Aluminum go cart

Check out this strange little guy, picked from the trash by my neighbor.... what do u guys think the best engine donor would be?
Weed wacker or something?

Hey I have one like that! I got it not too long ago.

Mine's made by Razor and it's actually an electric unit. It doesn't work unfortunately so I wanted to put a weed whacker engine on it like you mentioned. It's actually way too small for me but I still wanna drive it.

I used to have one. Motor was about the size of an alternator. Was a fun little guy, but only 2wd. And wayyy to heavy to be aluminum. It’s most likely steel. I always wanted to extend it or something but it wasn’t worth the effort. Could put a 670 predator on it just because why not. Deathkart.

Lol, 670. You'd have to sit on top of the engine.

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

I used to have one. Motor was about the size of an alternator. Was a fun little guy, but only 2wd. And wayyy to heavy to be aluminum. It’s most likely steel. I always wanted to extend it or something but it wasn’t worth the effort. Could put a 670 predator on it just because why not. Deathkart.

Yeah Im just putting it together for a little kid, so I just need it to move... I think a weed wacker engine would work, just not sure what kind of output they have etc.

To my knowledge there isn’t a very good way to adapt them. Not saying it can’t be done, but from the ones I’ve taken apart it doesn’t look very good

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

To my knowledge there isn’t a very good way to adapt them. Not saying it can’t be done, but from the ones I’ve taken apart it doesn’t look very good

So you are saying they were electric or something>?

Yes those carts were electric. But I was talking about the pro on the weed eater engine. It just had a little spring cable that would fit into it like a socket goes on an extension. I’m sure you could weld a clutch to the crank or something but that limits your serviceability

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Yes those carts were electric. But I was talking about the pro on the weed eater engine. It just had a little spring cable that would fit into it like a socket goes on an extension. I’m sure you could weld a clutch to the crank or something but that limits your serviceability

ok would it even need a clutch? I would assume it wouldnt have enough power to move at idle.

Why not use a chainsaw?  It already has a clutch.  

mrshaft696 wrote:

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Yes those carts were electric. But I was talking about the pro on the weed eater engine. It just had a little spring cable that would fit into it like a socket goes on an extension. I’m sure you could weld a clutch to the crank or something but that limits your serviceability

ok would it even need a clutch? I would assume it wouldnt have enough power to move at idle.

Without a clutch it would stall. If you’re stopped so is the engine. Has to disconnect from the wheels somehow

Without a clutch, the only way to ride would be to get on and have someone give you a push start. Once the engine is running, you can ride around without stopping or slowing too much, as long as you don't stall it. Then to stop you would have to shut the engine off. Like a sprint car......

But that would probably get old real quick on a fun machine.

A 3.5hp briggs might be a little big, but they aren't too heavy and if you made a mount for it, it wouldn't be too hard to hook on there. Also you can get a 3/4" clutch easy which will fit right on. You'd need to think about chain sizes and how the power is getting to the wheel. It's kind of a pain to find a tiny gas engine. I think a weed wacker engine would have the power if you had it geared low enough and just want it to move for a small kid. But definately gonna have to do some serious adapting and hacking to make it all work.

MightyRaze wrote:

Why not use a chainsaw?  It already has a clutch.  

yeah I think that is a possible idea, might be alittle crazy for a little kid to drive, haha, have to gear it right.

mr.modified wrote:

Without a clutch, the only way to ride would be to get on and have someone give you a push start. Once the engine is running, you can ride around without stopping or slowing too much, as long as you don't stall it. Then to stop you would have to shut the engine off. Like a sprint car......

But that would probably get old real quick on a fun machine.

A 3.5hp briggs might be a little big, but they aren't too heavy and if you made a mount for it, it wouldn't be too hard to hook on there. Also you can get a 3/4" clutch easy which will fit right on. You'd need to think about chain sizes and how the power is getting to the wheel. It's kind of a pain to find a tiny gas engine. I think a weed wacker engine would have the power if you had it geared low enough and just want it to move for a small kid. But definately gonna have to do some serious adapting and hacking to make it all work.

yeah I didnt think real hard about it yet, it would be for a little kid, not myself... I have seen a few of those less than 5hp engines around. I have to look online to understand what the clutch is and how it works....