Go-karts can provide hours of fun for your children.
If you are looking for a way to introduce your children some of the basic principles of engineering, mechanics and construction, then building a go-kart out of a lawn mower engine can be a great project to start with. Making your own go-kart out of a lawn mower engine will keep the cost relatively low and will provide limitless fun and exposure to driving for your children.
Instructions
1. Find an old push lawn mower that has a good working engine. You may even be able to find a broken lawn mower and repair the engine yourself to save more money and learn more about small engine mechanics. While checking out a lawn mower, make sure that it starts up and that the pull cord is not jammed, frayed or broken.
2. Disconnect the engine from the lawn mower body. To do this you will first need to disconnect the blade by using a wrench set. Use the socket wrench and sockets to unbolt the engine from the frame of the lawn mower. You can also cut any of the wires that are attaching the engine to the handlebar of the lawn mower. Disconnect the pull cord from the frame, but make sure that you do not break or tear the pull cord in the process.
3. Construct your go-kart if you do not already have a suitable frame for it. Make sure that the location for the engine is big enough and strong enough to support the weight of the engine itself. You can use a wooden frame or a combination of angle iron and metal tubing. When you design your go-kart, do not allow for it to have too much ground clearance, as that could cause the kart to flip due to a higher center of gravity.
4. Using the same connection places where bolts previously anchored the lawn mower engine to the lawn mower frame, use steel brackets to connect the lawn mower engine to the body of your go kart. You will want to make sure that you are positioning the drive shaft cog so that it can be connected with the go-kart's axle cog. Reconnect any electrical connections and wires to the pedals so that you can control the throttle of the engine by a lever or pedal, depending on the design of your go kart. Depending on your design, you may also need to weld the brackets and engine to the frame of the go-kart.
5. Bolt the sprocket drive system together. The parts of the system include the double-flanged hub, wheels and tires, sprockets, brake drums, brake bands and a 3/4-inch-thick wall pipe for the axle itself. Use a washer and bolt system to put the brake drum and brake band on the axle, followed by the sprocket, flanged hub, and then the tire and wheel set. Make sure that you bolt the tire and wheel set on securely so that the vibration and rotation of the wheels do not unscrew the bolts to the tires.
6. Install a steering, brake, and throttle pedal kits so that your go kart is fully functional for driving. Unless you are an accomplished welder and machinist, you may want to opt for kits. You can also opt for a throttle switch, similar to that of a lawn mower, or you could even use the same throttle mechanism and connections from the lawn mower to operate the go-kart's engine speed.
7. Mount a seat in your go-kart with a seat belt for added safety and you will be ready to go.
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