Has anyone here tried this or at least seen it?

[ididitlasterday]

I just bought my son a Carter kart frame so we can build it together. I came across a key start 7.5 HP engine on Amazon (chinesium) for 180ish with shipping. I then found the seemingly exact same setup from Ali Express for $103 with free shipping. I'm not sure if we can post links here. If it is allowed I'll post them. Just curious if anyone here has tried? Also thought someone here might need a motor cheap so I would share what I found. Amazon has batteries starting @$20 and a clutch kit for $20. That is an entire new drivetrain (minus the wheel and chain) for $143 plus tax and with electric start. What are y'all's thoughts? I can post the links but they are easy to find with Amazon or Google shopping.

 

[ididitlasterday]

Something else I want to add. The frame we bought has a rim/tire that looks like it came from a wheel barrow. I looked and the rims and tires for this this are prohibitively expensive, at least new. However harbor freight has hand truck tires with the rim that look exactly like what the original wheel on the other side looks like, same shaft size and same tire diameter. The whole assembly is only 22 and they keep them in stock. Has anyone here used them for their cart? I'm putting this together for a 9 year old so I'm not building it for any serious speed or off reading, just to teach my kid and have him enjoy a kart like I did when I was a kid.

 

[Master Hack]

A wise man once said " ya get what ya pay for"

 

[Denny]

No, Do not use Harbor Freight wheels of any kind!!!! Unless you want to kill or maim your kid!!! The centers will tear out of the rims or the vinyl tires will wear out in 15 minutes. As far as the engines go you pays your money and you takes your chances.

 

[Master Hack]

I have seen the HF Yak fiber tires go completely bald on asphalt in less than 30 minutes.

 

[panchothedog]

If REAL go kart wheels and tires are too expensive for you to spend on a kart for your own son, maybe you should re-think your plan. Perhaps a bicycle. That electric start Amazon engine will come with a wiring harness that is quite prone to failure. This forum is FULL of people having problems with the wiring on the
" modern electric start Chinese engine ". Go down to your local harbor freight store and buy a 212cc predator pull start lawnmower style engine for $150. That is if you can afford it. If you don't abuse it, it will last many years. Not trying to be a smart *** with you, but some basic things, especially when it comes to safety and children are not worth cutting corners.

 

[ididitlasterday]

That is why I'm here asking questions. He won't be riding on asphalt. And I'm kid of already in the situation seeing how there is a wheel barrow tire already on it. As far as the safety aspect, what kind of speed are we talking about, especially only on dirt/grass with a 212ish cc engine? My original plan was to get the predator 212 and still might when it is on sale closer to $100, I just thought it might be nice having Electric start.

 

[ididitlasterday]

Something else to consider, he won't be riding it alone, he is way too young to turn loose with it unsupervised.

 

[ididitlasterday]

Here it is before actually doing any thing to it.

 

[panchothedog]

I think the days of the $100 predator are long gone. I have purchased 6 in the past 4 years. Most recently $129 and that was on sale. It will be easier to mount on the kart as it resembles the original one. Electric start doesn't mean anything to me. ( to each his own ). Is the goofy wheel the left front? Hard to tell from your picture. Looks like the others are kart style. Can you get by with just buying one. Don't underestimate the learning curve of a 9 year old boy. FAST. My grandkids are from 10 to 19 years old. None of them ever drive unsupervised, but they all drive alone, and all my karts are 2 seater with roll cages, like yours. It helps having the 2nd seat for starting out. I have had them driving alone as young as 5
and no later then 9. A good safe place with no obstacles is important. Also set up
A simple 4 point. rectangular course. Don't just let them wander. Depending upon gear ratio your kart should be capable of 22 to 30 mph. It is possible to limit that.

 

[ididitlasterday]

I think the days of the $100 predator are long gone. I have purchased 6 in the past 4 years. Most recently $129 and that was on sale. It will be easier to mount on the kart as it resembles the original one. Electric start doesn't mean anything to me. ( to each his own ). Is the goofy wheel the left front? Hard to tell from your picture. Looks like the others are kart style. Can you get by with just buying one. Don't underestimate the learning curve of a 9 year old boy. FAST. My grandkids are from 10 to 19 years old. None of them ever drive unsupervised, but they all drive alone, and all my karts are 2 seater with roll cages, like yours. It helps having the 2nd seat for starting out. I have had them driving alone as young as 5
and no later then 9. A good safe place with no obstacles is important. Also set up
A simple 4 point. rectangular course. Don't just let them wander. Depending upon gear ratio your kart should be capable of 22 to 30 mph. It is possible to limit that.

Yes the left front is curved and ribbed contact area and the right side has a flat contact area similar to a lawn tractor tire. Something other posters seem to neglect to consider when saying don't buy the cheap Chinese motors is that the most of what harbor freight sells is cheap Chinese and that is totally ok. The thing I was asking was if anyone had any actual experience with that particular motor, positive or negative. I realize buying cheap could turn out to be a waste of money and possible headache, especially coming from Ali Express or wish type websites. I'm going to keep my eyes out for a used rim and tire that are actually for a kart, I just didn't want that to keep him from enjoying it in the mean time.

 

[panchothedog]

All engines today are made in China. Main difference between what you are interested in at Ali Express and the predator is the design. They don't look alike,
They don't mount the same way. The predator is a very simple industrial style engine. That is the good part. It's not trying to be anything more. The other, better known as a GY6, is a copy of a much more sofisticated motorcycle engine. All I am saying is many people are having trouble with them. Especially the wiring. Especially after they are a few months old. There is nothing wrong with flat lawn tractor type tires for a kart. All 4 of mine run that style on the front, on one, taller and wider in the rear. It is the rims that matter the most. Hand kart and wheel barrel rims won't cut it. If your front rims are solid steel with pressed in bearings, they are probably original to the kart. All of the parts ( rims, tires, and bearings ) can be purchased individually. The advantage of the predator KISS. When its filthy dirty, when it's sat outside for 4 months, when it hasn't been started in 6 months,
It will be the easier to get going. I have had one sit outside for over 2 years. Some fresh gas, a couple of shots of starting fluid in the air cleaner and 5 or 6 pulls later and the kart was ready to ride. If electric start is that important to you, then send them your money and wait for the mailman.

 

[Denny]

You have to remember if you read back through all the threads there is about a thousand years of experience here. I myself have 40 years of experience. We are here to pass on that knowledge. Our injuries, pain, suffering we try to save others from. During that time we have learned a few things, like what works and what doesn’t. The Gy6 type engines well they suck and are unreliable. I take some of that back, it’s the electrical system that mostly sucks on them. Nobody yet has figured out how to make them reliable for more than a few weeks or days at a time. However the industrial type engines are like an anvil. You can beat on them day after day and they come back for more. If you find an industrial engine with electric start, buy it and try it. Just know that hop up parts may not be available for it. As far as wheel rims go don’t mess around! They are designed for high side loads. Not like hand truck or wheel barrow rims. Gokart tires and tractor tires are designed are designed for higher speeds to not come apart. Hand truck and wheel barrow tires are NOT designed for any speed above walking! Now take this information and use it as you see fit. Good luck and please let us know how it works out for you and what you decide.

 

[Hellion]

Post links so we know which engines you are talking about. We allow links here.

If you watch your HF email coupons, a Hazard Fraught Rotaderp 212cc recently went down to $119.99 with coupon. The coupon didn't have the normal engine exclusions.

Buy Turf Saver "lawnmower tires" to replace the style of tires that are already on the kart. Go karts have been running on "lawnmower" tires since forever with nary a mishap. Shop around, they're not too terribly expensive but be aware the salad days of yore are over with. Everything is more expensive these days and vendors will mark their stuff up to squeeze as much dinero out of you as possible. Keep that in mind as you shop.

 

[bob58o]

Don’t believe the lies. Denny is 1000 years old.
Gokarting durning the black plague wearing armor, wielding a battle axe screaming “get off my lawn!”

If you read all the forum stuff and put it all together it’s like “Gokart ChatGTP.”
Denny might be a robot.

 

[Denny]

I’m too gassy to be a robot! Now get off my lawn you darn kids!

 

[ididitlasterday]

Post links so we know which engines you are talking about. We allow links here.

If you watch your HF email coupons, a Hazard Fraught Rotaderp 212cc recently went down to $119.99 with coupon. The coupon didn't have the normal engine exclusions.

Buy Turf Saver "lawnmower tires" to replace the style of tires that are already on the kart. Go karts have been running on "lawnmower" tires since forever with nary a mishap. Shop around, they're not too terribly expensive but be aware the salad days of yore are over with. Everything is more expensive these days and vendors will mark their stuff up to squeeze as much dinero out of you as possible. Keep that in mind as you shop.

The coupon your mentioned from hf is exactly what I was referring to.
Here is the Ali x link https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...b223e4&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

And here is the Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFRCHHGR/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_9?smid=A2YEEAM4UWRFTQ&psc=1

Exact same pics and specs. Amazon vendors just want a lot for shipping. As far as the wiring goes one of my hobbies is small electronics building and repairing. It is possible to give the wiring a once over and correct any obvious deficiencies before using, suck as bad solder joints, cheap terminals, bad routing, cheap wire. Even if the starting system doesn't hold up the thing should still pull start as long as it has spark. That is my thinking any way. Can it be any worse than the knock off Chinese carts and atv you buy from Walmart or the Internet?

 

[panchothedog]

Now that you have posted the link and pictures, that is not a Gy6 engine. That is an industrial style engine. Like what we have been trying to talk you into. Have never heard of that particuller brand, but you should be fine. Best of luck.

 

[Hellion]

The coupon your mentioned from hf is exactly what I was referring to.
Here is the Ali x link https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...b223e4&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

And here is the Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFRCHHGR/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_9?smid=A2YEEAM4UWRFTQ&psc=1

Exact same pics and specs. Amazon vendors just want a lot for shipping. As far as the wiring goes one of my hobbies is small electronics building and repairing. It is possible to give the wiring a once over and correct any obvious deficiencies before using, suck as bad solder joints, cheap terminals, bad routing, cheap wire. Even if the starting system doesn't hold up the thing should still pull start as long as it has spark. That is my thinking any way. Can it be any worse than the knock off Chinese carts and atv you buy from Walmart or the Internet?

That engine should be fine, it's probably made on the assembly line next door to where they build the Loncin/Lifan engines with the "Predator" badging. The fact that it is electric start is a major plus, especially at either of those prices.

These engines don't have wiring problems, not the problems of the GY6 engines. You'll be fine.

I'm a longtime customer of AliExpress but just electronics and gizmos, never a 40 lbs engine. Never had a problem except a vendor shorted me a piece. 10 piece item, but only 9 in the box. Refund was given immediately. The benefit of buying from Amazon is obvious; it's a US-based company with better buyer protections and possibly a warranty.

 

[Hellion]

What's the tire size for the factory-OEM tire (the "turf saver" tire on the front right)? It should be molded on the side of the tire. From that we can help you find a new rim and tire to replace the garbage tire/wheel on the driver side. I'm betting it's a 6 to 8 inch rim.

I checked Harbor Freight again. They still do not offer tire/wheel combinations suitable for anything powered by an engine so the fellas replying are still right. It's all for wheelbarrows, carts (not karts), dollys, hand trucks, etc.

That's a good old American-made go kart, treasure it.