learn me home built buggies/go-karts

Vigo wrote:

Brian wrote: the motor currently being looked at is a 150cc Honda scooter motor since he has some experience with them.

Have you ridden a 150cc 4-stroke scooter? I would not try putting that motor in something that weighs any more than a scooter. I have a 150cc honda gy6 knockoff that tops out at like 43mph and probably weighs less than any kind of reasonably safe cart. Now, a 250+ scooter motor, and you're in business!

hmm... we got the 150cc elite scooters up to 60mph with one rider, the 250 was good for 80 IIRC.

the main attractions to the 150 are familiarity and it is available with donor for $150

The Elite 150 motor is worlds different from a GY6. Its water-cooled, usually a bit more powerful, and in good shape, should be able to run all day at full throttle. Fewer hop up parts, though.

For a buggy that travels at "safe" speeds, probably not a terrible choice.

The $99 6.5hp Hazard Fraught 212cc engine has a huge cart following too. I would be using one on my minibike, except the 99cc fits a lot better.

eastsidemav wrote: The Elite 150 motor is worlds different from a GY6. Its water-cooled, usually a bit more powerful, and in good shape, should be able to run all day at full throttle. Fewer hop up parts, though. For a buggy that travels at "safe" speeds, probably not a terrible choice.

yeah it's water cooled with a radiator the size of a heater core. don't care about hopping it up as it's a "learn to build" build. It will probably not be kept long term.

I do have to figure out how to mate the engine to a pair of rear wheels unless we do a trike design which I don't think will have any appeal off-road

Stick axle, spool. Is it a chain drive or belt?

In reply to Leafy:

belt drive I believe

oldopelguy wrote: The $99 6.5hp Hazard Fraught 212cc engine has a huge cart following too. I would be using one on my minibike, except the 99cc fits a lot better.

I have the 212cc motor on my go kart. Starts every time and makes good power.

One thing to consider is where you're actually going to drive the contraption. You can easily build something sans suspension, but where are you going to use it? My vote would be snowmobile engine with some off-road suspension.

twolittlebroncos wrote:

oldopelguy wrote: The $99 6.5hp Hazard Fraught 212cc engine has a huge cart following too. I would be using one on my minibike, except the 99cc fits a lot better.

I have the 212cc motor on my go kart. Starts every time and makes good power. One thing to consider is where you're actually going to drive the contraption. You can easily build something sans suspension, but where are you going to use it? My vote would be snowmobile engine with some off-road suspension.

But CVTs are kind of a pain to re-tune for something that isnt a snowmobile. Our FSAE car had one, and we spent... well more than the budget for this project to make the cvt work correctly in something that had wheels and not a belt.

suspension is definitely in the plans as the only place we'll be able to use the thing is in the alley behind my brothers place

We used Polaris cvt's on our mini Baja car. Comet clutches looked a little easier to tune.