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HPBG: Grassroots Engine Market – The Grass MAY be Greener

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Karting Engine Market and Technology
It’s hard to be anymore grassroots than karting. It is where most pros begin their career these days and also where many never really leave. Karting is affordable to many, and offers a great way to get into motorsports as a beginner, but also enough competition to stay in it as an experienced racer.

Engine builders have always found ways to raise the bar and help put their customers in the winner’s circle, but rules in karting in the last few years have made it difficult for engine builders to do what they do best.

The Briggs & Stratton flathead original L-head design engine is still the most popular 4-cycle engine in kart racing, according to karting experts, even though it has been out of production for several years.

Experts say that the situation isn’t getting any easier for flathead lovers because many parts and pieces, such as flywheels and sump covers, are not manufactured anymore. There are, however, some replacement parts on the market that are manufactured in China such as sheet metal and valves. Burris now makes most of the pistons for the flatheads but only has about half of the sizes that used to be available.

About ten years ago the Briggs flathead engine went for $150 at a local tractor supply store and now karting experts say a competitive blueprinted flathead goes for $1,400 - $1,600. In fact, enthusiasts say that you’d be really hard pressed to find all the parts you need today.

According to one expert, most guys are building new engines with a used sump cover and a used flywheel and as many aftermarket parts as they’re allowed. That includes piston, rod, cam, lifters, valves, springs and sheet metal all being aftermarket and carburetors from China.

There’s just so little of the original motor left, which is why it costs what it does now. It’s more expensive than an Animal engine that you can build brand new and make 50 percent more horsepower yet  isn’t as popular.

For the last eight years Briggs & Stratton and the World Karting Association (WKA) have been trying to wean racers off of the flathead because they are no longer supported or manufactured for industrial purposes.

Flatheads were no longer a good seller and have faced restrictions from the EPA, which kind of forced Briggs & Stratton to go into the overhead valve market (OHV), a market that Honda has dominated for years on the OEM side, said one karting expert.

Chances are if you bought a generator or power washer or some other industrial piece of equipment, it came with a Honda OHV engine. The Honda 5.5 motor completely took over that market, so Briggs addressed that with their Intek series of OHV engines, which is OHV.