Motor swap or torque converter?

[Gibsonfan159]

Hi folks, I'm new to karts and just bought a 6hp two seated to ride my daughter around the house with. The kart goes great on level to slight inclines but has almost no low end torque with both of us in it, but the trails I wanted to ride on are hilly. Would a torque converter do the trick or would dropping in a bigger motor be the way to go? I'm assuming a bigger motor won't make much of a difference if there's still no torque? Any info/tips is appreciated.

 

[nupmeyer15]

A torque converter will give you a little low end torque, not a lot though.

What engine is on it?

If you are really serious about it, then you could get a Predator 420 and a 40 series torque converter. Then you shouldn't have a problem

 

[Bbqjoe]

Hi folks, I'm new to karts and just bought a 6hp two seated to ride my daughter around the house with.

How well does it climb the stairs?

 

[bob58o]

I'm assuming a bigger motor won't make much of a difference if there's still no torque? Any info/tips is appreciated.

I don't understand???? With same gear ratio and tire size, there will be more torque. Same top speed, but more torque.

For example...
212cc 8.1 ft lbs Max Torque
420cc 18.4 ft lbs Max Torque

125% Increase in Torque.

---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:28 PM ----------

Easy to gear for torque is you don't care about top speed.
Easy to gear for top speed if you don't need much torque.

So if you can sacrifice some MPHs you'll be able to gain torque by switching the gearing.

A TC gives you low gear(s) that allows you to get both.
And the bottom end gain is significant. 116% increase in Torque in lowest gear (compared to same ratio with a CC)

I almost agree with nupmeyer15 about the 420cc and the 40 series TC, but if you get the bigger engine get this 420cc for much cheaper. Comes with 1 year warranty. $170 (used to be free shipping, now not sure). I guess it depends on your budget.
https://www.powerlanddepot.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=39&product_id=56

---------- Post added at 12:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 PM ----------

People will ask for pictures of the kart and more info. Small two seater, or full suspension buggy?

Kart weight?
Riders weight?
Tire Diameter?

Then people can guess better.

 

[Bbqjoe]

I don't understand???? With same gear ratio and tire size, there will be more torque. Same top speed, but more torque.

For example...
212cc 8.1 ft lbs Max Torque
420cc 18.4 ft lbs Max Torque

125% Increase in Torque.

---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:28 PM ----------

Easy to gear for torque is you don't care about top speed.
Easy to gear for top speed if you don't need much torque.

So if you can sacrifice some MPHs you'll be able to gain torque by switching the gearing.

A TC gives you low gear(s) that allows you to get both.
And the bottom end gain is significant. 116% increase in Torque in lowest gear (compared to same ratio with a CC)

I almost agree with nupmeyer15 about the 420cc and the 40 series TC, but if you get the bigger engine get this 420cc for much cheaper. Comes with 1 year warranty. $170 (used to be free shipping, now not sure). I guess it depends on your budget.
https://www.powerlanddepot.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=39&product_id=56

---------- Post added at 12:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 PM ----------

People will ask for pictures of the kart and more info. Small two seater, or full suspension buggy?

Kart weight?
Riders weight?
Tire Diameter?
Amount of precious metals in house?
Working hours?

Then people can guess better.

Sorry Bob, I just added a few things.

 

[nupmeyer15]

If you don't want to spend the $$ for and 420 and a tc, then the easiest thing would be just to change gearing and or tire size, like bob58o said. Riding around the yard with your daughter, you probably won't want to go that fast anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Gibsonfan159]

If you don't want to spend the $$ for and 420 and a tc, then the easiest thing would be just to change gearing and or tire size, like bob58o said. Riding around the yard with your daughter, you probably won't want to go that fast anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The kart isn't gonna pull uphill with smaller tires. The 15s already lose traction in places. The clutch is 10t and driven is almost as big as the tires already. Probably not an option.

---------- Post added at 11:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------

I almost agree with nupmeyer15 about the 420cc and the 40 series TC, but if you get the bigger engine get this 420cc for much cheaper. Comes with 1 year warranty. $170 (used to be free shipping, now not sure). I guess it depends on your budget.
https://www.powerlanddepot.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=39&product_id=56

---------- Post added at 12:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 PM ----------

People will ask for pictures of the kart and more info. Small two seater, or full suspension buggy?

Kart weight?
Riders weight?
Tire Diameter?

Then people can guess better.

I wonder what the deal is with that motor and high elevations? I'm interested in buying it but I'm at right under 3,000 ft.

 

[bob58o]

The kart isn't gonna pull uphill with smaller tires. The 15s already lose traction in places. The clutch is 10t and driven is almost as big as the tires already. Probably not an option.

---------- Post added at 11:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------



I wonder what the deal is with that motor and high elevations? I'm interested in buying it but I'm at right under 3,000 ft.

Well higher elevations means thinner air. Thinner air means less oxygen.
Less oxygen with same carb jets, means the engine will run rich. You'd need smaller jets OR maybe a performance intake and exhaust. This will HELP move the Air / Fuel Ratio in the correct direction and improve performance.

I'm just guessing. Not sure how well it will perform. I'm not a mountain man.

---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 AM ----------

At high altitude, the standard carburetor air-fuel mixture will be
too rich. Performance will decrease, and fuel consumption will
increase. A very rich mixture will also foul the spark plug and
cause hard starting. Operation at an altitude that differs from that
at which this engine was certified, for extended periods of time,
may increase emissions.

High altitude performance can be improved by specific
modifications to the carburetor. If you always operate your engine
at altitudes above 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), have your servicing
dealer perform this carburetor modification. This engine, when
operated at high altitude with the carburetor modifications for
high altitude use, will meet each emission standard throughout its
useful life.

When the carburetor has been modified for high altitude operation,
the air-fuel mixture will be too lean for low altitude use. Operation
at altitudes below 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) with a modified
carburetor may cause the engine to overheat and result in serious
engine damage. For use at low altitudes, have your servicing
dealer return the carburetor to original factory specifications.

Even with carburetor modification, engine horsepower will
decrease about 3.5% for each 300-meter (1,000-foot) increase in
altitude. The effect of altitude on horsepower will be greater than
this if no carburetor modification is made.

http://cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/engines/pdf/manuals/37Z5F602.pdf