Looking at using a Honda transmission in a "race" buggy... - Page 2

submarine 300 · 03-09-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy250X

If you used a two stroke the crankcase and the tranny are split from eachother by a aluminum casting so just remove the crank and you'd be good to go.

Now were talking I didn't even think about the old 2-strokes, That should work really well!

MaverickH1 · 03-09-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy250X

If you used a two stroke the crankcase and the tranny are split from eachother by a aluminum casting so just remove the crank and you'd be good to go.

... are there any utility type ATVs that are two stroke and have this "feature"?

/crosses fingers

Off I go to look for information on Honda's 2 stroke ATVs!

submarine 300 · 03-09-2010, 04:51 PM

Honda made the old threewheelers in 2-stroke that were utility

Helmut · 03-09-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaverickH1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy250X

If you used a two stroke the crankcase and the tranny are split from eachother by a aluminum casting so just remove the crank and you'd be good to go.

... are there any utility type ATVs that are two stroke and have this "feature"?

/crosses fingers

Off I go to look for information on Honda's 2 stroke ATVs!

Most, if not all of the 2 stroke utilities, are made by Polaris and have CVT belt drive transmissions. Then you have the old Honda Oddysey, they were 2 stroke, but they had a CVT transmission, also.

I would have thought that the CVT would have been the best way to go. I believe you can buy a stand alone CVT for the application that you are attempting. I don't know the specifics to your project, so I guess it might not be the right transmission to go with.

Billy250X · 03-09-2010, 04:59 PM

Your best bet is to find a good blaster bottom end.Yes I know that it is not a honda but they are a really good bottom end unit.

Helmut · 03-09-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy250X

Your best bet is to find a good blaster bottom end.Yes I know that it is not a honda but they are a really good bottom end unit.

I wonder why he wants a utility? Maybe shaft drive? It's going to be hard to find a 2 stroke with shaft drive. Is he wanting just an automatic or is he wanting the semi-auto with the centrifugal clutch, like the 300 Honda utility? Does it have to be Honda? I read the post, but I'm still not clear on what he wants. I guess, maybe, he's not decided exactly what he's looking for, yet.

TRX2fiveO · 03-09-2010, 06:04 PM

Cintrifigal clutch system from a golfcart will work.. The best thing to run would be Hydrostatic IMO? a pump, a pedal, a function manifold or flow divider and a couple of coils

MaverickH1 · 03-10-2010, 11:33 AM

The reason for wanting the utility type buggy is that a wide range of gear ratios is needed for the speeds we might encounter on a race track. With our puny little engine, it would be great to have a 1st gear with as high of a ratio as ~4.2 so we can use the little torque we've got to get up a rock crawling section. Then after that, we might have to ride on a high speed series of turns at 35 mph, so it would be great to have a high gear with as low of a ratio of 0.78.

The problem with the Honda ATVs is that we are running TOO wide with too few gears, I think. When we shift from first to second, the RPM will go from 3800 to ~2100, which will drop us from ~10 hp to ~5.5 hp. This won't be good if we encounter a steep hill climb from a stop.

Utility ATVs usually have the best gear ratio ranges inside the gearbox. Sure we can change ratios via a final drive, but we would only lower our top speed or raise our top speed in first gear, both of which might be unacceptable if we come across the Nurburgring of buggy tracks.

Aside from that, this transmission might end up being used on a "utility" buggy of sorts. While some people in the group want to make a full race vehicle with wide ratios, 6 gears, and no reverse, it's my opinion that we want to have a wide range of gears and we MUST have a reverse. The buggy a couple of us are kind of splitting off and designing will have things like a charging system, headlights, a winch, storage capacity for tools on the trail we test on, etc. Essentially, it will be the workhorse for when the other one breaks or wrecks. Thus the clutch must be equipped to handle the high loads that it might see, and a utility ATV that weighs close to 600 pounds AND is designed to tow 800 or so will certainly cover what I think we need.

An auto clutch is a nice bonus, but also could be a con. I'm still kind of up in the air about that one. I don't like taking control away from the driver, but it would be nice to have a buggy that anyone can drive.

Fourtrax · 03-10-2010, 03:36 PM

Wow this certainly is interesting, I can't wait to see how this pans out. I love following projects like this. Welcome to the Forums and keep us up to date!

Billy250X · 03-10-2010, 03:51 PM

Yeah man keep us up to date.