snowmobile engine?

[keep33]

Will a snowmobile (1985 Yamaha Phazer 480 fan cooled) engine work on a kart if you properly jet it? I've heard both yes and no but would like some REAL advice from someone here. Thanks.

 

[redsox985]

Yes. I haven't done it, but many here have. Harvesting the mounts from the sled will help as they can be welded to the kart frame. I don't know if rejetting is necessary, I haven't heard it mentioned. There's currently one conversion going on now in the "Project" area.

 

[Russ2251]

Re-jetting is not necessary. Why would it be?
To prove it, just mount it and run it.

 

[keep33]

Thanks. I was hoping so. I have the complete sled and it runs great, but track, steering and other non-essential parts are shot. I will begin shortly and post pics/videos of progress. Awesome!!!

 

[bighead]

Re-jetting is not necessary. Why would it be?
To prove it, just mount it and run it.

You do have to do some jetting work depending on a few things. If you do not use the sleds fuel pump then some jetting or clip adjustment will be needed if going to gravity fed.

I have not go that far yet with my sled engine so I am just saying what was told to me.

Also the fan cooled is your best best for sled engines. Being behind the seat on a kart make it harder to cool. For this reason fan cooled are good.

If you can get the whole sled and copy what killdozer did here.

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9565

 

[Russ2251]

I am just saying what was told to me.

Does not make it correct.
As I stated earlier, 'To prove it, just mount it and run it.'.
I would not recommend gravity feed anyway.

 

[jareeB]

the jetting will be fine, it will just be a little bit more rich, because in the summer the air is thinner than it would be in the winter which epuals less air making it richer, just make sure you use the stock exhaust and air filter or box

 

[karl]

It will work if it is a fan cooled but dont ride on a hot day for over an hour or it will fry the pistons, score the bores, and maybee even lock up. Your best bet is getting a liquid cooled snowmobile engine and putting a small radiator on it. But what ever you do don't ever use a free air they overheat in 40 degree weather

 

[Russ2251]

It will work if it is a fan cooled but dont ride on a hot day for over an hour or it will fry the pistons, score the bores, and maybee even lock up.

Never witnessed that or ever heard of it. Engine will be fine in the hottest of places.
A guy on this forum used to run all his sled powered stuff on the edge of the desert in Arizona. He never once reported the tiniest of problems.

 

[mrfreyguy]

It will work if it is a fan cooled but dont ride on a hot day for over an hour or it will fry the pistons, score the bores, and maybee even lock up. Your best bet is getting a liquid cooled snowmobile engine and putting a small radiator on it. But what ever you do don't ever use a free air they overheat in 40 degree weather

I agree with Russ, it will not lock up after an hour. If treat it right it shouldn't ever lock up. The engine will run and performe just as it does in winter if not better. People do sled engine Ody conversions all the time and have no problems.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

It will work if it is a fan cooled but dont ride on a hot day for over an hour or it will fry the pistons, score the bores, and maybee even lock up. Your best bet is getting a liquid cooled snowmobile engine and putting a small radiator on it. But what ever you do don't ever use a free air they overheat in 40 degree weather

What do you base this on?

 

[keep33]

I will use all of the sleds drive from primary to jackshaft. I will use the fuel system in it's present condition, as well. I will use the airbox, carbs and exhaust system as they are, also. And I will use the bracketry that mounts the engine on a new frame as killdozer did. The sled is stock. I will post pics and hopefully some video soon. I am a Zamboni Driver and the hockey season is drawing to a close so I will have more time. Thanks to everyone for all your help.

 

[Russ2251]

Unfortunatly, much of the stuff I see posted on this forum is pure bunk. A stock engine blowing it's own flywheel is one of the more common examples.
"Hearsay" only hurts our hobby.

 

[devino246]

This karl guy seems to be poring out hearsay.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Yup. Back on topic, Keep33 you've got all the goodies. Should work out very well. Keep us posted!

 

[bighead]

There is more than plenty of threads on rejetting Sleds engines on buggies. After reading about 50 of them I am going to keep a close eye on my sled engine plugs while testing this weekend. And yes sleds are jetted for cold weather temps. If your running in the HOT summer jet change will be needed in most cases that I have read about. Also if your making your own exhaust system. I would say thats a good reason to rejet may be needed.

Burning up fan cooled sled engine stews from not jetting right in hot weather. Every sled swap thread I read at PilotOdyssey dot com have rejetted the carbs. Also at Minibuggy dot com as well. Sled drag racers that race sleds on grass during summer also reject the carbs.

What ever you do keep a good eye on the plugs. I like that you are going with Kildozer style. Thats a solid setup. You will never have to worry about belt problems. You got matching clutches as well. And even get to use the clutch and belt guards. Your kart will scream.

Can you post a pic of the sleds drive shaft? The shaft comming out of the gearbox. Would like to see the style of the shaft. Mine is square but not all are. You will have to do some machine work to make the drave shaft into a jack shaft. Also take off the track gear drivers/gears thing of o bobs.

Also on Killdozer kart he just used the original sled brakes. He said it works good but the problem is where it is mounted. If you broke the chain on the jack shaft or the gearbox you would have zero brakes. I would put the brakes on the axle which is much better for you have two chains to break. Plus the kart will be scary fast. Then use the original sled brake for a parking brake or backup.

Is your sled caliper tiny? If so it is small for the braking force is multiplied by the reduction gears. This is why some sled caliper are so small.

Killdozer Style

 

[bighead]

the jetting will be fine, it will just be a little bit more rich, because in the summer the air is thinner than it would be in the winter which epuals less air making it richer, just make sure you use the stock exhaust and air filter or box

You can use the stock air filter and box. But most 80's sleds do not have filters. No dust in the snow. I am using my sled stock airbox. It even has drain holes in the bottom of the box. I have to add a filter in the piping inside and plug the drain holes.

To the OP, See if you can use the sleds exhaust. I was able to make mine look okay. even though they are bi and ugly. I like the idea of the engine running on the stock pipe. I was able to modify the Y header pipe to change the angle away and down from the seat. I even used the sleds tool boxes.

Here is my 340 yamaha sled engine in a Honda FL250 Odyssey. I wish I would have went Killdozer style. I will be fighting belt problems to get it just right.