Go karts have been a recreational staple for boys and girls for generations. Even with their reduced size, adults have logged plenty of hours on go karts. Riding all day long costs pennies for gas, and the engines lend themselves to easy repair. Go kart owners have always sought out ways to modify their small engines for more power and speed. One of those ways involves removing the governor, which controls the wide-open throttle position on the carburetor. Extreme caution must be used in performing this modification to guard against excessive RPMs, which increase engine wear.
Solicit the help of a friend to help you lift the go kart up on a small table, which will provide an eye-level position to work. Use a socket and wrench to loosen the oil pan drain plug. Drain the oil from the crankcase into a pan. Position a shop light near the side case. Use a socket and wrench to loosen and remove the three bolts holding the gas tank. Slip the gas tank up and backward, and let it rest on top of the engine. You do not have to remove the rubber fuel line.
Use a socket and wrench to loosen and remove all the side case bolts. Gently pry the case loose with a screwdriver and pull it off the crankshaft, without tearing the gasket. Leave the gasket in place.
Look at the rear top portion of the engine crankcase and find the small governor linkage arm resting upon a white, toothed gear. Follow the linkage arm up through the case and disconnect the arm at the throttle linkage location by pulling the small cotter pin out with a pair of pliers. Slip the arm out of the case.
Look at the center of the white gear. Remove the button and washer on the center of the gear shaft by pulling them straight out with your fingers.
Look at the two cantilever levers that sit inside the recessed portion of the the white gear. Use a screwdriver or pair of pliers to wedge the pins out that connect the levers to the gear. Pull the levers out. Pull the white gear straight off the shaft.
Wipe off the crankshaft seal on the side case with a rag. Push the side case back onto the crankshaft until it mates with the engine block. Insert the case bolts in by hand, then tighten them in sequence with a torque wrench according to your repair manual's specifications.
Align the gas tank back onto its bracket and insert the mounting bolts. Tighten the tank bolts with a socket and wrench.
Replace the oil pan drain plug and tighten it with a socket and wrench. Fill the crankcase with new oil. Start the engine and note the throttle response.
