vertical shaft drive methods?

[ghost civic]

I just got a good B&S 11hp motor from a riding mower.
I can only find 2 ways to transmit power from a vert shaft motor to a go kart axle...either a gearbox is used or the twisted belt method.
The only gearbox's I found online were super expensive.
The twisted belt method seems like it would be hard to make a clutch and have the belt stay in place.
The only other way I know of is to use a mower's transaxle...and if one shows up for cheap/free I might go that route.

But is there any other method Im missing? My mud mower is fun, but Id like to build a 2 seater kart with this new motor if I can.

 

[james2]

If you use the mower transaxle
What pulley swap are you going to do and how would the shifting work.

 

[james2]

This is the twisty belt as you thought of its called mule drive

 

[machinist@large]

This is the twisty belt as you thought of its called mule drive

Case hydrostatic tractor PTO mower deck layout. I've been trying to convince some member's about the versatility and flexibility of V belts for non inline applications, but I didn't have that particular photo at hand. Even though it hasn't mowed a lawn in over a decade, my Dad still owns the 220 Hy Drive model that I grew up with.

Ghost, the general layout that James posted will let you turn the corner without a gearbox, you just need to plan on using the horizontal shaft as a surrogate for a horizontal shaft engine, which means that you'll have been use a TC that doesn't require a back plate. There's more than one way to do that, so what ever hardware you come up with will determine the fine details of final build.

I'm guessing that you're planning on trying to keep the packaging as compact as possible, which means that I would recommend that you upgrade to a hexagon drive belt, which is specifically designed for this application....

Some photos would be great......

 

[OzFab]

Look for a right angle gearbox from a small riding mower, similar to this:

...or just use the transaxle & change the pulleys...

 

[machinist@large]

Look for a right angle gearbox from a small riding mower, similar to this:

...or just use the transaxle & change the pulleys...

Uhmm, Tony??? I believe that he's looking for a RAGB rated for full engine power at rated engine RPM. Anything as miniscule as the gearbox you posted a photo of wouldn't have a chance of living in those working conditions... The belt drive alternative's already described will (if properly built and set up) handle the loads and smile doing it.....

 

[ghost civic]

I will use a mower transaxle if I come across a cheap one. On the one hand having gears and reverse would be nice...on the other a direct drive would be easier without the extra linkage.
I didn't know about hex drive belts...I will look into that.
I had seen that pic of a twisted belt layout...kinda complicated compared to the easy way to do it. But as I said, the easy way I would worry the belt would slip off...especially with the clutch in.
Fabroman...is that from a rear engine mower? I have seen pics of some rear engine mower that had a chain going down to the axle. If so, then one would think it could handle the power/load. Not a ton of rear engine mowers for sale, at least not broken ones that I could get dirt cheap. Im always trying to build something without having the money to do it properly
My mud mower has turned out pretty well though. Basically is a $150 ATV

---------- Post added at 07:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:08 PM ----------

If you use the mower transaxle
What pulley swap are you going to do and how would the shifting work.

If I find a transaxle that I decide to use, Ill calculate pulley size based on what the motor and axle pulleys are stock.
If the transaxle pulley is a 6'', ill put a 3'' in its place...thus doubling the speed. If the mower had a 3'' and I put a 6''...now the top speed is 4 times what it would have been.
My mud mower had a 2.5'' on the motor, I put a 4'' (biggest I could find) and the axle had a 6'' and I put a 3''. So I have almost 4x the stock speed, about 18mph.
Since all mower motors run the same RPMs, figuring out your new top speed based on the stock speed and the change you make in pulley size is pretty easy. Though, I am wanting a bit more speed on the mud mower...might put a 2.5'' on the axle to get the speed above 20mph.

 

[OzFab]

Uhmm, Tony??? I believe that he's looking for a RAGB rated for full engine power at rated engine RPM. Anything as miniscule as the gearbox you posted a photo of wouldn't have a chance of living in those working conditions...

Why? The peerless gearboxes are no more robust than those & they do ok...

Yes, I know they're only used for low speeds but, there's really no reason why they can't be used at high speed, the same as a transaxle or peerless...