Hi dad doing dad stuff here.

[Vash]

I didn't get to build one when i was a kid so now is the time to make a memory with my kids. I am in central Texas. Got a shifter cart for 225 and a 79 cc engine from a HF pressure washer. Just waiting on berrings and it's on.

 

[Denny]

Welcome! Make those memories! That 79cc might be a little small though.

 

[BaconBitRacing]

Hello and To the nut house! The 79cc may leave a little to be desired but some karts back in the day had 3.5-3hp engines.

 

[Vash]

Thanks. Even with lil kids?. I know my 200 plus lbs would choke that sucker out.

 

[Master Hack]

I don’t think anybody ever said they want less horsepower. But something ya hear almost daily, ” l need more power”. Fact is, there is no such thing as too much horespower. lf you find yourself to be the only person on the planet with too much, ya can always install a throttle limiter. Go big, you’ll never regret it.

 

[panchothedog]

Welcome to the forum. With all square tubing that frame looks like it could be heavy. Is that you or your Son in the corner of the picture. Can't see much, but it doesn't look like a 200lb. person. If that is the case, save that 79cc engine for some other use. Unless your Son is between 4 to 6 years old, he will become bored and disappointed with the poor performance in a matter of MINUTES.
I am not trying to be kocky or negative. I am trying to save you the time and labor of setting the kart up twice. I have 5 Grandchildren. 9, 12, 15, 16, 19. They have all been letting at least 3 years, the older ones more than 10years. I can't make them go fast enough. Two of my karts I have $1000 each in the predator engines. These things are putting 15 to 17 HP. All but the 9 year old just drives the f###ing wheels of of the things. Kids usually won't go faster than they feel
comfortable with, but the learning curve is UNGODLY quick.

 

[pearl111]

Welcome to DIY, and keep the pedal to the metal.

 

[panchothedog]

Hey Vash. Over on someone else's thread you posed a question about torque converters, sprocket teeth, and chain length, to which nobody has responded, so let me give it a shot. Torque converters are great for everything except level closed course racing, where your foot is in it 100% of the time. They are actually a transmission. Good for hill climbing, stop and start driving, or slow part throttle cruising. They are also very tunable. Chain length to the best of my knowledge has no bearing on speed or transfer of power. Sprocket tooth count is just final gear ratio. Lots of karts work well with a 10 tooth sprocket driving a
60 tooth sprocket on the axle. You can achieve more top speed by upping the
10, and or lowering the 60, at the cost of acceleration and eventually the small engines don't have enough torque to pull the gear. Same holds true in reverse.
Lower the 10 or up the 60 and the kart will accelerate stronger and climb hills better but will top out lower with the engine spinning as fast as it can. Hope this helps clear up your questions.

 

[BaconBitRacing]

Oval/flat pavement track= clutch

everything else = TC