FREE Mods to Boost Small Engine Horsepower! Pt. 1

We've had lots of comments asking for more budget go kart builds and engine mods, so today we're making engine mods to boost the performance of your go kart or mini bike engine for free! We're using a Tecumseh 6.5 hp engine, but these mods can be applied to a Predator 212, other Honda clones, and even car engines. We start by freeing up the air filter, and then we're immediately stopped by engine problems, so we spent the remaining time diagnosing and fixing our problems.
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The following video features activities performed in controlled environments by knowledgeable persons. DO NOT attempt to duplicate, re-create, or perform the same or similar activities at home, as personal injury or property damage may result. CARS AND CAMERAS, the persons shown in this video and ANY CONTRIBUTOR, ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY such injury or damage. ALL CARSANDCAMERAS CONTENT IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.
Cars and Cameras makes no representation about the sufficiency of any safety precautions and equipment used in this video.

[@havocmaverick]

I did this to my riding lawnmower and i got the grass cut in about 7 minutes. Thanks

[@coolcat8086]

That’s sick

[@willbarfield166]

I laughed so hard bro

[@hacxer8424]

Remove the govnor?

[@justintothetruth]

Shill

[@theksoutdoorsman5841]

Lol

[@addicted2fuel245]

It's nice to see a channel that still sticks to its roots and listens to their subscribers on what they want. Great video guys and keep em coming

[@trentkarmann]

Susan P. Davis I can guess what you do without going to the site. You take people's money for teaching them how to take other people's money!! LOL I'm all for free Enterprise but that's not what we call this!! LOL

[@Bos742]

Trent K - Nah, judging by her pic I’m gonna say she made all that money by being featured on a site that starts with P and ends with HUB

[@dempsey96]

hilarious comment LOL I actually laughed out loud

[@shaywatts477]

I got a one wheel sprocket gokat but it pulls to wheels and video of that set up

[@4dirt2racer0]

too bad they straight up lie to its subscribers and takes advantage of their curiosity, all they did was clean a fuckin carb in the video and they didnt even show that! yet they labeled the video free mods to boost horsepower??? r they for real??? they cleaned a carb they consider that mod??? jesus christ its morons like this that give real mechanics a bad name didnt u feel tricked when u clicked on a video about modding n engine then they dont even show u how to clean the carb??

[@mingusbreeze]

What I have always like about you guys is you don't stray very far from your beginnings. You change things up from time to time to keep it interesting. Thanks guys for another great video.

[@CarsandCameras]

We fought carburetor problems most of the day, but it ran so much better in the end! I guess the best way to fix a Tecumseh carburetor is to replace it with a 212 carb!

[@foureye7058]

Tecumseh are notoriously hard to tune, I've only met a couple people who can claim the hallowed ability.

[@corbinlarson4381]

CarsandCameras hay I was wondering if with this one or another 2seater cart could you show us how to make it a once seater and how to move everything to the middle?

[@No-gz6ks]

CarsandCameras iii

[@user-qi9be4lv7l]

I had this motor in my gocart back when I was 15 years old. When it ran right it was pretty good. When it had problems, it really really had problems. It was a love hate hate relationship. So I ditched it and got a predator 212 lol

[@brickrackproductions9434]

CarsandCameras I love you guys

[@chrisuscilla2606]

You guys should build a diesel go cart! It would we cool and very torque

[@countryfresh2036]

Chris Uscilla I second that

[@collier6457]

Diesel shifter cart would especially be badass, make all the use you can from the low revs and high torque

[@williamschultz7753]

There's a spring on your choke that when it hits bumps it shuts the choke.

[@jwatkins9520]

3 cylinder Perkins diesel

[@kaulincurtis9665]

That would be awesome, but air-cooled single-cylinder diesels are rare for a decent price.

[@MrLendermanGaming]

Man ike is such a badass "mechanic" that guy has seen everything from basic valve float up to exhaust coming out the intake and intake coming through exhaust. He just like. Knows everything.

[@nateb4543]

Humble brag. He's so badass he problems knows what im about to mention. Smooth

[@adamssmallengines]

That's simple stuff tho

[@danieleckman3993]

​@@nateb4543 aw

[@Nissaninthewoods]

That's the same exact gokart I had as a kid. Infact my first gokart. That thing was fun. And was run hard. Brings back good old memories

[@keithfreeman5204]

Hi Guys, great info. I'm a Briggs guy and what I have found and what I do is for the 5 HP Briggs, i.e. go kart engines. Is to shave off the decompression bump on the cam. This increases the sweep area of the cylinder. This increases HP by about 20%. In some engines you can just shave the end of that valve stem.

[@brianmattock1431]

Thank you! I love the idea of a regular budget build/ garage sale find, repair and run series.

[@dolfinoff4925]

Hey @CarsandCameras - You guys want to know how I significantly improved the drag racing times of my kart? **WARNING: This is an IRREVERSIBLE MODIFICATION!** I removed the centrifugal clutch from the engine and modified it as follows: (1) Took the clutch drum off of the assembly via the snap ring. (IMPORTANT: Mark the face of the snap ring with a Sharpie and DO NOT flip the snap ring over when you reassemble the unit!) (2) Carefully removed the spring that encircles the weights. (Noting the orientation of the weights for reassembly.) (3) Cut off 6 - 10 coils off the length of the spring and slightly bent the new 'last coil' to form a new hook. (4) Reassembled the spring onto the weights. (5) Placed a *tiny* film of grease on the drum bearing, reassembled the clutch and reinstalled it on the kart. (6) Did a test run and rinsed & repeated as needed. (Sneak up on the optimal spring length because if you cut it too short, you cannot make it longer again.) This allows a higher engine 'stall speed' which is essentially giving you a MUCH more powerful launch. The same effect can be achieved by lightening the weights of the clutch but then *the balance of the rotating assembly* will come into play and damage the clutch or engine or both can occur. Shortening the spring, and effectively making it "stronger", is the most practical way to do this modification.

[@NoahWL1]

What a happy coincidence! I've been looking for some mods to do to my old engine. Thanks for the great videos guys!

[@DonovanBryant92]

put the old engine out of the miata into an off-road kart

[@Tater_Lord]

Donovan Bryant isn't the reason he swapped it because the old one was having major issues if not feel free to correct me

[@DonovanBryant92]

Rhys Aistrope I never did watch the swap episode so I wouldn't know

[@LILbigBobby]

No he swapped it because the ford motor he swapped it for makes more power stock and bolts right in

[@1Bigredox]

A Miata is just a kart with a body kit, lol. Take off the front swaybar links and offroad that piece.

[@michaelclosson68]

gokartbuilder or tear the miata down to the frame and keep the steering/drivetrain then just well in some crossmembers and bolt a seat in

[@petez470]

#1 rule for small engines/outboards/weedwackers etc... STOP USING GAS WITH ETHANOL (just my two cents there) Great video guys 👍

[@slaterwatkins3315]

🙌

[@rydoggo]

Where I live we don't sell pure gasoline, only E10.

[@havenmcgarity1472]

I'm lucky to live nearby alot of water so they sell it at most gas stations for boats.

[@SchlobnDaHomies]

Don’t have 0 ethanol... what would you recommend

[@darkriot1927]

@@SchlobnDaHomies in that case dont let it sit in anything and drain it out before winter or you're gonna let it sit for a month or more because the water separates and in weed eaters,chainsaws, and weed eater type tillers it instantly kills the carb

[@sareynoldssr]

This was a fun problem solving journey. I am interested to see what kind of power these motors can make. Everyone knows what a moded up predator can do but taking an unknown and pushing it is a cool idea.

[@stclairstclair]

I just scored a brand new never used 5.5 snowking motor built in 2007, Four months before Tecumseh stopped production. So now I'm free to play around with my old 5hp without fear if I kill it.

[@ryankozak5227]

“We wanna go fast” Famous last words.

[@jeffreysilfee3535]

Just gotta say, you guys have the actual best video quality on KZbin

[@Creeperboy099]

That go kart in the opening sequence had so much understeer from the power XD

[@LeoTonius]

I just love to watch this guys. I am building my second minibike myself at this moment and the next one will have 4 wheels for sure. Got an original Honda GX200 with a 2;1 gearbox already waiting in the shed! Not sure if I'll tune it or not.... Got a big carb too, gnagna..... And BIG lawn mower tires (24x12.00-10) in the back is the plan, and to run at very low tire pressure. Plans plans plans, but no time.....

[@benjaminduchow9470]

This is the most classic cars and cameras video you guys have made in a while. I love it! I mean, vice grips holding on the carburetor! Thats what this channel is about.

[@n3glv]

I keep hoping to some episode hear Issac say, HEY Y'ALL! WATCH THIS!!!!!!

[@whataboutbob9326]

thanks for sharing, this was fun to watch :)

[@roguethefox4504]

I had the same go kart only red and no cage. me and a few friends worked on it with a carb held on by wire,a leaky gas hose,it starved on gas if you went left, and it took 2 people to work it one steering and one backward controling the gas best time of my life

[@Brutalford]

When I was a kid I had a tecumseh 8hp and I never had any real issues out of it we bored it, polished the intake and exhaust ported it slightly and used a 12hp carb with straight pipe and mine ran for many years no problems...

[@MilesPrower1992]

Is it possible to learn this power?

[@spadeofdarkness]

@@MilesPrower1992 not from a Predator stan

[@hesperides8280]

I wonder how difficult it would be to build independent suspension for a little buggy like this

[@FHOM19]

Keep it up fellas, this stuff makes my week! 😀

[@JohnWheels]

Great! I love budget builds, I have a budget Murray. Love the channel

[@elesjuan]

The GP Circuit is awesome. I really hope you all keep this up!!!

[@saltypeanut4234]

"It'll Be Fine" use's vise grips to hold on a carburetor - Me wtf that works =) .... Oh man you guys are still so true to you're famous quotes. Thanks for the sick video John and Ike also dope build off bike boys - sorry it did not work out in the end but hell the suspense of me wanting it to work is what made it a wicked video thanks again. ;) also Good Camera Work guys

[@dasmejr6004]

No comments yet?

[@danielcalhoun133]

Luv you guys great show I’ve got a couple mini atvs that need a lot of work and y’all hav motivated me to finally get em goin again

[@JUGGERNAUT-66]

Keep it up guys- your shows Rock!!! 👍

[@frozentundra7289]

Damn Rooster was yelling " I told you soooooo " at the end about the carburetor,😂. 👍👍. Love these type vids, thanks

[@joebob6913]

YES!!! MORE BUDGET!!!

[@Ozzypup1]

The videos you two make are great. Love watching them.

[@lindarauton2701]

You dudes are like the more skids of go karting ! So cool guys

[@profab3414]

Happy birthday, John!

[@bradleygiesalhart1276]

That is awesome great helpful video

[@nathannolan1593]

Im warning you, when you do this kind of stuff you trade reliability for speed.Dont forget that.

[@brandondimmitt8467]

Gonna do all this to my sons! Thanks guys! Helped out a bunch. We got a ironton 208cc but bypassing the gov and doing the carb forsure!

[@DylanO0505]

In the first lap is sounded like it was about to die the whole time 😂 hence the carb problems

[@shughlett6342]

Great content as always. Thumbs up before the video even starts.

[@kannonrobinson8067]

Keep the grid up boys!!! Love y’all vids so much!!!!

[@kensimpson8133]

I have that same engine, on a manco frame. I have always had to re-adjust the idle after every other ride... Great video guys!

[@anotherone9460]

Maybe thread lock would help?

[@cncgeneral]

Have you looked into making your own dyno? For comparative tests between engines you could just have a heavy flywheel that you spin and monitor RPM, plot the rate of change in rpm and it should show power

[@edgardovigo1012]

Now open header jajajajaja Cool vid guys! You both are the best :-)

[@cartermaclellan6129]

Love the budget builds

[@codywheat7512]

Video may not have had the outcome you wanted, but its still informative and intertaining for someone just getting into small engine modifications in 2022!

[@kururl5100]

I had one of those motors on my go kart and it had the same problem so we put a Predator 212cc on it now it goes 30

[@nashguy207]

Good Job guys those tecumseh carbs have been known to have issues but I will say they are pretty easy to work on and fix. Good series keep it up!!!

[@elesjuan]

I just fired up my techumsuck powered crapsman riding mower for the first time this season. That turd smoked like a house fire, but it still runs.. Starts every time... after you rebuild the carb and hit the starter with a hammer a dozen times. LOL

[@carstenpfundt]

I appreciate the lack of time lapses. yall take your time. thank you.

[@dannylinc6247]

Basics inspection. True with any kind of small engine. Check the easy stuff. Put fresh gas in. Clean out the old gas. Dump the carb bowl out. Clean the spark plug(s) Check air filter. Then start it up with a correct oil level. That's before mods. Patience is rewarding. When your knees and back ache all the time, you get smarter. Pulling that rope once should be enough. Be glad if you're not too big and heavy. Your toys have to be bigger and more expensive.

[@7272nighthawk]

my first mod back in the day was was to shorten the governor spring to tighten it my first mini bike was a Tecumseh I spent hours fixing it and was lucky to get much riding time at all when it did run it was a blast love the vids keep up the great work

[@benrent6625]

man ur telling the truth-i had an old 60's rupp classic mini bike with a tecumseh 3.5hp...thing broke down more then ran! i just put a predator 212cc on the same one i drove as a kid-waiting on the throttle assembly to come in..but so far driving one handed with one hand on the engine throttle its already faster then i went as a kid-and im 215lbs now lol

[@ratedredneck96]

Put some turf saver tires on the 200 shifter kart and ikes kart and see if the times inprove. For testing purposes only of course!

[@chrismahoney7213]

Yay budget builds!!!

[@TheMapleDaily]

WOAH JUST REALIZED THE MIATAS AHHHHHHHHH favorite channel I can work on my project miata and project go kart!

[@salvatoremilitello8490]

Go kart tip #1 have a clean carb lmao

[@Izreal3345]

U guys have to listen to the chicken more the chicken is always right lol

[@ruubjumper126]

Tougher valvesprings work very good too. Got a gx 200 revving to 8k with improvised dual valvesprings.

[@pat14lang]

Growing up i had a gokart similar with a 5hp Tecumseh engine. I think i’ve had two or three different 5hp Tecumseh engines and I never liked them. Always swapped them out with a Briggs. The last gokart I “built” and sold had a 212cc Predator with some mods. I was a bigger gokart than shown in this video, live rear axle, CVT, and IFS. Last one I purchased was a few years ago…250cc water cooled Kandi buggy. Just rebuilt the engine a few months back. Currently waiting for summer to bed line the entire frame

[@justgrayyy105]

Ike finally says “I wanna go fast”

[@foreshort]

Holy shit! I know Jason I used to work with him at Allstar years ago!

[@marvinfinley4247]

I think you guys are great y'all give good advice about how to fix an engine up I watch you guys all the time posting more videos and give some more tips about how to make your engine run better or fix any little problem that needs to be fixed

[@moosedrummer1]

It’s always a learning experience for John. Period

[@jonhurd9697]

Always great uploads guys! Keep em commin....lol but plz try n actually do the free performance mods before and after next time or next next time if y'all remember lol...love ur channel!!

[@technician122]

9:48 there may not have actually been anything wrong with the idle circuit. Tecumseh's are really sensitive when it comes to idle RPM you could be off by less than 50 RPM and have the engine die the second you put it under load.

[@greenbassboosts8872]

My Tecumseh won't idle right because the throttle plate shaft hole is worn out. There is a gap there that's letting air in due to wear. I've been trying to get it to work right for a week before I noticed that :/ but a new carb should be in today

[@lifebetweenthelines8576]

i just got a free pred 212 still in the box.. cant wait to build a cart and i think im close to you guys. 30 mins from Greenville NC. great content.

[@18wheeler77]

I love the video quality!

[@samueleicher7323]

Inspiring! I'm no mechanic,,but I've learned using non ethanol gasps much better for any engine specifically smaller engines

[@denzelderksen7564]

You know what I would love to see? Ike and Jhon doing a street bike engine into a quad build. Like if you agree.

[@LiveModz]

I love this channel, that rooster cracks me up

[@justgrayyy105]

The transition at 11:20 was SMOOOOOOOOOTH

[@CUBEoneVX]

How about you guys build a twin steering go-kart?

[@travis4798]

How to fix a Tecumseh: Step 1 add gravel to the crankcase, step 2 run the engine at full rev with no governor, step 3 throw in trash after it blows.

[@vsetkoumiera7683]

Travis Piper 1000% agree, then add a Briggs, Hell their carbs can be missing the bowl and still run like a scalded dog !!

[@aian9597]

I see all negative comments about the build quality of Tecumsehs... I had a lawn mower with a tecumseh engine that ran like a champ for 23 years. Throttle cable broken, rusted chassis, the last years ran without air filter... never a problem and never cleaned once the carburetor. After 23 years the handlebar snapped in half and the chassis was all junk. But the motor was still running perfectly! I had some fun throwing gravel in the crankcase and finally the camshaft snapped.

[@tylercapece138]

We had a lawnmower with a Tecumseh 3hp motor. It was bought in 1988, and still runs to this day. Never changed the oil or spark plug, only put gas in it and ran it. They're tanks.

[@Tampaboys]

Thanks for all the great tips guys

[@El_Chompo]

Careful with that PB blaster or whatever nut breaker you were using to lubricate the steering, it is not meant as a lubricant and will only work for a short time before drying out. You want to use actual oil or grease or lubricant of some kind, not a solvent based nut breaker like PB or WD40.

[@butchs.4239]

True enough, though if it was binding because it was rusted/crudded up then a shot of PB Blaster will loosen the crud and free it up.

[@dolfinoff4925]

Spraying WD40 on a frozen linkage joint is no better than pouring a Bud Light on it. That's not WD's purpose at all. PB Blaster will do a fair job of removing the crud and making the joint free, as Butch says. But then a proper aerosol grease (like a motorcycle chain lube) will keep it clean happy for a long time.

[@jmc5341]

WD40 has never been a nutbreaker. It has tons of uses but that is not one of them.

[@zachharris3779]

i don't run filters on Tecumseh till they blow then put a predator on it lol.

[@K_M_M_G]

Had one of those motors on a very old kart from Tractor Supply. If memory serves me there is a very complex throttle linkage with springs. It would allow the throttle to go wide open but once it got to operating speed it would back off. My simple fix was attaching a string to the carb and making sure the kill switch worked.

[@metalheadpsycho2486]

Awesome video! Keep up the good work!

[@jeremykrause2355]

The rooster said it needs more speed

[@xnorcal831x]

Make a go kart strictly for burning rubber n doing donuts. Or a funny bike style drag bike to go along with the "rail"

[@rican77777]

I have the same motor on my old streaker so I can’t wait to see what you can do to this one 🤔🤙🏽

[@russashworth1340]

Great job. Note to people,make sure your bare skin is covered. I sure this guy felt the "sun burn " on his unprotected skin. Welding gloves & long sleeve shirt

[@waymoresoutlaw195]

Guys I like the way you two think

[@DefencelessDuck]

Great addition to your video collection!

[@thomasmgalt6727]

Nice video guys, hanks. Really wondering how this would go if u guys had a brand new engine since u lost alot of time fixing this one, maybe a shorty vid?

[@bestfriendcaninecampfagern9157]

Love the videos like this

[@blkicemike4857]

That looked fun as f#?k !!! Reminded me of the time I put 16hp on lil 5hp frame go-cart; had it all painted looking nice but forgot to hook the brakes back up..🤦🏼‍♂️ Well when I fired that mother up it took off like a jet,.. me with one foot on the pavement and other on the go cart, one hand on the wheel.. it did about a dozen donuts, go it straightened out a bit after bouncing off my brother in laws 70sStingray parked in the driveway .. pretty much balls to the wall down the hill of the drive, around the curve and into my neighbors chicken coop. MAN !! What A Rush!!! I didn't feel bad about the vette, due to his dumb ass was who left brakes unhooked.😏it left a really wide skid from tire to tire, I knew he later buffed out.I was only 11 yrs old at the time but that day I got the need, the need for speed🤦🏼‍♂️😂😆🏎💨...

[@b16ajack]

BlkiceMike wow that’s crazy!

[@Codyjames83]

A friend of mine had a big go-cart with atv tires on it and he was messing with the cables pulled it and it took off wide open he was lucky they had this big orange fence to help with the snow drifts just put it up who knows what would have happened to it if that wasn't there they lived on top of a big hill so it could have went for miles maybe they should all have a e brakes be fun anyway

[@zombyslayer3609]

I wasn’t as lucky I’ve got a tecumseh single seater road boss with no breaks and ice on the ground straight into a tree the only good thing to come from it was the tree bent my steering straight

[@Cody-ye3ye]

Wow

[@kingtrap2900]

Wish I was there 🤔😂🤣💪🏾To See👀It

[@jl123ist]

1:55 That's a Tecumseh for ya!

[@cross7776]

Loved it... great job men

[@richardbutt7707]

awesome step by step guys :)

[@trevordavis4728]

Did y'all ever take the original carb off and actually clean out all if the circuits and actually clean out the tank? I would of thought that after y'all took off the bowl twice and especially saw water in there it would've been a no brainer to flush it out and use fresh gas. Y'all probably did, I'm just curious because y'all never mentioned if you did in the video.

[@jmc5341]

I think they said they wanted to save as much gas as possibe. I personally would go all out and spring for the 50 cents in new gas. You only live once.

[@AimlessMoto]

TE-KUM-SAAAAAAAHHHHH.....

[@Brutalford]

Exactly lmao....like the native American people, Indians....lol te-kum-see....lol

[@Roller76]

THANK YOU Aimless!!! Geez do schools teach phonics anymore?

[@jmc5341]

Tecumseh actually pronounces it the way they do. I dont pronounce it like that either because it sounds ridiculous to me but im pretty sure it is correct. There is an old tecumseh technician video on youtube and thats how they say it.

[@thatkidwyatt8270]

I really like this introduction

[@Thisoneguyinaz]

Hey guys, this was a cool video! I am a home machinist who loves small engines and I am currently working on two of these Tecumseh OHH series Engines and modding them for racing. I am also developing a new bolt on carburetor and intake system for them. Once I have a prototype built I would like to send you guys one of my intake and carb setups to try on this cart if you are interested... let me know. I hope to see some more videos of the old Tecumseh soon! Thanks for posting this vid!

[@RandomFPVlive]

i am interested in this, did you ever get a prototype or product?

[@mealex303]

I would love a cars and cameras and red beards garage and quad ricers computer game to rag buggys round your house tracks and up your roads. top gear got theirs into one why not you guys

[@MrLendermanGaming]

Alex V-i-P i would pay 25 cents for that as an app.

[@dylanmorse]

Fuck the gasman

[@12valvecummins78]

Dylan Morse yeah

[@crankysports]

Should have been a full video on checking your carb for old gas, and make sure you get full throttle LOL - could have done all comparison just to make it work normally. I think Ike coined a new word too- "Riggery"

[@jj-ft1ui]

The cameraman with the stop watch phone sounds like Hank Hill and having that in mind this video is twice as enjoyable and educational

[@luk3yV]

Yes, budget builds!!