A question about crankshaft tapers

ez-ha

So in the search for more power for the least cash I have noticed quite a few generators with good engines and bad electronics for cheap.
My question is... Do crankshafts have a standard size taper to them or do they vary widely?
Hoping to keep the stock Yamaha primary clutch if possible.

BGW

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fstg21

Stock Yamaha clutch is a 1:10 30mm taper. The Generator engines will not work. You can buy one then swap the crankshaft, or buy a clone engine and use the crankshaft adapter.

ez-ha

Ok, so do you know if the "standard" (if there is one) generator taper can be turned down to the 1:10 30mm size or is it already too small for that to work out?

ez-ha

Something like this one for example..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390340706593...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

slonomo

Yeah I wouldn't use that engine. I'd go for the Harbor Freight Predator 420 if you are on a budget. It will come with a 1" crank and you'll need the $40 adapter for your stock clutch, and use the electric start and delete your starter generator.

If that Briggs engine comes with a 1" shaft with the generator taper, it could be done, but you'll have to disassemble the engine, remove the crank, send it out to be machined to 1" with a 1/4" key slot, then still have to use the clutch adapter. Plus I calculated over $80 for shipping on that engine. That would be as much or more than the cost of the Predator engine.

http://www.harborfreight.com/13-hp-4...arb-69736.html

ez-ha

I see your point. I appreciate the input, not trying to reinvent the wheel... Just looking for creative answers even if it is a more round about way to get things done

sho305

Right the clone is a much better deal, the 420 will have more power usually found for $300 shipped, a 460 is more $ but has more good parts and more power yet. Or if your clutch is toast you can buy a 780 reasonable and have a new 1" clutch on your clone with no adapter needed. Otherwise use the adapter on any 1" crank to fit a stock 30mm taper golf cart clutch.

There are different tapers for generators, some are larger and can be cut down to fit clutches, that one looks smaller. Its only 11hp a GC is usually 9-10hp so you are not getting more power really, if you need it. You can get a 390 clone too but usually the 420 are same price for more torque, which helps your cart more than the HP at this point. HP likely about the same in stock 390 or 420 clone in real use.

You will have to look at if you want gen to start like stock or not, because lot of clones don't have much charging on the engine its about the only downfall. Home depot online and few others now do sell a 18a charge clone engine its $100 more or something. The elecstart is only 3A charge you have to run it a long time to charge the battery back up from starting. If you use the cart gen and pedal start you need a clutch with a pulley or get the pulley Vegas carts makes, and you don't need charging from the engine at all you can use the cheaper recoil version. Some also put a car or tractor alternator on clones with key starting. Some also disable the pedal switch so it runs unless the key is turned off, but you have to be careful what clutch you use or your idle, because if the belt drags you cant shift and have to turn it off, this true with any setup that is key start not pedal.

ez-ha

Thanks again. All good and info! The eBay Link was an example, I also found a couple generators locally with what I think are gx390 style "clone" engines on them for small $. I have "machined" one tapered crank to straight in the past with files and other inappropriate tools on the running engine, then cut a keyway freehand after getting it down to the right size. Time consuming but it's stuff I can do in my shop a few minutes here and there and cost effectively nothing. Maybe this makes my seemingly random question make a bit more sense LOL

sho305

You can buy a clone crank pretty cheap really, so something to look at. If the crank is big enough sure you can machine it. You should have a fairly good surface though or you risk having the clutch out of balance which is really hard on the crank bearings. 30mm taper is 30 and is still over 1" at the end, about 1" long.

nujac

I when the tapper route to save money by not buying a new clutch. If I had to do it over again I would have purchased a clutch that would let the engine idle without trying to turn the belt. It gets to be a pain turning off the motor every time you want to go from forward to reverse. Also if you try to stop in gear with the motor running and your belt grabs and the motor governor speeds up the motor and will over ride the brakes.