Predator 212 best cheap/bang-for-buck mods?

[JToTheIzzack]

Sorry if this thread already exists, I'm still pretty new here and haven't looked around all that much. Anyways, I recently bought a predator 212 for 120 bucks new from H.F., and I'm looking to hop it up a little, as it's still a little slow. I'm not looking to spend too much money, like <$30, since my whole go kart has only cost me about 250 bucks. Aside from the obvious exhaust and intake, are there any cheap mods that add good performance? I have the non-hemi version with the stamped valve cover. Thanks, any help is much appreciated.

 

[KartFab]

The obvious is the best.

New jet and remove governor may get you something. Intake/exhaust will cost more and get better performance.

 

[mckutzy]

Here at AGK, they have an overview of some easy and cheap mods.

http://www.affordablegokarts.com/performance_basics.php

 

[landuse]

the obvious is the best.

New jet and remove governor may get you something. Intake/exhaust will cost more and get better performance.

x 2

 

[JToTheIzzack]

Cool, thanks for the info. I'm also thinking about removing the governor, but the website recommends getting a billet flywheel, as the normal ones have a tendency to grenade. I'm not looking to spend that much dough on this build, so is the new flywheel really necessary? Thanks.

 

[OzFab]

That tutorial also suggests upgrading the valve springs, DON'T! By removing the governor, you increase the maximum RPM, the stock valve springs will cause valve bounce (or flutter) at around 5000rpm.

By replacing the valve springs, you remove valve bounce from the equation & your engine is now a bomb waiting to go off, unless you replace the conrod & flywheel with billet units.

However, with the stock valve springs in place, the stock conrod & flywheel shoud be safe up to around 6000rpm, which the engine will never reach as a result of the aforementioned valve bounce...

 

[JToTheIzzack]

the stock valve springs will cause valve bounce (or flutter) at around 5000rpm...

.

Wont this cause the valves to float and the valve retainers to come loose, potentially dropping a valve? This happened on an old Tecumseh of mine when the carb got stuck at full throttle and the chain came off, even with the stock governor in place. The results weren't good. And i'm not really looking to shatter a piston head on a brand new motor.

 

[OzFab]

Wont this cause the valves to float and the valve retainers to come loose, potentially dropping a valve?

Not if you don't hold it there indefinitely; one would think that, if/when you hear the engine stuttering, you'd back off the throttle...

Besides that, you're talking about Tecumseh vs Honda clone; Tecumseh didn't go out of business because they built the best engine in the world...

Interesting fact: An acquantence of mine recently bought a Chinese Honda clone engine; upon tearing it down, he noticed that some parts (like piston, conrod, crank) were all marked with Honda insignias & part numbers. Further research showed that Honda engines are made in a Chinese factory, probably alongside the thousands of clones out there...