[Reacher]

I am looking at go kart engines to place on an old go kart chassis i have, the engine mounting brackets are on left side of chassis. I have been looking at horizontal shaft engines, and have noticed that some have shaft extending from left side and others from the right side. Does this matter, can the engine be made to mount on either side or are they designed to only work the one way?

 

[Willie T]

Many drive a 'jackshaft' that, in turn, drives the wheels. That way a motor can be turned however needed to provide the proper direction of rotation.

 

[Reacher]

So I'm looking at this engine. You are saying it is fairly easy to get this to mount on either side? How would I do it..or at least what could I google to learn?

 

[Reacher]

Wait I think understand...the jackshaft is on the wheel...the clutch and chain turn the jackshaft, thus the wheel,. I'm still trying to figure out if the engine mount and jackshaft is on the left side and the shaft from the engine extends from the right how I can make it work...if I spin the engine around won't it run backwards? Thanks for your patience...this is new ground for me.

 

[Willie T]

No, the jackshaft is a long, independent, free rotating shaft simply attached to the frame by means of bearing blocks.

One version has sprockets on both ends that connect it to the rear wheels with chains.

It also has one or more sprockets located at adjustable places on the inner portions of the shaft by which a chain from the engine makes the shaft turn. You can sometimes hook up as many as three engines to that jackshaft, and they will all drive ther rear wheels through the chain connections from ends of the jackshaft to the rear wheels.

Google "jackshaft" and click on IMAGES.

 

[Reacher]

Ah perhaps I don't have that. One rear wheel is connected to a sprocket which in turn is connected to the clutch by a small chain, they sit only inches away from one another.

 

[Willie T]

Take a look at THIS SITE for a better idea of what I mean.

 

[Willie T]

CLICK HERE to see a pretty good view of a jackshaft system.

 

[Willie T]

Here's a good forum.......... http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/index.php