FNG from Louisiana

[jdkno]

While trying to find info on building a go kart I stumbled upon this site. After 4 hours of reading I figured I might as well join up.

I am trying to get a headstart on building a kart for my son(he is 20 months right now).

So far all I have is the engine. I have a Honda 13hp and a Honda 10hp, not really sure which I want to use but with the thinking that more is better I will probably try to use the 13hp.

 

[mike75925]

you will have to govern way down on either. the motor's gonna be bigger than his seat, and weigh more too. some guys will take a power wheels vehicle, make a frame and rig it up. not an altogether bad idea

 

[anderkart]

Hey welcome to DIY jdkno, I'd probably go with the 13hp too.

Hey is your 10hp Honda an old G400 flathead like this:

 

[jdkno]

Mike, why would I need to govern? Would it just be because I am letting my son drive it? I was planning on putting a govoner on the gas pedal that way when I drive it I can open it up. I am building it for him but until he is big enough its daddys toy.

Anderkart, no my 10 is not like that. I looked the motors over yesterday evening and they are both GX motors. The 13hp is a GX390 and I can't remember what the 10 said. Rather than the GX on the pull cover they say 13hp and 10hp. They came off of commercial 5000psi pressure washers.

 

[anderkart]

Wow, I've never heard of a 10hp GX-series engine. I know they make the 9hp/GX270 and the 11hp/GX340 but I've never ran across one inbetween. (I wonder if its a GC series?) If you get a chance, post a pic of your 10hp.

 

[jdkno]

Wow, I've never heard of a 10hp GX-series engine. I know they make the 9hp/GX270 and the 11hp/GX340 but I've never ran across one inbetween. (I wonder if its a GC series?) If you get a chance, post a pic of your 10hp.

You could very well be right about the 10. I am assuming it was a GX because on the outside it looks exactly like the GX390. I looked online at Honda's website at the GC series and it def. is not one of thoes as it looks exactly like the GX390.

I will get pictures of both on Monday as I have them stored at my warehouse right now. That 10 might just be an 11 and I misread the label. The 10 is on the floor behind a few other things so I was about 10' or so away trying to read the numbers. The 390 is up on one of the work benches as I was starting to go through it to make sure it is still running ok.

 

[jdkno]

Andercart you were correct it was an 11hp.

They are a little dusty and dirty but they both should run with a quick tune up.

Here is the GX 390

And the GX 340

 

[anderkart]

Sweet, both those engines share the same motor mount patern plus the carbs/pipes would interchange so your 340 will make a good backup to have around, unless of course you deside to build a second kart... (or maybe even a dual engine kart)

Hopefully they both have standard (non-tapered) output shafts with a threaded hole at the end, 1/4" keyway slot and remain a 1" diamitor to the outer end like the pic in this link: http://www.colinjamespoulter.co.uk/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_105267/New~engine~for~kart.jpg

Tapered pto shafts that get smaller at the end like this pic are much more difficult to instal a clutch: http://www.tamarisktechnicals.co.uk/images/kart/engine1.jpg

 

[jdkno]

Wish I would have thought to check the shaft yesterday evening.

I know the ends of the shaft is threaded and that they do have what looks like, without measuring, a 1/4" keyway on them.