FalconFN Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 My 12 year old is very engineering-minded so I want a project to do with her. We've decided to build a petrol go kart with a low powered (3.5 hp?) Briggs and Stratton mower engine engine. Has anyone made a simple one? My welding skills are pretty poor so I'll probably look for a sutable second hand frame or sopmething that can be adapted to make a frame. I'm thinking of using mobility scooter type wheels but I'm stuck on a simple braking system and really stuck on what type of [very simple] clutch system we could use. Any ideas really appreciated - even better if you have photos. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 is it to be used as a go-cart on a go-cart track or mucking about on the fields...? if fields the bigger wheels are a must as the ground clearance is very low............clutch wise you will be looking at a centrifugal clutch....braking system will have to be bought in to match the rims......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 If you go for a basic fixed rear axle with large sprocket, you can have a brake disc fixed directly to the axle rather than the hubs. Does that make sense? I know what I mean but not sure I've used the correct terminology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 I remember a tecumseh 6hp being on here a short while ago, some bloke (dykelad i think) might be willing to let it go for a couple of bottles of meths and some rolling baccy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 YouTube is one of the better sources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 I remember a tecumseh 6hp being on here a short while ago, some bloke (dykelad i think) might be willing to let it go for a couple of bottles of meths and some rolling baccy that aint going nowhere...... i think at least you ought to buy a second hand mig welder and get some instruction how to use it as if its going to be used on fields you will see cracks in the chassis that will need mending,,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted August 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Thanks Ditchman, it'll be used on fields, but they are turf fields so very flat. I've got a arc welder but I'm not exactly good at it - think candle wax rather than seam. Yup Medic, that makes perfect sense, thanks. This is going to be low-tech, low speed and low cost so I don't want anything complicated and fancy but I'd like it to be fun enough for a year or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 I made in once using a pedal go kart frame, old mower engine mounted in a hamster cage.. God knows how I got it working. I always reckoned on of the 'Suffolk punch' type mower engines would be easiest as you wouldn't hve to change the direction of the drive... Keep us posted, sounds fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted August 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 I made in once using a pedal go kart frame, old mower engine mounted in a hamster cage.. God knows how I got it working. I always reckoned on of the 'Suffolk punch' type mower engines would be easiest as you wouldn't hve to change the direction of the drive... Keep us posted, sounds fun! That's the sort of thing, cylinder mower engine and some moped and bike bits. I looked at the pedal karts but they don't look too strong. Perhaps a few angle iron struts could stiffen them up a bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmytree Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 As above, one of the older type cylinder mowers would be the best bet to keep the drive train in line without having to turn the drive 90 degrees. Most of them had a centrifugal clutch but you could also take drive through a fan belt and tensioner pulley type arrangement like you see on a rotavator. B&S engines tend to work on fixed revs so an older iron block 4 stroke with a throttle would be easier to adapt. If you want reasonable performance you could go up to a small motorbike engine and get a proper clutch and chain drive, more power too! One of the Chinese 125cc Honda copies will put out between 10 -12 HP so quite a bit more fun and easier to rig up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 As medic says a shaft mounted brake on the axle makes sense and keeps it simple, also avoids having to balance braking force between two wheels to prevent scary right angled turns. You could maybe pick up an old mountain bike disc brake and hydraulic callipers and adapt to suit. As for a clutch not sure what you could use, when I made one as a bairn we just had drive engaged all the time and it got a push start using a trolley to keep the driven wheels off the ground and spinning and then when the push was up to speed the piler (go-cart) was dropped onto its wheels, it wasn't very effective Maybe a clutch from a chainsaw that is being sold for spares could be adapted? Sorry not the most constructive and helpful post, but really look forward to hearing about how the project progresses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polester Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 When we were kids we had one with a honda C70 engine and a disc brake on the rear axle on a damp fresh cut field it was mental. I don't know if you could adapt the drive from a moped but it would give you bigger wheels and has a good brake attached to the hub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 surprised no one has mentioned a ride on mower, when tuned they go like ****, as was the case at the marsham show with the bar stool racers. perhaps a gander in the small ads and free papers, gumtree and the like might turn up something for you. i'm still on the look out for an old dodgem car, preferably with the motor, then I can run it off a portable genny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted August 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Thanks grr, the mountain bike disk brake on the axle is now on the shortlist. When I find a suitable engine I'll make a decision on the clutch. I'm still on the look out for an old dodgem car, preferably with the motor, then I can run it off a portable genny.That is an inspired idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Some older Briggs engines have a side exit pto drive shaft. Used on the older hayter harrier models. Or as suggested an old Rev and go moped might do, you get the gearbox with that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 surprised no one has mentioned a ride on mower, when tuned they go like ****, as was the case at the marsham show with the bar stool racers. perhaps a gander in the small ads and free papers, gumtree and the like might turn up something for you. i'm still on the look out for an old dodgem car, preferably with the motor, then I can run it off a portable genny. you great lummock....and you rekon you will drive into norwich on a saturday morning dressed as "bimbo the clown" make the generator 500Kva and you might have a chance of escaping the ole bill............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 you great lummock....and you rekon you will drive into norwich on a saturday morning dressed as "bimbo the clown" make the generator 500Kva and you might have a chance of escaping the ole bill............... Christ! how big? the old man has a merlin engined generator up the yard but i'd have to fit a tow hitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Christ! how big? the old man has a merlin engined generator up the yard but i'd have to fit a tow hitch that would be a site worth seeing.........................mind you it would be "normal for norfolk"............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 that would be a site worth seeing.........................mind you it would be "normal for norfolk"............. it was up at the marsham show this weekend Mr D, at full pelt it'll power up the whole village, weighs a bit though shame my little Honda 2.5 kva genny wouldn't do the job of powering up a dodgem, I might be in the market for an engine soon buh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 There is a class of Motorsport that I cannot remember the name of but it is very small home built cars for 2, no roof and the race is like trials ...over tough rough ground etc not high speed but great little vehicles. There might be some lessons from these home built little cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFreeman1310 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 If your welding skills aren't up to the job I would say buy a pre built used frame plenty around its going to be your daughter in there a vital weld snapping could cause a bad injury other thank that I say crack on would be a good project. John Website to try get a frame from is swapz.co.uk they swap anything and everything you could get one for somthing you want rid of anyway and there for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Hi Great to see the input in this Haven't a clue myself although maybe engine of a cement mixer would have the drive train /gearbox you need Or a Honda rotivator they have a clutch and reduction box Great project All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 You can pick up an old kart frame for a couple of hundred - 3 or 4 years old. Pick up a comer engine for pittance on ebay and away you go. Next they will be wanting to race and that is when it gets serious money....ask me how I know!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 If you google "go cart plans" there are hundreds of sites giving you all the information you could ever possibly want and sell you all the bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol p Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Hi, I've been trying to sell this for a while now. I have got more pics and can take more if you need them for your project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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