Torque converter issues

[Ben_the_snake]

Just bought a used black widow go kart today and it’s in okay condition. The previous owner had swapped a 5.5 hp tecumseh snowblower engine on it. The engine runs fine but it’s only got half the torque converter on it (the part with the sprocket is there) but the driver unit (the part supposed to be on the crankshaft) is missing. The engine has a 7/8” output shaft diameter so I’m having trouble locating that one part. All the drive clutches I see online are 3/4” and 5/8” which seem to be common sizes.

Anyone know where I could find a 7/8” bore drive clutch unit online? Or should I explore other options like shaving off metal using sandpaper? Buying a new crankshaft with the right diameter?

I only bought the kart for 250 Canadian so it would be a shame to put that much worth of parts into it but hopefully I can find a solution.

I’ll attach a few images to give a better understanding, if I can figure out how to lol. First forum post

 

[Darian1m]

The top view pic looks like your crankshaft has some sort of tapered spacer on it, unless that it the crankshaft itself. Never seen one like that. I see three different widths on your crankshaft, which one is 7/8"

Red: Is that a spacer?

Green: The notched taper?

Blue: the width under the pulley?

 

[mckutzy]

Id change out the motor to a more reliable, common shaft size. They are notorious for various problems...And I reckon you are in Canada, which means were extra screwed for parts like that as they arent made anymore...

Post more pics of the ride in question...

 

[Ben_the_snake]

@Darian1m

"The top view pic looks like your crankshaft has some sort of tapered spacer on it, unless that it the crankshaft itself. Never seen one like that. I see three different widths on your crankshaft, which one is 7/8"

Red: Is that a spacer?

Green: The notched taper?

Blue: the width under the pulley?"

My bad for the lack of clarification... The crankshaft itself is the green arrow you made. It has a 7/8" diameter.

I will include other images below.

The first image is the pieces, looks like 2 halves of a pulley and a brass spacer? Im not even sure, the dude i bought it from said it was a snowblower engine and i believe it lol. The brass spacer is also too big and just kinda dangles there.

The second image is the crankshaft with that brass spacer

The third image is the crankshaft, which has a portion of it keyed (which is also the part that is 7/8' wide)



@mckutzy

I think im going to do that, probably worth it anyway as its the only thing wrong with the kart.

Any suggestions where i could buy a new preditor engine? Or any 6.5 - 8 hp engine? I cant find any online that ship to canada and the ones in canada are either sold out or way to expensive.

Ill add a few pictures of the kart too

 

[mckutzy]

Here in Canada.. there arent any commercial sellers for these engines...

Predator's are an American sold product, from Harbor Freight(kinda like our Princess Auto).
Closest is a Rato, and they typically are only a 212cc and they will be a real few sellers of that motor now for sure... CT has been sold out for a while now... (I managed to score one a few years ago... Just opened it up a few months ago aswell, really nice)

Best bet for a motor like you stated is just Princess Auto. The TC is another thing as this will vary greatly in price, as you guessed it... were in Canada... everything for this hobby is generally is expensive... and were building on the cheap....

We never had a real minibike scene, and if we did it was far and few between to be noticed. Also, getting a gokart/buggy machine is also next to impossible, unless its a china made import, or something buried for a century and rusted to bits......


So, The best bet for a TC is save up your money and get a Genuine Comet TC from the Princess, an American seller, look around to find one for sale off of the classified sections of CL/Papers/internet ect, or try to import one from the amazon and pay the required prices of the one that can be imported(meaning really expensive unless you scored a mega deal)....

 

[Ben_the_snake]

Yea, im realizing that getting a preditor engine is probably impossible lol, and i kind of want to have something built in the next few weeks. The "power fist" 208cc engine from princess auto looks okay and im getting pretty good opinions about it from youtube and other forums. Its cheap too at just over 200 dollars canadain with shipping included.

What are your opinions on it? Do you or anyone else know anything good or bad about this engine? Looks like the canadian version of the honda clone preditor. And i probably want to jet the carb, and put on a intake and exhaust on it too; maybe next spring or this fall if i have the time; but where would i get performance parts for an engine like this?? Maybe ill do some more research lol, thanks for the help thus far

 

[mckutzy]

I have good experience with the 208 in its standard format....Its a typical clone.. (not a predator)
Its a good little motor... Off hand, Ive heard typical 208 parts can fit internally, but im not totally sure...
External mods, carb and exhaust are typical and fit.......

Where abouts you located????...

 

[Ben_the_snake]

Okay, thats good to hear. Im in northern ontario. Ill start lookin around on other forums and see what i can come across in regards to parts and stuff.

 

[Darian1m]

No need to buy a new engine. Buy a simple sleeve for the crankshaft. Just seartch 7/8" to 1" crankshaft sleve. I found this on amazon it will solve your issue for $13 us dollars. Also, I would switch out the driver pulley to a real one. That things doesn't seem like it would even work.

Also Tecumsehs are good engines dont beleive the bashing. The carbs are finiky thats the issue. You cant leave gas in the tank and you need to clean it up often. Also dont buy a cheap chinese carb for it, buy it directly from sears and you will get an OEM part that works better.

 

[mckutzy]

That is a possibility... but its a Tec... soon enough itll have some issues(if not already) and itll be just more effort than getting a new on that works and is common....

Here in Canada.... thats a better option...

 

[Ben_the_snake]

LOL well shiz, already bought the new engine. But hey, i WAS going to sell the engine but if i can get that sleeve and key, maybe ill keep it and use the engine for a future project.

And yea, ive heard that the engines are known for carb issues, but this one runs okay. The carb was pretty dirty tho so i cleaned it, didnt seem to make a difference.

Now that ive got the engine on the way, anyone have ideas for where to get just the drive clutch from? I have the driven portion of the torque converter, just not the half that attaches to the engine.

Thanks for all the help and clarification so far guys, i appreciate it

 

[Darian1m]

Looks like you have an asymmetric driven pulley. Probably the 30 sereis driven?

www.gokartsupply.com

Amazon

Go power sports

 

[Ben_the_snake]

Yes, i believe thats what it is too. The first and second websites are out, as i live in canada and those websites cant ship to canada (go powersports can, but its very expensive). I found one on amazon, seems to be about 35$ Canadian with shipping included. The reviews seem to be okay, so ill probably just order that one.

Edit: Shipping NOT included lol, well over 130$ now, wont be buying.

Anywhere else that would sell that 30 series driver??

Surprisingly, it looks like go powersports is gonna be the cheapest option lol. Ill probably just go with them for the converter, and get extra performance parts as well. Don't wanna actually pay 50$ again at a later date for the shipping.

 

[mckutzy]

Amazon.ca is the best for us... As it has a Canadian price and is descript of shipping...
The .com site doesn't always tell what all the charges if any others and in CAD$... It's in USD$

 

[Ben_the_snake]

That's been true for a lot of things, however, the clutch i want is actually cheaper from go powersports. Are you saying that through amazon, there wont be any hidden charges from getting the package across the border? As in, the price you pay is final? Ill probably order from go powersports anyway as i want a header, air filter, and a carb jet too, in addition to it being almost 50$ cheaper. Unless there's any Canadian retailers that have similar products? I just don't know of any

 

[mckutzy]

There is kartworks.ca , but I'm not too sure on how they are...
The amazon.com might be additional charges..
I'm guessing it has something to do with the brokerages...
I have found .CA to be the better, as it's just what you see with/without taxes...

I'm not totally a fanboy to one faction or the other... I just have had good success with this one in the past.