Comments on: Can a lawn mower engine be used to build a mini bike?

By: jtxl

jtxl — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:02:55 +0000

yes it would work but do your research. Lots of kids in my town had homemade gocarts made from lawnmowers. It is more complicated than just the enging but I am sure you will be able to find books on the subject.

By: brian d

brian d — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:02:55 +0000

a horizontal lawn mower engine won’t work. you need a vertical engine

By: Polar Bear

Polar Bear — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:02:55 +0000

Brian has it backwards,…. a horizontal shaft is required.

By: roadawg

roadawg — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:02:55 +0000

yes but it should be a horizontal shaft drive.

By: Everything Sportbikes

Everything Sportbikes — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:02:55 +0000

If you can get an old nsow thrower engine, that an example of a horizontal.

By: JD

JD — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:02:55 +0000

ignore the idiot who answered first. you need a horizontal shaft engine because the lubrication systems on the two are different. if you are into fixing engines like me, ask him to buy a ragged out one and then fixit your self. this way you can tune it and everything for cheap. also you will want to think about frames. try and find maybe a bmx bike in the trash and just strip it down, that’ill work just fine. one last thing you will definetly need is a centrifugal clutch. basically, when the engine is on, but not revving fast, the wheel won’t turn. only when the engine revs up do the plates inside the clutch expand, and catch on the outside ring, transferring power. i wish you well in your endeavors!!

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:02:55 +0000

Not well, the problem is the crankshaft is vertical on a lawn mower to sweep the blade across the grass, a mini bike would need to rotate in the same plane as the axle, something like an edge trimmer.