Go Kart Vertical Engine Drive: Lawn Mower Engine To Go Kart

[gamblighini]

Not sure what a Whipa Sinpa engine horsepower is, but as a rule of thumb a go kart that weighs around 300 pounds with a a person in it should have at least 5 hp for decent performance. Anything less and the go kart will only go 10 to 15 mph for top speed and perhaps be able to climb hills. In out go kart building 203 course we show how to make ANY go kart climb hills, it even includes a program that tells you if the go kart smoked the clutch or not.

[pootpootdingding98]

hey do you reckon you would be able to use a whipa sinpa/edge trimmer engine for a go kart/ would it have enough power to power a simple flat

go kart

[thebeetalls]

What about using a worm gear?

[gamblighini]

@thebeetalls See the article entitled Vertical Engine Using Using a Worm Gear Drive on a Go Cart, What is The Prognosis? Found on the Go Kart Guru Blog

[gamblighini]

That is a one in a million shot. Most of your larger motors, which most people have access too, are not as simple as those Briggs motors. Yes that was an ingenious conversion, but it lacks the governor and the internal lubrication is questionable as well. I did not say flipping the motor is impossible, I just said it might be tricky and it requires attention to the lubrication, PVC systems and governor system and most especially the carb set up.

[GodsLittlegizmoguy96]

Look, it isn't expensive to flip an engine. Just look up on here, "How to convert a vertical shaft engine to horizontal." the one dude did it for free just with some junk metal laying around and of course an electric drill and he ran it for 10 minutes without any problems.

[69techlover]

I have a walk behind pushmower transmission, i was going to lock the diff, and put a belt drive from the motor and either put the wheels on that or put sprockets and use that to drive the wheels. Which would you say would be sturdier??

[gamblighini]

A two cycle washing machine engine...sure. Any vertical engine will work, just a matter of getting it set up. Smoking clutches is the biggest headache, getting the drive train set up properly is 50 percent of it. See the 203 book on climbing hills, that will set you straight on getting any engine to work.

[evilbunny028]

heyy, can you use a washing machine engine?? i know its electric but can you use a car battery to power it??

[Riechode]

@evilbunny028 yes, but you would either need 20 12V car batteries (assuming it is a 240V washing machine) or a big inverter which gives you 240V from 12 but takes away your amps.

[evilbunny028]

@Riechode oo thank you :)

[chucklz23]

We had very good luck with our vertical engine motor and transmission, its belt driven and it keeps up with my 450 foreman, trail or road!

[chucklz23]

@chucklz23 just search for "offroad gocart tarmac test"

[wheetley97]

WHat about putting a lawn mower transmission in it? Would it slow it down A lot?

[gamblighini]

@wheetley97 Lawnmower transmissions work, they just require either a centrifugal clutch on the engine, or a belt drive engagment,such as a tightening belt drive. Transmissions tend to be awkward to deal with, in that they typically need overdrives (so they go faster) and are not wide enough posing stability issues.

[chucklz23]

@wheetley97 use an axle and chain with your transaxle, then you can change the ratio with belt pullies and 2 sets of gears to get your speed

[fairyheli2]

bevel gears/ weedwacker final drive gears

[ellomoto231]

all you need is a bent gear like in macano and as it spins the bent gear turns it in one gear to horizontal movementy

[edmund94232]

i want to make a go kart tank. ^_^

[gamblighini]

Not all methods involve a clutch. None involve a friction drive. The clutch version is the safest, though can be trickiest. Engagement rpms can make the clutch smoke if not put into the system properly. Secondly, the improper drive ratio will kill any drive system and smoke the drive line, and just plain sit there in embarrasment.

[shacodbe]

legit. 3 ways? Do they involve a clutch or is it just friction drive? I might buy the ebooks or rotate my engine.

[gamblighini]

Like I said...still have to see one in action. Gears are pretty picky when it comes to location and lubrication. There are other systems that are much more forgiving.

[hifatpeople]

couldnt you use like 2 tapered gears?

[NikySportsPromotion]

just stick a gear on the shaft that drives the blade (spins parellel to ground) and attach a smaller gear on the axle perpendicular to the first. Larger engine gear spins smaller axle gear- ratio fixed, no heavy gear box, just two gears. no need to turn engine. Its basically a simple, basic transmission, u could even have a "pseudo-clutch" make the shaft gear mounted in a way that a lever can lift it up off the axle gear.

[gamblighini]

@NikySportsPromotion Bevel gears still require lubrication or they will wear out. I have yet to see one applied.

[PaDdY36o]

if you want to turn the engine upright for the oil issues u can use the original oil filler port for the draining port and the draining port for the filling port and the oil splasher inside jus take it out and cut it off and put the bit of the bracket in place for the spacer and on the end of the con-rod u put a oil dipper off the bottom bolt. there are many videos on youtube now to show how they do this

[gamblighini]

@PaDdY36o  You forgot about the carburetor...you need to make a manifold for that too...or use a diaphram carb. Yes you can do that...but why.

[videman21]

or Bevel Gears! $10 new.

[SpYder9007]

I have an 18 HP Briggs from '94. Should a I make a go kart?

[dannynlore888]

@SpYder9007 yeah

[MARCOZR1]

So whats the answer???

[enginepersonguydude]

for $50! it would be cheaper to go on craigslist and buy a horizontal engine!

[gamblighini]

Good luck. You can buy horizontal engines on ebay, craigslist ect....but you may find that after all the shipping costs you would be spending more money or less HP.

A typical rider has 8 to 10 hp and a $50 craigs list motor will run 5 hp without a carburetor.

So as I said, good luck, more power to you, but if you want more hp, and don't want to throw out that motor this system is the answer.

[DenniszVideos]

Not true, Shipping issue with Craigslist?Get a torque converter.. >.>

[nooloo3000]

so do you just take the handle and use it as a pedal and if thats the case wont it just turn on and off when you step on it

[gamblighini]

Depends on what kind of clutch system there is. Some have it where you release the pedal and it engages the clutch. Others have it where you engage the pedal and then it drives. You have to determine which one it is.

Riding lawn mower transmissions are heavy and again, not wide enough: contributing to CG and flipability issues.

[13skyline]

GREAT VID!

[P3mpi]

And what about the fly wheel??

[gamblighini]

You can use a regular lawnmower engine, but you will have to supplement the flywheel wieght in the drive system you develop.

As far as rider lawn mower engines are concerned, they have flywheels.

[PaDdY36o]

on the twisted belt drive at the twish have a wheel so the belt doesnt rub off eachother

[gamblighini]

The twisted part is not the problem, it is the belt tracking for the diamter of the rear pulley that is the issue. Having the small pulley and the large pulley can be an issue, especially getting the proper ratio. You will end up putting in a jack shaft to get the right ratio.

[dvdragond2]

BTW How would i go about creating a gear system with N (neutral) and 1st?, or is it imposible?

[gamblighini]

To create a neutral use a centrifugal clutch. A first gear is all you are going to get unless you put a variable speed clutch, like a snow mobile or a comet style clutch on it.

[chevylover516]

u can use a riding lawn more trans and rear-end

[hardtimesx2]

I'm fixing to try to use the rear from a J.D.mower, it's a Spicer transaxle 5sp with reverse/brake. I think with a jackshaft and some pulley changes, I can set the motor front or rear.

[chevylover516]

new or old JD

[hardtimesx2]

It's a LT133, I figure out of the late 90's, 13hp Kohler engine

[chevylover516]

its might not be to bad

[dvdragond2]

Not really, im talking about Industry Standard worm gears, like used in high speed machinary, so the teeth are made of brass or titanium, and are designed to be stronger around the teeth

[dvdragond2]

THIS IS EASY, If you want to use a vertical engine then just use a worm gear system, this is good because you can turn tourge into power.

PLUS ITS NOT EXPENSIVE, $20 in Australia to buy

[gamblighini]

I like the spunk, but no. What!? What's the beef here bud?!

Yes you can use a gearbox with a worm gear on it, but take caution, most gearboxes are rated for fractional horsepower, not 5 to 10 horsepower.

What does that mean? Means you will strip teeth and tear up gear boxes.

Beware! Examine hp capabilities before diving in and prepare to pay more than 20 bucks, like 150 bucks instead.

[VSRX7]

dude, your tutorials are great but your voice is so monotonic i cant help but laugh. (not saying that theres anything wrong tho :P )

you are greatly inspiring me...

do u kno about exhausts + that...

[MrBillgun]

see but it would end up being cheaper buying another vertical engine becuase you spend 30 to 70 dollars on the damn manual!!!!!!!!then you end up spending you said 50 dollars to make that work.sooo $110 for it.stop with the scams

[gamblighini]

I often wonder what the rage is all about.

If you look at the problem and what I have to offer you will understand first:

1. There is a solution, but it does take some thinking. You can put it together wrong and end up smoking the system.

2. It does not cost alot.

3. You will not pay 30 bucks much less 20 bucks for my book

4. It will not cost you more than 50 bucks to do the system.

[gamblighini]

There are issues with riding lawn mower transmissions.

First, they require as you said different pulley arrangments. Very often the pulley that you need is hard to find to match the transmission.

Secondly, you need a belt clutch at least, which can be a problem. The belt clutch is very driver dependant, and not good for inexperienced drivers.

Thirdly, the width of a riding lawn mower rear end is not that wide and can cause stablility issues.

There are other issues as well...

[skilz93]

simply put it this way find a riding mower transmission and put a smaller pulley on it

[gamblighini]

Sure, it will run for about 5 minutes until the engine runs out of oil, the carb stops working (unless you put a diagphram carb on it).

The problem with vertical engines is that the internals are designed for vertical running. Get around that and you are about 20% there.

There are other headaches, carbs and clutches and potential over-heating problems to contend with.

[bmxer193]

well that told me almost nothing. What would happen it i just put the engine on its side (unmoded), would it still run?