Probably an easy clutch question....

[dave1701]

So I got a cheap new go kart last year september. It has a centrifugal clutch. It was my 1st and hopefully last. The problem is, that I think the dang thing accelerates too quick. When we first got it runnin' the 1 wheel drive tore line in our yard. And it wasn't like I was slamming on the accelerator. The other problem is that the thing won't go up hill worth a darn. It goes plenty fast, but it seems to have a little traction Issue. Thats my main problem. When I use it on grass or even gravel to a lesser degree, I have to just barely push on the accelerator to keep it from spinning my drive wheel. I guess this might be all right if I only drove it on the road, but I usually and driving on grass and old two-tracks and stuff, usually in the woods. Oh and I know I know, It's not the best to be drivin' a one wheel drive through the mud and the woods but its all I got. So, now to my question. Should I switch from my centrifugal clutch to a Torque converter? Will it help with the drive wheel slipping, and will it help driving my one wheel drive off road? Also, will it help with the uphill driving? I don't need to go that fast.

Thanks

 

[dave1701]

Oh, I forgot to say that my Engine is a 5hp tecumseh with a 3/4in. tapped 5/16in.-24 shaft with 3/16in. keyway

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Torque converter would not stop tire slippage. either switch over to live axle, or get a agressive knobby tire, thats your only hope.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Being that you have a one wheel drive kart, a torque converter is not an option for you period. If you want the cheapest rout, may I consider some x-trak tires? Krunch is right.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Being that you have a one wheel drive kart, a torque converter is not an option for you period. If you want the cheapest rout, may I consider some x-trak tires? Krunch is right.

You can indeed set up a torque converter with a 1-wheel drive kart, however there is really no point, unless you like to constantly spin your tire.

 

[EagleTalons]

One wheel peel woohoo!

 

[Blazkowiez]

So that makes it an option? You would really want to go out of your way to make a custom jackshaft ahead or behind the engine, ride the sprocket ahead of the driven clutch all so you can have an imbalanced kart? I consider that ill.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

So that makes it an option? You would really want to go out of your way to make a custom jackshaft ahead or behind the engine, ride the sprocket ahead of the driven clutch all so you can have an imbalanced kart? I consider that ill.

I said it wasn't worth it, but technically you could. You were saying that it wasn't an option at all.

 

[Rotore]

Switch to a live axle and some off road tires..

 

[Blazkowiez]

Would you rather I re-word my post to say that switching to a torque converter would not be wise instead of it is not an option period? Nearly anything is possible on a kart yet most of them are inadvisable. Why would you consider spending all of that time, effort, and money on doing something that I would consider NOT AN OPTION. Should we turn our efforts to something more beneficial to the rest of the community instead of simply bickering? Thats awesome that its possible, we can tell a torque converter on a one wheel drive could happen with a great deal of effort, but it is not something that should, therefore I have deemed it not an option for this person's clutch question.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Im not trying to argue. I dont know you, amd had no clue what way you meant it, for all i knew you could have known nothing about karts, and actually though it was not possible.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Its cool man, I've had to answer that question more than 50 times for customers in the past. I've drawn pictures to elaborate, and its just not that great. Distribution seems to be the final issue in the long run if you were to position things correctly.

I'll throw up some pictures on Tuesday of what I meant in an earlier post regarding x-trak tires. They're very deep and make some one wheel drive karts perform off-road affordable where they normally could not using turf tread tires.

I was truthfully hoping you were not simply trying to make a point of feasibility.