guess what i got for $80

[ryanjblajda]

so i posted here forever ago that i wanted to build a gokart with a shopping cart bucket sort of theme. well, i moved and the shopping cart got thrown away, so that idea floundered.

The other day, someone decided a perfectly good radio flyer wagon was trash, and i saved it. it was just dirty and had a broken wheel. While cleaning it and breaking it down to parts, I had a great thought.

I SHOULD MAKE THIS INTO A GOKART.

So, i hopped on craigslist and whattaya know, someone is selling a gokart frame for $75 and a 5HP honda GC160 for $30. I managed to get the kart frame for $50 and didnt bother to bargain on the motor price as thats about as low as i think you could go. They are both now locked up outside my apartment and the motor is awaiting its transplantation onto the gokart frame.

The last few things i need to just get the kart running in general are a Clutch, an new Throttle Line a new drive chain or to get the one on the cart back in working order, and to air up the old mismatched wheels.

Once i get that running to be honest I will probably just drive the crap out of it, although the endgame is to hack up and modify the frame to turn the radio flyer wagon into a dumped, ratrod style gokart. but to be honest ill probably be too excited to be driving the gokart in the first place to follow through with that, so im not really sure what the endgame is at the moment other than getting the kart running and having some fun.

and i know threads are worthless without pictures so here it is.

 

[B.M.800]

Cool beans.

What kind of output shaft does the engine have? If its tapered you may have to get it machined or an adapter made... Looks like it was on a pressure washer? Lots of those have tapered shafts, however there are those that dont. I have a gx200 off a pressure washer that had a normal shaft.

 

[ryanjblajda]

its a gc160 engine its not tapered as far as i know.

 

[rocketkart]

usually any engine on a pressure washer that is under the 6hp thay will have a normal shaft. i have used the gc160 engines on gokarts befor and i find that the shaft its self is a lil short for the 3/4 clutch but work just fine for me.

 

[mckutzy]

If it not tapered and it is a bit short, one could put the clutch on a jackshaft to complete the drive line.

 

[rocketkart]

If it not tapered and it is a bit short, one could put the clutch on a jackshaft to complete the drive line.

not a bad idea but i just get one of these to avoid the jackshaft http://www.mfgsupply.com/gomini/gominiclutch/gominiclutchcent/gominiclutchcentmax/tcdrwshr.html

 

[mckutzy]

OK, what is that, like what does it do?

 

[rocketkart]

its pretty much a extension for the shaft. for what part of the clutch thats not on the shaft you can it this to extend the shaft. i have also have cut thim down some cus thay where to long.

 

[ryanjblajda]

i am planning on buying this clutch https://www.bmikarts.com/mobile/Hilliard-Extreme-Duty-34-Clutch-12T-35-_p_729.html

 

[rocketkart]

i am planning on buying this clutch https://www.bmikarts.com/mobile/Hilliard-Extreme-Duty-34-Clutch-12T-35-_p_729.html

or you can get this clutch and save a few bucks it just as good if not better but its up to you. i personally don't like the Hilliard clutches cus for some reason there clutch pads don't seem to have a good grip on the clutch drum as the Max Torque do. thay do seem to last longer thein the Max Torque clutches but take a bet longer to get up to speed with them cus thay seem to slip some. but thats just me. http://www.mfgsupply.com/gomini/gominiclutch/gominiclutchcent/gominiclutchcentmax/4-455.html

 

[Oxymoron]

The GC160 engines are kind of cool. I have two of them. Overhead cam design is neat, but the cover is almost impossible to get off without damaging it, because sealant is used rather than a gasket.

Anyhow, just be aware that you're going to have to reroute the exhaust when using it on a kart, or you'll barbecue your back. You can buy pre-made j-pipe headers, or make your own.

Such as...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoKeWxM9j40&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[ryanjblajda]

good to know, as i am not a fan of BBQ skin. also @rocketkart, i will definitely go with that one if it works better and is cheaper.

 

[rocketkart]

i use the Max Torque clutches on all my smaller engine and thay do a good job i have got a few Hilliard clutches and used them befor on my carts but reilly did not like them to much. as for the exhaust i also had to reroute them.

 

[ryanjblajda]

yeah i just encountered my first set of problems with this build.

1. Engine sits way too close to the seat. - burnt back

2. Seat is too far forward - legs are cramped

3. Pedals are way too close together. - feet are sitting uncomfortably

I am going to remedy these problems im basically going to move the seat into the center with one bucket seat, and move said bucket back about 5-6 inches so im not squished, and then move the steering wheel over. so ill need to reweld the steering wheel brackets, and get new links for the steering.

 

[rocketkart]

looks like you got alot of work to do thin but it all sounds like a fun. i see in the pic you still have the rubber tabs under the engine. be careful with thos tabs. thay are good for bringing down the vibrating on the engine but thay do tend to bind up the drive chain some.

 

[ryanjblajda]

good to know. as for the issues the biggest one is moving the steering column. i just need to reweld it on. the seat unbolts, and i can buy an exhaust to route heat away from the driver position.

 

[ryanjblajda]

do you gain any increase in hp that you will see/notice with a jpipe exhaust?

 

[OzFab]

Combined with a hi-flow air filter, there's a noticable improvement

 

[ryanjblajda]

sweet. first on my list of things is moving the steering and seat, then a clutch, which i will probably get after christmas, and then an exhaust/filter.

does anyone know any forum members that live in FL that have welders? cause im not sure how im going to move the steering without one.... and i cant exactly weld outside my apartment.

 

[OzFab]

There's a few members in FL, rocketkart for starters but, whether they're close enough to you to be helpful is another question