[Kartbuilding] Kart from old lawn tractor

[Stephen Burke]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your email and the good comments.

The old tractor lawnmower should be good for a kart. Hopefully its not too 
big or bulky for the kart.

I'm not sure if you will be able to use "all chains". If the engines shaft 
is vertical, I think you'll still need to use a belt for this section.
(i.e. on the second last image on: 
http://www.kartbuilding.net/drive/Differential.htm you'll need to use a 
belt. A chain in this position would not stay on the sprockets. )

As for the speed and gearing, I suggest getting a few different size of 
rear sprockets and see how fast/slow they go. See the images at:
http://www.kartbuilding.net/gallery/v/Kart_Clearance_and_Memories/DSC01028.JPG.html
http://www.kartbuilding.net/gallery/v/Kart_Clearance_and_Memories/DSC01029.JPG.html
http://lists.kartbuilding.net/2009-December/000808.html

This way you can set the speed of the kart to a safe limit.

Best of luck,
-steve


On Wed, 7 Dec 2011, Mark Prescott wrote:

> Hi Stephen,
> I have an old lawn tractor that is still working and hope to use it to make a go kart for my 7yr old son. It has a 5 speed "transmission" on it that is
> belt driven on the vertical shaft and converts to chain to drive the rear wheels I would like to know if I should convert it all to chain for a kart and
> simply switch the gears around (big out of trans small on axel to get it to go faster.)  I'm working with a 11hp briggs and stratton.  How fast will this
> thing likely end up going?  will it be safe for a 7yr old?  
> 
> I think its great you have this site available with so much good info.  
> 
> Mark
> 
>