I wish I knew

[CartMan007]

As I’m now one year into my first ever small engine project, I wish someone would’ve told me that every time I say “at least I won’t have to take the engine out again” that I would in fact probably end up taking the engine out again.

It’ll be worth it. My engine mounting job was terrible and between the engine jumping up and down and the FNR gearbox was lodged awkwardly in that mess which made doing even the simplest of test runs impossible with the chain slipping and clunking really bad.

Any tips for mounting 420 engine with a TC and FNR gearbox for a non-welder are appreciated.

 

[Hellion]

More photos please! I want to see more of what you have (surface wise) to mount it on.

 

[CartMan007]

This is what I’m working with. I’m also toying with changing the orientation of the FNR gearbox because it’s tight against the underhang of the engine. The “front” of the engine was mounted with the two holes in the tube bar. The back well, I tried to use a piece of metal to hold down the back almost like a brace but it failed.

 

[Denny]

Best advice find someone who can weld or learn yourself.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Those is just how custom fabrication goes. You create an idea and you learn from your mistakes.
Redesign stuff and try again.
We have all been there.

 

[CartMan007]

Best advice find someone who can weld or learn yourself.

if I could weld I’d be unstoppable

 

[Master Hack]

if I could weld I’d be unstoppable

Get a hot glue gun AKA wire feed or MIG welder. Little practice and who know what ya can make.

 

[panchothedog]

There's also places known as welding shops. Get everything lined up and sorted out before hand ( so you aren't wasting the guys time ) and you can get your money's worth. I don't weld, but have made several structural modifications on multiple karts. FWIW. A 420 cc engine weighs 80 lbs and puts out almost 20 lb ft of torque. You need a big thick steel mounting plate to bolt the engine to. From the looks of your pictures, it would not have held a poor running 212cc in place. Very Cheesy .

 

[Denny]

If you can write your name in cursive you can mig weld with a little practice on your own.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

You can get a brand new welder for $75 on sale at HF.

 

[Hellion]

if I could weld I’d be unstoppable

I bought one, a Flux 125 Titanium (on sale) from Hazard Fraught for future projects. The thing is, back in the day you either had to know someone who could teach you or you attended a trade school; either one took TIME and effort and shoe leather traveling about to and fro, but now the Information Superhighway can teach you a great many things FOR FREE as you sit on your duff eating Cheetos.

Thousands of how-to videos on U-Tub but the best ones, perhaps, are ones created by folks who are not welding snobs so you can begin with cheaper equipment and not feel shamed or whatever.

 

[Functional Artist]

if I could weld I’d be unstoppable

When I wanted to learn how to weld (~20 yrs ago) I went to the Library
...got a couple of books
...& read the crap out of them

Once I understood the concept "pretty well"
...I went to HF
...bought a flux-core wire welder
...& started tryin' ta do
...what they said ta do, in the book

Then, as a test (described in the book)
...when I first welded the (2) pieces of scrap steel together

I dropped it on the shop floor
...& the (2) pieces broke apart

So, I did a little re-reading
...& then, clamped 'em together, again
...& tried again

That time they stayed together
...as they were "as one"
&
NOW, I am unstoppable

 

[Hellion]

I looked at the extra photos and being only at an *intermediate skill level*, your engine plate needs some longitudinal and/or transverse structural ribbing for support, at least for my own personal comfort. But I do understand that more metal means more weight and we all have the tendency to build things like the Wright Brothers even here on Mother Earth.

if I could weld I’d be unstoppable

Now that is a wild boast, sir. If *I* could weld, I'd only be a speed bump... but the bestest speed bump you ever saw!

 

[CartMan007]

There's also places known as welding shops. Get everything lined up and sorted out before hand ( so you aren't wasting the guys time ) and you can get your money's worth. I don't weld, but have made several structural modifications on multiple karts. FWIW. A 420 cc engine weighs 80 lbs and puts out almost 20 lb ft of torque. You need a big thick steel mounting plate to bolt the engine to. From the looks of your pictures, it would not have held a poor running 212cc in place. Very Cheesy .

Thank you. This plate I got with the Vegas Carts kit. Looks like I'll get rid of it and start from scratch.

 

[CartMan007]

If you can write your name in cursive you can mig weld with a little practice on your own.

I like your confidence in me. I originally got a welder, watched a few video, never got an arc. After returning it, I learned the negative clamp was to complete the circuit not just to ground the machine But I was born in 1989 so i made the cutoff for being able to write in cursive.

 

[Hellion]

and being only at an *intermediate skill level*...

I meant *I* was an intermediate skill level guy, not you.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

I like your confidence in me. I originally got a welder, watched a few video, never got an arc. After returning it, I learned the negative clamp was to complete the circuit not just to ground the machine But I was born in 1989 so i made the cutoff for being able to write in cursive.

We had to watch a video in school that showed all kinds of welding injuries. Please be sure to study up on safety basics regarding welding. There are some things you would never think would be an issue, like no jewelry, but could easily kill you.

 

[Hellion]

 

[Denny]

Bet he ****e himself.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

That guy got smoked like a cheap cigar. I'm guessing that's in China somewhere.