Looking for clone recommendations

kkruse1035

Thinking about swapping the engine in my yamaha G16 and need advice.

Gonna buy a powerland 16hp $169 or the duromax 18hp $289. Is the duromax worth the extra $$$? I will not be modding the engine other than removing the governor.

Have a comet 780 and stock clutch. Thinking the comet is the better option?

Can I just run a flexible tube to the stock muffler?

Can the engine be swapped without removing the rear body?

Any words of wisdom that will save me time?

Also, what would the stock engine be worth? I think it has about 200 or so hrs on it.

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

sho305

Save time...use vegas mounts and parts. Fabbing the stuff takes all the time. The exhaust is usually the hardest part, and depends on how quiet you want it.

I'd recommend you get a timing key, HD springs, and a jet drill set they are ~$10. All really cheap stuff to buy for a clone and will help you out for little $. Then without the governor it will run out nice and should not damage it long as you break it in first. Or leave the springs out for a while, that will limit to about 4500, springs in it will run up to around 5100-5500 depending.

Comet likely will be better, but remember clones don't charge much (3A) if you want to toss the stock generator. You can get a pulley from vegas to put behind the clutch if clutch does not have it.

Body usually very easy to remove, seems like it would be much more difficult to do the swap with it on but possible I guess.

The G9 engines I have seen sold in good condition went for much more than 300.

I have a home depot lifan clone and I really like it, I think they are one of the best quality ones. Now they have the ut2 coil however with a limiter in it, so you have to buy the NR racing coil without it if you want it to rev hard. You can also get a 18A charge version that is one reason people buy them, that works great without the stock generator.

The vegas 460 is double cost at 600, but it has a rod and cam in it, its assembled, it has a HD 10 bolt block, lots of other performance parts in it. Its a good deal if you want some performance. It does make more power and rpm out of the box. If you are interested in that.

I don't really know the difference with the powerland and duramax, both on the cheaper end of clones though not that much different. All the 420 clones are about 15hp with no governor all stock, the vegas is more.

I used SS flex tube and guy used 1" pipe fittings for one clone exhaust. It leaks just a little but been on there for few years now works fine. It was from autozone. Put a car muffler on the back.

kkruse1035

Thanks, bought the cheapy powerland for $160. Should I put the pulse fitting in the carb spacer or valve cover? Was also thinking about just using the muffler that came with the engine and adding a tailpipe. Anybody know how loud that would be? Was planning on keeping the generator.

sho305

Stock muffler is not bad, but not silent either. I like the pulse on the rocker cover but so it comes out under the partition in there on the engine side. Some say use the intake, but it overflowed the carb and had to put a return line on that cart. Mine is in the rocker and I never had a problem except condensation the day I ran in the snow a lot at 18F.

slonomo

Mine wouldn't run with the pulse on the valve cover. I used the Vegas Carts spacer on the intake and ran a return line. Never a problem.

I think every engine is different. Seems some have good luck on the valve cover and some don't. I think it depends if it has a good PCV system. The PCV is supposed to vent the crankcase through the valve cover, that might mess with the pressure needed for the pulse pump. Using the intake will make a really strong pulse, like Sho said, it might be too strong. So most will put a tee fitting in the fuel line near the carb and run a smaller return line back to the tank. The smaller line will reduce pressure loss and help keep the line pressure up.

That engine will be better than stock, even with the governor and muffler. It should be quiet enough to use around most campgrounds and neighborhoods. For performance, though, many mods will need to be made. But if 20-25 mph is fast enough for you then you will be good to go with that engine.

raydhd

I would have to agree with Slo here.I used the carb unit with the return line and never had any problems. Another note if you overfill your clone which has been done more with engines on a tilt it is wise to have the breather free of any obstruction. I could see where using a high filled clone and a valve cover pulse unit would result in bad results.

sho305

The partition in there has a one way valve with a spring on it, it lets air out (blow-by). If you get the fitting with the 1/8npt and go in the side you can get under the partition and get the full signal from the block.

Also note I use the G9 pump its larger than the gokart pumps, but some put gokart pumps on and they work better or solve issues. Gokarts have no problems using the B&S and walbro pumps for small engines even on the gx390/BB clones.

If you ask me its also a better idea to use the shortest pulse line you can, even if it gets oil/water in it that has a better chance of still working, and try to run the line downhill to the engine. My G9 pump is still at lower part of fuel tank and maybe 2 foot minimum from the carb, not ideal, and it works.