Motorycle engine question.

[Paul103]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and I've always wanted to build a go kart. I got a 1986 Honda Shadow 500 engine from a friend. It's a shaft engine, not a chain drive. Would it be possible to have only one rear wheel which is powered by the engine? I wanted to use a differential and four wheels but I couldn't find one for 50hp and I think it would be hard connecting it to the drive shaft.

 

[scar]

it would be possible to have only 1 rear wheel heck it might even be more fun that way just mount the wheel in the center and not off to 1 side then it might be a little scary

 

[crazycart]

You could use a differential from a small car and graft it to it. There are also golfcarts that use a rear end that could work.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

You dont need a diff. Just run it 2wd with a solid 1" axle, it will take the power. Turn the engine sideways and have a machine shop make you an adapter so it can run a sprocket instead of a shaft.

 

[Paul103]

You dont need a diff. Just run it 2wd with a solid 1" axle, it will take the power. Turn the engine sideways and have a machine shop make you an adapter so it can run a sprocket instead of a shaft.

I found this on eBay. I'll see if I can somehow turn into a chain drive. Unless you guys have any other suggestions.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Like I said take it a machinist and ask what it would run to make an adapter so it would have a keyed shaft output that you could put a sprocket on. Probably less than $100 of machining.

 

[SpyGuy]

There was a three-wheeled car (well, motorcycle, maybe) made by Harley-Davidson called the TriHawk. It was a reverse trike - two wheels in front, one in back - and was powered by a little four-banger. I got a chance to talk to a guy who owned one of them, and he said it could reach speeds of 100mph, and was as steady as a brick during everyday driving.