Pull Start

[jrmints1415]

I have been thinking on an idea for a while now. when you want to ride a go kart you have to pull start it then go to the seat to drive. But what if you simply attached a longer rope to th pull start, and lead it from the back to the front of the kart. Then you would loop it around a piece of tubing and have it go through a bracket at the end so the handle does not rub against the ground or fall through. This way you would sit in your chair and simply pull start it in your chair. It would be located right by the steering wheel, and if you had a dashboard with switches for lights, and gauges, i think it would be a pretty cool thing to add if you didnt have an electric start. get in, pull start your engine and your off! i think this is a reason why people prefer electric start to but i think if done right would be way cooler than pull starting at the engine and efficient too. Any thoughts?

 

[Bluethunder3320]

It would take more time than ever would if youre standing. Also you get a weaker pull when youre sitting because you cant use your body to help pull.

 

[jrmints1415]

True but if it's an easy start engine like mine that only takes one pull it would start right up

 

[B man]

probly need small pullys for the rope to go on.

 

[CriticalMass]

You'd have to anchor it to the frame in a few spots to keep the pull angle right. Pulleys might work. and for every pulley you add, it's going to take more force to pull it. that's only if they are single pulleys and not a blocked setup like you see on cranes and whatnot.

If you do it, I would suggest setting it up so you pull either down or towards you. it will help with the whole sitting down and no leverage thing.

 

[Russ2251]

Would have to set up choke as well.

 

[Gillgamesh64]

Thats a great idea!!!

 

[bighead]

Look at the flip side. You would have to get in and sit down everytime you wanted to even work on it? Also if you were having engine or carb problems. It would make it hard to jump from front to back depending on the set up.

Another thing to think about is pull lenth. If you were sitting in the seat and the handle was in the dash. You would only have arms lenth pull on the rope. If it was above you on the roll ball. You would still only have arms lenth pull. Not sure you would be able to give the rope a full pull. If off road buggy you would have to hide the rop well. Your rope mounted on pullies to the roll bar has a good chance to get caught on a branch and ripped off.

Not saying do not do it. Just another angle to think about?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I can't for the life of me remember who, but somebody manufactures a kit for this. The rope ends up overhead (as the one requirement of the kit is a roll structure) but it's the same basic idea.

The manufacturer's big selling point, as I recall, is safety. In a seated position, there's no risk of the "runaway kart", which could occur if the throttle were to stick or idle turned up too high.

It's not for me, but it's not a "bad" idea. You'd just have to ensure that the system is not only engineered to work smoothly, but that you've left yourself a clear pulling path. It would really suck to get a good grip on the handle, give it a firm yank, and smash your elbow into a structural member...

 

[CriticalMass]

I would definatley make it reversible, with a connecting link near the engine where the real pull start goes so you can take it off when working on it.

 

[Badot]

I can reach the pull start on my trike from the seat, and the choke as well (long arms ) but it's pretty hard to pull start it... you really don't realize how much you use your legs until you try. Also, the distance you can pull is fairly short. Try sitting next to your kart (make sure it's not going to roll anywhere) and just pulling the cord like that. Granted, I'm not too strong by most people's standards, and I'm trying to pull with the starter behind me and to my right so it's a bit of an awkward position, but just my 2 cents.

As a side note, when pull starting from sitting, I found you really need to pay attention to where the compression stroke is and pull from there.

 

[r97]

there have bean a couple threads on this. a while back i was thinking of rigging up a kick start by extending the recoil rope through a system f pulleys to a lever that you could push with your foot while seated, now that i think about it again, i want to try it!

!!Warning!!, personally, i would shut off the sound before opening the link, that song pains my ears...
http://www.gokartinfo.com/

 

[ramairgtz]

My kart has electric start problem solved!

 

[jrmints1415]

there have bean a couple threads on this. a while back i was thinking of rigging up a kick start by extending the recoil rope through a system f pulleys to a lever that you could push with your foot while seated, now that i think about it again, i want to try it!

!!Warning!!, personally, i would shut off the sound before opening the link, that song pains my ears...
http://www.gokartinfo.com/

wow that is a really good idea! I think i want to try it out too! if you are serious about trying it maybe we could build are versions and post them on a thread so we could help each other out. i guess it wouldnt be to difficult though. If not its cool i will do one or the other though.

 

[daniel7250]

just rig up a simple electric start with 1 way bearings. iv been toying with the idea for a while . its just a matter of working out how to do it :/

 

[r97]

that works, if you have room and money for it. but in my case i woulld likely need to either remove the recoil, or add a js. i would also need a battery, motor, sprockets, and one way bearings, or pullies and a belt tensioner. non of which i have room for.....

i also checked, to convert my engine from recoil to the mfg electric start would require a new flywheel, a motor, a betterie, and probably a charging coil(all of which are very expensive!). now thats assuming i have the right block......

 

[Doc Sprocket]

...or just keep the engine in good shape, and pull start it. For kicks, I just reinstalled my driver and had a go. God, I love my Honda. 32*F, haven't run it in months, first pull. Now I have to go have a shower to get all the mud and spoo off me...
Sorry, off topic I know.

R97, your above link is the kit I was referring to. Not a bad idea at all, just watch your elbow pulling down...

 

[r97]

yea, stock is my plan for now. sounds like you have a good time in your kart. i havn't ridden mine for months....

 

[daniel7250]

or replace the pull start with a motor with a head that works the same way the pull start does? assuming you have room.

 

[daniel7250]

Guys this may excite you somewhat or it may not. but i done some searching on the american ebay and came up with this beauty http://cgi.ebay.com/ELECTRIC-START-...964?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5191c09764 . check out his store there are also other parts