Newbie with some engine questions!

[Lucas W]

My buddy and I are trying to build a go-kart. The other day after driving around for a bit we found a Honda Harmony 215 lawnmower on the side of the road. Free! (its engine is a Honda GXV140 - - 5HP Score right?

Well it being a mower engine and all it has a vertical shaft. Now, obviously I can't turn expect turning it on its side and strapping it to a car will work. I know that some serious modifications have to take place for the engine to even function.

It this even worth attempting? Do people do it all the time? or should I just sell the thing and look for a snowblower engine..?

After some research I found a website called "Gokartguru" who claims to have some mystical way of doing this [URL="http://gokartguru.com/go_kart_building_202.php"]http://gokartguru.com/go_kart_building_202.php"no one has ever thought of" because everyone thinks "Vertical Engines are not useable on Go Karts." (not true). So because this is such a breakthrough or something the "Go kart Building 202" course found on their site costs $20 for the 11 page pdf. (lame!) Does anyone know anything about that?

 

[KartFab]

Worth attempting? Do you enjoy headaches?
Do people do it all the time? They ask about doing it and then disappear because it's hard.
Sell the thing? Yes.

Horizontal shaft engines can be found on the following: power washer, pressure washer, snow blower, wood chipper, log splitter, trash pump, water pump, generator (watch out for tapered, you want straight shaft), edger, tiller,

You can also save the most money by just buying a used go kart. More often than not, the tires are shot and the engine doesn't run. If the air filter is still on the engine, and there is still oil in it, and you can turn it over, all it really would need is a carb clean. You can get a used kart for $100 or less.

 

[landuse]

Worth attempting? Do you enjoy headaches?
Do people do it all the time? They ask about doing it and then disappear because it's hard.
Sell the thing? Yes.

Horizontal shaft engines can be found on the following: power washer, pressure washer, snow blower, wood chipper, log splitter, trash pump, water pump, generator (watch out for tapered, you want straight shaft), edger, tiller,

You can also save the most money by just buying a used go kart. More often than not, the tires are shot and the engine doesn't run. If the air filter is still on the engine, and there is still oil in it, and you can turn it over, all it really would need is a carb clean. You can get a used kart for $100 or less.

I agree, but just be careful, pressure washers sometimes have tapered shafts. This is a big no no for kart use