Got a new kart need help

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so i traded a friend a motorcycle helmet and a riding jacket for his go kart. i picked it up this week end and he told me all it needed was a throttle cabel and tlc. so i got it home changed the oil, drained the gas changed the plug and replaced the pull string. then i riged the throttle cable for one run before i tore it down for restore. it ran for maybe 30 sec and then locked up. the pull string wont pull and the ouput shaft wont spin at all. the engine is a honda gs190. should i rebuild the engine or go with the 13hp clone. the kart is a off road kart with tc and live axle. what do you think would be best. rebuilding and moding the honda or buyinh the clone? Will add picks tonight thanks for any suggestions or ideas

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

It just locked up?...i'd check out whats wrong with it, get an est. on rebuild cost then go from there. If i were you i'd sell the TC and get a sled or MC engine.

 

[theo]

I agree with the Kaptain, that engine is to small for a off road anything.

theo

 

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what is a mc and if i did go one of those routes how much do you think it would cost. im on some what of a budget. Even past that when i say off road i just mean some light trails and dirt roads the kart isnt full suspension or anything like that i just want to be able to go through a little mud and maybe some small hills

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

MC stands for motorcycle, so a motorcycle engine.

Im not sure where you live, but here in vermont you can find running sled engines for under $150, and ones that need tinkering for under $75. Motorcycle engines can also be found for under $150, although running ones for under $150 are harder to find. Just yesterday i saw a 78 panther 440 that needed the points replaced, for $50, whole sled was in decent shape.

If you have a little time, a welder, and some basic fabrication skills then go for it, if not just get the 11hp clone.

 

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yeah i have the time and know how but no welder and i dont think i will be able to find a sled engine in texas. ive done a little looking for motorcycle engine a couple months ago for another project i had and couldnt fine anything under about 400.00 unless it needed major repairs so i think the clone would be the route to take any suggestions to improve the engine or the kart i havent seen to many mod the larger clones

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

yeah i have the time and know how but no welder and i dont think i will be able to find a sled engine in texas. ive done a little looking for motorcycle engine a couple months ago for another project i had and couldnt fine anything under about 400.00 unless it needed major repairs so i think the clone would be the route to take any suggestions to improve the engine or the kart i havent seen to many mod the larger clones

what size is the kart? a picture would help. If its not a huge kart theres probably no need to really mod the engine at all. My suggestion is, run it stock then decide if you want more.

Another problem i see if that your 5hp TC probably wont fit on an 11hp engine.

 

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the honda that is on there now is a 6.5 but i just looked at some comet tc and im pretty sure that i have the 40 series on the kart that can handle the larger engine. i dont know if it will fit or not but thats just what i read on northern. i will post a pic tonight but it is a large kart and im a big guy. its a one seater but im 6' and i fit fine if that helps at all. must karts i have no chance with me in them.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

the honda that is on there now is a 6.5 but i just looked at some comet tc and im pretty sure that i have the 40 series on the kart that can handle the larger engine. i dont know if it will fit or not but thats just what i read on northern. i will post a pic tonight but it is a large kart and im a big guy. its a one seater but im 6' and i fit fine if that helps at all. must karts i have no chance with me in them.

An 11hp clone will have a 1" shaft, your 6.5 has a 3/4" shaft.

 

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Gotta cha would i be able to bore out the tc or no

 

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Gotta cha would i be able to bore out the tc or no. im guessing it would be a better idea just to stick with the 6.5 clone and mod it for more power.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Gotta cha would i be able to bore out the tc or no. im guessing it would be a better idea just to stick with the 6.5 clone and mod it for more power.

Here i go again...

If you spend the money to mod the clone to the point of a decent offroad engine, you will have enough $$ to buy a MC engine. The TC alone will sell for 150, then you can part out the engine, and then it will only cost you about $100 for the MC engine.

The power and speed of a bike engine is unmatched. A 500cc cruiser engine will get you going 70mph easily, and still be able to climb a wall, vs your modded clone which could probably get you 50 on flats, and have a little climbing power, but not much.

Thats just my 2 cents.

 

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ok so im hard headed im sorry so if i do find the mc and sell everthing esle how much fab is gonna need to be done to make the mc work. how much of the bike do i need. the motor,trans, wiring harness just a full wrecked bike or what. once i do get the mc how do you mount it on a kart as far as chain the trans. any pics or websites would be help full

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

ok so im hard headed im sorry so if i do find the mc and sell everthing esle how much fab is gonna need to be done to make the mc work. how much of the bike do i need. the motor,trans, wiring harness just a full wrecked bike or what. once i do get the mc how do you mount it on a kart as far as chain the trans. any pics or websites would be help full

Well the pics from my kart build are all gone, and the kart is also gone. But i did use a MC engine, the main thing you need is the engine (combined with tranny, all one piece), the wiring harness, you can make your own exhaust or just use the one it has, and if its liquid cooled you need the radiator.

The fab work isnt hard, i made my engine mounts out of angle iron, and some flat stock steel (got it all for free from my local metal suppliers dump bin). It really wasnt hard at all, im 15 and it took me about 1 hour to plan, and make the mounts with limited tools, and no drill press.

The axle setup is very straight forward, just run the chain and either mount the sprocket that came with the MC on your axle (may require fab work) or just buy a sprocket for $15-$20 on ebay meant for shifter karts.

 

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alright so ill start looking for an mc what about brakes right now i have one mechnical caliber on the rear axle going that fast i should upgraded id think? Also here are the pics of the project. i think i got a pretty good deal even though its a little rough. Do you think i could sell the tc not sure what brand it is, or the engine? Also have 5 hp fun power b&s no running what do think it would be worth. Thanks again for all the help. Any suggestions as far as what type of mc to look for does it matter.

 

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Sorry Here They Are

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

alright so ill start looking for an mc what about brakes right now i have one mechnical caliber on the rear axle going that fast i should upgraded id think? Also here are the pics of the project. i think i got a pretty good deal even though its a little rough. Do you think i could sell the tc not sure what brand it is, or the engine? Also have 5 hp fun power b&s no running what do think it would be worth. Thanks again for all the help. Any suggestions as far as what type of mc to look for does it matter.

Brakes should be fine, but if you want to upgrade just use the caliper from the motorcycle, and your disc, that will work good.

You can definitely sell your TC, try going on ebay. and as for the engine, part it out thats your best bet.

For a motorcycle it doesnt matter all that much, i like suzuki's myself but as long as its in decent cond. then it wont matter. I'd say around 500cc would be a little bit too much, but i like overpowered toys, so thats up to you. I'd also have to see your kart to really say if 500 would be too big.

 

[anderkart]

changed the oil, drained the gas changed the plug and replaced the pull string

I'm all for bigger more powerful engine swaps too, but if you wanna try fixing yours for free:

(you did put oil back in it right???)

Its probably a long shot, but just for giggles you might try pulling that recoil/side cover off and see if the engine turns over. Maybe the recoil somehow developed a problem thats locking up the engine...

Also try pulling your spark plug out to see what it looks like. (was your new spark plug a longer reach type by any chance?)

If everything looks good, pour/squirt some type of oil in the spark plug hole, (Marvell Mystery oil might be best) and try to completely cover the piston in oil. Let it sit overnight to work down around the cylinder and then try turning it over again. If its still locked up try to break it loose by firmly turning the flywheel itself in both directions. You never know, you might be able to get it going again.

 

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yeah i did put oil back in it and looked in the spark plug hole and there isnt much to see you can see the top of the piston but no damaged areas. ill pull the recoil to night and see if any thing happened i did try to turn the output shaft and it didnt move. ive heard to try the marvel mystery oil and let it soak so ill give that a go none of the other stuff helps. either way if it runs or not i was planning on going bigger so if it does run ill probably sell it thanks for all the help and ill let you know if anything worked

 

[BradenM]

If you didn't want to use a MC engine, I'd say that a TC and a clone would do exactly what you want to do.

Of course the MC is better and will do it all faster.