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How to Build a Go-Kart With a Lawn Mower Engine

Building your own go-kart can be a lot of fun and can be a great family project. If you are looking for a great way to encourage your kids to use their creativity and to spark their interest in science and technology, then building a go-kart from scratch is definitely the project for you. You can build a decent go-kart for a very small price, and you can even take the engine of your old lawn mower and use it to power your go-kart. Make sure to wear proper safety gear when building and riding your go-kart.

Things You'll Need

30 feet of 1-inch square tubing
Cotter pins
Drill
Welder
Welding safety equipment
6 feet of 1/2-inch barstock
6 feet of 3/4-inch round steel barstock
Drive pulley
Steel plate
Bolts
Plywood

Instructions

- 1
  Make and design the plans for your go-kart. Designing your own go-kart can be a lot of fun, but if you are a first-time builder, you may want to purchase some plans online. This blueprint for your go-kart will guide you every step of the way through your building process.
- 2
  Grab your old lawn mower out of the garage or tool shed and take off the engine. If the lawn mower you have is defective or if you don't have one at all, stop by a hardware store or check in the paper to see whether someone is selling a used one.
- 3
  Cut all of the metal tubing carefully to the precise measurements specified in your go-kart building plans. These pieces will form the frame of your go-kart.
- 4
  Put on your welding apron and face shield. Wearing the proper safety equipment is essential to avoid a serious injury when welding, so make sure that everyone working on the project is wearing the appropriate safety gear at the appropriate time.
- 5
  Weld the frame of your go-kart together according to your plans. Put in your steering column by using some 1/2-inch barstock. Take some 3/4-inch barstock and cut it into axles for your go-kart, and then drill in your cotter pins.
- 6
  Weld the drive pulley to your rear axle.
- 7
  Weld a metal plate on the back part of your go-kart frame. Place the lawn mower engine on the metal plate and line it up with the drive pulley. Drill some holes through the plate and secure the engine in place with bolts.
- 8
  Build the floor of the go-kart from a few sheets of plywood. You can also use some plywood to make the seats.

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