[Kartbuilding] Plans for a Lawnmower Powered Go-Kart - Finished

Mon Dec 21 23:55:49 GMT 2009

Hi Drew,

Indeed. I made the same typo. Of course I did realise you meant 50.8mm :-)

Yes, well you can be assured, that with that piece on the output shaft, I 
got my Briggs and Stratton 3.5hp engine to start after a little 
persistance. If I can recall correctly this was the exact engine I had:
http://users.telenet.be/b0y/content/fotos_gen/motor%20op%20chassis(2).JPG
An interesting read of a homemade generator using this engine also on: 
http://users.telenet.be/b0y/
Its amazing what you can come across.

Best of luck,
-steve

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009, Drew Bottar-Dillen wrote:

>
> I do still have that attached- so that's good.  Sorry- got the measurement unit wrong- it is actually 50.8mm.  That should make more sense I think! :)
>
> I'll let you know how the start up goes.  I'm going to clean up from dinner and then out I go!
>
> Thanks again,
> Drew
>
>
>
>> Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:08:16 +0000
>> From: sburke
>> To: andncarolina
>> CC: kartbuilding
>> Subject: RE: Plans for a Lawnmower Powered Go-Kart - Finished
>>
>> Hi Drew,
>>
>> Yes, speaking of weight, I did leave on an additional piece onto the
>> output shaft. See the following two images/pages:
>> http://www.kartbuilding.net/gallery/v/Kart_Clearance_and_Memories/DSC01070.JPG.html
>> http://www.kartbuilding.net/gallery/v/Kart_Clearance_and_Memories/?g2_page=20
>>
>> The first shows the piece to which the blade was attached. Having left
>> this piece on the engine, it worked with no problem. The second image
>> above shows how I managed to attach the pulley securely to the engines
>> output shaft.
>>
>> I'm glad to hear you got a nice small pulley. 50.8cm should be ok. Your
>> going to need 4 or 5 times the size of that pulley wheel on the rear axle
>> (or as large a pulley wheel you can get).
>>
>> As regards the engine. Cleaning the spark plug will indeed help matters
>> and wont hurt. Also make sure you have the exhaust properly connected. If
>> the exhaust is not connected, then it makes it more likely for the engine
>> to backfire and make it difficult to start!! This also helped in my
>> situation.
>>
>> I'm sure you can get the engine to work. With some work and patience,
>> you'll get it.
>>
>> Best wishes to you too for the Christmas and New Year.
>> -steve
>>
>>
>> On Mon, 21 Dec 2009, Drew Bottar-Dillen wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> No problem!  Thanks for getting back to me.
>>>
>>> Yes- I am experiencing something quite similar to that.  Its like I can't pull it hard enough to get going.  So I have re-bolted it to the original mower deck in the hopes that this will provide more stability when I try to start it up.  I will go ahead and clean the spark plug- that can't be a bad idea.
>>>
>>> I will let you know how it all goes.  If I don't have a working engine- that's gonna sort of kill the project for me.  So we'll see how it goes.  In other news- I went ahead and purchased the first pully-wheel to be bolted onto the engine the other day- in the hopes that the added weight from that could aid me in starting it.  $9 at my local hardware store.  Glad I found it though.  It was the smallest I could find- 2" in diameter - or roughly 50.8 cm I guess?  Anyhow- I know the other 2 will be much larger.
>>>
>>> Ok- Well I'm going to head out and see if I can manage to start it.
>>>
>>> Take care, and have a Happy Holiday!
>>> Drew
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:22:41 +0000
>>>> From: sburke
>>>> To: andncarolina
>>>> CC: kartbuilding
>>>> Subject: RE: Plans for a Lawnmower Powered Go-Kart - Finished
>>>>
>>>> Hi Drew,
>>>>
>>>> Sorry for the slow reply. I've been very busy with work the past two
>>>> weeks.
>>>> Anyways, I had the exact same problem as you to begin with! I had
>>>> difficulty starting the engine without the blade and thought it acted as a
>>>> flywheel. It was as if the engine "kicked back" when I pulled the starter
>>>> cord. Was this the same for you?
>>>>
>>>> I did try bolting on weights to act as a flywheel. After trial and error,
>>>> I realised that I did not need the balance or flywheel at all! Starting
>>>> the engine just needed a good firm pull to get it going.
>>>> My advice to you is to persist with it. The Briggs and Stratton engine
>>>> should start fine without the blade. You could remove and clean the spark
>>>> plug to make sure the engine is firing cleanly.
>>>>
>>>> Let me know how it goes.
>>>>
>>>> Best of luck,
>>>> -steve
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, 13 Dec 2009, Drew Bottar-Dillen wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Hey Steve,
>>>>>
>>>>> Sorry I still haven't gotten around to sending the pics.  I am doing this project in small steps whenever I have time.  One serious issue I came across today (this may make or break the project) is how to get that mower engine started without the blade on the end.  The blade on this B&S engine acts as a flywheel.  Without it- the engine does not start.  Any ideas here?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks-
>>>>> Drew
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:31:54 +0000
>>>>>> From: sburke
>>>>>> To: andncarolina
>>>>>> CC: kartbuilding
>>>>>> Subject: Re: Plans for a Lawnmower Powered Go-Kart - Finished
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Drew,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for your comment on the kartbuilding blog. Its good to hear that
>>>>>> you got the wooden frame all made.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes! Finding wheels and axles can be a bit of a problem.
>>>>>> What I done, was to use a diameter 13mm steel bar for the axle, and I
>>>>>> filed/ground down the ends of the axle to 10mm. I found that the inside of
>>>>>> a small bicycle wheel would *just* fit a 10mm diameter bar. It wasn't the
>>>>>> strongest and did break once on me, but it worked. What I suggest is that
>>>>>> you get a small axle and if need be file the ends of the axle down to 10mm
>>>>>> so the wheel will fit on. You might have to get a 10mm drill bit and
>>>>>> enlarge the hole in the bicycle wheel. Make sure not to weaken the wheel
>>>>>> too much.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As the axle is supported inside the Wooden holder (
>>>>>> http://www.kartbuilding.net/Lawnmower_Powered_Wooden_Go-Kart_Plans/front-axle-assembly.html
>>>>>> )
>>>>>> it would be possible to use a small size axle (10mm or 13mm).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What is the size of the hole in the bicycle wheels you have at the moment?
>>>>>> What size metal bars do you have for the axles? You should be able to get
>>>>>> it working.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I do agree. I wouldn't go buying wheels either as it does defeat the
>>>>>> purpose a little.
>>>>>> Yes! Please do email on some photos of your progress and the wooden frame.
>>>>>> I made these type of karts years ago, and alas I didn't think to take any
>>>>>> photos myself at the time. I can put the images up into the kartbuilding
>>>>>> gallery to help others. See:
>>>>>> http://www.kartbuilding.net/gallery/v/OtherPeoplesKarts/high-school-bogey/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best of luck,
>>>>>> -steve
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Wed, 25 Nov 2009, Drew wrote:
>>>>>>> New comment on your post #61 "Plans for a Lawnmower Powered Go-Kart - Finished"
>>>>>>> Author : Drew
>>>>>>> Comment:
>>>>>>> Hi-
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I started building this kart back in October.  I have the entire wooden frame built, but I'm having some problems finding bicycle wheels with hubs that are wide enough to fit the thickness of the axles required to support the heavy frame.  I have considered buying wheels/axles/tires for the kart online, but I feel like that kind of defeats the purpose of specifically finding plans that use bicycle wheels.  Please email with any additional relevant information!  I'd also be happy to send photos of my progress (the wooden frame is totally finished, all with free lumber from my neighbor).  Thanks for your time!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Drew Dillen
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _________________________________________________________________