280zwitha383 Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 or something like that, maybe a little three wheeler or if I can balance it a 2 wheeler. I'm stuck however on the gearing. I'm basically starting from scratch but I have two different lawn mower engines that of course have the crank vertical (turns horizontally) and that's where my train of thought is stuck. What can I use to get the thing to spin a chain (or maybe even a belt but I'd rather not) to spin vertically. I have seen a 90* drive for a drill with a chuck on one end and a part that would normally go in a chuck on the other end. I would ASSume that the gear would be fairly strong but I don't know about putting it behind (or under) say a 5hp engine. A 90* device of some sort would be ideal I would think. Anybody have any better ideas? My first thought was of course to simply turn the engine sideways but I'm pretty sure the needle and seat on both of them wouldn't work right, not to mention the tank leaking all over tha place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 you could jst remove the carb and tank and make a custom intake so that your carb would be in the right orientation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redruM_0381 Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 Most simple veritical shaft mower engines dont have the oil "splashers" at the end of the rod that the horizontal motors have, required for adequate oiling. a vertical briggs CAN be converted to horizontal, however you'll need to find that oil splasher and bolt it to the connecting rod. I believe its more work than its worth.. It would be much easier to find a horizontal motor from a junk tiller or snowblower. If you MUST use a vertical, you could also just make a belt driven one... just use a soft V belt and twist it 90 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boodlefoof Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 I built a go-kart once with a mower engine like you're describing. I actually ended up using some parts from a roto-tiller to make it work. The roto-tiller bellhousing bolts to the bottom of the engine... crank attaches to a friction disk clutch. When you release the lever on the roto-tiller, the clutch engages the other friction disk on the roto tiller... it had a driveshaft that then went straight down into a differential with a pair of axles. So, the engine sits right over the drive wheels. Only problem I had was that the gear ratio in the roto-tiller was insanely low (probably around 10:1). So, I put some taller tires on the thing to try and compensate. Even so,... it probably couldn't get up over 15 mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zwitha383 Posted August 29, 2006 Author Share Posted August 29, 2006 Hmm, I've thought about the belt thing and don't really care for it but budget might demand it. The thing is I just like to tinker and if I can make something that you can ride around for nothing but time it's well worth it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzed Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 All I can say is snowmobile engine! Huge power to weight and CVT. Probably not too many in Texas though eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Yeah just find an old junker snowmobile with like a 340cc engine. I had a 72' Arctic Cat Panther that would have been perfect for this type of project! It would do 50mph in the sled so I would guess it would have gone like 70mph in a something much lighter! I think I paid like $150 for it and it ran! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zwitha383 Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 Junker Snowmobile huh, in Texas..... Have you been to Texas?... Any other ideas?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Some-Guy Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 ok we just built one it was a 2 seater using a snow mobile engine... worked great just dont cut of your thumb like me...... it really slows progress.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbk240z Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Then check out this link......... http://www.nickhaddock.co.uk/jetkart.htm Crazy, insane, dangerous, but in a good way! Just imagine the cajones it takes to go for a spin on this kart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Some-Guy Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 that thing is fricken awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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