I’m sorta new to this, but have a general idea of small engines. I have an old RX95 John Deere lawn mower (http://www.tractordata.com/lawn-tractors/001/9/2/1926-john-deere-rx95.html) with a 12.5 HP engine. Looking to make it into a kart if anyone had ideas. Thanks
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Tpdingo
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Nope, just turn back now before you dig yourself into a deep sinkhole of vertical shaft ****.
I'm going to answer 99% of the questions you probably have:
Why can't I use a vertical engine?
Because no go kart parts were designed for a vertical engine, and making them is time consuming and expensive. Worm drives don't work, you can't just twist a belt, and a proper 90 degree gearbox might just cost you as much as an entire motor.
Can't I make a vertical engine horizontal?
That's a pain in the *** and the amount of time and money spent converting it, you could have driven to harbor freight and gotten a Predator.
What about the transaxle in the lawnmower?
Over 10mph it becomes a ticking timebomb. They are designed for lawnmowing, and not much more. Its already been long since known that they aren't any good for go karts.
What about putting a Predator/other horizontal shaft engine into the John Deere?
Carsandcameras did it....but thats still more expensive than just buying an old frame and putting a new motor on it, and likely more expensive than just getting a premade go kart used. Also lawnmower frames aren't generally the stiffest given they're used as a lawnmower not a 35mph go kart. Oh yeah and Ike nearly died on their go kart mower when it flipped.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask but I would seriously advise you to consider another path to a go kart.
I'm going to answer 99% of the questions you probably have:
Why can't I use a vertical engine?
Because no go kart parts were designed for a vertical engine, and making them is time consuming and expensive. Worm drives don't work, you can't just twist a belt, and a proper 90 degree gearbox might just cost you as much as an entire motor.
Can't I make a vertical engine horizontal?
That's a pain in the *** and the amount of time and money spent converting it, you could have driven to harbor freight and gotten a Predator.
What about the transaxle in the lawnmower?
Over 10mph it becomes a ticking timebomb. They are designed for lawnmowing, and not much more. Its already been long since known that they aren't any good for go karts.
What about putting a Predator/other horizontal shaft engine into the John Deere?
Carsandcameras did it....but thats still more expensive than just buying an old frame and putting a new motor on it, and likely more expensive than just getting a premade go kart used. Also lawnmower frames aren't generally the stiffest given they're used as a lawnmower not a 35mph go kart. Oh yeah and Ike nearly died on their go kart mower when it flipped.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask but I would seriously advise you to consider another path to a go kart.
Tpdingo
Member
Umm...not much. Vertical shaft motors have a shaft sticking out the bottom vs a Horizontal shaft motor has the shaft sticking out the side, hence the shafts are vertical or horizontal
txluke
Active member
Get a transaxle and build yourself a fun toy. Will it be a go kart? Perhaps not but will still be fun. Google racing mowers and see what those guys do.
Tpdingo
Member
Yeah but the amount of effort to beef up a transaxle isn't anywhere near what its worth to just get a go kart.
Kartorbust
Inmate #627
Yes you can turn a lawn tractor into a go kart more or less. It's called a race mower and it's been around for almost 50 years. It's a lot of modifying and expense but can be done.
You can find info here:
http://letsmow.com also has a rule book for sanctioned races and classes
http://www.heymow.com dedicated forum
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-racing-lawn-mower/ and a diy how to
You can find info here:
http://letsmow.com also has a rule book for sanctioned races and classes
http://www.heymow.com dedicated forum
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-racing-lawn-mower/ and a diy how to
txluke
Active member
I have yet to beef one up. I have only broke 1 playing demolition derby! They are a dime a dozen. It would be easier for him to find a transaxle to go with that motor than to start from scratch.
Kartorbust
Inmate #627
You don't need a transaxle for a race mower. Though a race prepped Peerless 700 gearbox would suffice. It would double as the right angle gearbox and all you'd need is a chain and rear sprocket.
don't be discouraged dude, my cousin had one of those mowers that would run around 50 mph. Not that I would ride on it. He pulled the deck, slammed it to the ground with some fat wide racing tires and just from hanging around the nearby mower race track he learned enough to figure out how to set up the pulleys and stuff...which is mainly how those things operate when they keep a bottom shaft engine in them. They do pulley swaps and build the engines with enough torque and rpm to pull the weird ratios. If I remember right there was no shifting gears, it was set and forget...at least for the race....like I said...I wouldn't ride it though.
Look on facebook messenger sometimes you can find a steal on a cheap frame or project cart.
Look on facebook messenger sometimes you can find a steal on a cheap frame or project cart.
txluke
Active member
The peerless 700's are nice. You can run a live axle. They are around $200.
Kartorbust
Inmate #627
One can buy a right angle gearbox for the same price.
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