3.5hp Briggs Vertical to Horizontal conversion Go-kart

[DaBeastCaleb]

nice roll cage never saw 1 like it

[ChargerMiles007]

@DaBeastCaleb

My friend at AC/DC Welding figured it all out, then made it for us :)

[MrSnowgoer12]

cool, you use a potato 3g as a camera too?

[ChargerMiles007]

@MrSnowgoer12

Not sure what you mean, this vid was taken with a VHS camera a long time ago. Now I use a chaep HP digital camera.

[SuperKONR]

@ChargerMiles007 He means it looks like it was filmed with a potato lol good ol 240p XD

That cart looks like something native to Zontaar's planet!!

[ChargerMiles007]

@SuperKONR

Thanks for the interpretation :)

Yes, the kart did turn out cool looking, my friend at AC/DC Welding is good with a pipe bender also!

Sorry I can't take any better vids of this kart, we ended up selling it a few months after the vids were made about 7 years ago. We put a 5 horse Briggs onto it, and it would smoke the tire on dry pavement!!! :)

[outdoorsman310]

cool

[jims72]

did you have to turn the shaft size down to get a clutch to fit or were you able to find a clutch with the correct size?

[ChargerMiles007]

@jims72

You are right, we had to turn the shaft size down from 7/8" to 3/4", to find a clutch to fit. At the same time we discovered that the shaft was bent a bit, a common problem with lawnmowers. One rock in the wrong place, and BANG, a bent crankshaft :(

[bobhadababitsaboy]

do you know anything about the gx200 and gx 160 motors

[ChargerMiles007]

@bobhadababitsaboy

Sorry, I don't.

Hey, does anyone else out there know about a gx200 or gx160 motor????

[cptexas1]

What's the reservoir for - brakes?

[ChargerMiles007]

@cptexas1

Yes, we used a car master cylinder, and 1 caliper for the brakes. A friend hand made the brake rotor and hub.

[bobhadababitsaboy]

how do you get any power out of a briggs 3 hp flat head

[ChargerMiles007]

@bobhadababitsaboy

There are a bunch of ways, weld up the head a bit to increase compression, weld up the cam lobes for more duration and possibly lift. Grind out the inlet and exhaust ports, removing casting flash etc., a less restrictive exhaust, and a bigger air filter. :)

[MsGraphixxx]

super 8 we meet again.

[elitecssplayer]

Hey... a davidsfarm guy! sweet

[ChargerMiles007]

@elitecssplayer

I guess I am a bit like Dave :)

[elitecssplayer]

@ChargerMiles007: Cool..

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 i dont know if its worth converting a 3.5... try a 10 hp i/c engine this time :P

[ChargerMiles007]

@pcblah

A 10 HORSE!!!!

Man those little handcart tires would be boiling offf!!!! :)

A 5 hose with a 4 horse head will squeel the 1 drive tire on dry pavement, as it is! :)

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 buy better tires then :P

[ChargerMiles007]

@pcblah

Hey, I've got some extra car tires! :)

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 make a solid back axle :D (differentials dont work well at this size) and try a 20 hp if you can find one :P (i take no responsibility for injuries or death)

[ChargerMiles007]

@pcblah

20 Horse!!!!!!!

That would practically be a car!!!!!

Trust me a built up 5 hose Briggs will be all the engine you would want on a go-kart, my kidneys can only handle it for 5 minutes in a parking lot, between the bumps, and the G force!!!! :)

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 heres a tip (gear it down) it will have more torque and you can go offroad and climb hills :P (i have a 6.5 on mine... little gearing) use a 8:1 gear or (if u are too scared) use a 12:1 gear

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 oh and the gearing will slow it down...

[ChargerMiles007]

@pcblah

Yes, you would want it to go slower for off roading, next would be some suspension to help with the bumps! Sounds like it is starting to get complicated :(

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 oh yes it is... put a harley sportster engine in there and a trans and you will have a basic car...

(note get the engine from a junkyard... people dont like working harleys taken apart) also with that engine you need a oil thin (idk what it is) and its just suicidal forget what i have just said im bored...

[ChargerMiles007]

@pcblah

A Harley engine in a kart, yep that sounds like suicide to me!!!!

I will stay with my 5 /10 horse 7000rpm small block screaming Briggs!!! :)

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 ok then :P oil them well and use a racing fly wheel, racing springs, and a racing rod with racing piston and a raching camshaft for some fun :D (racing springs require the fly wheel and racing rod or BOOM)

[ChargerMiles007]

@pcblah

Interesting, I don't know if we have used the racing springs, but we have use a cam and always the rod, no booms so far (if you don't count the time a friend using a stock rod didn't run 5W-30 oil when it got cold out (32F) and the oil dipper broke off, and jammed between the gears, splitting the crankcase cover!) :(

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 wow... but anyway better springs allow higher revs... higher revs =BOOM with bad components... the crank may not have to be replaced but the fly wheel, flywheel key, and rod have to be replaced with it... and that reminds me to use 5w-30... im using 10w-30 right now as its like a all around type of oil. (im using cheap stuff to break in a new engine right now)

[ChargerMiles007]

@pcblah

Yes, I can see how better valve springs would allow higher rpms. I guess thats why my sleeve valve will rev so high, NO valves or springs!

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 damn youtube has updated i couldnt find your comment for 5 min... lol and you have a sleeve valve engine? (never seen one) well except one time... idk

[ChargerMiles007]

@pcblah

Yes, I had a big pain finding your comment also >:((

Why can't they just leave things alone!!!!!

I will send you 1 of about 6 vids I have on my sleeve valve conversion of a Briggs lawnmower engine.

[pcblah]

@ChargerMiles007 lol we made alot of comments :P looking forward to see that vid

[codymannthedestroyer]

bigger wheels!!!!!!!!!

[ChargerMiles007]

@codymannthedestroyer

Yes, wider wheels would help, we were on a serious budget here, and used hand cart type wheels :)

[codymannthedestroyer]

@ChargerMiles007 got it,at harbor freight i know you can get some bigger wheels for cheap, at least 2 for the drive wheels, and how did you do the conversion?

[ChargerMiles007]

@codymannthedestroyer

The engine conversion? Or how did we attach the chain to drive the hub?

[codymannthedestroyer]

@ChargerMiles007 engine conversion

[ChargerMiles007]

@codymannthedestroyer

Oh, I have a bunch of vids on this channel, where I show how I did that with help from a friend who did the TIG welding of the aluminum. I think JB-Weld could be made to work, at least for a while.

[swetankswe]

were did you get the clutch? and how did you install it? and how much did it cost you? and can i make something to work as a clutch??

pleas replay its a big problem for me

[ChargerMiles007]

@swetankswe

I used a centrifugal clutch with 11 teeth, and a #35 chain.

I got the clutch at a Canadian place called Princess Auto, that carries all kinds of stuff like this.

A Comet centrifugal clutch or any other branch should work.

I hade the crankshaft machined down from 7/8" to 3/4" dia., since it is hard to find a 7/8" clutch.

I think the current cost is about $60. To make your own clutch, use a V belt with a tensioning device like on a riding mower blade drive, an idler tightens it.

[swetankswe]

@ChargerMiles007 wow thx for the tips! realy helpful! i just bought a mini motorcross with a defect engine on it with shocks and brakes and so on for only 16$ that im going to use for the project, and i have some more questions for you :)

1. after you converted the engine how much oil did you put in?

2. is the motor runing as good as before you converted it?

3. can i use a normal bike chain or do i need to use the one that come with the mini motorcross?

(more questions to come)

[ChargerMiles007]

@swetankswe

I put the same amount of oil in that the lawnmower engine used, .4 liters I think, but don't quote me on that!

Yes, it ran pretty well after the conversion, as you can see in the video.

You could use bike chain, but if you are going to build a clutch, a V belt would be easier, although I guess you eould have to buy a pulley or 2.

It would be pretty hard to build without welding.

You can drive it without a clutch, put the backend up on blocks, start it, put it down, it may stall

[swetankswe]

4. is there eny way to make this gocart without welding? becaus i just own a realy crappy weld.

5. i looked at the local shops that sold clutches but here the cheapest one costs about 110$

so is it posible to drive the gocart without a clutch?

6. how do i mount the wheels from the mini motorcross on to an axel on the gocart?

i would be so damn happy if you answerd these questions! thx!

[swetankswe]

@ChargerMiles007 awsome! you helpt me alot! btw me and mo brother are converting our engine right now and we have changed the tank and everything but when we were suposed to open the motor block we had some problem: on the axel itself there is some sort of support block for the blade and we cant get it off the axel. how did you remove yours?? thx!

[ChargerMiles007]

@swetankswe

I made a puller to get the blade mount off the crankshaft, a 3 jaw pulley might work also, I will send the vid. Remember, you need to use a long crankshaft engine, about 75mm projection from the cover at least, to be able to mount a clutch. A pulley could be shorter.

What model number of engine are you using, just write down all of the numbers off the sheet metal cooling cover, and put them in a comment. Could you make a vid of the engine showing the "axle" and the blade mount?

[DiZkId3121]

why didnt u just put the motor in the middle so u get get and even amount of troqe to both wheels?

[ChargerMiles007]

@DiZkId3121

We could have done that, but that means having a live axle, this way our axle is just a 3/4" dia. bolt welded in place. Having both tires drive would be a lot better for driving on grass etc., but this type of machine only runs well on fairly flat gravel or pavement.

[DiZkId3121]

@DiZkId3121 how did u mount it if the motor is made to be mounted vertical

[ChargerMiles007]

@DiZkId3121

I made a mount plate from 1/4" thick mild steel, bent 90 degrees. It bolts to a flat mount on the go-kart. A bit of a pain to make, and a cutting torch helped out a lot, since you have to cut out a shape to allow the crankcase cover to fit in. On a lawnmower deck, they usuallu use a circle, but I have always used a more complex shape which leaves more of the plate, for added strength, since most of my bases are made from 3/4" plywood.

[mythmker]

do you have a video showing how you converted it to horizontal???

[ChargerMiles007]

@mythmker

Yes, I have 3 vids of it, "Vertical shaft 3.5 briggs to Horiz., oil mods"

"Vertical to horizontal 3-1/2 Briggs"

[MegaZsolti]

how about putting a supercharged briggs in? :D

[ChargerMiles007]

@MegaZsolti

That would be a good idea, unfortunately I don't own this go-kart anymore. My son and I are talking about making a supercharged 4 stroke Briggs go-kart motor, we will have to see what we can come up with.

[im18iswear1000]

@ChargerMiles007 or put the 427 supercharged V8 Chevy puts in its Corvette ZR1 and that bitch will be burnin gas and haulin ass

[ChargerMiles007]

@im18iswear1000

That sounds a BIT large for a go -kart!!!!

I was going to put a Wisconsen V4 engine on a go-kart when I was a teenager, but I settled for a 5 horse Briggs, much lighter, and it handled good :)

[People1432]

i never knew that those motors had so much power

[ChargerMiles007]

@People1432

Yes, it is surprising what 3 or 3.5 horsepower can do. I know a 3horse engine can drive a go-kart at 30mph no problem.

[daand12]

Thats davidsfarm omg

[ChargerMiles007]

@daand12

HeHeHe, I like Davisfarm also! He does some Crazy stuff! :)

We got a bit crazy when we set off some car airbags, won't be trying that again, since I don't have a death wish, give me a screaming Turbo jet any day!!!!

[1960views]

The ONLY way you could do this is to invert the carb so the float would operate, but the oil sump wouldnt give you the correct "sling" or pumping action and would inevitably blow the engine for lack of lubrication. Seals may be another problem altogether. The valve lubricaton would be the most serious to worry about, but either way, attempting to make a vertical shaft motor work as a horizontal WONT LAST for long becuase fo the engineering of the crankcase issues. BUT THATS THE ONLY WAY !!.

[kdwedge243]

@1960views dude you make a slinger so easy a mexicon can do it.

[ChargerMiles007]

@kdwedge243

Yes, I have seen 1 or 2 home-made slingers, but I have never tried it.

I use the factory built ones, that way I don't have to worry about it, although they can let go if you hold the engine at wide open throttle for too long. So far I have been lucky with my engine experiments.

What can I say, Briggs engines are built like Brick S**t Houses!!!!! :)

[kdwedge243]

@ChargerMiles007 lol you seem to be a briggs guy i just converted a 5hp today but the comprresion is so much tht once i get it to fire it will rip teh pull cord from my hand and die. any ideas oh and if it helps i removed the little kill switch thing on the fly wheel the little breake pad that goes to your handle bars .

[ChargerMiles007]

@kdwedge243

Yes, I AM a Briggs guy :)

What did you do to the 5 hp engine to increase compression so high, and what engine model is it? (See my vid about model# etc., or just type them all into a comment.

So was this a lawnmower engine that you converted. Are you running a heavier flywheel, or just running a lawnmower engine without the blade? If you don't put on more flywheel weight, it will try to backfire, that sounds like what is happening. That can be very painfull on the hand! :(

[kdwedge243]

@ChargerMiles007 no no flywheel or anything, but when i pull it it feels liek somthing is grinding i did convert this from virt to horz so i checked my splasher like 5 times, but its noto the crapiest push mower motor but the nextone up. also if u need the numbers ill mssage u them, and could i just put the shaft to a bike tier i was junna modifyy a clutch o bolt on but anyways thanks if u need anymore info just ask and how would i make the compresion go down thanks!

[ChargerMiles007]

@kdwedge243

I am not sure why the compression would be so high, if you haven't added any filler weld to the inside of the cylinder head, or modified the camshaft. Something grinding, I would be looking into that, as there shouldn't be anything doing that. Sure, message me the #s off the engine, I am not a Briggs Einstein or anything, but between me and the other viewers here, I will bet we can figure out what engine you have.

[kdwedge243]

@ChargerMiles007 tell you what imma send u a vid of it and ill give you the numbers, ill go recordit in a min thanks!

[1960views]

WHERE is the conversion brainchild????????????????. Any idiot can plainly see that this IS a horizontal crankshaft engine,..so AGAIN, where is the conversion to VERTICAL??. This makes as much sense as a screen door, on a submarine!!!. ARE AN IMMIGRANT??

[ChargerMiles007]

@1960views

I hate to argue with you, but this engine was indeed a vertical shaft lawnmower engine, before I converted it to be horizontal shaft, why else would I need the 90 degree bent motor mount plate, and look how the carb. sits.

This was fairly easy to do, since Briggs used the same basic block for the 2 designs, but various changes were needed to ensure proper oiling. I had to use an oil slinger from a horizontal engine.

[eldemente3385]

what do you have to change on the motor?

[ChargerMiles007]

@eldemente3385

Modify the oiling system, machine the crankshaft to 3/4" dia. to fit the centrifugal clutch, and make mounts to rotate the gas tank 90 degress. Filling it with oil was a problem also, and checking the level.

[18Crazykid]

@ChargerMiles007 ,, Hey thanks for the video and all your recommendations my engine works good ,, i improvised some stuff and it worked,,, ill post a video of it running!!!!

[BlakeMason2]

That's kicking some ass for such a teeny engine!

[ChargerMiles007]

@BlakeMason2

Oh yeah! Even a 3hp engine on a semi light go-kart can be a lot of fun. We had a 3hp kart, it would do 30mph, lots of fun :)

[NASTYTHEBOY]

@BlakeMason2 its all about the gear tration man.... if you know anything.... you can fiugre it out :]

[NASTYTHEBOY]

man thats too kool =]

you need to show us how to do it :]

[ChargerMiles007]

@NASTYTHEBOY

Wish I could, but this was like 7 years ago, so I didn't own a video camera.

Maybe I can round up my still photos :)

[snowman3514]

i hope thats a 2 stroke, if its not it wont last long on that angle

[ChargerMiles007]

@snowman3514

Nope, its a 4 stroke, but we did some oiling mods, and added a dipper to it etc.

[SuperKONR]

Sweet! Love the spins lol! Did you build this yourself or is it a kit?

[ChargerMiles007]

@SuperKONR

We built the whole go-kart from scratch :)

We bought handcart tires, reworked the hubs for the back wheels, and used bearings, rod ends etc. from Princess Auto, a Canadian equivalent to TSC.

My friend at AC/DC welding did the roll cage with his pipe bender, as well as make the brake rotor, and other stuff. It was a fun project, and as you can see, it worked well!

Later we bolted on a 5hp Briggs, and it will lay rubber on dry pavement! :)

[MRkallek91]

wow that looks like a lot of power even though its only 3,5.

nice. if only i had the right crafting equipment and skills id be doing these kind of projects all day long! one day i will...

[4gasem]

NICE! No oiling issues to work out?

[robot797]

@4gasem i wondered the same

[gpzDave]

@4gasem thats what i was thinking too

[ChargerMiles007]

@4gasem

Yes, I did have oiling issues, check out my earlier vids, where I show the changes a friend and I made to the engine.