Hi!

[B.M.800]

15 year old here in PA, been wanting to have some sort of motorized thing for quite some time. I found DIY go karts some time ago, and just found the fourums here. I looked around some and found the people here to be helpfull

Ive never really worked around small motors much (cept for a mower) So i dont know too much. My best friend recently nabbed himself a kart, not sure what it is I just got a glimpse of it. I kinda figured i needed one too...

So, after discovering a honda gx200 we had lying around for a year or so, I fired it up today(im pretty excited bout that) but I have some questions about it.
Would it be able to climb a rather steep slope(driveway)
Would it be able to go fairly fast with about 2-300lbs of person?

Thanks!

 

[HellSpawn]

Welcome to the forums. Always nice to see younger people getting into the hobby.

As for your questions, Both are answered when you gear your kart. Making use of a TAV & Jackshaft setup will give you the ability to adjust your gear ratio fairly easily.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Welcome to the forums. Start up a thread under karting regarding what you have to work with on the kart, throw up some pictures and we can go from there.

 

[B.M.800]

Thanks guys!
As soon as I find out if I can get some material Ill be sure to make a topic about my kart. Untill then Ill probably be working on getting a decent frame design.

By the way, what is a TAV, and Jackshaft setup?

Thanks again

 

[lemegacool]

TAV mean torque-a-verter witch is a cvt (constantly variable transmission) in other words an automatic transmission...

jackshaft is an auxiliary drive shaft on witch you can change the sprockets fairly easily to adjust the gear ratio (usually you dont need a jackshaft when using a TAV)

 

[B.M.800]

Oh, I see, Thanks

I suppose those would cost alot?

 

[devino246]

jackshafts dont cost that much, like $25. TAVs are rather expensive

 

[freakboy]

what part of P.A. u from?

 

[B.M.800]

$25... I think I can handle that.

Outside of clearfield.

 

[B.M.800]

So, how exactly does a jackshaft work?

 

[devino246]

There arent really any workings to speak of. A chain runs from the clutch on the engine to a small sprocket on the jackshaft. Than another chain runs from a sprocket on the shaft to the axle sprocket. You dont really need one unless you need to change your gearing without making the axle sprocket bigger.

 

[B.M.800]

Ok cool. Now to change it, Im going to have to stop, offen the motor and then change? Or could I rig something up so it changes by pulling a lever or something?

Im planning on riding around on hills(all we got out in th sticks) some steep, some not so... there are old logging roads aswell.

Sorry ifn these questions are stupid, I dont know too much.

 

[devino246]

You cant "change gears" using a traditional jackshaft setup. You would have to stop, take off the chain and old sprocket, and put the new sprocket and chain on. It would probably take you like 10 mins. if you want variable gearing, get a TAV. There is a alternative "theory" that several people, including myself, have thought of using, but it would take alot fab work and problem solving. No one has tried it that ive seen.

 

[B.M.800]

So, to change it Ill need to have an axtra sproket with me?

What is this "theory"?

 

[devino246]

Its interessting really,

A-Engine PTO
B-Tensioner Slide
C-Jackshaft
D-Tensioner arm support
E-Tensioner
F-Return [to neutral] spring
G-Shift cable
H-2nd gear pulleys
I-1st gear pulleys

The tensioner arm is pulled down by pushing a pedal[clutch].
A shifter is moved up or down to slide the cable, in turn sliding the tensioner to the correct position.
The return spring is used to move the tensioner back to neutral.
the clutch pedal is released and the tensioner arms return with the use of a spring to tension the belt.

It takes a little imagination to see exactly how it would look. In theory it should work. Im gonna be trying this in the next month or 2.

 

[B.M.800]

Woah. So would something like how a bike changes gears work/ I know the bike system wouldnt hold up to the abuse, but a beefed up version would work?

 

[devino246]

Not really like a bike, because that relys on 1 chain and a derailer to switch between sprockets. This uses 2 belts and tensions the set of pulleys desired.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Any beefier than bike sprockets, and you most likely would not be able to switch gears, not to mention your chain would jump off like crazy, and your sprockets and chain would wear fast.

If you want multiple speeds, use a motorcycle/atv/dirtbike engine.

 

[B.M.800]

Not something as elaborate as bike, but similar? Maybe with just 2-3 speeds?

devino264, I hope your idea works, if i had the resources my buddy and I would try something like that...

Kaptain Cructch, I can understand that... So, the engines you suggested, do they have multiple speed setups on them? Ive never been around any of them.

Thanks

{EDIT} So, I know a riding mower rearend isnt the best choice for a kart. But we hav one sittin here, what could it handle?

 

[dcook3333]

I don't know that he originally meant to change gearing on the fly. Just that setting up a jackshaft would let you play around with the gear ratios to create more power (lower gearing) or more speed (higher gearing) depending on what you want it to do.

If you go with a TAV, it will give you a variable speed as you drive. It will start out with a low "gear", and then move higher as your engine speed picks up. Then you don't need multiple gears on a jackshaft setup.