Dooms

Alright, my brother has been bugging the crap out of me to "help him" build him a Gokart (aka, just me building him a gokart). I've got an 8hp engine and a 6.5hp setup for electric start with a 12 volt battery. I figured I could get him to buy this kit from Northern tool:

Go-Kart Kit | Miscellaneous Go-Kart Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment

Then I'll use my 6.5hp engine, which makes it easy for him to start (electric start) and I can put lights on it with the battery. Now, they recommend a 5.5hp 3/4" shaft engine with this clutch (3/4in. Bore, 12 Tooth, 35 Chain Size):

Hilliard Extreme-Duty Centrifugal Clutch — 3/4in. Bore, 12 Tooth, 35 Chain Size | Northern Tool + Equipment

But, I'm not sure if that will work with my engine (basically the same as this one):

Briggs & Stratton Intek I/C Horizontal Engine with Electric Start — 6.5 HP, 3/4in. x 2 27/64in. Shaft, Model# 121337-0050-E1 | 6 - 10 HP | Northern Tool + Equipment

So what kind of clutch should I use? Also, is 6.5hp too much power for a 10 year old in that ~150lb frame? What about too little for 6' 2" 285lb "kid at heart" (you know I have to drive this thing a little if I build it )? Will both the engine and that clutch work fine for my application?

What do you think, am I nuts or will this work?

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mspainter

mmmm go karts. I want one so bad.

I have no idea.

[/useless post]

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Pierced

Hell dooms with all the equipment and stuff yall have I'm sure you could build him a frame that would be a lot better than that kit, also he frame you linked to looks kinda flimsy to me too. Also from my experience with go-carts torque converters are better than centrifugal clutches. I had a centrifugal clutch on my cart when I was 13-14(150-160lbs) and it pretty much sucked but I got it swapped out with a torque converter and it hauled ass and did alot better in mud/dirt.

My suggestion would be get some materials and just build from scratch probably come out cheaper and then it would be indestructible.

I may have a torque converter laying around I would have to check but I could give it to you at a much better price than those.

I got a cart with a 5.5hp on it that needs the carb rebuilt and few other minor things. You can have it for $50 + shipping lol.

Comet Industries Torque Converter Kit — 10 Tooth, 3/4in. Bore | Power + Steering Components | Northern Tool + Equipment


Also to answer your question that clutch will work on that motor.

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big_balla

My buddy was gonna do an engine swap in his civic before his dad wrecked it. The plan was to put the civic engine on a go cart. THAT would have hauled ass.

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Charger

meh i liked my little brothers gokart it had a 100cc honda dirt bike motor in it. It was nice and you had to shift gears and all

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Pierced

thats what I would like to do but with a 650cc street bike motor

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Dooms

Hmm, I would take you up on that $50 kart offer, but both of us want to try putting it together ourselves (that's half the fun after all). Though if I fail miserably you'll probably be getting a call and a check. The reason I thought about the kit is I have no idea what to use and how to set it up as far as axels, brakes, ect. I thought about building the frame myself, but I would need some kind of plans and pictures, as I have no idea what to use and what exactly it should look like. I was never big into go-karts, I had one that was part wagon made from bicycle and tractor parts. It was direct drive, with no real brakes either. Dangerous as hell, but it was pretty cool for an 8 year old. Apparently my mother thought it was too dangerous too as she made my father take it apart. Around that time I got the go-ped so I didn't care anymore.

If you can give me an idea of what to buy and how to set it up then I might try building it from scratch. My father actually suggested to my brother buying a frame and starting from scratch, but I told him about the kit I saw in the catalog and he thought that might be the way to go. He's the guy I have to get motivated on it, he built a few when he was a kid so he must remember something.

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crustybug

well, you could look at the steering on other go-carts so you have an idea of how to do that. Buy a rear axle for a standard road cart, belt drive, harley davidson brake cylinder, rear disc. look at some carts online to give you an idea

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Pierced

Well first your going to have to get some square or round tubing to make your frame and roll cage out of. You will also need your steering components steering wheel, tie rods/ends,spindles and brackets. your gonna need an axel,sprocket, wheel hubs, and brakes for the rear. Can't forget about a seat, kill switch, throttle and brake controls, engine mounting plate, and a seatbelt (if desired).

Before you start building I would go to a local shop that sell carts and check em out and get some ideas on how they are put together this will help a lot when you start building.

When you start building it just lay it out and start with the frame. Once thats done start with the rear end getting the engine location figured out and what type of drive system you want (will effect engine location). Once you get the rear pretty well figured out mock up a location for the seat,steering wheel, and foot controls.

Once thats figured out you can start on the front end, by mounting your spindles and front wheels. Then you can figure out how long your tierods and your steering collum need to be. Now you should have enough done to be able to start getting your throttle and brake controls laid out and ready to be hooked up. Everything should pretty well be in place now, so you can start building a roll cage around the frame. I dont really have any tips on a roll cage sorry .



Note:
I have not built a cart from scratch. But this is how I would go about doing it. I have assisted in a few build several years back and have watched a few get built.

Also check out this site Go Kart Supply Online Catalog | Go Kart Parts they have good prices and have a lot of helpful diagrams on there that will help you get things figured out.

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D_Smalls

This mechanic I know told me he'd buy the engine outta my subaru when I scrape it. I asked him what for; a gokart.

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Dooms

Thanks! I'm going to add everything up pricewise and see what it would cost to do. I bet ebay has a ton of crap for cheap.




Without the heads on them scooby engines are tiny. When we first got a built STi cobb block in I thought it was an engine for a generator or something.

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It is my sworn duty to comfort the afflicted, and to inflict upon the comforted.

tippmanpb

i few years ago i was at a junkyard and i spotted a gocart somebody was throwing away and they gave it to me for free.i got it going and it lasted a year or two but the motor(5.5hp)finally crapped out.so,this year,i bought a older 8hp b&s motor and made a custom swingarm on the gocart from some old snowmobile suspension parts:



the setup works pretty nice but the motor had so much torque it snapped the bolts that hold the sprocket onto the wheel.currently it has 1 wheel drive(lol) but once i get some cash i plan to buy a straight axle and fab up that.hope this gives you a little idea.......

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