New guy questions!

[Dsmithgall]

Hey guys, new to the forum and trying to learn a little knowledge from you guys. Ran across a free go kart, manco 2 seater. Not sure of the model, but long story short the guys kid took it all apart, engine was bad, and has lost half of the useful parts.

I bought a predator 212 cc engine this week, ordered a new throttle cable, and have been sanding down the frame prior to throwing a cheap paint job on it.

Before I order new tires, and a clutch and chain- I want to make sure I am replacing the parts with the correct ones.

It currently has 1 inch, hexagon rear live axle with 60 tooth sprocket, I am assuming this is fine because of what was originally on it.

The 2 front tires are 145/70-6

The 2 rear tires are 16x8.0-7

The motor was missing, along with all the parts.

This is where I am having a hard time understanding what exactly I need. I have a new predator 212cc engine, but I need help with the right clutch and chain. I know this question has been asked 100 times, but I can't find the right answers.

This go kart is just a fun project for my young son and I, I'm not looking for high performance. Just want it to be done right! I was going to order new tires, clutch and a chain- so any advice would be welcomed. If I need to change tire size or sprocket sizes, I am open to the best options.

Thanks for your time, I look forward to hearing back from you guys. Any insight you guys have, or can tell me anything about this cart would be great. Like I said, it was a free kart- hard to beat!

 

[landuse]

With 16" tyres, you are going to have to gear rather low. That means a large axle sprocket and small clutch sprocket. A general rule of thumb is a 6:1 gear ratio (10T clutch/60T axle or 12T clutch/72T axle). Because you have a 2 seater with largish tyres, I would gear around7 or 8:1 if you can. This means that you are going to have to get a large axle sprocket. If you get a 10T clutch, you could probably get away with a 72T axle sprocket. Make sure that the pitch of the sprockets and the chain are all the same. IIRC a #41 pitch allows you to get a 10T clutch, so I would go with that

 

[Half-breeder]

I had a setup similar to yours 16" wheels, 2 seater Manco, HF212. I had a JShaft to help w/ my gearing so I really cant be of much informative use. Mine was geared for 7.5:1... this is a vid of what that'll look like. Mind you in the vid Im runnin my live axle as a dead axle (only driver wheel is geared), but over all the performance and speed will reluctantly be the same...

... after watchin the vid again... it seems Im traveling SSSsssoooo slow, back then, compared to what I run nowadays...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R93-jkdNP10&list=UU9tLeV67lsEIrulgHA6t0wg

 

[ResilientMonkey]

Without more pictures, it's hard to figure out the model. My best guess is a Manco 485. Here's a link to the manuals for the 485 series karts. Take a peek and see if you can match yours up.

That will give you a source for all the Manco part numbers. If you go with stock-type components, you'll be guaranteed to have a decent kart

 

[firemanjim]

Looking at the pic, the manufacturers sticker is still on the kart. Right there between the drivers legs. Silver sticker...... It will have a number on it like 485-115...... That will be your model number....
IIWM, I'd run a TC with a 10 tooth driver and a 60 tooth axle sprocket.....

 

[itsid]

See.. I'd say it's a 514-10 or something.. just like the one gran just got.

But that should be fairly easy to figure out once you got the dimensions and such

'sid

 

[KartFab]

its actually different, mine that i just got is a one wheel wonder. this is a live axle kart with disc brake (which i have in my hoard pile ironically same exact one) It has a live axle, and is missing the torque converter it came with.

Torque converter should be the 30 series with 6" driven unit.

The original jackshaft assembly had a 9-10t sprocket (im guessing 10T), 2 5/8" ID bearings, 5/8" shaft and this mounting plate

http://www.gopowersports.com/product_p/13409-2.htm

and if you are missing the studs to mount to the plate they are here

http://www.gopowersports.com/product_p/1356.htm

originally had a 5 hp briggs flathead engine on it too. any 5-7 hp engine will work.

you might be able to get away with just buying this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Torque-Conv...604?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d19e28db4

but you will probably have a problem mounting the thing so the sprocket clears the engine/torque converter. Might as well just buy the 30 series there, and then buy the manco mounting plate and studs. You will still be SOL on a jackshaft though, so you would need to get that seperately.

In other words. its gunna cost you like $130 to get it moving... then theres the seat which will cost like $20-60 to make

good thing u got the kart for free huh? contact the guy again and see if you can get any of the stuff or if its lost then im sorry :-(

 

[Dsmithgall]

With 16" tyres, you are going to have to gear rather low. That means a large axle sprocket and small clutch sprocket. A general rule of thumb is a 6:1 gear ratio (10T clutch/60T axle or 12T clutch/72T axle). Because you have a 2 seater with largish tyres, I would gear around7 or 8:1 if you can. This means that you are going to have to get a large axle sprocket. If you get a 10T clutch, you could probably get away with a 72T axle sprocket. Make sure that the pitch of the sprockets and the chain are all the same. IIRC a #41 pitch allows you to get a 10T clutch, so I would go with that

Would I be better off with a smaller diameter rear tire? The rear gear is currently a 60 tooth sprocket, but was missing the rest of pieces. The model number is worn out, I couldn't get any numbers off it . Any link available for what I need? I'm not familiar with what a IIRC #41 pitch is. Also, am I ok with a clutch or do I need a torque converter? I smile about done with the paint work, ready to start getting parts needed to get this together

 

[Dsmithgall]

its actually different, mine that i just got is a one wheel wonder. this is a live axle kart with disc brake (which i have in my hoard pile ironically same exact one) It has a live axle, and is missing the torque converter it came with.

Torque converter should be the 30 series with 6" driven unit.

The original jackshaft assembly had a 9-10t sprocket (im guessing 10T), 2 5/8" ID bearings, 5/8" shaft and this mounting plate

http://www.gopowersports.com/product_p/13409-2.htm

and if you are missing the studs to mount to the plate they are here

http://www.gopowersports.com/product_p/1356.htm

originally had a 5 hp briggs flathead engine on it too. any 5-7 hp engine will work.

you might be able to get away with just buying this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Torque-Conv...604?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d19e28db4

but you will probably have a problem mounting the thing so the sprocket clears the engine/torque converter. Might as well just buy the 30 series there, and then buy the manco mounting plate and studs. You will still be SOL on a jackshaft though, so you would need to get that seperately.

In other words. its gunna cost you like $130 to get it moving... then theres the seat which will cost like $20-60 to make

good thing u got the kart for free huh? contact the guy again and see if you can get any of the stuff or if its lost then im sorry :-(

I have the seat, I just removed it to recover. I am not familiar with what a jack shaft does. I have the studs, and mounting plate. Just not sure on the rest of details. Is a torque converter needed? Or is a clutch ok? It was my understanding I needed to order a clutch and chain, but I'm guessing its not that simple. If I were to order that kit off eBay, what else would I need and what does the jack shaft do with the rest of it? Thanks

 

[KartFab]

clutch ok, but may run into issues with burning it up. look up in the sticky clutch vs torque converter. clutch would be the easy/simple/short term thing to do and may suit your childs needs the best, buuuuttttt...... torque converters are so much better

Since you already have the motor mount you could just flip it backwards, as its only there for giving the engine height to clear the axle sprocket. Just go ahead and order the 30 series torque converter with 10 tooth #41/420 pitch sprocket. It bolts onto the side cover of the engine and then you put the chain around the sprocket on the torque converter, its that easy.

I haven't done this, but it seems feasible to mount the engine to the existing motor mount plate, then the torque converter to the engine. (the one with the backplate on ebay) and just skip the while thing i said about the jackshaft. This will give the engine enough height to clear the axle sprocket. If you dont understand what im saying i can try and make a drawing or something.

 

[Dsmithgall]

Hey guys, thanks to your help I was able to get kart together, bought a cheap $30 dollar clutch off ebay and it lasted about an hour..is there a better clutch for the money? Without going to a torque convertor? Predator 212, 60 tooth axle and I had a 10 tooth clutch off ebay with 41 chain.

I know torque convertor would be better, but I would need to raise motor, maybe I can eventually do that. But for now Do they offer a better clutch or can anyone recommend a decent one?

In and out of the throttle giving kids a ride, burnt that ebay clutch up real quick

 

[KartFab]

for exactly $99, your problems will all be solved. This just bolts right on (with a little grinding on the backplate)

for $20 you can buy a new clutch, it will burn up in about an hour

for $40-$50 you can buy a heavy duty clutch (like a hilliard extreme duty clutch) but you will burn it out too, make sure you get a 10Tooth clutch if you realy want to go down this path again...

...so with either of those options, you will be into it $40-$70 and burned out two clutches OR

just spend the $100 for the torque converter. If it makes you feel any better, you used to only be able to buy them for $250, until china copied them, which they did a pretty good job copying it!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Torque-Conv...604?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d19e28db4

 

[landuse]

I agree with kartfab. You can throw as much money as you want at a centrifugal clutch, but it will still burn up rather fast. This is because of the rear tyre diameter of 16". If they were say 11", then you wouldn't have a problem