5hp Briggs go-kart

Here is an old aluminum framed go kart, it has a 5hp Briggs engine, using a racing con rod Briggs Motorsprts part #555207.
You need this connecting rod to rev the engine to 7000 rpm, since the stock oil dipper will fail and wreck your engine at such high revs! Trust me on this, I have had it happen! :(

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Briggs
• and
• stratton
• hp
• go
• kart

[Compwhiz128]

Now other question, do you put the stock oil dipper onto the racing rod? or is it left alone?

[ChargerMiles007]

@Compwhiz128

The racing rod should have a smaller dipper cast onto the bottom half of the con rod.

Therefore you would leave the stock oil dipper off. I always keep parts like that though, as you never know when you may need one.

I will make a vid of the racing rod to show you what the one I bought looks like, it could be a week or so though, since I am getting married soon :)

[ChargerMiles007]

@Compwhiz128

Yes, they have to fit correctly, perhaps mark the, with a black marker, before you undo the bolts. I also scribe small scratches into parts to know how they go, but that isn't always recommended on a part such as a connecting rod :) I am lucky in that I have a lot of engines to use as an example, if I forget how a part goes, plus I have an 1 30 year old Briggs repair manual :)

[Compwhiz128]

@ChargerMiles007 Oops, I misinterpreted what you said.

[Compwhiz128]

@ChargerMiles007 HA! that wasn't my mistake, this was in bolting the connecting rod to the crank, tho I didnt know that misaligned point gaps lead to key shearing?

Theres a hole where oil can reach the crank journal, it cracked and thus snapped right around that hole...

Tho $20 later, a new one shall be here with in a week or so.

Lesson learned: seat the two halves together tapered side facing left, ensuring witness marks match, and thread bolts in before torquing...

[ChargerMiles007]

@Compwhiz128

Oh, that was a nasty mistake! I learned not to use a STEEL flywheel key the hard and expensive way also!!! >:((

If you keep shearing off the aluminum flywheel keys, either the flywheel nut is too loose, or the point gap isn't set right etc.

[Compwhiz128]

@ChargerMiles007 Well, no, I was supposed to seat together the two halves of the con rod, and instead I thought it would seat itself...it snapped right where the oil hole is.

Big amateur mistake :(.

Its a learning curve, and a new ones on the way...

[ChargerMiles007]

@Compwhiz128

You overtorqued the new con rod, and stripped put the threads!?

Yes, you have to remember they list inch pounds (200, I think it is) divide that by 12 to get foot lbs. Whatever it is , it isn't very tight!

The other thing you don't want to do is run the engine in very cold temps, as the thick oil can break the racing oil dipper off. However, the stock dipper won't handle 5000 rpm for very long, especially in cold temps. During the summer, it seems to be OK.

[Compwhiz128]

GRR I ordered this part, only to make a stupid mistake torquing it up to spec...

I broke the con rod :(

[ChargerMiles007]

@4gasem

Yes, these are regular hand cart tires on 4" rims. They are cheap, and actually grip surprisingly well, but we have worn out a bunch of them on this cart over the years. It is 1 wheel drive, both wheel brakes using steel pads rubbing on the rear tires. Crude, but effective. The other kart uses a car hydraulic caliper on a homemade rotor. AC/DC welding was able to hand fit it up and weld it, so we didn't even have to machine the rotor! The Dude knows his stuff! :)