• 1) A chain consists of steel pins that are rubbing inside of "steel tubes". These are commonly called rollers, but it is obvious that they do not roll. They just rub back and forth at very high speeds, under considerable load, pressure and heat. Squirting oil or even chain lube directly on these rollers does very little good unless the lubricant is given time to penetrate between each pin and the corresponding "tube". The lube must go along the side links on each side of the chain, then allow 8 to 10 minutes for penetration and evaporation before starting the engine to ensure the centrifugal force will not sling it away. The clutch sprocket and the main drive sprocket should be perfectly aligned so that they don't rub against the side links. Rubbing wears the teeth and ABSORBS HORSEPOWER.
• 2) All chains stretch over time. When the chain starts falling off the sprocket then it is time to move the engine forward or backward to take up the slack in the stretched chain. There are four bolts that hold the engine on the motor mount plate. Take an open-end wrench and a socket wrench (most likely a 9/16") and loosen the four bolts- pull back the engine until you take up the slop in the chain. Tighten the bolts back again but make sure the two sprockets are perfectly aligned with each other. You don't want the sprockets out of alignment because this will cause the chain to come off or wear the sprockets unevenly. Leave about a ½" of play between the top of the chain and the bottom don't pull the engine back where the chain is a tight as you can get it. A tight chain can cause the kart to move in neutral with no one in the drivers seat. A tight chain puts friction on the bushing or roller bearing, which could cause it to engage when the engine is idling. Make sure you properly retighten the motor mount bolts when the desired chain tension has been achieved.
• Replace your chain when installing a new clutch or sprocket unless the chain is very new. If you are cutting a new chain make sure you don't cut it too short. You can always remove links but you can not add more than half a link.
• If a replacement clutch or chain is required, determine the chain pitch size your machine is equipped with. Most American made fun karts and mini bikes use either #35, #41, #420 or #40 chain. Some chains have the chain pitch size stamped on the chain, some do not. Use the chart below as a guide.

You must change the oil in the crankcase after the first two hours of operating your new engine, and after each 25 hours of use thereafter. That will insure proper lubrication of internal parts and prevent costly repairs due to excessive wear.
WARNING: Disconnect the spark plug wire and place the wire where it can not make contact with the spark plug before changing the oil.

In the event your machine is not operated for periods in excess of 30 days and at the end of each season prepare for storage as follows:

• 1) Move the machine to an outdoor area.
• 2) Drain fuel tank and carburetor by allowing the engine to run out of fuel. All fuel remaining in the tank must be removed by using a suction device or by soaking up with a clean rag or towel.
• 3) Lubricate the engine cylinder by removing the spark plug and pouring one ounce of clean lubricating oil through the spark plug hole into the cylinder. Crank the engine slowly to spread the oil and replace the spark plug.
• 4) Do not save or store gasoline over the winter. Using old gasoline which has deteriorated from storage will cause hard starting and affect engine performance.
• NEVER store gasoline in a building that has an open flame.

• 1) Driving too slowly: A centrifugal clutch starts to engage around 2,000 rpm and will lock up around 2,600 rpm. Driving at speeds that allow the clutch to fully engage gives the clutch a chance to cool down. When the clutch is allowed to fully engage it locks the shoes in the clutch against the drum. When the clutch is not locked up, the shoes slip against the drum causing tremendous heat which dries up the lubrication in the oil impregnated bronze bushing. The tremendous amount of heat generated can also anneal the spring which is the heart of the clutch. If the shoes turn a blue-purple color from excessive heat, it's more than likely the clutch is ruined and the spring no longer has the ability to pull back the shoes at idle.
• 2) Short stop and go driving: The longer you drive at high throttle the better off it is for the clutch because it gives the clutch a chance to cool off before the next engagement. When the clutch is fully engaged there's no wear going on.
• 3) Driving with the foot on the brake: This is a problem with new drivers that are unsure of themselves. When riding a go kart for the first time, try to find an open area that has no obstacles that you have to maneuver around until you get use to the brake and gas pedals. The driver must first be able to build up his or her confidence on the kart before putting obstacles in their path. A small back yard is not a good place to learn to drive a go-kart. In my opinion, a minimum of ¾ of an acre is the yard needed for a go kart. Teach your child to drive with one foot on the pedal be it the brake or the gas but not to press on both pedals at the same time. You either want to go or to stop but you cannot do them both at the same time.
• 4) Changing the size of the tires. Putting on tires that are larger than what came with the kart will result in clutch problems. Tires exceeding 13" in diameter stress out a clutch if the kart is not properly geared for the larger tires. If you are driving on smooth flat terrain than you may be able to get by with 14" tires but once you get on hilly terrain, deep grass, then you are putting additional strain on the clutch, which will cause premature wear. Big tires look cool on a go kart but you create your own problem changing to a bigger tire when the clutch isn't designed to handle them. If you have tires over 15" tall you are required to use a torque converter instead of a centrifugal clutch. Do not install rims larger than six inches if your go kart is equipped with a centrifugal clutch.
• 5) Weight: A centrifugal clutch is designed to be able to move a certain amount of weight. Once the weight limit is exceeded, then the life of the clutch will be shortened. A good rule of thumb is the kart and driver (and passenger when it is a two seat kart) should not exceed 400 pounds. The kart weighs around 150 pounds add to this the driver (and passenger weight, if it is a two seater kart). If you know ahead of time that you will exceed the 400 pounds then buy a torque converter go-kart and avoid the problems of burning up the clutch asking it to do more than it was designed for. A torque converter has a variable speed system between the driver and the driven pulleys so it can improve upon this ratio, which gives the torque converter an advantage over a straight clutch system. It improves the ratio by approximately 3:1 and can turn larger tires and drive at slower speeds without doing any damage to the clutch system. A torque converter is a more expensive system initially but it will last longer and is more trouble free when maintained.
• 6) Restrictions: Do not try and reduce a kart's speed by limiting the travel of the gas pedal or by putting a restrictor in the carburetor to limit full rpm. Either of these methods will result in the clutch slipping, which is self-destructive. A clutch needs full rpm to lock up as quickly as possible to be able to start to cool down. To slow down a go-kart you would need to purchase a gear reduction unit, which is like training wheels on a go-kart until the driver gets accustomed to how the go-kart handles. A gear reduction unit can reduce the speed of the go-kart in half.