Home built Kart

[kartcrazy]

Just wanted to start a thread on a build it yourself Kart I am putting together from scratch. looking for more ideas on the plan. let me know what you guys think.

I have a brand new Lifan 200CC motor that I will be adapting to a custom frame. the motor is has a 5 speed manual transmission on it, so I guess the kart will be considered a shifter kart, quote me if i am wrong. I have decided that It will have a linkage attachment that runs up next to the seat, where from there, It will be connected to a slap shift set up. (with me so far?) I have decided that I am looking to build something more designed for street that i can mess around in and go real fast. (ive got dirt bikes for off road) I would like to set it up with some smaller street kart tires and have a low center of gravity on it, set up for torque and speed. At this point, I am still in the beginning stages of the karts design. anyone got any cool ideas for frame set up, steering linkage set up, tires, parts in general, mounting position for motor. would like to have an adjustable seat for multiple size riders.

Check out the motor that will be going onto the kart:

Let me know what you guys think so far. I also will be asking for some feedback on a good mig welder. thanks.

 

[newrider3]

For a shifter kart with smaller slicks, I think your best bet would be to start with a used race kart frame or even rolling chassis and go from there.

Alternatively, if you are completely set on building your own frame from scratch:
http://www.kartbuilding.net/racingkart/index.html

 

[mike75925]

with this engine, it would be technically a shifter, though i'd be willing to bet the 80cc shifters would beat it. this is a street engine that is for general purpose. in other words, low on power and torque. it would be good for almost any other kart, but not a racer, just my 2cents.

 

[Linksep]

I'm with newrider... Keep an eye on craigslist for a few weeks. You might find something like this: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/rvs/1604347816.html

I think that would be a great starting point, and it will save you a TON of time.

I'm interested to see what you come up with! I would love to have a shifter some day.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

with this engine, it would be technically a shifter, though i'd be willing to bet the 80cc shifters would beat it. this is a street engine that is for general purpose. in other words, low on power and torque. it would be good for almost any other kart, but not a racer, just my 2cents.

It will be no racing kart, but it will be a million times better than any 6.5 Clone kart.

 

[Redneck]

i got almost the same engine as you, but i have 150 cc!
shifter kart is great for quick accelerations! i´m currently building my kart from scratch as you are, and i have also an adjustable seat mechanism built from scratch! the differnse is that my kart is an offroad kart.

i would suggest that you build something simular to race kart chassis and maybe you can find a cheap chassi for sale that you could modify, but the fun thing is to build your own chassi, thats what i did!

the best thing with these engines are that they are relativly cheap, strong and that the have electric starters!
good luck with your build!

 

[SpyGuy]

Absolutely check out that link in Post #2 - complete downloadable plans for building.

As the other guys stated, keep looking around on your local craigslist - karts and minibikes pop up there all the time, and you might be just a few minutes away from a good score ......

 

[kartcrazy]

Thank you newrider3!

Wow! The racing kart plans are awesome! I think that this will be the route that I will go If i decide to build it from scratch. Ive got to decide to whether or not the pay off will be worth it if I invest the time and money into doing it myself, or getting a good kart to drop the motor in.

My next question after mike75925 said "though i'd be willing to bet the 80cc shifters would beat it."
Will horizontal mounted motor have more power than the 200cc? I also have access to a 140cc horizontal motor. would this be a better deal to put into this kart than the 200cc? let me know, I am a little interested in what you guys think will have the more power ( torque or top end?) etc. Thanks for the help, Think that this is going to turn out a little better with you guys helping me.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Wow! The racing kart plans are awesome! I think that this will be the route that I will go If i decide to build it from scratch. Ive got to decide to whether or not the pay off will be worth it if I invest the time and money into doing it myself, or getting a good kart to drop the motor in.

My next question after mike75925 said "though i'd be willing to bet the 80cc shifters would beat it."
Will horizontal mounted motor have more power than the 200cc? I also have access to a 140cc horizontal motor. would this be a better deal to put into this kart than the 200cc? let me know, I am a little interested in what you guys think will have the more power ( torque or top end?) etc. Thanks for the help, Think that this is going to turn out a little better with you guys helping me.

If your talking about a 140cc industrial engine, that will most definitely be 20x worse than the 200cc motorcycle engine. The 80cc shifter karts use very high performance motocross engines, those little cr80 engines can put out 20hp stock easily.

 

[newrider3]

The 200cc dirtbike engine you have now will be great. The same basic design was used in the old Honda 200cc ATCs, and those were plenty quick.

Just an FYI, cc measure has no real correlation to power. It only measures displacement. A 2 stroke will have more power than a 4 stroke of the same displacement, just the same as a motorcycle engine will have more power than an industrial/mower engine of the same displacement.

 

[kartcrazy]

140cc Lifan motor

This motor is a 140cc lifan motor. 1 down 3 up manual tranny.


specs:

Type: Single cylinder, 4-stroke, 2 valves, OHC racing head, oil cooled, 140cc
Bore x Stroke: 54.2mm x 57mm
Dimension: 17"X11"X9"
Valve Sizes: 27mm intake, 23mm exhaust
Displacement: 140cc
Compression Ratio: 9.47:1
Ignition: CDI, 12 volt, permanent magnetic stator
Maximum Power: 8.5 Kw DIN @ 9,500 rpm
Rated Power: 6.5 Kw @ 7,500 rpm
Torque: at least 8.8 Nm @ 5,500 rpm
Gears: 4-speed, manual clutch, START IN ANY GEAR! 1-N-2-3-4, 1 down 3 up.
Gear Ratios: 1st 2.833:1, 2nd 1.706:1, 3rd 1.238:1, 4th 0.958:1
Final Drive: 14 tooth #428 front sprocket
Lubrication: 1.1 liters, 5W/40 4-stroke motorcycle oil, pressure and splash
Fuel: Unleaded

 

[kartcrazy]

here it is...

 

[modelengineer]

They're made by the same company, the only difference is one is vertical and one is horizontal, and the capacity. The orientation is just for packaging. If a person is replacing a horizontal engine they use the horizontal lifan, and vice versa.

The 200cc will be better than the 140cc.

 

[SpyGuy]

Here's a suggestion for shifting: put your clutch on the shifter itself, trigger-style. Grab the shifter and depress the clutch, shove it in gear, release, and hammer it ... Makes for one less pedal.