Wacker Plate/Rammer Compactor/Vibratory Plate EC-04 Engine for Go-Kart

[Sean JohnsonParticipant @seanjohnson25071]

Hello there, I've been wanting a little engine to make a go kart for myself, I've just been gifted by a neighbor a Robin EC-04 Wacker Plate engine. i'm 15 and i'm wondering if it is even possible to convert an engine of this sort to an engine which can have a chain attached to it and turn an axle.

Thanks.

[Sean JohnsonParticipant @seanjohnson25071]

Looking to see if a conversion from a wacker plate to an engine capable of turning wheels is possible.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Welcome Sean,

I don't see why not, I have a lawnmower engine that might end up in a small boat one day.

I'll assume you just want some sort of 'buggy' to run around on a flat open space rather than a competition machine!

In principle any basic 4 or 2-stroke engine as used in modest sized equipment could be used. If it has an output shaft and convenient mounting points, the basic requirement is a chain or gearbox fitted to the shaft. You will have to play around with gear ratios and have some form of clutch (a centrifugal clutch from a scooter would be ideal) unless every start is a bump start…

One thing that may cause a problem is it may not have a very sophisticated throttle – so you might need to get a better quality carburettor/throttle assembly off somewhere like Ebay or a scrapyard.

The real skill will be making a workable and safe go-kart to put it in, this will probably mean some welding and a good idea to get some help from a friend with experience of go karts or motorbike frames.

Don't forget brakes.

Neil

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Hi Sean,

The link below is to a manual for the EC03 and EC04 series of Robin engines. It shows a few styles of crankshaft ends. If you have one that is not tapered but is straight diameter with a threaded stud, finding a clutch for it will likely be easier. In any case, it would be wise to check with the nearest Subaru/Robin/Wisconsin small engine dealer and ask them what Robin factory clutches, if any, will fit your engine. You can usually find the local dealer with google (search for "robin engine dealers (your town name)"  or a yellow pages phone book (look under "small engine repair/dealers"  Be sure to explain your project as a home shop job. You may be surprised at the useful bits and pieces the shop guys will dredge up for projects like yours at low or sometimes no cost for experimenters like yourself.

http://www.subarupower.com/media/manuals/128901556262286250.pdf

Good luck with your project.

Another engine type handy for carts is chainsaws – they all have a centrifugal clutch built in, and depending on model, the chain sprocket may fit small drive chain. I had several carts and bikes powered by scrapped/refurbed McCulloch and Pioneer chainsaw engines when I was younger.

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 03/09/2015 21:01:41

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 03/09/2015 21:01:55

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

All the whacker plates I have seen have a belt drive to the vibrator. Should be easy to convert especially if you keep the v belt and arrange a lawn mower style "clutch" using a slack drive belt and a tensioner on the belt slack side. Can't imagine you want to do hill starts!

Mark

[BowberParticipant @bowber]

Hi

The normal way is to remove the govoner and use the throttle like a normal engine would so you have to rig a direct cable or rod connection to the throttle butterfly. You can usually leave most of the parts connected and add a couple of closing springs.

You'll need a parallel shaft but you can use the taper shafts at a push, and look on ebay for centrifugal clutches, there are a few, then belt or chain drive to the wheels.
Or as Mark said make a slipper clutch which actually works far better than you'd think.

Just to add a bit of background, I race lawnmowers and we do a genuine 45+ off road with no suspension so we're doing this sort of thing all the time.
The main thing is to make a safe kart to fit the motor to and it's a good idea to add a lanyard cutout.

Steve

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

The last mini bike i built used a victa mower engine that had a taper on the shaft but the clutch was parralell shaft so i made an adapter from an old crankshaft that had the correct diameter parralell shaft to fit the clutch .

I'm surprised that the whacker doesn't have some way to disengage the engine from the whacker drive shaft/belt to make it easier to start..

Gunna be a noisy bugger though !

You could also sell it on or trade it for a horizontal shaft 4 stroke engine that will fit v pulleys or centrifugal clutches more easily.

I was lucky with my metal working classes at high school as my teacher was more than happy to let me use the machinery to make parts for my own bikes, he even used them for my grades as they were usually harder to make than the class projects !

Ian

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Strap it to a Space Hopper and away you go.

;0)

Martin

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I would second the idea of using a slack belt, and a tensioner pulley for a simple clutch. The Kids at our local High School build a "Grass Cart" each year, and race it against a number of other schools around the country, and not without some success. The parts such as motors, wheels etc., are supplied by sponsors.

Ian S C

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Sean,

Back in 2002, Haynes [as in car workshop manuals] published a book by Ron Champion, called "Build your own Off-Road Buggy for as little as £100"

ISBN: 1 85960 642 3

May, or may not, be the sort of vehicle you have in mind.

Next to nothing about engines, but the chassis design shows promise.

MichaeG.

[Author]

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