Honda gold wing engine?

[MiniCrawler]

Has anyone here used one in a buggy? I picked up a gl1500 cheap and I want to build a trail type buggy with 4x4.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ODB]

Has anyone here used one in a buggy? I picked up a gl1500 cheap and I want to build a trail type buggy with 4x4.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

years ago there was a guy building a buggy with one on here.......that thread is probably long gone.

[makenzie71]

I’ve seen it done with a 1200, but not 4x4. They had the driveshaft adapted to (iirc) a golf cart axle.

4x4 might not be too difficult...adapt the drive shaft to a 1.25” keyed shaft supported on blocks, and then connect it via chain to another shaft running the length of the buggy. Would only work with fixed differentials...possibly Subaru differentials...fully independent suspension. No reverse, though, which is always a deal breaker for me.

[MiniCrawler]

I’ve seen it done with a 1200, but not 4x4. They had the driveshaft adapted to (iirc) a golf cart axle.

4x4 might not be too difficult...adapt the drive shaft to a 1.25” keyed shaft supported on blocks, and then connect it via chain to another shaft running the length of the buggy. Would only work with fixed differentials...possibly Subaru differentials...fully independent suspension. No reverse, though, which is always a deal breaker for me.

I've been collecting parts to do something similar. I purchased two Mazda rx8 irs diffs with 4.44 gear ratio and limited slips. Transfer case from a Suzuki samurai to get power to both diffs. I guess my biggest question regarding the gold wing engine is how will the clutch hold up?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bdkw1]

The clutch's in the 1800's are very beefy. They also have torque absorbing mechanisms on the output shaft to take out the torque spikes similar to what the Yamaha SXS's use.

[ODB]

No reverse, though, which is always a deal breaker for me.

From 1987 on they where available with reverse......it was powered by the starter motor going thru the transmission so not sure if it would hold up to the weight of a buggy....

[makenzie71]

The electric reverse was available but it's not very robust.

The GL1500 was rated at a 415lb max carrying capacity and weighed 800lbs by itself. I'd think that if you could keep the buggy under 1500lbs you wouldn't even notice wear on the clutch...it's pretty robust. But they have even heavier clutch options out there. People made a lot trikes and similar things out of them and there's plenty of riders out there who exceeded that max weight by themselves. The aftermarket is large and accommodating.

[fatboy1214]

From 1987 on they where available with reverse......it was powered by the starter motor going thru the transmission so not sure if it would hold up to the weight of a buggy....

You had to get reverse as an option my GL1200 also didnt have reverse.

[LIDUNO]

Didn't one guy on here put one in a van? Can't remember the name of the thread.

[LIDUNO]

Here it is. 1989 Daihatsu Hijet Van Project