleration but less top speed. Nosandwich's ratio will give you a fine ride. If you are building it from scratch and using a clutch, I'd recommend putting a jackshaft. If you want torque, you will be quite limited by the size of the rear tires. You couldn't do more than 7:1 with your setup but a jackshaft, you could do 10:1 or higher. I can tell you that a T/C would probably be really nice but is definitely more expensive than a clutch. Your pick. I'd go with a clutch on your first kart.

 

[Nosandwich]

No need for jackshaft, crazy ratios, or a CVT, unless the kart weighs 600 lbs. 12" tires are normal fun kart fodder, and a 212 with 6:1 will be just fine.

 

[Tpdingo]

Yeah I guess its overkill.

Anyway, you can use gokartguru's go kart calculator and play with the number to see what you can and can't get away with.

http://gokartguru.com/images/Go_Kart_Drive_Line.htm

 

[jeffstuart92]

Thanks guys! Helped me clear some things up!

 

[gr8hairy1]

Yeah I guess its overkill.

Anyway, you can use gokartguru's go kart calculator and play with the number to see what you can and can't get away with.

http://gokartguru.com/images/Go_Kart_Drive_Line.htm

I haven't seen that website before. But I'm not sure of it's answers. When I put in info about my kart, it says it's underpowered AND smoking the clutch. I'm guessing it's trying to calculate the clutch only as a centrifugal clutch?

Not sure about under powered either. 13hp on a 7.3:1 ratio drives fast and does pretty good at climbing, even though my kart weighs 600lbs.

 

[landuse]

Nosandwich's advice is good. If you want a TC you could do that too