Tecumseh 2 stroke engine for vintage kart

[Jasonrk99]

Hello, this is my first post/ thread, but I’ve been reading this website for a few years. Love go karts I’m a mechical engineering major currently, and built several go karts throughout Highschool. Flathead Briggs, OHV Honda’s, and a few small two strokes (chainsaws and such). I’m quite familiar with 4 stroke engines, and know how 2 strokes work just from a few simple chainsaw repairs, but my experience with 2 strokes is inadequate for my current project.

Anyways (sorry to bore you) I recently picked up what I’ve been told is a rare frame, called a Carter super wheels. It’s the one seat version, and I can only find one other picture of it on google. In fact it was posted here:

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19602

Because it is relatively rare, or I at least think it is, I wanted to do something special.

So here we go...

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Welcome!! Roll it out...

 

[Jasonrk99]

Here are some pics from the beginning.. I don’t have many, and I’m kinda glad I don’t. It’s so ugly . Well, it had a siezed Honda gx160 5.5hp Clone called a Yamakoyo yk550. More on that later

 

[Jasonrk99]

I pulled the engine off, and put it to the side. Didn’t think it was worth saving.

Now, THE FRAME!!!!! A friend’s dad owns a sandblasting business (if you live of the east coast of Florida, hit up Tresure Coast Dustless Blasting!).

 

[bob58o]

That's gross. Looks like sewage or something. LOL

 

[Jasonrk99]

After it was all done being sandblasted, we sprayed it down with phosphoric acid (I think, I’m no chemist) to keep it from flash rusting. Here it is .

 

[Jasonrk99]

That's gross. Looks like sewage or something. LOL

It’s bad. It sat outside for I don’t even know how long

---------- Post added at 01:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:39 PM ----------

That last picture is just a flathead Briggs. At that point I was already exited lol and wanted to see the engine on it.

 

[Jasonrk99]

This is my favorite part . Took a wire brush on an angle grinder to the frame and all metal parts, including the split rims. First, my inspiration, THE Plymouth radial truck.... get ready ))

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

 

[Jasonrk99]

Here it is!

 

[Jasonrk99]

Applied a few coats of clear coat. Gloss of course to really make that bare metal pop

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Looks sweet!

 

[Jasonrk99]

A few little details showing that SHINE

 

[Jasonrk99]

Now on with the engine. The yamakoyo yk550 was seized when I got it. Well, being the guy I am, I wanted to see it run. With nothing but a new carb and spark plug (and a lot of degreaser and kroil and work and hammering and smashing things around lol), I got it running. Compression was bad (go figure), so I lapped the valves. Even ported the head while I had everything apart with a Dremel.

 

[Jasonrk99]

While the engine ran okay, it wasn’t making anywhere close to the 5.5 hp it had originally. My guess is it needs new rings and head gasket, but I don’t want to put any money into it, because 1) its a Honda clone, and while the parts for it are cheap I might as well just buy a predator, 2) as a mechanical engineer, I like doing things different. I’ve always thought that way, like how can I do this differently? Bear with me here...

As you might have already figured out by the title of this thread, this rare and unique frame was not going to get a common, BORING, and cheap Honda clone

My next option was to use the Briggs flathead project motor in the pictures after the sandblasting. I had a local fabricator weld an aluminum intake manifold with a pulse fitting for a fuel pump, governor removed. Converted it to a Honda carb with the Go Power Sports filter/jet kit. Still, I already had a go kart with a flathead Briggs.

It was time to look elsewhere, and this brings the project up to date with me writing this post. DIY 2 stroke karts are not that common as everyone wants a cheap and reliable ride, hence the popularity of the 212cc predator.

With DIFFERENT in mind, I found this running and operable lawnmower.

 

[Jasonrk99]

It’s an ‘87 Snapper push mower with a Tecumseh 2 stroke. The engine is a TVS840, vertical shaft obviously. It cleaned up nicely . Hers a before and after

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Oh goody, a Teckasheema project. You have my full attention.

 

[Jasonrk99]

Has anyone on this website had one of these? I’d say it was a well-spent $25

 

[Jasonrk99]

Oh goody, a Teckasheema project. You have my full attention.

My first tecumseh go kart, I’m exited! Also my first 2 stroke kart. Here is where I’ll need help...

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Don't recall seeing a 2-stroke vertical to horizontal conversion. Assuming you are converting it of course.