A #35 chain is NOT SIMILAR to a bicycle chain. Please don't say this. You will give people the wrong idea.
Kart Build
- Thread starter TripleT
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A #35 chain is NOT SIMILAR to a bicycle chain. Please don't say this. You will give people the wrong idea.
mysteryboy28
New member
what alternator are you planning on putting on your kart? a car alternator will use most if not all of your horsepower, leaving none for the kart to go weeeeee.
ArachnidBrosMN
Member
Hey there TripleT... nice work on your kart... just as you're figuring out: the only way to learn is by trying, and asking questions.
I've always thought that it would be fun to put an alternator on a small engine and so years ago I did: I welded a bracket, put an alternator on it, and ran a belt to an engine. I then put that setup on wheels and I had a portable car-starter/charger. The setup worked fine, but when I put a big load on the alternator, it really used engine horsepower..(it also didn't help that it was a huge alternator I got out of a semi at a junk-yard).
If you found a smaller alternator.... i have seen small ones on John Deere Gators and 5-wheelers, you could probably hook a small belt to the FRONT of you 8hp motor, where your pull-start is, and find a way to make it work.
Now, if you are not necessarily wanting a battery with this machine, and are looking ONLY for some "running lights", I'm sure you could find a way to use the electricity that the engine is already producing. Many walk-behind snow-blowers have a light on them... and no battery... I would go and take some pictures of how they are set up at the store... and maybe someone on this site knows how to properly get power off the magneto for a light. Good luck and good idea!!!
BTW: #40 chain will work fine... as long as you have clearance for it. My bro and I are using 40 chain on our twin karts... in fact, I was contemplating using #50 chain... but that seemed a bit over-kill once I saw how big 50 chain is!!!
I've always thought that it would be fun to put an alternator on a small engine and so years ago I did: I welded a bracket, put an alternator on it, and ran a belt to an engine. I then put that setup on wheels and I had a portable car-starter/charger. The setup worked fine, but when I put a big load on the alternator, it really used engine horsepower..(it also didn't help that it was a huge alternator I got out of a semi at a junk-yard).
If you found a smaller alternator.... i have seen small ones on John Deere Gators and 5-wheelers, you could probably hook a small belt to the FRONT of you 8hp motor, where your pull-start is, and find a way to make it work.
Now, if you are not necessarily wanting a battery with this machine, and are looking ONLY for some "running lights", I'm sure you could find a way to use the electricity that the engine is already producing. Many walk-behind snow-blowers have a light on them... and no battery... I would go and take some pictures of how they are set up at the store... and maybe someone on this site knows how to properly get power off the magneto for a light. Good luck and good idea!!!
BTW: #40 chain will work fine... as long as you have clearance for it. My bro and I are using 40 chain on our twin karts... in fact, I was contemplating using #50 chain... but that seemed a bit over-kill once I saw how big 50 chain is!!!
What about an alternator out of something like a caviler or a smaller car? That would be better wouldn't it? I do want a battery because I plan to have electric start and lights. I don't think i could mount a belt where the pull start goes, it's not stable enough. I was thinking about using a "reverse" jackshaft, so i would have a chain running from the axle to a shaft and then have a have a belt running up to the alternator. Think that would work?
ArachnidBrosMN
Member
Hmmm...
The picture of the chain sizes helped me a lot... so there it is.
The problem with your reverse-jack-shaft idea is that the alternator will only spin when your axle spins... so when you're sitting at idle, or when you're going slow, you're barely spinning that alternator. You need a setup that spins the alternator at the exact speed of the engine, and doesn't stop when you hit the brakes.
I guess, in my opinion, if you are using a Centrifugal Clutch off your engine, and the front face of your engine shaft is still accessible, and has a threaded hole in it... then find a small pulley and "bolt it" right to the front of your engine shaft, without interrupting the sprocket on your centrifugal clutch. (I've never attempted this... it's only a guess.) OR... mount the Centrifugal clutch "backwards" with the sprocket facing the engine, and see if you have extra shaft available the the outboard side of the clutch.
Either way, you want get a pulley mounted to the engine that spins as fast as the engine does at all times.
ALSO: a word of caution, you're going to NEED a voltage regulator with whatever alternator you go with (your idea of a smaller-one out of a smaller car sounds fine... I don't think charging a little battery will rob too much of your 8hp.)
I would research what a voltage regulator is, and how they are to be wired, and try and get the same regulator out of the same car that you take the alternator out of. Junk yards are fun. Good luck!
The picture of the chain sizes helped me a lot... so there it is.
The problem with your reverse-jack-shaft idea is that the alternator will only spin when your axle spins... so when you're sitting at idle, or when you're going slow, you're barely spinning that alternator. You need a setup that spins the alternator at the exact speed of the engine, and doesn't stop when you hit the brakes.
I guess, in my opinion, if you are using a Centrifugal Clutch off your engine, and the front face of your engine shaft is still accessible, and has a threaded hole in it... then find a small pulley and "bolt it" right to the front of your engine shaft, without interrupting the sprocket on your centrifugal clutch. (I've never attempted this... it's only a guess.) OR... mount the Centrifugal clutch "backwards" with the sprocket facing the engine, and see if you have extra shaft available the the outboard side of the clutch.
Either way, you want get a pulley mounted to the engine that spins as fast as the engine does at all times.
ALSO: a word of caution, you're going to NEED a voltage regulator with whatever alternator you go with (your idea of a smaller-one out of a smaller car sounds fine... I don't think charging a little battery will rob too much of your 8hp.)
I would research what a voltage regulator is, and how they are to be wired, and try and get the same regulator out of the same car that you take the alternator out of. Junk yards are fun. Good luck!
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Chain sizes.jpg
ArachnidBrosMN
Member
Actually, mounting a pulley off the front of the TC would be EASIER than mounting one off the front of a CC. I just installed a TC on an engine, and it "looks" like I could easily put a pulley on the front, using the shaft-bolt and some ingenuity. Then you wouldn't have to mess with the pull-start side.... sounds like a fun idea overall man!!
ArachnidBrosMN
Member
Very nice! Don't give up on this... it's gonna rock!
Finally got my axle and tubes for my tires. 
Bout time. I've now got a TC and i plan to get a 60t sprocket. I plan to stick to that to, but just wondering, could i go with a smaller sprocket on the axle? I just want to get some more info on the whole gearing thing.
Bout time. I've now got a TC and i plan to get a 60t sprocket. I plan to stick to that to, but just wondering, could i go with a smaller sprocket on the axle? I just want to get some more info on the whole gearing thing.
ArachnidBrosMN
Member
My brother and I are using a 7:1 gear ratio... meaning, we have a 10 tooth on the engine side, and a 70 tooth on the axle. If you stay somewhere between 5:1 and 7:1, then you should be ok. How many tooth sprocket is on your TC?
OzFab
Well-known member
You could, but I'd stick with the 60
ArachnidBrosMN
Member
wooo whoooo! Can you post a picture for us to see what you have going?
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