Hey everyone. I am new to the forum as well as go karts. I have been wanting to build a go kart or something to screw around on for a while now and figured I would get started on something as a project this summer. I am thinking either a regular go kart or a trike style cruiser with 1 wheel on the rear and 2 on the front. My girlfriends dad has a big garage with all sorts of scrap steal, welders, tools everything I need and he is willing to help me. He is very good at building things so I shouldn't have any problems. He also has some spare go kart frames laying behind the garage I could possibly use with tires and everything.
So today I went to my Girlfriends uncles and he does small engine repairs on the side. He had a pretty decent Honda gx160 5.5hp motor in a shed so I scooped it up for 100 bucks. It currently has a torque converter set up on it as well. It was sitting in his shed for around a year so we took it out gave it a few pulls and she started right up. After it ran for a bit it was starting no problem with 1 light pull and it runs pretty good.
Now if I was to do a trike style kart with 1 tire on the rear I am assuming I need to use a torque converter/chain drive set up. I was thinking of using a pocket bike rear wheel for this with its brake set up. But if I was to keep the torque converter I probably wouldn't be able to do this. The reason I am inquiring to you guys about this is because he told me to use my imagination and build whatever I want. Of course I could build a basic go kart, But I want 1 wheel in the rear with 2 up front.
I am not sure of the size of wheels, but more than likely normal go kart wheels with a pocket bike rear tire in the back as I want this to be relatively close to the ground. Also what kind of gearing would be best, I would like there to be some torque but reach a decent top speed as well. Any tips you guys have feel free to let me know.
So today I went to my Girlfriends uncles and he does small engine repairs on the side. He had a pretty decent Honda gx160 5.5hp motor in a shed so I scooped it up for 100 bucks. It currently has a torque converter set up on it as well. It was sitting in his shed for around a year so we took it out gave it a few pulls and she started right up. After it ran for a bit it was starting no problem with 1 light pull and it runs pretty good.
Now if I was to do a trike style kart with 1 tire on the rear I am assuming I need to use a torque converter/chain drive set up. I was thinking of using a pocket bike rear wheel for this with its brake set up. But if I was to keep the torque converter I probably wouldn't be able to do this. The reason I am inquiring to you guys about this is because he told me to use my imagination and build whatever I want. Of course I could build a basic go kart, But I want 1 wheel in the rear with 2 up front.
I am not sure of the size of wheels, but more than likely normal go kart wheels with a pocket bike rear tire in the back as I want this to be relatively close to the ground. Also what kind of gearing would be best, I would like there to be some torque but reach a decent top speed as well. Any tips you guys have feel free to let me know.
