Tapered drive shaft

[grevious]

my Honda GX240 9hp engine with electric start is in great condition and was mated with a genset. Unfortunately for me it has a tapered drive shaft without any keyway (as none was required). I want to use the engine for a cart project and put a drive cog on the shaft. I've read posts about removing the crankshaft and would prefer not to go that route if possible and I'm looking alternative solutions. Is there an adapter available or can one be made so that the tapered shaft can somehow be adapted to accept a drive cog or is there perhaps an other solution. All ideas gratefully accepted
Grevious

[Deere2me]

I saw an adapter posted somewhere, coulda been on the old forum. Search there or GOOGLE . You might also have a machine shop turn the old armature down for ya. You may have to disassemble it first though.
If your'e gonna run a straight sprocket ( no cent. clutch) on the crank, you could get a sprocket with a straight bore and have the machinist bore it for the correct taper, then use a spacer to extend to the crank end topped off with a thick washer and secured with the crank bolt.
But, I don't see ya NOT using a centrifugal clutch on the crank,no?

[KE4AVB]

Although you didn't the post the type version number of the GX240 I suspect you got either an E or V type engine. With careful measurements you can see if there is going the enough of the crankshaft left if you cutoff just the tapered portion leaving about 1.83" stub and cut 1/4" key-way into the shaft. With a little time and patience you may find an used engine with a good crankshaft that you could use instead modifying the current shaft.

With you wanting to add either just a cogged gear or a clutch system you would need to know what the minimum length the PTO portion the crankshaft you will need for either one. You probably find it is simpler and more cost effective to just replace the crankshaft from one of the GX240 Q type engines. This would give you about 2.84" which is about 1" long than the modified version above.

Here is some mechanical drawings of the various GX240 Crankshafts. All measurements are in Metric except for most of the threading.

[bobodu]

There are a LOT of people with this problem and I get bored easily...
https://www.google.com/#q=honda+tapered+shaft+adapter
There ARE adapters out there but you need to know what size. A bearing supply company might be your best bet.

[56Chevy]

Just looking at a couple scrap engines here. Didn't measure the length but guessing about 2 inches to the start of the taper. There should be no problem having a machine shop put a keyway into the shaft. You would have to disassemble the engine of course. I can't see how that would throw anything out of balance. No different than any standard crankshaft. As long as you have sufficient length for your pulley or whatever.