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Things You Can Do With Small Motors

If you have an old lawnmower tucked away in the corner of your shed because the deck has rusted or you̵7;ve upgraded to a newer model, don̵7;t just throw it out. Get creative! There is an ample amount of things that you can build using old small motors, while saving time and money.

Wheeled Vechicles
- Go carts are excellent side projects for small motors.
  
  Buy a complete go-cart kit without the engine, or build one yourself if you̵7;re proficient at welding and mechanics. There are plenty of free plans on the Internet you can use to model your ride, and you can find many of the parts at yard sales or at a junk yard. One word of caution however: If you̵7;re building a go cart for your children, make sure that appropriate restraint devices and roll-over cage protection is properly built and installed. Buying thin-gauge tubing may save you some money, but your rider will end up paying for it in the long run
Split Logs
- A log splitter you build yourself can save a lot of time and energy in the winter months.
  
  If you̵7;ve ever spent a day splitting logs, you know how painful and laborious the process can be. If you̵7;ve ever borrowed your neighbor̵7;s log splitter to do the chore, you know what you̵7;re missing out on. Several companies sell the parts and components necessary to build a complete log-splitter. Using a lawnmower engine to drive the hydraulic pump, you can split logs with a hydraulic ram easily while making some extra money splitting logs for neighbors.
Construction
- Having a custom sump pump for draining your pool comes in handy when its time to winterize.
  
  Trash pump is the common term for a self-priming centrifugal pump that can move solids in addition to water. They are regularly used to pump water out of basements and swimming pools, drain standing water in the yard, or remove water from a hole you̵7;re digging. By attaching a lawnmower engine to a pump assembly, you can move 200-300 gpm of water, even if it has small rocks and mud in it. If you mount it on a small wheeled stand, you have a portable sump pump.
Home Improvement
- Not having to buy a pressure washer to clean can really save some money.
  
  If you look closely at a residential-use pressure washer, you̵7;ll notice that it is mostly a small motor engine with some small pump parts and hoses attached. You can purchase a high-pressure pump head from many parts houses, or you can buy complete attachment assemblies . With you̵7;re old engine and a wheeled-cart, you can easily have a 3000-5000 psi sprayer/washer system at the fraction of the price of a new one.

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