new to the go kart world, just a few questions

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

maiden

New member
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
hey guys,
ive been wanting to build a go kart for a while now and i think now is the time. would it be ok to use 1/8 of an inch 1x1 square tube to take care of all of the frame work? i want to make it on road only so what kind of tires would i use? 6 inch? also ive been doing some research on torque converters and im a few things are a bit foggy... i saw one on sit and it said it was good for 2-7 hp but what if i do some work to the engine and it ends up making 10 or 13? do you just change out some parts or do you have to buy a new converter at every time you upgrade the motor? i was thinking of just getting a honda clone engine, either a titan 6.5 or a powerfist 6.5( the princess auto ones).

thats about all for now guys,
thanks alot for reading!!
 
Swabbster

Swabbster

New member
Messages
439
Reaction score
0
where in canada do you live, me any toy story can help you out finding parts, i have built a go kart using 1x1 1/8 thivk square tubing, i have used 15 inch lawnmower front tires for the rear, and mini atv tires for the front, i was running a a 54t #40 rear sprocket, with the tav2 knockoff, at about 260 lbs rider and id say 150 pound go kart it would do donuts and spin the tires off the line, using a 6.5hp ducar (powerfist) motor, tires id recommend slicks but here in canada cops don't like go karts, i attached a pic,
 

Attachments

  • go kart.jpg
    go kart.jpg
    80.7 KB · Views: 28
r_chez_08

r_chez_08

Should be in the shop...
Messages
4,827
Reaction score
12
Location
Cornwall, UK
If you get a genuine comet tav2 it should be alright with a 10hp motor. Much larger than that you are looking at a 40 series.
 
mysteryboy28

mysteryboy28

New member
Messages
1,582
Reaction score
10
Location
Lansing, MI
for a little single seater a 6.5 hp motor and tav2 (comet 30 or clone) would be fine (for a lightweight rider). if you want something beefier, then go with a 420cc clone motor and a comet 40 setup (you'll have to make a jackshaft for the secondary, or driven, clutch). stay away from the Duromax motors - they aren't go-kart friendly. 10 tooth clutch sprocket and 60 tooth axle sprocket and some 12 inch tires for a small kart, or 18 inch rear tires for a bigger kart. if you go 18" then you'll probably want a bigger axle sprocket (70 tooth?) to keep the torque.
 
mysteryboy28

mysteryboy28

New member
Messages
1,582
Reaction score
10
Location
Lansing, MI
i like repeating myself. lol.

the idle RPM is 1800 RPMs, clutches kick in at 1600 rpm. do the math. lol. kart tries to go as soon as the motor starts. turning the idle screw down does nothing unless you find a way to attach a return spring on the carb, which interferes with the throttle/governor spring, affecting your pedal control. also, lowering the idle to under 1600 rpms makes the motor hard to start, hence the factory setting of 1800 RPMs. also, you have to fabricate a throttle cable hookup, they don't have 'em. evil machines! for a little more $ you can get a spiffy Predator 420cc that's ready to mount to your kart. all they require is loosening the throttle arm (they're tightened down for industrial use) with a couple turns of a nut, and a beefier throttle arm return spring.
 
OzFab

OzFab

Well-known member
Messages
15,615
Reaction score
67
Location
Warwick Qld, Australia
IMO, 1/8" tubing is too heavy, 1/16" will be fine. Everyone always says "larger thin wall is better than small thick wall" but, if it's only a small kart, 25mm x 25mm x 1.6mm will do the job well.

If you have a CVT (torque converter) that fits a 3/4" shaft, you won't need to worry about putting 10hp through it; IIRC the strongest engine with a 3/4" shaft is 8hp, with mods you might get 10hp out of it but, I think you'll e happy enough with a 6.5hp
 
souperman000

souperman000

New member
Messages
2,466
Reaction score
10
Location
Westlake Village, CA
Fabroman said:
IMO, 1/8" tubing is too heavy, 1/16" will be fine. Everyone always says "larger thin wall is better than small thick wall" but, if it's only a small kart, 25mm x 25mm x 1.6mm will do the job well.

If you have a CVT (torque converter) that fits a 3/4" shaft, you won't need to worry about putting 10hp through it; IIRC the strongest engine with a 3/4" shaft is 8hp, with mods you might get 10hp out of it but, I think you'll e happy enough with a 6.5hp
Click to expand...

Some 8hp may have a 3/4" shaft, but most I have seen has a 1 inch. 8 and up usually has a 1 inch shaft.

There may be one out there, I don't know....
 
Swabbster

Swabbster

New member
Messages
439
Reaction score
0
my go kart is not that heavy, i can lift it by my self, a 6.5hp motor with a tav2, is plenty big or small, im lik 260 lbs and my kart weighs at least 150lbs, and it has a **** ton of torque, it is not the fastest, but still really fun, my gearing at 5.4:1 with 15 inch tires is great for back alleys,
 
mysteryboy28

mysteryboy28

New member
Messages
1,582
Reaction score
10
Location
Lansing, MI
i put a 13hp through a comet 30. kept burning up belts till i lowered my gear ratio to 10:1 with 22 inch tires. only gave me 24mph top speed, but oodles of torque! lol.

so you COULD get away with it if you had a pretty low gear ratio... with a top speed of about 30mph on a light kart...
 
souperman000

souperman000

New member
Messages
2,466
Reaction score
10
Location
Westlake Village, CA
mysteryboy28 said:
i put a 13hp through a comet 30. kept burning up belts till i lowered my gear ratio to 10:1 with 22 inch tires. only gave me 24mph top speed, but oodles of torque! lol.

so you COULD get away with it if you had a pretty low gear ratio... with a top speed of about 30mph on a light kart...
Click to expand...

Did you have some type of adaptor? we are worried about shaft size because the TC he posted is a 3/4" bore.
 
M

maiden

New member
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
thanks for all of the help guys! i live just south of calgary near okotoks, not to worried about cops since i live in the country with 2 newish communities with tones of quite roads to rip on. ive seen a site online that says you can build a clone engine up to 26hp? that cant be right can it? and if so is there a torque converter that even allows that much on 3/4 in? is 150 lbs a good weight for a kart? im 240 lbs so would 6.5hp be enough? sorry for the bombardment of questions, i jst want to build one good kart that i have no regrets about building. one more question... how does a torque converter work? ive seen vids on youtube and it seems to expand then grabs the belt the turns a chain?

hopefully i wont be a noob for long!!!
thanks again guys
 
OzFab

OzFab

Well-known member
Messages
15,615
Reaction score
67
Location
Warwick Qld, Australia
maiden said:
how does a torque converter work?
Click to expand...

As the engine RPM increases, the plates on the driver clutch (on the engine) are pushed closer together which forces the belt to "climb" up. this, in turn makes the belt around the driven clutch smaller so, the plates are forced apart.

If you know anything about belt or chain drives, you will know that a small driver & a large driven will reduce the speed from the source, whether it be a gas engine or electric motor or hand crank etc. A large driver & a small driven will increase the speed, as seen on a bicycle.

What a torque converter does is start at a reduced speed or ratio & change to higher speeds as you get faster.

In short, it's like an automatic gearbox in a car.

As for the chain drive; all that does is tranfer the power from the driven clutch to the rear axle...
 
Swabbster

Swabbster

New member
Messages
439
Reaction score
0
ya but the 196cc would be just fine, i believe 6.5hp is the sweet spot for them torque converters, enough power, but no to much that you wear or burn out belts quick, and i live in medicine hat, about two hours away from you. i have found the cheapest place for me to get a torque converter (will be the same for you) is bmikarts.com they sell them for 170 shipped, on ebay you can find them cheaper but when you add on shipping the one from bmi is the best price, i have one, it works great, it is bolted up to my 6.5hp power fist motor, if you ever need a new belt princess auto sells them, the comet # is 203589, and they cost 24.99, but don't be worried the china belts works great, i got about 10 hours, and on my 203589 belt i bought, i have about 20 hours so far, riding in mostly crowsnest pass,
CLUTCH: http://www.bmikarts.com/item/Torque-Converter-for-41-Chain-34-Bore-TAV2-Replacement-473441-2-7762
BELT: http://www.princessauto.com/pal/pro...ter-Belt/Replacement-Belt-for-Torq-Converters
ENGINE: http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8088379/Horizontal/6.5-HP-196cc-OHV-Gas-Engine
 

Attachments

  • $T2eC16FHJIYE9qUcNTrIBQLWgvFgs!~~48_35.JPG
    $T2eC16FHJIYE9qUcNTrIBQLWgvFgs!~~48_35.JPG
    13.8 KB · Views: 12
  • Torque-Converter-for-41-Chain-34-Bore-TAV2-Replacement-473441-27762-21485 (1).jpg
    Torque-Converter-for-41-Chain-34-Bore-TAV2-Replacement-473441-27762-21485 (1).jpg
    32.7 KB · Views: 2
  • CometIndustriesLogo (1).jpg
    CometIndustriesLogo (1).jpg
    35.9 KB · Views: 1
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top