Something wrong

[Crane]

I just finished building my first go kart and I tested it.
I drove about a mile and after that my clutch smoked.
I think I have too high gearing (3,5:1)
Should I buy a bigger rear sprocket?

 

[chancer]

Yep 3.5:1 is not a good ratio. What size are your rear tires?, and what are your sprocket tooth counts clutch and axle?

 

[Poboy kartman]

annnnnd....what is your engine, kart weight w/driver, how are you using this whatever it is.....just to start.

 

[Hellion]

Let's see what you've got.

 

[bob58o]

Let's see what you've got.

Impressive!

---------- Post added at 09:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 PM ----------

You asked a simple question. I don't know what these guys are talking about.

I just finished building my first go kart and I tested it.
I drove about a mile and after that my clutch smoked.
I think I have too high gearing (3,5:1)
Should I buy a bigger rear sprocket?

YES!

 

[Hellion]

You asked a simple question. I don't know what these guys are talking about.

Kinda neat isn't it? They would seem to have had diarrhea of the mind, bypassing the simple question asked and providing for every conceivable permutation of the original issue.

The OP rang their bell and they salivated on cue.

 

[chancer]

Kinda neat isn't it? They would seem to have had diarrhea of the mind, bypassing the simple question asked and providing for every conceivable permutation of the original issue.

The OP rang my bell and I salivated on cue.

Even 1 guy Calling the thread "Worthless Without Pics"!:toetap05:

 

[Poboy kartman]

Yeah....we should have just waited for the twenty questions:

Post#2: What size sprocket should I get?

Then what happens?

 

[Crane]

I have 196cc Meister 6.5hp 4 stroke engine. Total car weight with driver about 250lb. I think the tire size is 16". I have 10 tooth clutch and 35 tooth sprocket.
Those should answer almost all the questions.

 

[chancer]

Yes
You should get a 60 tooth sprocket for 15" or shorter tires,
In your case with the 16" get a 72.
The weight is fine.
Lastly make sure your throttle is opening fully.

 

[bob58o]

I 2nd what Agent Double Zero Octane said.

7.2 : 1 with CC and 16" Tires is much closer to what you want than 3.5.
Did you have to Flinstone it to get it moving before?

 

[Crane]

No i didn't have to, nut acceleration was really slow.

 

[firemanjim]

Yes
You should get a 60 tooth sprocket for 15" or shorter tires,
In your case with the 16" get a 72.
The weight is fine.
Lastly make sure your throttle is opening fully.

Well,. .........
By the fact that he says a 16" tall tire, leads me to believe that this kart was meant for grass, dirt fields, trails, ect..... You are probably better off with an 80 tooth rear sprocket.
The thing is, that's a lot of tire.... And a cent clutch won't last long, unless you drive all mild and timid like. If you are stuck with using a cent clutch, then stay in the 8:1 - 9:1 range, with the latter being more clutch friendly.
I'd suggest switching to a torque converter drive, which would benefit you in more than a couple ways..... More low end grunt and then a higher top speed with a 10% overdrive......