Injured from engine explosion

[02mx-5]

Everytime i ride my go kart i have it running all out for hours at a time. I always picture the piston or rod coming through the block and right into my seat, continuing into my back. Does anyone have any stories of this happening? Or statistics of how often a blown engine injures someone?

 

[freakboy]

if its a ohv the rod wont fly out and nail ur ***. it will go out twords the top were the gass tank is but go in a way that it goes AWAY from you.

 

[Rickracer]

The thing to worry about is a flywheel explosion,

 

[Russ2251]

The thing to worry about is a flywheel explosion,

Yeah right...

 

[freakboy]

only if you hit it with a hammer while its spinning 10k with holes drilled in em.

 

[brendonv]

stress less man. Highly unlikely it will happen. Unless u cut chunks out of the rod then put it back in of course.

 

[freakboy]

yeah i belive your valves will start to float thus maxes out under 5000

 

[jr dragster T]

Lol, I've never had that worry. If you build your own engine you trust your own work alot more. Only time I've ever been injured from a engine is like re-coils ripping out of my hands and sharp edges on gasket surfaces etc...

 

[EagleTalons]

Lol, I've never had that worry. If you build your own engine you trust your own work alot more. Only time I've ever been injured from a engine is like re-coils ripping out of my hands and sharp edges on gasket surfaces etc...

The recoil rip hurts like no other!

 

[Rickracer]

only if you hit it with a hammer while its spinning 10k with holes drilled in em.

Not true, there have been deaths caused by flywheel explosions, and it doesn't have to be 10,000 rpms either. Some flywheels will take a lot more rpms than others. My GX 240 will turn over 6000 rpms with a completely stock valvetrain and stock (jetted) carb. It's got raised compression, a header, high flow air filter, and advanced flywheel key, that's it. Unfortunately, they don't make a billet flywheel for these GX 240 motors, or I probably would have bought one. They are lighter, (good for quicker acceleration), and much safer than a cast aluminum or cast iron flywheel. If you build a motor capable of more than 5500 rpms, you should be thinking about a billet flywheel, 6500 or more, it should be on your want list, 8000 or more, better not run it hard without it. Don't say you weren't warned....

 

[Ec1564]

About 25-30 years ago or so, while mowing yards I had a flywheel explode! Lucky for me none of the shrapnel came my way! The whole top of the engine was totaly wipe out, starter case/blower shorud was full of holes. My old man was pissed as this was the 1st ever new mower he bought and was just outside the 90 day warranty...

Few weeks later while using ole trusty Sarlo with a Briggs 5hp horizontal shaft, had a rod come through the block!! Found a con rod nut cracked in half that caused the boom. Rotten luck had 20 yards to mow and now dead in the water till we got another engine for the Sarlo. By the way ole Sarlo is still running and mowing but does use oil now!

The above explosions were all stock engines running stock mowing RPMs. Things do happen.

 

[02mx-5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xGLj6CosdM This is one of the reasons i worry. Watch the video, about 20 seconds in he shows the hole in the side of the case. I can only imagine what it would feel like if it hit you. Im just worried because ive sexed the engine 2 times, opened it, broke it free and keep romping on it. Its helpd up amazingly well considering how i abuse it. I was just curious how often it happens. Ill enjoy my riding more now that i hear its not so common.