HOW TO CARRY OUT BENCH POWER TESTS ON KART ENGINES - THE BASIC GUIDE

Once the right test bench has been selected, the area and engine must be prepared in order to have everything (components and tools) at hand during the session. Never as in this case is it the time available that makes the difference. First of all, we strongly recommend that you have all the engine components available at the bench in a completely clean condition and, if possible, with a limited state of wear. This is both to obtain better data and to ensure greater reliability of the engine, which will be subjected to great mechanical stress during the testing. However, as regards the general set-up it is important to note at the beginning of the testing all of the main characteristics (carburetion, squish, any advances, crankshaft used, etc. etc.) and update the records with each modification, in order to have always the exact situation, in every detail, of the engine being tested. This information will be very useful when evaluating and interpreting the data recorded during the testing. In our case, the selected test bench detects and saves the atmospheric values, as well as the main engine operating values, in general: rpm, engine temperature, power and torque. Bear in mind, however, that other types of data can be detected, thanks to additional probes that can be wired: in other words the bench options. However, as regards the ratio to be used, it should always remain the same, even between different tests. Any ratio can be ok, but usually we tend to prefer one that is neither too short or too long, in order to remain within an average range of use. The important thing is that the sprocket-chain-gear wheel coupling is optimal, therefore with components that offer an equal level of use and tend to be new or not very worn.