New to go kart building, which motor to use?

[Leo]

Hello everyone i am just starting to design my first go kart and am thinking of using a honda gc160 engine . Got a couple questions regarding the gc series and any advise would be greatly appreciated.

1. How is it in terms of reliability?
2. How quiet is it?
3. GC or GX, which one would you recommand?
4. What's a cheap place to get these things?
Thx again for any advise!

Leo

 

[Jblankster]

1. dont know, never used hondas.
2. its a honda so prolly pretty quiet. dont forget though more muffeled exhaust=less power.
3.which one is better?
4. ebay or northern tool.

if you dont get that though i suggest a briggs raptor or something else. for that price you can get a engine with more horsepower on ebay.

 

[mikeandike]

1. really reliable (never used one myself but thats why they cloned hondas not briggs)

2. depends on how you mount it. Solid mount will make lots more noise because of vibration. Rubber mount will be much less noise. Most people think its the exaust and how you muffle it but mounting has a big influence on noise level. I would say if you mount it with rubber grommets or something of the sort it will be pretty quiet.

3.I would say the Gx is better because you can modify it way easier.

4. Smallenginewarehouse.com - ebay.com - Northern i would say is pretty expensive

 

[Leo]

Thx a lot im much more confident in choosing my engine now. And, didn't know the about rubber mount stuff, so thanks a bunch.

Leo

 

[2or3wheels]

Try e bay you can sometimes get some that are just broke in and get them for 1/2 the price. $220 is rather expensive, for that you could buy a raptor racing engine on ebay and get crazy hp.

 

[Jblankster]

i have rubber mounts (basically thick rubber doughnuts) on my friends kart because we needed so many washers to lift it to correct hight we use 1 rubber per mount hole then 2 washers per hole (on on top and one on bottom of rubber washer). they work good. cant comment on noise though, we were running straight pipes. the other thing is with rubber, you dont know when to stop tighening them down to the frame, and they can some times come loose. if you use them use bolts and nuts that wont back out and use lock washers.

 

[mikeandike]

Yeah jblankster is right. I never thought about that because i use nylocks on all my bolts.

 

[DRAGONFLY14715]

Hondas Are The Worst In My Book They Dont Last Long With My Go Kart I Rip Through Woods

 

[DRAGONFLY14715]

1. really reliable (never used one myself but thats why they cloned hondas not briggs) BUT I HAD BETTER LUCK WITH BRIGGS

 

[Jblankster]

^^ +2 briggs are way better