Looking for a gearbox for off road buggy

[tmmoll]

Ok, Ive got one of those cheap japaneese made gokarts that Im basicly just using the suspension for. I wanna put a 18hp briggs in the rear of it, but I wanna have the option for a f-n-r or even a 3-4 speed forward with reverse.

This isnt a comp buggy just somthing to play around in the woods with. It has a indipendent rear suspension, and I would like to keep it that way.

There will be bracing and the roll cage will be redone, so I dont need coments about that. I just need to know were I can find a gearbox or transmission.

[nutz4sand]

Welcome to the site tmmoll

A few pics of the layout and measurements might help.

A polaris 2wd tranny might be OK IF it will fit behnd the motor?
Do you want to shift or keep it CVT? A smaller quad motor with reverse might be a better option cause they tend to be smaller if you do not already have the 18 horse Briggs.

You have a chain drive rear assembly right now in it?

[tmmoll]

Ill get pics later. I dont have the engineyet so if there is another route to take that will be better thwn that will be great. I can weld pretty much anything so if I need more room that can be arranged.

[nutz4sand]

A lot will depend on if you want to shift or not. Might have to run shifter linkage. Maybe a clutch linkage too unless you go with a motor with an automatic clutch. If the motors a clutch with no electric start getting out to restart it when you stall it gets old quick!

Also if you set on a four stroke or OK with a two stroke?

[K-fab]

I believe that Dan from RPM has a lower hp rated gear box. You might want to contact him.

Do a search on "Danno"

[jumpin jellybean]

Welcome to the site imo I would find a quad salvage yard and get small quad engine with electric start and reverseit stinks having to push if caught on dead end trail and no room to turn around

[amdburner]

tmmol, I have a gearbox from a Polaris Explorer 300 that I was going to use in a kart mod but have moved in a different direction with it. It has F-N-R and H-L. The only thing I know that it needs is a retaining bolt for the secondary clutch that is on it. If interested let me know.

[cerino2000]

I've got a polaris differential / transmission as well from a sportsman 500 4x4 model. Doesn't need anything but they are pretty big.

[sodman]

Knock on wood but my tranny out of a Polaris 500 explorer seems to work fine in my buggy also powered by the same 500 cc engine . I've pounded it pretty hard so far and it seems to be holding up well and the buggy weighed in around 1050 lbs not a light weight by any means . I bought it used and replaced all bearings seals and chains at least I know what I 've got
There's my 2 cents Sodman

[nutz4sand]

I will say that I had a Polaris 500cc four stroke 4wd as one of my backup quads at Glamis and my Kawasaki mini rail busted the rear end (due to me trying hard drag racing lauches up Olds hill. Ooops.)

Being by myself that day I got a ride back to the motor home in the parking lot near the Glamis Beach store and got the quad out and straps and bungie cords and electrical tape.

I drove the quad out the sand highway to the buggy at the base of Olds hill and hooked bungies on the steering to keep it straight yet allow a lil wiggle room. I connected the straps and used the electrical tape to make sure they stayed hooked up (tape around the hooks). To many peoples surprise but mine the quad not only moved it (The rail itself wieghed near 1000 pounds and over due to being made of heavy crap tube) But it moved it right out of there and I was passing people on the snad highway towing this thing with nothing but a strap. I had to be VERY mindful of where I was going and there are a good few hills where someone cut me off and ME stopping was NOT on the list of doable things. Unless I wanted to be plowed from behind by a 1000 pound rail with no driver.

I often had to turn away from people and head up steeper hills AND keep enough momentum so that when I cleared the top the rail would roll over it. Then I had to insure I could outrun the rail down the other side.

The quad never broke a sweat once. I would feel OK with this setup (not unlike Sodmans) in a buggy that was 1000 pounds or preferably less.

Thats one quad I wished I would have kept. I got a couple of the 400 two strokes but I miss that 500 four stroke.


Tmmoll if you still plan to run a 18 horse Briggs and your rear end IS a cahin drive either the Poalris 2wd quad tranny Or maybe even a sled tranny would work.

Where are those pics!!!! :]