Wooden Go-Kart with Lawnmower Engine

What I Built

Designed and built a wooden go-kart from scratch using a lawnmower engine, including a working accelerator, braking system, and steering mechanism.

My Role

Sole Creator

Tools / Tech

• Lawnmower engine
• Wood frame
• Throttle linkage
• Braking system
• Steering geometry

Build Process

• Designed the frame around the engine, driver position, steering geometry, and braking needs.
• Built the wooden structure and integrated a lawnmower engine into the drivetrain concept.
• Tested and adjusted the accelerator, brakes, and steering so the kart could be controlled safely.

What I Learned

• Learned how mechanical systems have to be strong, simple, and safe when a person is actually riding them.
• Designed linkages and controls that translated driver input into throttle, braking, and steering movement.
• Gained hands-on experience with structure, alignment, friction, torque, and failure testing.

Result / Impact

This project stands out because it was a full physical vehicle where engineering choices had immediate real-world consequences.