guys newbie here need your help...

[jowel_men]

I just wanna ask if i can make use of the grass cutter engine (weed eater) the small one that man carrying to build a go kart for my kid???

thanks a lot....

 

[Grimace]

Grass cutter? Is that a lawn mower (vertical shaft) or weed eater engine?

 

[jowel_men]

Grass cutter? Is that a lawn mower (vertical shaft) or weed eater engine?

Ah ok sorry its the weed eater....

 

[landuse]

A weedeater is a little small for a kart. Try and get a larger one if you can

 

[jowel_men]

A weedeater is a little small for a kart. Try and get a larger one if you can

What is the minimum horse power requirement of go cart even if its only for kids??


Thanks in advance....

 

[landuse]

i would say about 3.5hp. You could maybe get away with 2hp, but you will have to look at you gearing very carefully, and it will be real slow

 

[jowel_men]

i would say about 3.5hp. You could maybe get away with 2hp, but you will have to look at you gearing very carefully, and it will be real slow

Bro, any particular engine that you could recommend like brand like, or maybe a chainsaw engine if its ok, something like that...I would really appreciate if you can suggest one sir.

...more how about the clutch is it separate item or it is already fit on the engine itself??



Thanks

 

[fowler]

If its for your kids I'd say go bigger
Like 5 hp and detune it to be safe

Then u can make it faster when they grow up

As for brands
Briggs & Stratton
Honda
And if u are in aus or nz then victa

U can buy Chinese clones of these engines

But a second hand name brand is mostly better than a new clone

 

[jowel_men]

If its for your kids I'd say go bigger
Like 5 hp and detune it to be safe

Then u can make it faster when they grow up

As for brands
Briggs & Stratton
Honda
And if u are in aus or nz then victa

U can buy Chinese clones of these engines

But a second hand name brand is mostly better than a new clone

Thanks fowler,

by the way I'm from Philippines, I'd rather go for briggs and a lot of briggs here in our country....What about the clutches of these brigs engines?? Is there a built in clutch???

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Very rarely will you find an engine with a "built-in" clutch. Occasionally, you'll find an example that comes from the factory with a reduction gearbox installed- which sometimes contain a clutch. If you buy a used engine, you might get lucky and find one that has an external clutch already on it. Most likely, you will have to purchase one and install it yourself.

 

[Micketr]

I think if you just bought a 4 stroke small engine (like 4,5,6hp)and look at how to gear ratio works you will be fine.now you want to take into concideration of how much your son weighs.

 

[jowel_men]

I think if you just bought a 4 stroke small engine (like 4,5,6hp)and look at how to gear ratio works you will be fine.now you want to take into concideration of how much your son weighs.

How about using a chainsaw engine???is it plug and play? I mean is just to the gearing and install the engine? Am i right for this one???

Thanks

 

[r_chez_08]

Chainsaw would be a pain in the a$$. You can pick up a 4-8hp engine for $50-150 on craigslist.

 

[landuse]

A chainsaw engine would be too much trouble to set up, and the saw clutch would never hold up tn the stresses of karting. You would have to try figure out a way to atatch a sprocket as well. It is too much work if you dont know what you are doing

 

[jowel_men]

A chainsaw engine would be too much trouble to set up, and the saw clutch would never hold up tn the stresses of karting. You would have to try figure out a way to atatch a sprocket as well. It is too much work if you dont know what you are doing

oh ok...so if i buy a briggs with a 4-5hp how to couple it to the sprocket on the driven side? is it clutch + sprocket or plain sprocket?? because if plain sprocket, upon starting the engine it will rotate also the main drive shaft. am i right for this one guys?

Thanks

 

[r_chez_08]

What you need is either a centrifugal clutch or a torque converter. Here is an example setup-
5hp briggs, with a 12t #35 centrifugal clutch. When the engine is revved up to 2200rpm it looks like this animation-

This transfers power from the engine through the clutch to the rear sprocket on the axle or wheel.

 

[mysteryboy28]

very simply put: do NOT use a chain saw or weed eater motor. find yourself a nice used horizontal (side) shaft motor with a 3/4" straight shaft with a 5/16" tapped end (NOT a tapered shaft like found on a lot of generators). then purchase a centrifugal clutch to match (around $35 shipped online). you will probably have to do some hunting, since we don't know the availability of horizontal shaft motors where you are. 6.5hp would be the suggested minimum - you can gear it low for slow speed for now, then gear it higher as the kids get bigger. that way you don't have to purchase a bigger motor in future. some rototillers have similar motors. snowblower motors are manufactured for cold weather, and won't run as well in warm weather without modifying the carb with a different size main fuel jet (tube inside the fuel bowl inside the carb).

check below for the speed calculator to determine a good gear ratio:

http://www.diygokarts.com/speed-calculator.html

Harbor Freight Predator 212cc 6.5hp horizontal shaft motors go on sale all the time (in-store, and online)for $99-$119, and i'm sure they can ship them to you. there are coupons online that you can use for them too (just google Predator 212cc coupon). you would be VERY happy with that motor!