by Rick Badman

Created on: October 26, 2008   Last Updated: August 22, 2011

If I were building a go-kart that used a lawn mower engine I would go to a salvage yard and try to find parts there first. I would try to build a hybrid go-kart that would use the engine to drive a generator that would generate electricity for a drive motor. To increase power, I would see if a turbocharger were available and use it instead as a supercharger that would be connected to the flywheel of the engine at the top using a gearbox that would increase the speed of the supercharger to at least five times the shaft RPMs. Metal tubing would duct the air into the carburetor.

If a pulse discharge spark plug is available that fits into the engine and doesn't burn it out, I would use one. As long as the air/fuel mixture isn't too lean and the piston doesn't burn out, the horsepower may double and the fuel efficiency will increase. It may not be impossible to coax 10 horses out of the engine.

I would connect the engine to a generator that would generate electricity for the drive motor that would be connected to the rear axle by a differential. Without one, the car would slide out when making a turn. The differential might come from a riding lawn mower. Mower parts might be picked up at the salvage yard unless it is strictly for cars. If one is powerful enough, the generator might be picked up there too along with a drive motor. But with so much power available, a car generator and starter motor which would be used as the drive motor might not be powerful enough for maximum speed.

I would go to a hardware store and buy either steel tubing or sturdy aluminum tubing if it is strong enough to make the frame of the car. Square tubing would be easier to work with. Make a frame that is strong enugh to hold up the engine/generator combination, the seat which will be bolted to a metal sheet that will be bolted to the six tubes that will form a cross, and the axles of the wheels. So that the axles don't snap where they go through the tubing, use bearing housings so that the axles can spin and not rub on the tubing.

The steering could be done with a rack and pinion system or a steering unit off of a riding lawn mower. The shaft going from the steering wheel to the steering mechanism may have to be shortened or replaced if it is too long. The electricity from the generator would be cabled to a reostat that is controlled by an accelerator and back to the drive motor. That way there is no need for a transmission.

If the motor is rated at 10 horses, the car will be as fast as

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>