What powerplant for go karts?

**yoshi** · 11-17-2007, 04:23 PM

Ok, basically, me and 8 of my buddies and their wives rented the local outdoor race track last night to race go karts. *They weren't the fastest things, about 55 mph, and didn't pull outta the corners as hard as I wanted, but they were pretty fun for a bone stock 5hp motor.

So, needless to say, renting a track to race go karts for 20 min. was enough to get us hooked, and i'm now gonna build some race go karts for us. *One of my buddies is my machinist for my sandrails, so he is gonna handle the machine work, i'm gonna build a fixture and build the frames, the other guys are gonna throw down for the motors, wheels, and other odds and end stuff. *So basically, i'm gonna be out my time and material for the chassis, which is fine cause it won't cost me much to do to end up with a couple karts for me and the wife. *

My question is this, I have no idea about the little motors, we wanna keep the karts equal, so we're debating on a 10 or 16 hp powerplant, at least twice what we had last night, what powerplants and brands are good, how do the centrifugal clutches work, and where can I locate them? *Any and all info pertaining to the smaller motors would be appreciated. I found 16 hp motors, brand new on ebay, for under $250, the cheaper the better. We're wanting good cheap fun, and if the kart comes out as cool as I think it will with the aluminum work and frame design, I will start selling them so i can afford to race my buddies and have it not cost me anything, plus I could build 5 or 6 of my own so my friends that don't have one can race with us.

We spent $30 for 20 min. of racing in their karts last night, but you can ride the track for the entire day in your own kart for $25.00, so you can see why I want to build my own. 20 min. just wasn't enough time....

input??

**dsrace** · 11-17-2007, 04:51 PM

http://www.bondurantsuperkarts.com/kartspecs.php

http://www.mongoosekarts.com/engines.html

yoshi * 2 of my brother in laws raced karts (alcohol) incredible machines for what they were. I know that horizontal shaft lawn mower engines will work but not the same at all. I don't know why a 10 hp would still be cheap and alot more fun that what you raced the other night. I do know there are some low dollor torque converters out there for go carts, northern offers one but I think it is only for 8hp of less. I looked at those a while back for my daughters go carts. check out the sites above, might be some helpful info.