Help With Wiring a Go Kart?

"ThePenguin" (ThatOtherGuy7) 01/04/2017 at 16:48 • Filed to: None

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So my friend has a go kart we are fixing up, and now that we are at wiring we realized we have no idea what were doing.

The engine is a Tecumseh PowerSport 6hp single cylinder carburetted engine w/choke.

Can any Austin area folks with electrical knowledge help?

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > ThePenguin 01/04/2017 at 16:55

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Is it just for the ignition or do you have a starter/lights/horn?

Tekamul > ThePenguin 01/04/2017 at 16:55

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What are you wiring? Do you need anything electrical?

I’m no where near Austin, just curious. Why not just pull start and go?

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > ThePenguin 01/04/2017 at 17:02

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Is there a kill switch on the motor? That would be the only thing you would have to wire if it’s not built on the engine. These engines are self contained and run off a magneto for spark. You normally take the hot wire from the points and extend that wire to a switch up front that has the other side tied to ground. So when you flip the switch it grounds the points out and kills the engine. Now that I look closer at the photo I can see the kill switch on the front cover, so just extend that wiring to a switch up front and you will be golden.

ThePenguin > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition 01/04/2017 at 17:23

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There is a killswitch on the motor as well a switch below the steering wheel.

So how would we wire up the battery? From the battery a wire to the switch on the wheel, to the one on the motor, to the magneto, to the alternator, to battery?

ThePenguin > Tekamul 01/04/2017 at 17:25

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Well there was no battery and it was outside for many rains so we probably need new everything.

ThePenguin > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 01/04/2017 at 17:26

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For ignition and running purposes

Sriracha Subaru > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition 01/04/2017 at 17:27

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I’m helping him work on the kart too. I feel like we may have to rewire the whole killswitch. The killswitch is wired to a ground on the block and a ground on the yellow metal cover. The coil itself is wired to the switch on the same cover. The only remaining wire is coming from the alternator(?) and wired into the off road lights and ground.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > ThePenguin 01/04/2017 at 17:34

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It looks to be a pull start engine. Is there an electric starter too? If not there is no need to hook any battery to the engine, the engine creates it’s own electricity. If it’s not starting with the pull starter due to no spark, then you have a problem with the engine.

MrFurzzy > ThePenguin 01/04/2017 at 17:36

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It doesn’t have a battery or alternator at all. The magneto generates the power for the spark. The only wire that you would need would be running a kill switch up to the steering wheel. Other than that the engine is a standalone unit. It’s been a while since I’ve worked on it, but my family had a go-cart with that same engine on it when I was growing up. How a Magneto Works

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Sriracha Subaru 01/04/2017 at 17:50

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I’ve never personally run lights or accessories off a small engine like that, so I’m not too sure about that part. Both kill switches ground the hot wire of the ignition. If you open up the circuits by disconnecting either side of the switch, you will bypass the switch. A cheap multi meter on ohms will be your friend. Put the leads on the connection points on the engine side for the switches and cycle the switches. If the meter changes then you know your switch is working properly, they should be open or 1.___ on the meter in the run position. If you have never used a meter check out youtube. A cheap meter can be had for less than $10 at harbor freight or online.