Lawn Boy motor on a kart threads here

[Spule 4]

......and for years I thought I was the only one that had thought of this!

Anyhow, I have enough D and F motors around here from daily mowers to parts mowers, about half a dozen long blocks and even a bunch of NOS D series engine parts from a closed shop.

The bracket made sense to me, the carburation was the hurdle I could never figure out, both adapting the intake (some fabrication) to getting one to actually idle slow. I have been collecting Walbro carbs off of these as they are MUCH better than the plastic leakers.

But since it appears a few others have done the hard work, I guess if you want to put an F on a Kart, the Tillotson carb is the way to go?

Any other F series tips would be greatly appreciated.....

 

[Spule 4]

Another thought.....

While a bit heavy, and requiring an external charging source, has anyone tried a Lawn Boy electric start? I have a couple sets around here from parted out mowers.....

 

[kibble]

Welcome to the site!

About the Tilly carb, it has a diaphragm pump on it which makes it useful for using in any position.

Russ is the first person I know that did this and he inspired me to do the same. I have yet to finish up with my kart though. I have mounting issues that I haven't resolved yet.

 

[Russ2251]

I have mounting issues that I haven't resolved yet.

I have one (or 2) unresolved problems with model 'E' twins at the moment. I need to borrow the shoemakers elves. Perhaps will be magically fixed tomorrow.

 

[Spule 4]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I gathered that with the Tillotson carb as there is no float. Has anyone tried re-mounting the float style, or is it jsut simply not worth it?

For whatever reason today, the butterfly on my 5hp Briggs came off, so now the Kart has stop and FULL GO as its two speeds . So I gotta deal with that first (and several other projects like ah...moving my shop of the past 13 years) before doing the Lawn Boy mod.

Is there a template online somewere for the baseplate, or is it trial and error? Gotta pick up some thick steel or aluminum somewhere at work.

 

[Russ2251]

Has anyone tried re-mounting the float style, or is it jsut simply not worth it?

Not worth the effort as L-B carbs are undersized (venturi) to begin with. Kinda like a built in speed limiter.

Is there a template online somewere for the baseplate, or is it trial and error?

Some info in this thread (along with others around the site):http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1732&highlight=lawnboy

 

[Russ2251]

Have seen this Vid:http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showth...World's+Fastest+Lawn-Boy+just+got+much+faster

 

[Spule 4]

Russ-

Yes, I saw your vids, great work and fast fast fast! But, that is when I realized I was not the inventor of this idea, but I am glad it is do-able. I have been a two stroke fan for eons, and my collection shows, going back to a one lunger Maytag I restored many years ago...

Thank you also for the link to the thread with the drawings and the photos of your and Kibble's work.

I do have one question tho, on the F that is in your video, did you keep the original starter arrangement, and it appears you have the original muffler on that one too behind the wheel, so the cylinder points to the rear of the kart?

 

[Spule 4]

Of course, I could do this with my old Maytag...71 year old idea would still work I guess?

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006...idewalk_runabout_2.jpg&Qiv=thumbs&Qis=XL#qdig

At a local steam tractor show, a man had an actual Matyag kart, apparently, they made a few back in the day for promotional purposes.

 

[Russ2251]

did you keep the original starter arrangement

Yes, but as you probably know, 2 types of recoils were used on 'F' engines. I used the more conventional type that does not use the nylon starter gear. My recoil engages with the flywheel starter cup.

so the cylinder points to the rear of the kart?

Yes, but can just as easily be mounted the other way as long as there are no clearance issues.
I preferred to keep exhaust as far away as possible from the operator.
Note that engine in pic is painted black and is difficult to see.

 

[Jerryburger]

Of course, I could do this with my old Maytag...71 year old idea would still work I guess?

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/...bs&Qis=XL#qdig

At a local steam tractor show, a man had an actual Matyag kart, apparently, they made a few back in the day for promotional purposes.

THX for the link! That sure puts everything going on here into perspective! Imagine a day when 14 y.o. 's were happy with 1/2hp fixed-throttle washing-machine motors on wood-framed 200lb karts that probably hit just under 20mph on a good day. ? (And the Breath-Taking performance of the B/S 5s motor was still 10 years into the future!)

Here's something from that era, also..... look at the variable ratios possible by tilting the engine. 24" wheels!

 

[jr dragster T]

Dang.....I still smack myself for throwing out that 2 stroke lawnboy. Like wtf was I thinking. It was the kind with the nylon starter gear. It also had a big round shroud where the pull start cord comes out and the fuel tank was.

 

[crazycart]

Dang.....I still smack myself for throwing out that 2 stroke lawnboy. Like wtf was I thinking. It was the kind with the nylon starter gear. It also had a big round shroud where the pull start cord comes out and the fuel tank was.

Dont worry i threw a greenie out also...i feel your pain.

:nopity:

 

[Russ2251]

I have yet to just throw away any engine.
Only time I chuck stuff is when it has a hole where one shouldn't be, or is seized up like a rock.
Even then, I strip off all usable parts.

 

[crazycart]

Yeah it was 5+ years ago i hardly remember it, just that it was green and i wanted to make a go-kart. I have 2 garbage bins in my garage full of engines...i just cant bring myself to throw them...

 

[Spule 4]

My father in law threw away a John Deere that was a Lawn Boy in drag...... If you cannot say anything nice about someone....

I have thrown away a few Briggs. The only one I should not have was a big 8 horse cast iron hog that a neighbor gave me years ago as a kid. Got it in parts, went to the junkyard in parts....

Russ, I have not seen an F with a top/pulley mounted starter, all I have here are the side mount ones. Sounds like something to look for tho! Either that, or my favorite, the winding cup ala my 700 series Clinton (my only 4 cycle hobby motor, and my first as a kid years ago).

Called one place on the 1/2 aluminum angle, no dice. One of my co workers is going to an extrusion plant this week....may have to bug him?

 

[jr dragster T]

I threw it out after seen the poor quality on some of the stock part's. I mean like come on, Plastic carb body, Cork float, Cracked jet body so on...

 

[Russ2251]

Yes, I guess that's why they outlast other mowers.
How many 2 cycle Lawn-Boys did you say you owned?
Truth be known, you threw it out because you did not know what you had.

 

[jr dragster T]

Hey, No harsh feeling's. It was the 1st Lawn Boy mower I've ever owned. I knew what I had in my hand's just never thought it would make a kick butt go kart motor. And actually I found it in the trash, Brang it home and immediatly before starting cleaned it all up, Put gas in and no-go. Had spark though. Ran on manuelly injecting fuel.

 

[kibble]

I knew what I had in my hand's just never thought it would make a kick butt go kart motor.

Therefore, you're saying you didn't know what was possible with it? Thus not knowing what you had in your hands?

Sorry, had to point that out.