Go Kart Engine Lawn Mower Or Leaf Blower?

cooldudepo

Im saving some money to build a go kart it will be out of wood and not that sophisticated I have a 4hp leaf blower i was planing to use but would it be better for a lawn mower engine to be used and more hp

ps: i do not want to spend more than $250 on the engine if i have to

Thank You for your help
thanks for the info but im just wondering what is wrong with the leaf blower motor i really dont want to spend the money for a new one and i was thinking i have a great bike shop that i could use bike gears and chains to connect to the tires


and i will figure out the gearing ratio when the time comes

Answer
Leafblower engine is probably only about 32cc. My lawnmower engine is a 3.8 hp Tecumseh, but it's about 160cc, and would have about four times as much torque, so could be geared a lot higher for a go-kart. Major issue would be that the lawnmower engine is probably a vertical shaft, making it harder to adapt to a go-kart, but there are plenty of sites where you can buy adapter kits - Google it.

Edit: what's wrong with it is that it's too small for a go-kart. It will be revving its little guts out just trying to get off the line then go slow. Forget about hills, unless you're only going to be going down them. It will destroy itself within a few weeks.

How to make a go kart out of a lawn mower engine?

Tim H.

I want to make a go kart from an old push lawn mower engine, but I have some questions. I know that the lawn mower engine output is vertical an needs to be horizontal, but I am probably going to use the twisted belt method. I don't know how to weld, so how should I do it? Wood construction would be nice. Also, how would I mount the belt on the output shaft and axle? What kind of clutch do I need? How do I make the throttle? And lastly, how about the brakes? Thanks for answers to any of these questions!

Answer
You could use wood but, weight is going to be a huge factor. How are you going to design a sturdy, safe, lightweight and functional steering system of wood?

A lawnmower engine will work but is not going to be a speedster as these engines are governed.

Belts tend to slip and if you look at most go karts you will see they are chain driven and chins do not like to be twisted.

Maybe use that lawnmower to cut a few lawns for cash and just buy a nice go kart.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Using a push lawn mower engine for a go kart?

Makinakart

I have a Sears craftsman push lawn mower engine and I'm going to be using it for a go-kart , which is for a physics project. I know I know, I should go buy an engine, but I have a strict budget with the class and I would really like to turn this engine sideways. So far I can see that turning the carb around should be easy. I'll just make a little mount for it and put some tubing to extend the fuel to where the spark plug is. But, one concern I have is with the oil distribution if the engine is sideways. I really don't understand how this oil gets dispersed and maybe, with a better explanation I could come up with a solution. If anything I'll make the engine rotatable on the kart, and turn it back to its normal position when idling:P Anyways any thoughts on fixing this oil problem? (even though I don't even know if I have an oil problem).
-I forgot to mention that the oil is seperate from the fuel tank, and the fuel tank is gravity fed. The reason why I haven't tried is because I'm still working on getting the blade off. From what I've heard gearboxes are heavy and will result in a loss of power. What if I just overflow the oil container to way past the amount recommended , then when I turn it sideways more of the parts will be submerged?
- I also think its about 5-6 hp in comparison to a 3.5 I have lying around
-It also has an internal reducer that comes out horizontally for the self propelling part,
-Could I take the internal reducer off? so that that axle spins the same speed as the blades, then just mount the engine straight?

Answer
Hmm I'm not a motor type, but assuming it is a cheep small engine and as such the oil is probably gravity fed. If it is the problem in addition to possibly leaking oil like a siv in to the pistons/piston on the lower half of the motor is the pistons/piston on the top side not getting any lubrication. If it where my project I'd leave the motor orientation the way it was designed for the mower and use gears to change the direction of force it generates. Not sure the added weight of the gear housing (safety don't want to fall in to the gears) would help you go-kart go with a small motor tho.

How Can I Use A Lawn Mower Engine To Power A Go Kart?

billy the

I am 14 years old and trying to make a cheap little go kart. I am using wood to build it so it is not very complicated, but I do not have the funds to use a horizontal shaft motor. Do you have any ideas of how I can make it work???

Answer
Changing a horizontal engine to a vertical engine is not the easiest, nor inexpensive task. Changing it requires 45 degree gears which are expensive and may not last long (depending on manufacturer and intended purpose). You are better trying to find an edger gas engine (although lower horse power than lawnmower), a tiller (which some that have more HP than lawnmowers).

In addition making the frame out of wood spells disaster. It may be strong enough for a while but with time it will come apart (most likely on a turn). As I was younger I looked into making a go kart and putting it together from scratch it is not the most economical way. Trying to get one used is definitely cheaper unless you can weld your own parts. Another way to look it used is by buying used parts and put it together.

By the your question I can tell you are looking at 1 problem and not thinking of the rest.

Do you have the entire plans for the go kart.

What are you going to use for wheels?
What type of braking system you are thinking of?
How about clutch? (lawn equipment usually does not have or require any so the engine do not have any).
What is your budget?

No matter what it is not a $20 project.

BTW, check out ebay to see what parts are available and how much used parts go for.

For instance a full (cheap) go kart goes for $340.
A new go kart nice 90cc full cage kart goes for $900.

Hope this helps

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Can You Replace A Electric go kart engine with a lawn mower engine?

best lawn mower engine for go kart image

Q. I want to get a go kart. But real ones are expensive. So I was wondering if you could buy an electric go kart and replace the engine with a lawn mower engine.

Answer
Look for a used pressure washer or generator with at least a 5hp motor, it'll have a horizontal crank instead of a vertical one found on a lawn mower.

Can You Replace A Electric go kart engine with a lawn mower engine?

Q. I want to get a go kart. But real ones are expensive. So I was wondering if you could buy an electric go kart and replace the electric engine with a lawn mower engine.

Answer
You COULD,But the biggest problem your left with, is finding a gear box and clutch to go on it, so most likely you would have to do some pretty big modifications, so if your good with stuff like that, Go ahead, finding a gearbox and clutch to fit it is the worst, the rest is a piece of cake. The clutch is so your wheels don't keep spinning and gear box is to change the shaft from spinning vertical to horizontal, you will probably need a something to weld with if you don't already. Good luck if you attempt. JUST ADDING I SAW ON YOUR OTHER QUESTION JUST LIKE THIS, NOT ALL PRESSURE WASHERS HAVE HORIZONTAL SHAFTS, ONLY THE MORE EXPENSIVE ONES HAVE HORIZONTAL SHAFTS, HOPE THIS HELPS.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

How to increase engine output on a 5hp riding lawn mower.?

best lawn mower engine for go kart image

Dazed but

I want to use a riding lawn mower engine and trans to power my new go-kart. The go kart will be used mainly to pull boat trailers, so I need some torque out of this engine, but I would also like to have a cruising gear. Any suggestions?

Answer
errrrrrrrr i dont no depends wot cc engine u hav init al ready lol tel me and i can tel u ;)

How to build a lawn mower go kart?

D5IlENT1

The internet doesnt detail this quite accuratley so i came here. I just really need instructions starting from taking the lawn mower engine off to making the kart turn on. Any help is appreciated :) oh, and my budget is <$200 so yeah.. :P

Answer
Sorry, but I'm gonna rain on your parade here......... A lawn mower engine is a "vertical shaft" engine and most go-karts use a "horizontal shaft" engine.......... You'd need to find a way to turn the power 90 degrees.........

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

How to increase engine output on a 5hp riding lawn mower.?

best lawn mower engine for go kart image

Dazed but

I want to use a riding lawn mower engine and trans to power my new go-kart. The go kart will be used mainly to pull boat trailers, so I need some torque out of this engine, but I would also like to have a cruising gear. Any suggestions?

Answer
errrrrrrrr i dont no depends wot cc engine u hav init al ready lol tel me and i can tel u ;)

How to build a lawn mower go kart?

D5IlENT1

The internet doesnt detail this quite accuratley so i came here. I just really need instructions starting from taking the lawn mower engine off to making the kart turn on. Any help is appreciated :) oh, and my budget is <$200 so yeah.. :P

Answer
Sorry, but I'm gonna rain on your parade here......... A lawn mower engine is a "vertical shaft" engine and most go-karts use a "horizontal shaft" engine.......... You'd need to find a way to turn the power 90 degrees.........

Powered by Yahoo! Answers