Newbie Idea am I way off?

[Zombie]

I know I'm very green when it comes to go karts but I have an engine that is just a shame to let sit. I recently bought a bigger motor for my Harley and now I have the stock 80ci evo v-twin just sitting here.

How crazy would it be to install this motor into my kart? I have the Manco Dingo with the 12hp Tecumseh motor. I don't need to change anything the kart is fine the way it is. There is something inside me that just can't leave things alone i.e. the huge motor I just installed in my Harley... I have a really good mechanic that will help me with the install and I'm sure the two of us will be able to make this thing work great. I am just worried about the safety of the kart after the significant power change. I have pictures of my cart in my garage. If it were you would you try something like this or just leave the kart as is and build someting else with the evo motor? I don't want a kart that's unrideable... this motor put out 70hp and 80tq to the wheel on my bike. I think it might be way overkill huh?!

 

[Evolution6972]

Ha ha powerrrrrrrrr love the idea. You might need a bigger kart. Mine has 37hp honda engine on it and it's fun. I'm going to make sure i got pics in my profile.

 

[machinist@large]

I know I'm very green when it comes to go karts but I have an engine that is just a shame to let sit. I recently bought a bigger motor for my Harley and now I have the stock 80ci evo v-twin just sitting here.

How crazy would it be to install this motor into my kart? I have the Manco Dingo with the 12hp Tecumseh motor. I don't need to change anything the kart is fine the way it is. There is something inside me that just can't leave things alone i.e. the huge motor I just installed in my Harley... I have a really good mechanic that will help me with the install and I'm sure the two of us will be able to make this thing work great. I am just worried about the safety of the kart after the significant power change. I have pictures of my cart in my garage. If it were you would you try something like this or just leave the kart as is and build someting else with the evo motor? I don't want a kart that's unrideable... this motor put out 70hp and 80tq to the wheel on my bike. I think it might be way overkill huh?!

Is this a big twin or a Sporty? If it's the Sporty, you'll have the gear box already; the larger models run a divorced trans/ chain setup. Whether or not it's going to be a safe machine to operate after the swap depends on your right foot.

As far as technical hurdles go, if you have the Big Twin, you're going to need some form of transmission; the Sportster is a unit case design which means it's kind of hard to separate the eng. from the trans and still ride the bike. Either way, cooling will be your first hurdle; you'll need a good size electric fan to keep this thing cool at low speeds. How much electrical power do you have? The fan will cost you between 20 to 35 amps all by itself, plus what ever else you want to run....

Maybe some more detailed info is in order?

Pat

 

[Zombie]

Is this a big twin or a Sporty? If it's the Sporty, you'll have the gear box already; the larger models run a divorced trans/ chain setup. Whether or not it's going to be a safe machine to operate after the swap depends on your right foot.

As far as technical hurdles go, if you have the Big Twin, you're going to need some form of transmission; the Sportster is a unit case design which means it's kind of hard to separate the eng. from the trans and still ride the bike. Either way, cooling will be your first hurdle; you'll need a good size electric fan to keep this thing cool at low speeds. How much electrical power do you have? The fan will cost you between 20 to 35 amps all by itself, plus what ever else you want to run....

Maybe some more detailed info is in order?

Pat

Right now all I have is the motor. It's off a 1996 Fatboy so it's a big twin not a sporty. I can get my hands on a transmision and other parts i'm just not sure what it will take to make it all work proper. My cart has a 12vdc battery. I have access to used various motorcycle parts also. I think this might be a pipe dream lol...

 

[firemanjim]

Whoooaaaa.....you are gonna need a better frame for that kinda power. You will rip a yard kart apart with that torque. ...
Build a frame around that motor. Double A-arm front with12-14 inches of suspension. A-arm or trailing arm set up for rear with 14-16" of travel. VW irs axles n hubs with a custom spool set up.....i could talk about this all day......
No , its not a pipe dream,but will cost you some coin and time..... you can do it......dont let anyone tell you you can't. .....

 

[Zombie]

Whoooaaaa.....you are gonna need a better frame for that kinda power. You will rip a yard kart apart with that torque. ...
Build a frame around that motor. Double A-arm front with12-14 inches of suspension. A-arm or trailing arm set up for rear with 14-16" of travel. VW irs axles n hubs with a custom spool set up.....i could talk about this all day......
No , its not a pipe dream,but will cost you some coin and time..... you can do it......dont let anyone tell you you can't. .....

are there frames already built I could buy? I'm not looking to brake the bank but I'd set a budget of $1,200+/- a few bucks... I have seen plenty of buggy's for sale on CL that use VW engines. Is this something more along the lines I would be building? I like the idea of a crazy go kart but I think it's just to much engine for my kart.

 

[firemanjim]

{{{{{are there frames already built I could buy? I'm not looking to brake the bank but I'd set a budget of $1,200+/- a few bucks... I have seen plenty of buggy's for sale on CL that use VW engines. Is this something more along the lines I would be building? I like the idea of a crazy go kart but I think it's just to much engine for my kart.}}}}
It might be easier to start from scratch than modify/beef up something else. Here is what Iwould do in your shoes.....
Ok i got my motor/trans and bit n pieces to make it run. Now, Im going to start buying steel tube, seat, belt/harness, and the hard part,deciding what suspension to use. Ok ,its my first build. Lets stick with a simple double A-arm set up from china karts, BEEFED UP. Gonna use the same spindles , brakes and hubs. Again,first build, so I'm gonna use a simple swing arm rear end suspension. Got a BIG motor so i want to use a quad rear end if i can get one for ease of fabbing.... if not,iI'm gonna want an axle more like 1&1/2 or whatever it is on the big china karts. Again, use those hubs,brakes,ect. Now with all my pieces in the garage, I'm going to start drawing on my floor a simple shape to go by,reference.... to see how its all gonna go together. Now I'm gonna put down my seat and sit down. Have a buddy measure me how i want to ride(riding position) and put the motor behind seat along with axle n tires. This is all gonna help me know how big i want it. Position everything where you "see" it....
Do you get where I'm going? If not, I will gladly keep on going......

 

[Zombie]

{{{{{are there frames already built I could buy? I'm not looking to brake the bank but I'd set a budget of $1,200+/- a few bucks... I have seen plenty of buggy's for sale on CL that use VW engines. Is this something more along the lines I would be building? I like the idea of a crazy go kart but I think it's just to much engine for my kart.}}}}
It might be easier to start from scratch than modify/beef up something else. Here is what Iwould do in your shoes.....
Ok i got my motor/trans and bit n pieces to make it run. Now, Im going to start buying steel tube, seat, belt/harness, and the hard part,deciding what suspension to use. Ok ,its my first build. Lets stick with a simple double A-arm set up from china karts, BEEFED UP. Gonna use the same spindles , brakes and hubs. Again,first build, so I'm gonna use a simple swing arm rear end suspension. Got a BIG motor so i want to use a quad rear end if i can get one for ease of fabbing.... if not,iI'm gonna want an axle more like 1&1/2 or whatever it is on the big china karts. Again, use those hubs,brakes,ect. Now with all my pieces in the garage, I'm going to start drawing on my floor a simple shape to go by,reference.... to see how its all gonna go together. Now I'm gonna put down my seat and sit down. Have a buddy measure me how i want to ride(riding position) and put the motor behind seat along with axle n tires. This is all gonna help me know how big i want it. Position everything where you "see" it....
Do you get where I'm going? If not, I will gladly keep on going......

You and I are on the same page my friend... I am picking up what you are putting down. Thanks for spelling it out so a simpleton like me would understand lol... I really appreciate your insight and thanks for your time. Let me see what I can put together if it starts overwhelming me i'm going to build a bobber style harley. It's what I know. If I peice together the kart parts I'll post my build. Thanks for your help!!!

Adam

 

[OzFab]

What about something like a Morgan 3 wheeler, only in 4 wheel format...

 

[Zombie]

What about something like a Morgan 3 wheeler, only in 4 wheel format...

WOW! Now that is inspiration!!! very cool... I am still looking at some go kart plans, talking to local fabricators to help build a frame and pick their heads. Which ever way I go I will be sure to post it... If it's not go kart related per say I'll make it short and sweet. Don't want to go way off topic on this forum. You guys rock! Lots of good info here and people willing to help and share ideas.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Scout]

I have several pics of this, but I don't have any info on who built the chassis. I do know it's not garage built though.

 

[Zombie]

That is what close to what I see in my head when I think about this project. pretty close except I was thinking skiny motorcycle tires. Thanks for the pic's and ideas, hopefully I can come up with something cool.

 

[firemanjim]

The red buggy is kinda what i "see" too, but with some skinny bike fronts and fat low pro bike rears.... more like a single seat ROCKET......

 

[OzFab]

There's definitely a lot of work & a lot more dollars gone into that thing...

Keep in mind that bike wheels aren't designed with side load in mind... Just saying

 

[firemanjim]

There's definitely a lot of work & a lot more dollars gone into that thing...

Keep in mind that bike wheels aren't designed with side load in mind... Just saying

No no, I know that.... We (sandrail guys) use street bike tires mounted on car wheels for the fronts ,especially guys that live close to the sand dunes. The bike tires work great in sands for steering and lets you have DOT skinnies for the ride home....
Im sure you can find a car wheel that you could mount those wide 280-360 (?) FAT WIDE tires you see on the high $$$ choppers...
It would definitely be a "street kart" , and a fast one at that....
Might as well make it streetable, with "custom " or home built title n registration. If you are gonna drop that kinda coin, make you'reHarley bbuddies envious that you ride a Harley and your car is Harley POWERED.....