Find the best small gocart engines.

Best Small Gocart Engines

Which are the best small gocart engines based on price, performance and pedigree to replace your old one? Well there is only 2 brands that really count in the world of high performance go kart engines and they are Tecumseh Small Engines and Briggs And Straton Engines both manufacture the most powerful go cart engines .

From a 3 hp go cart engine to a 12 hp go cart engine these 2 brands cater for racing go kart engines all the way down to a kids go-cart engine that rolls around at 10 mph. A go-cart horizontal engine has the drive shaft on one side and is always used for high performance go kart engines, racing go kart engines, and general gocart engines. It is extremely difficult to adapt vertical engines for go-carts, do not even bother, for gocart engines stick to a horizontal engine.

Finding Your Gocart Engines Model Number

You can try getting the model number from the information plate on the old engine, then try to match that model number. That may not be possible, since model numbers change when manufacturers adapt engine specifications to meet new requirements from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for most types of small engines.

What to Look For

Note the horsepower of the engine you are replacing. If you do not know the horsepower exactly, that's OK since most engines within a power range have a similar pattern for the bolts that mount the engine. For example, most 3 to 5 HP engines have the same bolt pattern. Consider how you will be using the engine. For a homeowner application, for example, a standard engine will work great and will have a long, useful life. If the new engine will be used in an industrial or commercial application, we recommend you step up to an I/C (Industrial/Commercial) or other engine with cast iron cylinder sleeves to withstand the wear and tear of prolonged use.

Another consideration is the size of the engine compartment. Sometimes with a model change, the manufacturer will reposition the gas tank or adjust some other feature that may affect its compatibility with your equipment. This is rarely a problem unless you are moving up to a larger engine for more power. View our engine comparison spec chart for model numbers, horsepower, shaft dimensions and other engine features.

Selecting a Replacement Gokart Engine

Northern Tool & Equipment can match 95% of small engines correctly by simply knowing the horsepower and drive shaft information: diameter, length and type of shaft (e.g., 5/8in. x 2 7/16in. Threaded).