Help with spacers/clutch Mounting

[Rwickham]

Hello. I am new to this world and picked up a kart for $75 from craigslist. It has a solid rear axle and was in overall decent shape. All I have added is an engine and it runs well.

I bought a predator 212 and it mounts nicely onto the exiting mount.

My question is two fold.

1. My clutch does not line up with the sprocket unless it is aligned as it shows in the picture below. To keep it in place I could use a spacer but not sure about this. Thoughts/suggestions are welcome.

2. I am hearing this build towards my older son who is 7 and will be his first go kart. I have s 12t max torque clutch and a 60 tooth sprocket. Unlimited it runs at around 32mph with me on it. I would like to slow that significantly. Limiting the throttle slightly will help but not enough. What is the best way to gear down/change the gearing. I am fully intent that he will burn through a clutch learning. Lol

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

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[MTNSleder]

Nice Rotaderp

Get a DIE grinder or a drill and ream out engine mount holes so you can twist the Rotaderp into the desired position...

You could also just drill bigger engine mount holes...

 

[anickode]

Better yet, if you have, or know someone who has a welder, cut the engine mount bracket off and weld it back on about a half inch to the left.

 

[mckutzy]

A non modification method, is move the sprocket to where it sits nicely. It looks like the brake drum is spaced off of the sprocket... You may have to put washers between them to get proper offset for both.

 

[itsid]

Or, excuse me if that sounds weird,
but what's wrong with getting some 3/4" ID tubing and just cut a matching spacer from that?

'sid

 

[Rwickham]

I think my best solution is going to be moving the engine mounts. Will do that this weekend. Thoughts on part 2 of my question as far as gearing down


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[ond]

Why not loosen up the rear sprocket hub and slide the whole sprocket inward ? Till lined up with the clutch driver ( sprocket ) .

 

[Rwickham]

Ond. That would work as well but how do I move the brake shoe as it is attached to the sprocket?? If moved onward the brake show would barely be contacting the surface


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[ond]

If the rear brake drum is bolted to the sprocket hub like the sprocket is then space out the drum with washers . Might have to get a little longer bolts to. JMO

---------- Post added at 09:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:11 PM ----------

A non modification method, is move the sprocket to where it sits nicely. It looks like the brake drum is spaced off of the sprocket... You may have to put washers between them to get proper offset for both.

.........................^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^..................

 

[mckutzy]

Get the shaft polished upon the outside of the hub... Undo the setscrews,lubricate well, wiggle, lightly tap, hit with a wood block what ever to make it budge over a short bit...


The 3rd pic, on the wheel end...it kinda looks like the hub might be welded to the shaft.... ?????

 

[Rwickham]

The rear brake and sprocket are separate. I took them apart. Are these bolts removable?? They don't seem to be. Lol

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[Hellion]

Those bolts in the hub are like they are on cars--studs. They should be press-fit. Not casually removable but they can come out with brute force...like a 1/2 ton shop press...

You can shim or put washers on the engine's PTO between the engine side and the clutch, provided of course that the clutch bushing and the bulk of the clutch body rides on a good portion of the PTO/driveshaft and isn't just dangling out there.

EDIT-- that is a nice shade of metallic blue. Did you do that yourself?

 

[Rwickham]

I am going to shim the drive clutch over as much as I can on the short bolts that are present. That should leave only a 1/4" gap on the PTO shaft.

Yes. The kart was some version of blue but we are reprinting it a metallic blue. Final coats coming tomorrow.


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[ezcome-ezgo]

Re: Question 2: Get a larger axle sprocket to reduce the top end speed. Don't attempt to reduce the throttle travel, because if the engine is not spinning fast enough to fully engage the clutch, you'll be back here wondering why all the smoke and why isn't your kart moving.

 

[Rwickham]

I figured a larger sprocket was in order with a slight limit on the top end of the rpms. What rpm fully engages the clutch??


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[ezcome-ezgo]

Depends on the clutch and how it is set up (springs, weights, etc.)

 

[Rwickham]

Is it viable to use the set screws with the clutch and drill a hole in the pto to set it into place??


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[ond]

Set screws will usually hold the clutch inline with out drilling in holes in your crankshaft.

 

[Rwickham]

I tried the set screw initially hence why I am here. Lol. They did not hold the clutch in place. I think spacers would work well too.


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[ond]

It would be nice if you could get your clutch all the way back on the shaft and use the threaded hole in the end of your crank and use a bolt and washer to hold it all on .

---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:53 PM ----------

Like this one . Sorry not a real good pic .