Kill switch for small engine--How to wire in?

[Greenfrog]

I am restoring a go-kart/ midget racer that my father and I made back in 1956. I have taken it apart and repaired, replaced, and repainted it. Want to use for grandkids. I got along with it all right, but thought about putting a killswitch on the "dash". Will probably put on a "plain jane" engine--it has none on it now--probaly will get one out of Harbor Freight just to be economical or find a used one.. What is best way to wire in a killswitch to a small engine?

 

[Tom Arnold]

If the engine chosen is a small HP, pull start type, then it will likely have magneto ignition. Many of these engines relied upon a "flip lever" that grounded out the voltage coming to the spark plug, right at the spark plug. You flipped the lever and it landed against the top terminal of the spark plug.

The magneto coils on those engines did not have a separate grounding terminal. Later on, when lawn tractors became popular, a key operated ignition switch was used to ground out the magneto coil. If you have not selected an engine as of yet, then I suggest that you look for one that uses this feature.

You could use a key switch on the dash or a toggle switch.

 

[joe csuti]

The harbor freight & most of the other import eng brands have a kill sw mounted on eng,disconnect wire from kill sw on eng,connect a new wire to lead you removed from sw & run wire to new location of sw,as Tom said you can use a key sw or a toggle sw,on toggle sw take a wire from 1 terminal & connect to dash(metal) or chassis/eng block,connect wire from eng to other terminal on sw.

If you use a key sw and eng has elect start or NO electric start then get a tractor ign sw designed for mag/solid state ign,connect wire from eng to I/M terminal on sw(whichever one grounds kill lead when sw in off/stop position)

 

[greygoat]

My Harbor Freight, 6-1/2 HP engine has an on/off
switch. By taking the shroud off, to access the
switch, i"d think you could run a remote wire.

 

[Greenfrog]

Thanks guys! All of you answered my question. I knew that that there was a "flipper" that went over and touched the plug on some...thought about connection a flexible cable to this. I had not examined the other engines yet, but splicing in a wire to the on off switch would work. I didnn't know how they were made. I want to use a switch that could be hit quickly by the driver to bring everything to a stop!

Are the Harbor Freight engines any good? i see there is a 6hp for $89.