ezreub
New member
Hi,
I recently completed my first go-kart with my sons--it took us six weeks, and I learned a lot. But nothing has been so difficult as sorting out how to attach a chain guard. We have a Predator 2 that has four mounting holes in a square around the shaft, but once I've mounted the centrifugal clutch, they're covered, so there's no access (see the first picture below). Since most chain guards cover the mounting bolt for the clutch, that means that I can't put the guard on first (because then I can't put the clutch on) and I can't put the clutch on first (because then I can't access the chain guard bolts.
Picture One: http://i68.tinypic.com/1z4wf46.jpg
There is a chain guard that has a bracket that I could put on first, and then put on the clutch, and then put on the actual chain guard.
This is the chain guard:
https://www.ombwarehouse.com/reproduction-alexander-reynolds-arco-chain-clutch-cover-short.html
The problem with this is that even if I use button head allen bolts with low profiles, they hit the clutch because there's almost no room between the clutch and the engine when I slide the clutch all the way on (see the second photo to see how little space there is between the mounted clutch and the engine). I assume that having the clutch (which I mount with the sprocket side out since that's how I understand it should be mounted) pushed up against those bolts isn't a good idea. So I'm stuck.
Picture 2: http://i68.tinypic.com/2eq5ap1.jpg
My only thought is to a) weld something a guard to the go kart frame and bypass the whole engine mounting issue, or b) to use the bolts that hold the Predator together (see the top two visible bolts on the first picture) and run those through a mounting bracket and then back into the engine but I don't know if that's okay to be messing around with those bolts. It also occurred to me that I could put some kind of spacer between the engine and the clutch, but I don't know if that's a good idea.
Anyway, I figure someone here has dealt with this before and can solve this problem so I can get on to my next project. Please let me know.
Thanks!
I recently completed my first go-kart with my sons--it took us six weeks, and I learned a lot. But nothing has been so difficult as sorting out how to attach a chain guard. We have a Predator 2 that has four mounting holes in a square around the shaft, but once I've mounted the centrifugal clutch, they're covered, so there's no access (see the first picture below). Since most chain guards cover the mounting bolt for the clutch, that means that I can't put the guard on first (because then I can't put the clutch on) and I can't put the clutch on first (because then I can't access the chain guard bolts.
Picture One: http://i68.tinypic.com/1z4wf46.jpg
There is a chain guard that has a bracket that I could put on first, and then put on the clutch, and then put on the actual chain guard.
This is the chain guard:
https://www.ombwarehouse.com/reproduction-alexander-reynolds-arco-chain-clutch-cover-short.html
The problem with this is that even if I use button head allen bolts with low profiles, they hit the clutch because there's almost no room between the clutch and the engine when I slide the clutch all the way on (see the second photo to see how little space there is between the mounted clutch and the engine). I assume that having the clutch (which I mount with the sprocket side out since that's how I understand it should be mounted) pushed up against those bolts isn't a good idea. So I'm stuck.
Picture 2: http://i68.tinypic.com/2eq5ap1.jpg
My only thought is to a) weld something a guard to the go kart frame and bypass the whole engine mounting issue, or b) to use the bolts that hold the Predator together (see the top two visible bolts on the first picture) and run those through a mounting bracket and then back into the engine but I don't know if that's okay to be messing around with those bolts. It also occurred to me that I could put some kind of spacer between the engine and the clutch, but I don't know if that's a good idea.
Anyway, I figure someone here has dealt with this before and can solve this problem so I can get on to my next project. Please let me know.
Thanks!
