Q&A for How to Create a Go Kart with a Lawnmower Engine

Speed mostly depends on three factors, engine RPM, tire size, and gear ratio. So that question is not easily answered. Most 5-7 hp yard go-karts go 17-35 mph, with 25 mph being common. 8-13 hp go-karts with torque converters and large tires top out at around 40 mph. Race karts can go much faster as they use modified or two stroke engines that rev higher, so you could see speeds of 50-60 mph in those. Enduro and high end race karts can go much much faster.

As long as the engine is from a decent brand (and therefore good quality), it won't explode out of nowhere. You'd really need to damage it to make it explode.

Leave the motor in, remove the blade and ride.

If you are not running the motor it will not explode, but all of the fluids will flow to the bottom of the motor and make it harder to start. In your oil pan, there is a flipper type thing that literally flips the oil into a tube, and that tube will bring the oil to the crank shaft. If the oil cannot get into the tube, then bad things will happen, but all in all the engine will not explode. Also, you shouldn't flip the motor because it will billow smoke like there is no tomorrow until all of the oil is burned up.

It is really not worth using a vertical lawnmower engine. It's too difficult to get the oil to circulate when the engine is sideways. Go to Harbor Freight tool company and get a 212cc horizontal engine.

Not very fast. Chainsaw engines are very weak compared to a 15hp lawnmower engine.

Take the blade off before you mount the engine. Get a centerfual clutch for the motor shaft, just know the shaft diameter to order the correct one. Also know the size and pitch of the gear you are matching on the sprocket, so the clutch, sprocket, and roller chain all fit together. The smaller the sprocket on the live axle, the faster the cart will go.

You have a few options.One, you could modify the engine to run horizontal, I've tried that but it is very difficult, I ended up scrapping the project. Second option, you get a 90 degree gearbox, or bevel gearbox. You can find them online and they cost as much as an engine. Third option, make your own gearbox out of wood, not very safe and potentially dangerous. Fourth option, you can try to modify a 90 degree drill attachment to mount on your engine. All options still require some engine modification as the push mowers don't have a throttle system so you will have to modify the choke/carb to get the increase in rpms. Really intensive. Your best bet is to try and find another engine. A chainsaw is easier.

Check the assembled motor's carburetor (if it has one). If the float bowl is down, it will tell you the position of the OHV cover.

Interesting idea. You could if you really wanted to, but it's complicated. Getting the engines joined up is really hard and it will probably end up shaking itself to pieces at high speeds due to instability or timing issues. If you wanted more power, you would be better off just getting a 2 cylinder engine and using that instead.

Depending on what you're doing, $50 to $250 belt driven is cheapest but these tend to slip a lot and are worse when wet. Belts will also get hot and melt, but the chain driven oes don't slip and take a long time to wear down. But you would have to get a centrifugal clutch to do that and they are $50 on average––it may cost a lot at first but it is cheaper and more efficient in the long run.

For a chain driven, after a few years you'll have to change the chain, but it will last for years as long as you take care of it. If it's belt driven, you'll have to change the belt whenever it starts acting up but with the proper care, it will last for a long time too.

As long as you have it in the correct orientation and everything is hooked up correctly, you should be fine. The only thing that would cause it to explode is if it had significant damage being applied to it.

There really is no way to tell how fast it'll go until you put a part on and test it. And if it isn't fast enough, replace it with a different size. The only way other than trial and error is to find out your RPMs of the gearing in the transmission or axle and then your gear ratio but that is a lot of math to do for a small project.

Not really. Those do not have as much power as a gasoline powered motor. Electric motors are meant to only be strong enough to spin the blades, kind of like a chainsaw motor.

Any mower will do, as long as the engine fits the kart's frame.

You can, if you find one that is the right size for what your go-kart requires.

If "motorbike" means off-road "mini-bike," then a horizontal gas engine will normally work well. Use a centrifugal clutch to operate either a belt or chain to drive the rear wheel. Using a small gas engine for a road motorbike is not recommended.

Yes, you probably can do it. Parental supervision is only necessary if you feel unsafe and don't want to injure yourself.

No, it would be to weak and snap, which could potentially be very dangerous if going fast. Use metal piping instead.

No you have to buy one. The ratio between the teeth on the clutch and the sprocket will give you your top speed and acceleration. The more top speed the less acceleration and vise-versa.