Welded the engine to the cart. Am I screwed?

[CartMan007]

A little bit of clickbait but essentially that’s how I feel. I built an engine mount for my golf cart’s new engine and had a welder get it all metal glued together but I have a few issues.

The mount is on four pieces: bottom plate, two pieces of 3in square tubing for clearance, top plate with four holes. I had the engine mounted to the top place to ensure alignment but let him go ahead and weld the rest of the plate.

The issue? I can really only access one of the four bolts with an impact. I can maybe access one more bolt with a torque wrench but I barely have 15 degrees to turn it.

Also, even though he assured me he’d use a straight edge to line up the sprockets, it’s slightly bent to let left. Once I hook everything up tonight I’ll try for a test ride to see if the chain gives me any issues.

Any suggestions besides hoping I never need another engine ever?

 

[Denny]

Hire a new engineer and then learn to weld yourself. If you want it done right next time.

Can you use a large holesaw to make access holes to the bolts? Yea, it’ll suck doing it on your back with the hot chips falling on you. But you only need 4 big holes. Or you can roll the buggy on its side and do it.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

So if you pull the engine off the bolts are basically stuck in-between the 2 plates? Trying to understand...

 

[Denny]

So if you pull the engine off the bolts are basically stuck in-between the 2 plates? Trying to understand...

He can’t pull the engine because he can’t get to the bolts. Poor engineering.

 

[CartMan007]

Exactly. And I’m the engineer.

 

[CartMan007]

Hire a new engineer and then learn to weld yourself. If you want it done right next time.

Can you use a large holesaw to make access holes to the bolts? Yea, it’ll suck doing it on your back with the hot chips falling on you. But you only need 4 big holes. Or you can roll the buggy on its side and do it.

That’s what I was thinking too. Adding to the complexity, the bolt closest to the front passenger side has the swingarm underneath. Big engine for a small space problem and the added FNR gearbox makes the spacing even more difficult.

 

[CartMan007]

Update: Just took it for a drive and it performed well. Only notice slight chain clunking going forward but only uphill. I also notice the chain is looser in forward and tighter in reverse, so a tensioner could fix that.

I still need to torque down the engine mounting bolts but that’s tomorrow problem.

 

[panchothedog]

I don't understand why you need a impact gun or a torque wrench. Sometimes a couple of box end or open end wrenches and a lot of manual dexterity ( force your hands where you don't think they can go ) and you can get the impossible bolt. Even if it's 1/12 of a turn at a time.

 

[CartMan007]

I don't understand why you need an impact gun or a torque wrench. Sometimes a couple of box end or open end wrenches and a lot of manual dexterity ( force your hands where you don't think they can go ) and you can get the impossible bolt. Even if it's 1/12 of a turn at a time.

Definitely going to try this too. It’s worth the pain.

 

[Jimmyjoe]

A little bit of clickbait but essentially that’s how I feel. I built an engine mount for my golf cart’s new engine and had a welder get it all metal glued together but I have a few issues.

The mount is on four pieces: bottom plate, two pieces of 3in square tubing for clearance, top plate with four holes. I had the engine mounted to the top place to ensure alignment but let him go ahead and weld the rest of the plate.

The issue? I can really only access one of the four bolts with an impact. I can maybe access one more bolt with a torque wrench but I barely have 15 degrees to turn it.

Also, even though he assured me he’d use a straight edge to line up the sprockets, it’s slightly bent to let left. Once I hook everything up tonight I’ll try for a test ride to see if the chain gives me any issues.

Any suggestions besides hoping I never need another engine ever?

Get creative. How bad do you want that kart to work. Have you tried exstentions with a swivel?
Personally on the first kart i built i made the mistake of not having any adjustment on mounting plate. Next one an inch adjustment. Evan if you get everything lined up and you run it with the wheels off the ground to test. With no problems. That engine is still going to move a little or not line up. You will need some sort of adjustment. For me one of the most difficult things is getting the clutch chain and sprocket to line up on a kart.

 

[CartMan007]

Get creative. How bad do you want that kart to work. Have you tried exstentions with a swivel?
Personally on the first kart i built i made the mistake of not having any adjustment on mounting plate. Next one an inch adjustment. Evan if you get everything lined up and you run it with the wheels off the ground to test. With no problems. That engine is still going to move a little or not line up. You will need some sort of adjustment. For me one of the most difficult things is getting the clutch chain and sprocket to line up on a kart.

Ended up doing exactly that. Torqued the bolts down with difficulty but got it done. Removing the engine and putting it back in will be a pain but hopefully I don’t have to do that anytime soon. And I want the cart to work!! By any means necessary!

 

[Edwin Spangler]

By any means necessary!

YES! Gitit!

 

[Hellion]

Torqued the bolts down with difficulty but got it done.

Unless you are comparing your arm strength to a big industrial impact gun in a shipyard that takes two men to operate, an average human arm on an average XY male can snap off and destroy most nuts with the proper wrench. It’s the leverage, man.

Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. ~Archimedes