riding mower go kart

[gvfc2]

i know this has most likely gotten discussed before. but im posting my thread for it. im thinking of converting my lawn mower which is a craftsman 2n1 ride n mulch. its just having to many problems with kill switches everywhere and the solenoid so im taking off the engine and the transaxle putting on a different engine with a live axle. taking off cutting deck as its not needed. it is a rear engine lawnmower.

any suggestions? like difficulty and minimum pricing?

also should i stay with a 10hp engine or go a little smaller?

axle length is 21" from inside wheel to inside wheel. thinking of going up to a 32" axle

 

[hefner22]

Smaller engine!? You must be crazy lol

 

[Slim jim]

go with bigger engine or stick with your 10hp

 

[gvfc2]

well i would stick with the 10hp engine i have now but i cant quite seem to get the carburetor tuned right. also with all the kill switches i just want to rip off all the electricals. yesterday i was trying to tune the carb and then it started revving out of control and tried turning it off with the key kill switch but just would not turn off. any help there?

 

[Bluethunder3320]

hey, i had better luck with a smaller engine once. had a craftsman LT1000 with 16hp kohler, that engine weighed 80-90 lbs. i put a 8hp briggs flatty in it, probably weighs round 35 lbs. this was better because it made it alot lighter and it was a crawler/mudder hydrostatic so the engine was never under much load. also i was able to get rid of the battery, wiring, starter, etc.

but if you're making it for speed, definitely go for as big engine as possible

 

[Doc Sprocket]

You need to examine the wiring very closely. The kill circuit is what you want to examine. The safety switches all tie into the kill circuit. Don't just go randomly ripping fistfulls of wiring out. There's the ignition and starting circuits, a 12v charge circuit for the battery, and quite possibly an AC lighting circuit.

I can't account for the revving out of control (governor problem?) but not shutting off with the key is a problem in the kill circuit. Perhaps you had already pulled a few wires off, or one let go somewhere. Killing the engine requires grounding out the magneto. If the circuit does not complete, the engine does not kill.

 

[gvfc2]

yea i believe its a wire up by the ignition switch because now the starter solenoid isnt working and neither is killing the engine. so the wiring by the switch has to be bad. also there is no lighting on my mower. i believe the revving is just due to the carb. i never messed with the wiring. i know of the charging from the engine to the battery and the charging from the on board maintainer and then the starting circuit.

i might just go with a bigger engine. maybe a 15hp would do me just fine. anyone know anywhere i could get one for kinda cheap but not a clone? dont feel like messing with clones right now. unless clone would be cheaper.

 

[OzFab]

IMO, sort your wiring before you think about swapping the engine; the problem will still be there with a new engine

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I'll second that. PLUS- I see it as near-criminal to junk an engine because of a wiring issue- especially an external wiring issue.

 

[gvfc2]

i wasnt going to junk it. it was going to be sold. also i was going to convert to live axle with longer wheel base and go from horizontal to vertical shaft engine. also i was going to rip out all the wiring and put new stuff in for the new engine. it would be an electric start engine with solenoid on starter. but i will get the wiring sorted out and get the carb tuned so it would be easier to sell. unless it would be easier to swap out the pullies from engine to tranny. but the brake with in the tranny works half the time so i dont really trust that. but guess i could just take it apart or buy a new tranny.

what do you guys think?

 

[landuse]

Clean your carb well and see if you still have your problems regarding the tuning. Make sure your gaskets are also not leaking

 

[gvfc2]

well i got the electrical fixed. simple problem of not being grounded and the mower deck clutch lever has to be in the disengaged position so it works fine now regarding that. for then carb i got to the best i can. almost what it was in the beginning.

should i take any note of what to do to make it not tip over when turning? also its a RER

how can i make the wheel base longer without changing transaxles. like making the output axles longer?

 

[landuse]

should i take any note of what to do to make it not tip over when turning? also its a RER

I know some guys flip the axle around so that the mower sits lower than what it originally did. This will lower your center of gravity

 

[gvfc2]

how would i flip the axle?

 

[slideways]

If its a rear engine rider you don't have a regular transaxle... most likely you have what is called a Right angle gearbox like a Peerless 600. It uses a belt to work with your vertical shaft mower engine then converts to a chain to drive the axle sprocket much like a go kart. Problem is the sprockets are never a universal, easy to find type.

Best and cheapest way to have a little fun is to put about a 2" smaller diameter pulley on the transmission side and a 1" bigger one on the engine side (you'll have to remove the factory double pulley and ditch the deck). Then find the right belt and you'll have a mower that goes about 15mph which is about as fast as you want to go without killing yourself.

 

[gvfc2]

it has a transaxle with 5 speed nuetral and reverse. its a belt that goes from engine to tranny with two out put shafts with wheels on the end. also it has a in tranny brake. not one of those small discs on the outside buts its on the inside. if it will help i could take the tranny off and take pictures

 

[landuse]

it has a transaxle with 5 speed nuetral and reverse. its a belt that goes from engine to tranny with two out put shafts with wheels on the end. also it has a in tranny brake. not one of those small discs on the outside buts its on the inside. if it will help i could take the tranny off and take pictures

Pictures will definately help some. I also think Bluethunder flipped his axle around, so maybe PM him and ask the details on how to do it

 

[gvfc2]

ok will do. I will also get some pictures up tomorrow when i get home.

 

[gvfc2]

well didnt get a chance to get the transaxle off but the mower is a craftsman re2000

 

[gvfc2]

got the tranny off and on the barcode it has it says its a spicer. well heres the photos of it