Hey guys im new here. recently got into this karting thing. I found a old go kart in my shed hasnt been used in about 5 years. so i put a chain on it and got it up and running. so i was looking around for ways to make it faster. first i was thinking getting a V twin honda engine that put out about 25hp or so but that is a really expensive engine. So i came across a Yamaha IT 490 for 350 bucks. I was thinkin to put that motor on my cart. right now it has a 5hp briggs and straton on it. So my plan is simple but i still havent worked a few things out. I already figured my clutch issue. Im goin to run a shifter up to a good hand posistion using brackets to make a shift linkage and on the shifter ill put a dirtbike type clutch lever. so the issues i havent worked out yet which is where i should mount the gas tank and the exhaust runs on the left side of the motor and would probably interfere with the drivers space so ill figure these things out soon. Any advice or comments would be appreciated. thanks
IT490 project
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dpaxson
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put the tank up front and use a fuel pump
woodmandan2
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Turn the header 90 degrees so the exhaust goes forward, or you can be REALLY cool and change the flange so you could give it stacks... 
Kaptain Krunch
Pro Junk Collector
An IT490 is a beast of a bike, i would buy it and use it the way it is.
Rickracer
RM250 Race Kart Driver
I cut my expansion chamber apart and re-clocked the pieces to make it go where I wanted it to, : http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4742 , you could do something similar,
I still need to find a 90° bend somewhere to be able to hook up my silencer and mount it across the back bumper.
I still need to find a 90° bend somewhere to be able to hook up my silencer and mount it across the back bumper.
Well it is a good idea but id rather do something to make it gravity fed to make it easier.
good idea didnt think of it but prolly wont do it to be honestTurn the header 90 degrees so the exhaust goes forward, or you can be REALLY cool and change the flange so you could give it stacks...
i have an RM250 in good condition already and this bike would need a lot of suspension work i dont feel like doing.
I cut my expansion chamber apart and re-clocked the pieces to make it go where I wanted it to, : http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4742 , you could do something similar,
I still need to find a 90° bend somewhere to be able to hook up my silencer and mount it across the back bumper.
Your kart is almost the same as mine. the frame looks almost identical to mine. without the expansion chamber wont it rob power?
Rickracer
RM250 Race Kart Driver
The chamber is still there, it just goes where I want it to, instead of where it did on the bike. I could have built one from scratch, but this was much easier, it was FOR an RM250, and the pipe was $29 shipped, off Ebay. I just cut it apart where it was welded together, twisted the pieces where they would go in the right direction, and welded them back together.
I didn't take pics of the original pipe/chamber, but if you look at the pics in sequence, you can see some of the changes. The first one allowed me to mount the pipe almost upside down, then twist it back around on the next joint, to clear my seat and frame, the rest made it conform to the overall outline of the motor.
I didn't take pics of the original pipe/chamber, but if you look at the pics in sequence, you can see some of the changes. The first one allowed me to mount the pipe almost upside down, then twist it back around on the next joint, to clear my seat and frame, the rest made it conform to the overall outline of the motor.
Rickracer
RM250 Race Kart Driver
Over on the left side, next to the seat, kinda hoping I luck out and snag a regular kart radiator off eBay before I get to that part, or maybe find an automotive heater core that will work for me.
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