Please Help

[scubasteve1043]

I just finished building my first kart yesterday only to find out that it would not move. I have a streaker frame with 205cc briggs thats brand new, a 48 tooth sprocket, a 12 tooth hilliard clutch and golf cart tires front and back. If I jack the kart up the tire will turn just fine but I can have someone hold the tire while I hit the throttle and they can keep it from spinning. I'm not sure if my sprocket and clutch are not right for the golf cart tires or what. Once I put the kart on the ground and hit the throttle the brand new clutch will smoke after a few seconds. Maybe the clutch I have is just crap or I just don't have enough power to turn the golf cart tires. I have a lot of time invested and just want to be able to ride it so please help me if you can, thanks.

 

[gvfc2]

well look at your ratio. thats not a good one. but im not really that knowledgeable. but it seems alittle to close if you have room for a jackshaft use that. if you have room for a bigger rear sprocket use that.

 

[scubasteve1043]

I have a fixed axle so I don't think there is room for a jackshaft so I'm guessing that I will have to just go with smaller tires. I don't know exactly how big torque converters are or if they will even work on a fixed axle but maybe thats a possibility.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Please define "fixed axle".

Your ratio is too high, you're going to have to regear one way or the other. I can tell you pretty confidently that 4:1 will not be an appropriate gear ratio no matter which tires you choose. Even with a CVT, performance will be less than lovely at 4:1. With that engine, you're likely going to have to be up around 6:1. What is the overall diameter of those tires?

 

[scubasteve1043]

I just mean its not a live axle, its only 1 wheel drive. I believe the tires are 18" which from what I have researched so far are just too big and will not work with a centrifugal clutch.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Okay- you are pretty limited here. Generally, a CVT/dead axle combo isn't very workable. And, generally 18" tires are too big for a basic clutch. Your simplest solution IS to go back to kart-sized tires, and gear accordingly.

 

[scubasteve1043]

Ok, I really appreciate the help and I guess will be getting rid of these golf cart tires and finding something a lot smaller.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Just for kicks, why not put up a pic or two? It might need reworking, but I think it would be interesting to see.

 

[gvfc2]

if you have 1wd you should have room for a jackshaft but yea put up some pictures up. a jackshaft doesnt have to be that big. but there would be some reworking. also i used a cent. clutch with 21 inch atv tires and i had a 9hp engine. but the clutch would smoke due to to much power. my jack shaft was 12 on engine 21 on js in. js out was like 36 and axle was 48. pretty good speed too. just idle was 20mph


EDIT:js out was like 14 and axle was 48

didnt mean 36. i just reread. sorry for that

 

[scubasteve1043]

These are the only pics I have right now but I will try to get some of it complete tomorrow.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6786080781_477214e20a_m.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6786080369_4dd9b3db53_m.jpg

 

[gvfc2]

when you do get some more get some of the back area. also try and get them alittle bigger if you can

 

[scubasteve1043]

Yeah I figured thats what you wanted to see, thats just what I happened to have on my phone at the moment.

 

[gvfc2]

well some are better than none

 

[Doc Sprocket]

also i used a cent. clutch with 21 inch atv tires and i had a 9hp engine. but the clutch would smoke due to to much power. my jack shaft was 12 on engine 21 on js in. js out was like 36 and axle was 48. pretty good speed too. just idle was 20mph

Clutch should NEVER smoke! Looking at your above ratio, no bloody wonder it did. Has absolutely nothing to do with "too much power". Has everything to do with the fact that 2.33:1 is an incredibly high ratio, too high by a long shot. 20MPH idle? Yeah.

 

[gvfc2]

well im just guessing because i bought that cart but didnt mess with the ratio. if it was to high why did it try to pop wheelies when barley pressing the gas? also i didnt press the gas and had it at idle speed and it got that fast. im telling you the clutch i was using wasnt rated for that power

 

[gvfc2]

sorry it was a complete typo meant 14 not 36

 

[kaymo]

did you center the steering or was it already like that? just wondering because i have a similar frame.

i like that size tire though id build my setup around that. i think with that size tire it would be a lot more comfortable cart...

 

[landuse]

sorry it was a complete typo meant 14 not 36

So doing the calculations, your ratio is (21/12) * (48/14) = 6:1

 

[gvfc2]

but to bad i dont have that cart anymore. i should have kept it. but needed the money for a gift for the gf.

 

[landuse]

but to bad i dont have that cart anymore. i should have kept it. but needed the money for a gift for the gf.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!