Lockwood powered Go Kart

[coosgearhead]

Here are some pictures of a lockwood pulse jet Kart i'm working on im using propane as fuel it is delivered through 3/8 tubing and there a are 8 - .120in holes for the fuel rail .
i cannot seem to get it to start i get some good bags but that is it .....are my proportions correct ? The propane tank was almost empty 1/4-1/8th of a tank and i did not run it completely out during the test fire .
any ideas i would appreciate.

[coosgearhead]

Here is the engine dimensions

[metiz]

Oh man out of all the U bend engines you chose that one...anyway, If you build it to spec it should work. It requires a lot of fuel though, probably liquid propane to get it up to max throttle so a nearly empty tank won't cut it. It also looks like your fuel rail holes could be a bit smaller than 3mm what you have now. Some more holes would be a good idea as well

[PyroJoe]

Thats Hot!
There are a few things that need to be addressed for safety, the first would be to have more distance between the fuel control valve and the engine. (Imagine trying to flip steaks on a BBQ pit bare handed and you kinda get the feel.)

Second, the intake and tail opening need to be farther away from the driver in case you have a tail wind and the engine stops pulsing. The engine will produce a fire plume that could envelop the driver. If lucky it will result in instant hair loss and crispy crittered skin over portions of the body and maybe some burns on the eyes. The odds of survival are somewhat dependant on unburned skin. If you have 80% unburned skin, then your odds of survival are about 80%. If you have only 20% unburnt skin then the odds of survival are about 20%.

If not so lucky, the driver will inhale the heated air or flame and have portions of the throat and lungs burnt in addition to the burns on the exterior of the body.

The engine may generate enough heat transfer to compromise the structural steel of the vehicle frame in places of close proximity. If the seat is flammable it will probably ignite in short order.

I say these things not to be critical, but just don't want to see anyone hurt.

[Kool]

If that is a polyester go-kart seat, throw it away, you don't want polyester burned into your ass Or put some fire proof material under it.
Also it's maybe smart you only sit on the kart when the engine is pulsating. If the engine is not started, the propane which is at groud level, delivers a big fire plume when it ignites.

[coosgearhead]

I still need to add the heat shields around the seat the seat is fiber glass im sure it would burn fast LOL ...thanks for the safety tips i will take all i can get since this is my first Lockwood.

[coosgearhead]

Oh man out of all the U bend engines you chose that one...anyway, If you build it to spec it should work. It requires a lot of fuel though, probably liquid propane to get it up to max throttle so a nearly empty tank won't cut it. It also looks like your fuel rail holes could be a bit smaller than 3mm what you have now. Some more holes would be a good idea as well

why would you say that? is it a bad design?please explain .

[metiz]

Yeah it's a pretty bad design. It will do what the plans say it will, i.e put out ~55 pounds but it will drink fuel doing it.

[coosgearhead]

i will post a you tube video when i get it up and going i got it to run on liquid propane tonight then i ran out.....and the local gas station is out from the big weekend.

[coosgearhead]

Yeah it's a pretty bad design. It will do what the plans say it will, i.e put out ~55 pounds but it will drink fuel doing it.

thanks !

[Jutte]

Hi - Good to see someone building something!
I want to echo what everybody has been saying safety wise.
You can either move the seat higher (way higher) - or move the engine way back.
As it is now you are going to have one really hot ride...
These things get hotter than a hot thing...

[coosgearhead]

Hi - Good to see someone building something!
I want to echo what everybody has been saying safety wise.
You can either move the seat higher (way higher) - or move the engine way back.
As it is now you are going to have one really hot ride...
These things get hotter than a hot thing...

thank you for the words of encouragement!
i still have a 26ga heat shield to install the cart is 90% complete i still need to figure out a brake system. LOL

[Paul Sherman]

thanks for the safety tips i will take all i can get since this is my first Lockwood.

You may consider getting that running outside the kart, or at least without the seat. Most of that jet will glow red/yellow hot if it's efficient in the least...that seating position won't be bearable.

[coosgearhead]

times are tough im forced to sell anybody interested here is the link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0796425956