Afternoon gents. I’m Trying to decide on a power plant for my newest project. A shopping Cart go Cart on a custom frame I’m building from the ground up. My plan is to run a 1in live axle out back with 13in tires. This will be an on road only cart with myself 170lb driver at the wheel. I’m estimating the cart fully built to be around 150lbs maybe less. I’m interested in two motors. The 212cc predator with a stage 2 upgrade. Or a stock 420cc predator with the governer removed. I’m not concerned about the safety applications of others as I’ll be the only driver. Any advice on the two motors? Any other motors I should have a look at? My price range is a loose $400 thanks
Motor suggestions
- Thread starter Blaze
- Start date
anickode
Active member
It's hard to go wrong with a 212 and a chinese torque converter. Remove the governor, aftermarket air filter, exhaust, and a carb jet. A ~5:1 gear ratio will work on 13" tires and will put you up around 40mph.
That's about $200 into the engine, 60 for the torque converter. Plenty of money left to do some other light mods like a timing key.
That's about $200 into the engine, 60 for the torque converter. Plenty of money left to do some other light mods like a timing key.
So I’ve heard the 420 produces way more tourqe and is usually on heavy off-road carts, is it possible to do a clutch on something that makes that much power? I’ve been looking at it and I know the TQ for a 1in shaft is stupid expensive. And I’m also leaning towards the 420 because I can still warnty it since I won’t be doing anything to it. Unless of course I get bored of 13hp. I like the 212 because it’s so small but since I’m building the frame from scratch it’s not really a fitting issue.
---------- Post added at 08:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 PM ----------
Okay I gotcha. So say I had the 420 with no mods. I could roll with a 6:1 and go what? 50? I would like a good balance of tourqe and speed. I would like to break the tires loose in a corner but I can always put pbc pipe on some wheels if I wana go drifting. The only thing holding me back from the 212 is the fact that if I don’t like the power I get then I’ll be spending astronomical amounts of money to get in the 15hp range
---------- Post added at 08:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 PM ----------
Okay I gotcha. So say I had the 420 with no mods. I could roll with a 6:1 and go what? 50? I would like a good balance of tourqe and speed. I would like to break the tires loose in a corner but I can always put pbc pipe on some wheels if I wana go drifting. The only thing holding me back from the 212 is the fact that if I don’t like the power I get then I’ll be spending astronomical amounts of money to get in the 15hp range
anickode
Active member
The 420 does make way more torque. When you said 150# kart with 13" wheels I was thinking more along the lines of yard kart than off roader.
You'd probably be happier with a 212 and a torque converter than a 420 with a clutch. The torque converter puts you in a lower gear to start out with, and you'd likely get a better launch from the 212 than you would slipping your way through a centrifugal clutch with a 420. Once it was locked up though, the clutched 420 would take off like a rocket.
Although they do make Chinese clone 40 series now as well. Not as cheap as the TAV2, but definitely cheaper than a genuine comet.
Something to remember is that your top speed is limited by engine rpm as well as horsepower. A stock 420 will get you the same ~30mph top speed as a stock 212. Likewise, an ungoverned example of either will get you to the ~40mph range. The 212 is just way cheaper to mod when you get bored with it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all about big engines, but staying within your $400ish budget, I think you'll get a lot more fun out of a 212. Save the 420 for a heavier kart. All that extra HP doesn't get you squat on a light weight kart except worn out tires.