Front engine kart idea and q's

[iswim_reelyfast]

So my son is in love with his Lightning McQueen power wheels (cars movie) He has driven it into the ground twice now, once as the origional, and once as i fabbed it with a 20dollar hover round motor and batteries(go garage sale). Moving up again i am trying to find anyone who has done a front engine kart (still RWD) but with a long chain/jackshaft type setup. Maybe im asking too much of the idea but more ideas the merrier. I only have room for the engine up front where the battery once was. I will post some pics. Any help would be great, my real issue is steering around the engine while keeping the engine somewhat centered.

 

[EagleTalons]

Why does it have to be front wheel drive?

 

[lemegacool]

Why does it have to be front wheel drive?

he clearly stated rear wheel drive...

 

[EagleTalons]

I mean engine in the front. I was exhausted when I wrote that. :arf:

 

[lemegacool]

hmmm just a thought... you could use a clone engine of low hp and remove the fuel tank on top of it ( it would requires you to run a pulse fuel pump) but the engine could probably fit at the rear *with some light mods LOL*

 

[EagleTalons]

A power wheels with some power? Get a 2.5hp clone and do that. Run a small steel skeleton for the engine and power train... Would be pretty cool!

 

[bigfootrules31]

your legs would get nice and burnt with an engine in the frontal area.
the easiest way to amke it front engine, would mabye be an old push mower engine going to a ride on mower diff thing, with a big ol' belt to drive it

 

[sideways]

how old is he? And how fast do you want it to go? Because i was thinking, if hes only little then you could use a whiper snipper engine(thats what we call "weed wackers" in australia). You could have the motor mounted north-south style and have the flexible cord that goes in the shaft of the whiper snipper making a 90 degree turn so you can mount the sprocket. Less dangerous moving parts, fairly compact, not much power though.

Arnt those cars made of plastic though? It might melt from the heat? What about the tyres? Are they plastic as well? If they are fit real wheels and tyres, it will be a million times better.

Hayden

 

[Dougthewelder]

By vitamaxx at 2009-09-24

this might work ^_^

 

[iswim_reelyfast]

Thank you all for the input! i have drawn many of these trying to make some sense of what i could do.. I have an old briggs and thought it would be prime powerplant. As for the kid he's 5 and a shrimp. I may have to get a small engine maybe a 49cc pocket bike style, but wanted to go 4 stroke. 2 stroke is too much work some times. I have started building frame, it did have plastic tires but are now rubber. i used the hover round rims and the local harbor freight had some nice new tires for about a dollar each. The heat i was not so worried anout except the exhaust. Anyone know of a small bike engine 4 stroke? Like the pocket bikes?

 

[anderkart]

A super long chain like that is just asking for trouble at higher speeds, you might consider a belt drive with some extra idler pulleys located to act as guides. Either way I'd make sure the chain or belt was completly/strongly enclosed in a shroud to protect the rider.

 

[kitcarguy]

Well there are what I call "big boy" go karts...lol. I guess this might give you some inspiration. I bet you can do something like this on a small scale with a B&S Vtwin or smaller motor.

Looking at the drawing above why cant you just mount a motor in the same direction as in the photo I posted, get a clutch and fabricate a drive-shaft to attach to it to power the rear wheel?

 

[Tommy Boy]

Uhhh, like a riding mower?

 

[iswim_reelyfast]

As far as the long chain idea i plan to run a jackshaft behind the engine and a stiff tensioner on the rear to keep it from derailing, as well as a bit of angle iron so it is enclosed and will not get to him.. the speed factor, my son is only 5 now so i'll try not to let him go over 100 lol. He'll probly just cruise around nopi or some other car show as his toy, if you've ever toted a small child to such an event its not their favorite to walk around for hours. last year we had a 50cc quad but it has since been stolen. I like the driveline idea, i would need a rear diff for it. The whole car is about 4 ft long s i figure 2 ft of guarded chain is not too bad. i really appreciate the info and opinions. I will keep researching if everyone keeps the info coming!

 

[Dougthewelder]

i thought of a drive shaft design also! but i wanted to avoid having him buy a differential.

 

[kitcarguy]

cant you find a diff on an old scrap mower or something? I would be real concerned with that much chain being used.

 

[iswim_reelyfast]

found a suitable engine. The 5 hp briggs that was free will sit around for another project. The local harbor freight has a 2.5hp which is quite a bit smaller and is slanted design much like a dirtbike for $100. I think this will be chain driven like it or not, between 15" and 18" of chain with a tensioner in the rear if not two jackshafts(F&R). i dont see me finding an axle with diff that i can shorten to suit this project. I have 24" to work with in the rear and already have a short axle and a hub set. It will be a head turner. Since the movie was exaggerated(as cartoons are) i plan to make the car so. I have a set of golf cart tires on 8" rims that will be in the rear. :arf: I may be rediculous for doing this but it will be fun, and most of all he will love it. I will probably start posting as it progresses so you can see how it goes. consructive criticizm is the basis for improvement. Thanks!

 

[sideways]

you could do a driveshaft setup quite easily like this

with the driveshaft being driven like this

RAGBs(right angle gearbox) arent that hard or expensive to get, tons of industrial electric engines have them, usually with some sort of reduction, 1:1 ratio ones are quite rare. they ure usually about 10:1 or 20:1 ratio, which is alot but probably dont want him to be going very fast so one of these might be a good idea.

i know youv'e allready said that your probably going to use a chain but i just thought i would share my ideas

btw, sorry for my crappy drawings, im not very good at ms paint

Hayden

 

[iswim_reelyfast]

Where could I find one of these?

 

[iswim_reelyfast]

Only concern with the driveshaft idea now would be that ill have to turn engine sideways. The engine I found that will fit is a slanted cylinder. Don't think it will fit sideways. I still have the briggs though. It's the straight up and down design.

One other question, should I really need a pulse pump? I will put the tank behind him, but will still be at the same height if not higher than it is on the engine. I'm hoping gravity and vacuum works for me here. Ill try to get pics up tomorrow, I have started cutting a donor frame I acquired. The other frame I have would have had to modify it a lot.