i have a go kart witha 5hp tecumseh engine and i want to make it more powerful and a lot faster any suggestions on something i can do to the engine thanks

 

What model tecumseh engine?
What kind of kart?
Does it have a torque convertor or clutch?

Your engine most likely has a governor that restricts your rpm's to 3200 and stops you from running full throttle. You can remove the governor linkage from the carb and get a direct connection kit for $10 to $15. This will directly connect your gas peddle to the carb. You can also get a header for less than $30. I would make sure you have a clean air filter ($6), clean and fresh fuel and oil, and a new spark plug. Goto www.apskarting.com for a online source for karting.

 

its a 5hp vertical tecumseh it has a torque converter and where can i get a header and stuff will taking the governor off wreck the engine

 

Taking the engine off of the governor won't cause it to blow. Over revving it will. It is unlikey that you will be able to over-rev it with a torque convertor putting a constant load on the engine. You can get a header from www.apskarting.com (part# RLV5446D might work)Look under 4Cycle accessories/headers and you can find serveral models for as little as $19. Another site for info on a Tecumseh 5 is to goto www.4cycle.com and look in the tecumseh forums for help. Good luck!

 

what do u mean by overreving and what kind of power will a header add will it make it hard to start it is hard to start already

 

Over revving means letting to engine turn more RPM's than it can handle. The governor stops the engine from going over 3600 RPM's. The engine can usually stand to go well over that mark. At higher RPM's you are likey to get more horsepower, more torque, and ultimately more speed. I beleive that the manufacturers use the governor to ensure you don't abuse the engine while it's under warranty. If you can't run it hard, it isn't likely to break during the warranty period. Considering the engine can be bought brand new for under $200, any performance mods you make to it that "blow it up" can be undone by buying a new motor.
A header doesn't "give" the motor any power. It will simply rob less power from the motor than the stock muffler does. If anything, a header will give you the psycological feeling that your'e getting more power and speed because it will sound "kool".
BTW, What kind of kart is it? Theres a good forum for off-road karting at clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/offroadgokarts

 

is there ever anyonee in the chat on that last page