New to Go Kart Design

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Haemon

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Hey everyone, new to the forums and new to go kart design. Ive repaired and rebuilt snowmobiles for years, including engine rebuilds. So when I came across a nice little 190cc Briggs and Stratton in a Troybilt push mower I just knew I had to do something worthwhile with it. I'm also in the process of rebuild on a 440cc liquid cooled engine from a snowmobile that would make an amazing go-kart powerplant.

Hoping I can learn from you guys, ask questions and eventually offer up help in return one day. Looking forward to some enlightening threads.
 
chancer

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Welcome. I think you need to go with the 440. Sounds like the briggs is probably a vertical shaft you want a horizontal shaft for a kart.
 
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Haemon

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Yeah I was aware that vertical engines require more work to make useable, but also read that it isn't that bad if you know what your doing.

The 440 is in pieces right now, its been sitting outside for god knows how many years. It's actually an abandoned snowmobile (91ish Arctic Cat Prowler). The engine was seized and im sure the cause was due to melted coolant lines I found. Someone took a lot of this machine apart and scrapped pieces they deemed worthy of use on something else. Carbs are missing as well (Mikuni 34's from what I've read).

So im not sure if it's going to be worth rebuilding or not. Will need at a minimum 1 piston (2 to do it right), 2 carbs, one if not both cylinders honed if not bored or replaced if nikisil coated. It might cost more than its worth. That is even assuming nothing is wrong with the bottom end, which looks good at first glance.

Also scrapped 39x11 and 20x11 gear with the matching chain, not sure if that ratio is useable for go karts (4.33?)
 
rushking19

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Yeah than the Briggs will be cheaper, but have less Hp, like 3hp, The Snowmobile engine will cost more but have way more power like 35 I'm Also In The Process of rebuilding a snowmobile engine, Too To Go On A Go Kart, Its A Rotax 399cc Type 401 24hp
 
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Haemon

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I would have thought the B&S would be closer to 6-7 HP and those older 440 liquids are closer to the 50 hp range. My 550 fan cooled is rated for right at 60 if I remember right. The liquids get that much more power over the fan cooled. Are you measuring at the fly wheel and at what RPM? Also any major performance difference because of jetting and Winter vs Summer?

Nice, you have a frame already for the 400? Im interested to see what others do with snowmobile parts. With the gears from this I wonder if they will be useable. Also considering using the front frame and A-Arm structure from the same old sled. Then it would have IFS. With a 440 engine, I would think this would make a great 2 person buggy style go kart?
 
OzFab

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Did you notice the word "modern" in my post? If they can now extract 5hp from a 190cc, you would expect that the old 206cc 5hp would now create 6.5hp with advancements in technology...

Up until the late 1980's, the B&S 206cc flathead had changed very little over the previous few decades &, therefore, was marketed as a 5hp; they may have produced more power but, that's what they were sold as as they could guarantee a minimum of 5hp; these days, the hp rating has been dropped for the more accurate torque rating...
 
OzFab

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...& that would be a "modern" engine...

I had a 190cc 5hp engine on a push mower which was a flathead...

For all we know, we are both correct but, the OP hasn't specifies whether his engine is a flatty or OHV...
 
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