#Lawn mower go kart frame install#
They cost more-figure $200 and up-and require more space and fabrication to install than a centrifugal clutch. Torque converters work with cones that move in and out, first letting the belt slip before changing the effective pulley ratio to alter the speed of the final drive. The next rung on the ladder is a torque converter setup, which is basically a centrifugal clutch and variable-speed transmission. Prices start at about $30 and can exceed $100-we’ve gotten good results with the cheap clutches when they’re properly lubed. Clutches are available in all shaft and chain configurations as well as belt-drive varieties. The easiest way to do this is with a centrifugal clutch mounted on a horizontal shaft engine. Now the power has to be transmitted to the wheels. However, horizontal shaft engines are often easier to install and set up with a clutch and chain. They also seem to come with more updated features like overhead valves. Vertical shaft engines are much more common-just about every push mower has one-so they’re usually cheaper. The configuration determines where the drive output is located-on the side (horizontal) or bottom (vertical) of the engine. These engines can propel our yard karts to 25 mph, and to be honest that’s fast enough for our tastes.Įngines come in two basic varieties, with either a horizontal or vertical crankshaft.
While there’s always a temptation to go for big power, we’ve found that 3- to 5-horsepower engines offer plenty of oomph in a small, light package. We prefer to use four-cycle engines for our karts. Think of the ones powering lawnmowers, snow blowers and other yard implements. Most non-racing go-karts are based on bits and pieces from small engines. First, though, it helps to have a basic understanding of the components involved. Your kids aren’t going to think riding around on an old mower is that cool, so some demolition and construction are in the cards. Your kids will keep the ideas coming, and the rest of the family won’t roll their eyes when you head off to the garage. You’ll quickly find yourself looking at lawnmowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers and chain saws in a much different light. However, the real fun is in the vision, the fabrication and the rides. You may even end up buying or making a new tool or two. Your craigslist searches will go a little further-your kids can even do them for you, and as a side benefit they’ll learn to spell new words, like “centrifugal.” You’ll find new Web sites and message boards to frequent. Instead of going to the local pick-your-part, you’ll be hitting up the nearby lawnmower junkyard. Grassroots go-karts can open up a whole new world for you and your kids. Our goals are to spend quality time with our kids, expand our own fabricating skills, and maybe teach the rest of the family a few things at the same time. Note that we’re not talking about serious karting or racing, just backyard stuff.
Our favorite chassis for these home-built yard karts come from cast-off riding lawnmowers. And when we say “make a vehicle out of junk,” we really do mean old junk. They can scratch your tool-time itch and make you a better parent at the same time. We’re talking about grassroots go-karts here. We’ve found a grassroots solution to this problem: Make a vehicle out of junk with your kids. While family is wonderful, it can use up all of the time you had once planned to spend in your well-equipped shop. By the time that you’ve got the tools, skills, space and money to do some seriously cool things with your cars, you’ve probably got a family, too.