Kart Project

[PeterWabbit]

Hello, This is my first post so forgive me for any rules I break accidently. ^_^

I'm a high school senior, and at my school were required to do a senior project to graduate with honors. I would like to make a road kart. The idea came to me when they said we could do anything we wanted as long as we can explain how the skills we learned went towards making it, that and a 23 hp briggs vanguard engine in my garage. Would that be insta death if I used it as my engine? I have welding skills, and plan on making my own frame if possible to keep costs down.
So what exactly would I need to make this work, the school has given me 3k to play with.

 

[Buick455]

As long as it isnt a vert shaft its do-able. What i want to know is the name and location of the school. i think im gonna pose as an 18 year old for the 3k for a new kart


(Even if it’s not a horizontal shaft you could still build it but I haven’t seen a good way like ever)

 

[PeterWabbit]

It's a horizontal shaft. Lol westside high school in houston. Im on the robotics team, and its our last year together, so were blowing all our grant/scholarship money. We tried to save t for next years kids but they don't seem that interested, so my budget is pretty big.
I mostly have experience with drag/oval cars and robots. Should I go torque converter or clutch for attaching it to the axle? Also, what would it be possible to make this into a shifter kart? Should I since I am assuming it has enough brute strength that it doesn't particularly need a gearbox.

 

[Buick455]

thats awsome... god my school sucked it didnt have any of those programs back in the day, oh well...

You will want the CTV, they are awsome. With that size engine and the funds I would get the Comet 500 or the 40/44. The 40/44 isnt rated for 20+ hp but I'm pretty sure it would hold up (someone here has had to of done this, they will chime in). The 500 is rated for 25hp on 2 cycle engines and 16hp on 4 cycle engines.

if you dont get an answer in here for the clutch try the engines section of the fourm

 

[Tony]

With that much money i would make a nice mini buggy...

 

[PyroKart]

by road kart do you mean like a racing kart (really fast asphalt only)?
If you had that much money i would deffintely get a torque converter and some really nice shocks. and probably make it off road because even though it would not be deadly (or even close to it) it would be a bit overkill to use a 26hp engine on a road kart.

 

[jr dragster T]

thats awsome... god my school sucked it didnt have any of those programs back in the day, oh well...

I'm at a school currently very similar to Wyotech in florida or those auto-school comercials you see on TV and while I was walking around the shop today I found a whole bunch of bits for CNC lathe's and mills and I asked my teacher why he had them and he said my school used to have CNC mills and lathes. I wish I was there when they had those!

 

[PeterWabbit]

by road kart do you mean like a racing kart (really fast asphalt only)?
If you had that much money i would deffintely get a torque converter and some really nice shocks. and probably make it off road because even though it would not be deadly (or even close to it) it would be a bit overkill to use a 26hp engine on a road kart.

Yes, I meant racing kart. I considered making an off roader, but everything is pretty flat on my side of town. I'm thinking about making it a two seater, b/c I just found another engine on craigslist. Here are the part I'm considering purchasing so far:
1. 2 racing seats with harnesses, I have to the school says it must be ultra safe.
2. Comet torque converter
3. Maybe that second engine if I can make the dude go down any lower. On that note is it difficult to run dual motors?
4. A bunch of steel piping
5. Some sort of brakes, is all around overkill or should it just be on wheels that provide power?

 

[r_chez_08]

with that money i would get dual gx390 clones with torque convertors. what happens with the money if you dont spend it do you keep it or does ur school? what currency?

 

[PyroKart]

it might be kind of hard to set up all around brakes and yes i think it might be overkill (but maybe not if you are using two engines.)
i belive that there is a thread on here (saw it awhile ago) about mounting two engines.
Sounds like it is going to be a very fun kart.
sooo much money

 

[r_chez_08]

i think if its schools money and you dont pay anything, spend out! dual gx390 clones with ctvs and a hydraulic disc and gear it so it has a big top speed!

two seater race kart, that would be sweet with dual engines + ctv!!!!

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Using two industrial engines while you have a 3 grand budget is just dumb, go all out and grab a GSXR engine or something similar, the shifter feel is very hardcore. Or if you dont want a bike engine go for a sled engine, they have amazing power, my 750 triple puts out 140hp stock, and it is about the size of two and a half clones! using dual engines can be cool, but nowmatter what you say a bike or sled engine pushing 100hp is going to destroy two 11hp clones.

 

[modelengineer]

^^ what he said x2
Bike engine > industrial engine
5/6 speed gearbox > CVT

 

[PeterWabbit]

i think if its schools money and you dont pay anything, spend out! dual gx390 clones with ctvs and a hydraulic disc and gear it so it has a big top speed!
two seater race kart, that would be sweet with dual engines + ctv!!!!

a motor like this?: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/tls/1141759985.html
And what exactly do you mean by gear it?

with that money i would get dual gx390 clones with torque convertors. what happens with the money if you dont spend it do you keep it or does ur school? what currency?

The money would just go back into the robotics budget. It's in American dollars.

^^ what he said x2
Bike engine > industrial engine
5/6 speed gearbox > CVT

I tried to convince them, I wanted to make a kart out of the 305 small block I have in the garage. But they said keep it "small", we'll just see how far I can stretch that.

 

[r_chez_08]

yeah, thats a gx390 clone. what i mean by gear it is the sprocket sizes. have a smaller one on the axle, and the kart will go faster, but with not as mutch torque, but 22hp has a lot of torque, so you can sacrifice a bit for speed.

 

[Buick455]

it might be kind of hard to set up all around brakes and yes i think it might be overkill (but maybe not if you are using two engines.)
i belive that there is a thread on here (saw it awhile ago) about mounting two engines.
Sounds like it is going to be a very fun kart.
sooo much money

I think your thinking of this post: http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3569

This was just a pipe dream of stupidity on my part, Kapt has the conclusion that I came to spot on.. the only way I would do it is if:
1. I have both 390's running (only one is running at this time)
2. I find another 40/44 CVT (Free or Really Cheap)
3. I dont find a bike engine, lol

you will get a hell of allot more fun out of a bike engine then you will ever get out of 2 390's.. dont get me wrong though 390's are wicked all by themself. My kart frame has got to weigh 200lbs + the 85lbs engine, then me and a buddy another 400lbs and it still will do 48mph before i run out of parking lot. It would climb hills like they werent there till I put the golf cart tires on it and lost all traction in the grass. Get a bike engine, thats what I think im gonna do for my next project

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

If your concerned about size, a bike engine wi be the same size or smaller than 2 390's.

 

[BradenM]

With the money you have available I would consider getting the best bike engine you can.

 

[oscaryu1]

It's a horizontal shaft. Lol westside high school in houston. Im on the robotics team, and its our last year together, so were blowing all our grant/scholarship money. We tried to save t for next years kids but they don't seem that interested, so my budget is pretty big.
I mostly have experience with drag/oval cars and robots. Should I go torque converter or clutch for attaching it to the axle? Also, what would it be possible to make this into a shifter kart? Should I since I am assuming it has enough brute strength that it doesn't particularly need a gearbox.

Zomgwtfsaucers?! Houston ?! Yae, Houston buddy!

Where in Houston? I'm down here in Sugar Land. Land of the sugar... and that broken down Imperial Sugar factory downtown.

 

[T-REVVV]

with that kind of horse power i would defenitly give it rear suspension because it would just be a wast to have 26 horse for just onroad. but if the rest of the cart was light that thing would haul,