Adding reverse to a homebuilt?

Posts: 65 · Initiated Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 65 Pictures: 0

Hey all, continuing my education and study on what I want to do for a cart. I would love to build one myself, though after tonight I know my welding skills are sorely lacking...

ANYWAY - If/when I build I will most likely use a 4stroke road bike engine of some sort, very very few ever have reverse which leads me to 2 questions..

1. How important do you guys find having reverse is?

2. Is there a way to add reverse on a buggy when the engine/trans does not have it??

Thanks again this site has been awesome!!

Posts: 65

Hi, If you are building a buggy , have reverse.I built mine useing a snowmobile engine, and the reverse chaincase from the same machine.I can't imagine not having reverse.Having to get out and push if you gat in a tight spot (not fun).And sometimes not being able to push it (if stuck or on decline).Check out minibuggy.net some of the guys on there that are useing bike engines run an electric starter and ring gear for reverse.You could also go with a quad engine that has the reverse in the tranny.The other alternative is to shell out BIG BUCKS for an RPM gearbox.

Posts: 182

Punkin pilot is right, a sled chain case with reverse is a straight foreward install... You mentioned a MC motor RPM makes a good FNR box but is spendy... I use electric on mine off the jack shaft so it goes thru the gearing to reduce the speed and increase torque, It's an on/off system so you don't have throttle control but is effective for turn arounds and backing out of stuff...Just a word of caution there are some cheap copies of the RPM box...stay away from them Shocked

Posts: 65 · Initiated Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 65 Pictures: 0

Thanks for the responses!!! I have also been keeping an eye out for the snomobile route, but my concern was that they are mostly 2strokes, our existing buggy is 4stroke, means double the fuel cans to haul around and possibly get confused with each other by the kids..

That and I am also wanting to go EFI on the cart if I build one and that is very difficult on the 2 strokes without getting an entire unit and stripping it down and being tied to thier ECU.

I heard rumors that due to thier size some of the GoldWings have REverse in them? anyone have any info on that? Thinking a 4stroke quad will be the best option.

Those are definitely all options though THANKS!!

Posts: 803

The goldwing rev. is the starter runs in rev, no real rev. gear.James

Posts: 3576

If your goal is high HP and scary speeds go with the 2-stroke sled engine. A water-cooled one would be a good idea in a buggy. Use the chaincase for reverse or get a Skidoo with a reversing Rotax engine. The engine itself reverses. This saves the weight and fabrication issues of the chaincase.

If your goal is high torque, being able to leave the buggy idling for awhile and fewer gas cans then go with the quad engine & tranny. A streetbike engine + FNR or electric reverse (starter/ring gear) will give you the best speed AND torque but is the most complex.

Also--do you want to shift or have CVT??

Let your goals determine which route is best for you.

Posts: 65 · Initiated Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 65 Pictures: 0

I am fairly open on the shift Vs CVT thing. CVT is nice, but I have ridden motorcycles for year, and drive a manual trans car fro daily driver.. I think shifting gives better performance, but I would not let the "shifting" overrule having Reverse :-p

Good info about the gold wing set-up I always though it was trans based, but if it is starter based then that sounds like the best solution!!

Posts: 182

The electric isn't hard at all to install depending on whether or not you have room to fit it I had to fit the unit on my wifes buggy underneath and give it a skid plate, It's really just a matter of cutting the mount...getting the starter lined up propperly,burning the mount in, running the cable and wiring the pushbutton switch Cool

Posts: 10

You could try a gearbox made by comet. There are two on this website. I'm thinking of adding one to my modified manco dingo. You can use it similarly to a jackshaft with a sprocket on both sides or with a cvt on the input and sprocket on the output. I see they sell a gearbox unassembled for $30 cheaper than the already assembled model. Just another option to consider.

http://www.bmikarts.com/gokarts-minibikes-chopper-parts.shtml

Posts: 318

that comet gearbox is not even an option with a bike powered car, that is designed for about a 10 hp briggs max, you will be waisting your time and money trying to make it work....