[Kartbuilding] power transmission

[Stephen Burke]

Hi Jonathan,

Yes - I know those Honda GX160 engines. They are quite popular, however as 
you said, a gearbox would be very beneficial in providing a low end gear 
and a high gear also.

While there is no special gearbox one can buy for a Honda engine, it is 
possible to adapt a gearbox from a motorbike engine. I have done this 
twice before to reasonable success.

The following photo album shows how I connected a Honda 90 motorbike 
gearbox to a Honda GX engine:
http://www.kartbuilding.net/gallery/v/Kart_Clearance_and_Memories/
While it worked ok, the two chains and the total weight was a little much.

You mentioned trying to get a gearbox from a lawnmower, well the gears 
from a "self-propelled" lawnmower would be too weak for use on a go-kart. 
Ideally you would need a gearbox from a tractor/ride-on lawnmower. These 
can be quite difficult to come across, as a lot of them are setup with 
drive belts and pulley wheels. Again there is the problem of a total 
combined weight being very large.

Getting the gearbox from an old motorbike engine (where the piston etc. 
might be broken) would be your best bet.

Good luck with it.
-steve


On Sat, 12 Apr 2008, jonathan howley wrote:

> hi im Jonathan i came across ur website while researching a college
> project.. i must redesign the power transmission on a off-road go-kart...
> the kart has a standard Honda gx160 engine.. the idea i had was 2 fit a gear
> box but i cant find one anywhere in Ireland or on the web that will suit wat
> i want 2 do.. iv been trying 2 get my hands on a gearbox out of a lawnmower?
> any help or ideas u have would be much appreciated..
>