Help Identify my new Kart

[Hellion]

Oh hush, JT.

And stop with this, “it has to be a Briggs and Stratton or nothing at all”. You really need to expand your horizons beyond this closed-mindedness of yours. A Briggs on his kart would be BLASPHEMY as well, since it’s not “correct”. SMH...

Let him run a Predator on it so he can enjoy the kart and preserve the other motor. No harm in that, right?

Whatever you can do Binger, make it bolt-on and not weld-on.

EDIT—but in the end it’s your kart and life is short.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

I was gonna suggest something more obscure and even OLDER, but probably too obscure and old for the OP's tastes(and probably too expensive). I just think any Honda type engine will look wonky on there.

 

[Hellion]

More obscure than Briggs and Stratton (let’s not forget our man Stratton)?? B&S is far, far from obscure, novel or rare. They’re as common as Chevy pickups.

And you’d look wonky on that kart.


Juuuusst kiddding.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

I didn't say flatheads are obscure.
I was thinking an old Westbend or McCulloch 2 sroke.

 

[Hellion]

Well, he can plonk down $750 for a new West Bend/United States Motor Power 820 engine and be retro with a nod to the past...

http://www.usmotorpower.com/820-engine2

Forged steel connecting rod....what a BEAST...

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

is right!!
8000 RPM stock!!!
10 HP stock!!!
And let's not forget the noise factor!

 

[Binger]

A vintage 2 stroke engine would be awesome! HOWEVER I don't have deep pockets and the $120 Harbor Freight special will push my 12 year old along perfectly. For some reason I don't like that swing mount that is set up on this Kart already. The current mount is bent and a bit mangled and I am going to replace it either with a new one or a plate mount. Did the Go-Kart brand have that swing mount originally? if so does anybody have a picture of the tab that would hold the mount in place? I know I can fab something up that will work but would like to keep it close to original style. We are not going to race this cart and our plans are to build it for some fun. Now if I found another cart to build I would eventually would like to restore it to original but that is not what I want to do immediately.

 

[itsid]

Yeah a westbend would be awesome..

IIRC there was a chap a few days ago trying to sell his...
(air motor though, so a bit of adaptation would be required)

But I have to agree that a OVH motor would look out of place on the kart IMHO..
many olden day yard karts came with Tec/Briggs/Kohler or similar flatheads in the 3-5hp range

So some of that should be less constraining to the trained eye
And sure, it's kind of annoying if one is constantly pointing at the 5hp Briggs flathead,
it's more annyoing to complain about that though
The motor is easily available easily maintainable and sometimes just makes up for a more period correct fit.

I think your Kohler looks nice, and I think I'd keep it if on the kart for now if possible..
if not a 30-40 dollar flathead shouldn't be too ahrd to find in good running condition.
(brand doesn't matter.. but most common are indeed the ones hellon doesn't want us to talk about any longer *giggle*)

Yes some GoKarts had the floating mount originally.
The locator wasnt much of a tab IIRC but a U bolt bracket thingy that clamped to the rail behind the seat.
that way you could easily relocate the mounting plate (left/center/right as you please) and shift it over in case you wanted to add a second engine (and plate).

but some karts indeed had tabs (Clark for example and IIRC most Rupps)

'sid