Cart not running - could use help.

[4rcFed]

Ok...could use some advice. Don't recall ever having a go-cart, but a friend asked me to help get this running for him. I normally work on cars/trucks/tractors...and stay away from small engines!! But will help out where I can.

I have no idea of what kind of cart this is. But it does have a Tecumseh 5hp 0HH50 engine on it.

All I know is that it doesn't run! All the detail I was given.

The pull cord was gone, so I put a new one on today. I still need to shorten it a bit. The fuel looked and smelled fresh. (Haven't ruled out having to drain the whole deal and clean the carb). The plug looks new, clean, and dry. But pulling the cord, it turns over but no indication of trying to fire.

Anyone know of any typical issues with a cart like this? I can't find my spark tester, so I need to get a new in-line tester, but is there anything that I should service along the ways of ignition?

And there are two prongs on the engine (last pic) straight below the carb bowl. Any idea on what they are for?

 

[Russ2251]

I normally work on cars/trucks/tractors

Then this should be cake for you. All the same rules apply.

Fuel
compression
Ignition

At least one of these is incomplete or missing.
Prongs??? You mean governor linkage? Nothing to do with ability to fire up. Governs speed only.

 

[KartFab]

put a few drops of fuel in the spark plug hole, replace plug and connect, pull the cord, then u will know if your having a fuel delivery issue (which you probably are esp if it has been sitting for a while.)

 

[Half-breeder]

put a few drops of fuel in the spark plug hole, replace plug and connect, pull the cord, then u will know if your having a fuel delivery issue (which you probably are esp if it has been sitting for a while.)

... plus it looks to be a Tecumseh, which are notorious for fuel delivery issues(carb problems)... from what I read.

 

[Russ2251]

plus it looks to be a Tecumseh

Yup, as he posted.

 

[firemanjim]

I don't remember exactly how it works but there should be a lead (that black wire?) from the coil, that connect to that little tab. I don't care for that engine too much, so I can't help you. But now that everyone knows what you're talking about, maybe they will fill you in...
And
EDIT wrap that string one more time. It is better to have a long string than a short one. People tend to yank the crap out of the string,until it stops. All those sudden stops cause unnecessary stress and will eventually brake the rope prematurely. That's why you're fixing it now......................

 

[OzFab]

I can't find my spark tester

Your what? I've been in the auto industry for 25+ years & I've never seen one in a workshop; If you want to test for spark, remove the plug from the head, plug it back into the HT lead, rest the plug on the head, pull the cord & watch for a spark...

If you see no spark, the problem is either (from worst to best):
1. Dead coil
2. Dead plug
3. Kill switch is wired poorly
4. Kill switch is engaged

Having said that, my guess is also a fuel delivery issue...

 

[landuse]

Your what? I've been in the auto industry for 25+ years & I've never seen one in a workshop; If you want to test for spark, remove the plug from the head, plug it back into the HT lead, rest the plug on the head, pull the cord & watch for a spark...

Or.....you can hold it between your fingers and see if you get a nice shock...

 

[Russ2251]

Or.....you can hold it between your fingers and see if you get a nice shock...

Works for me!!! Costs nothing and takes half a second to test.

 

[4rcFed]

Your what? I've been in the auto industry for 25+ years & I've never seen one in a workshop; If you want to test for spark, remove the plug from the head, plug it back into the HT lead, rest the plug on the head, pull the cord & watch for a spark...

If you see no spark, the problem is either (from worst to best):
1. Dead coil
2. Dead plug
3. Kill switch is wired poorly
4. Kill switch is engaged

Having said that, my guess is also a fuel delivery issue...

Well, when you work alone a lot, you end up needing some various tools. Not always can I be somewhere to turn a key and hold the plug against the head. Even on motorcycles, these have helped me try to understand how strong the spark is.

I posted on this forum to see if I can get some better advice rather than shooting in the dark. And good advice will be needed if I have a dead coil, as you mentioned....because I never replaced one of those on these types of small engines.

The gas was flowing freely into the carb, but I understand that this machine has been sitting. So maybe my next step is to just remove the carb, give it a good cleaning, and see if that helps any.

 

[4rcFed]

I don't remember exactly how it works but there should be a lead (that black wire?) from the coil, that connect to that little tab. I don't care for that engine too much, so I can't help you. But now that everyone knows what you're talking about, maybe they will fill you in...
And
EDIT wrap that string one more time. It is better to have a long string than a short one. People tend to yank the crap out of the string,until it stops. All those sudden stops cause unnecessary stress and will eventually brake the rope prematurely. That's why you're fixing it now......................

I'll try to get a better picture, but those tabs sticking our from the screw that goes into the engine make me curious to what was there. Maybe someone rigged something up a while ago, but not sure if that is keeping anything from running or not, electrically. But a carb cleaning is in order first.

 

[landuse]

Just for your information, if you do want to multi-quote, there is a button next to the Quote button with a " on it. What you do is press that on all the posts you want to quote, and then the Quote button on the last one. This will then quote all of them

It took me a while to figure this out

 

[firemanjim]

Ok so back to his question..... There is a little tab that a wire used to be attached to, on the throttle linkage. IIRC, it had a green wire attached to it, from the factory. It has been on the majority of the tec engines I've had. On one of them, if you pulled the throttle closed ALL the way,the linkage would make contact with that tab/wire and ground out the coil. In essence,a remote off switch. But this might be something that came on specific end product use,ie, a tiller or lawn tractor...... Throttle all the way down and it shuts off.... Does this ring a bell to anyone?

 

[4rcFed]

Just for reference...where is the coil? And can you check it?

Need to do the car cleaning, but good to know this as well, if needed.

 

[Russ2251]

...where is the coil?

Follow the plug wire. It leads back to the coil.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Ok so back to his question..... There is a little tab that a wire used to be attached to, on the throttle linkage. IIRC, it had a green wire attached to it, from the factory. It has been on the majority of the tec engines I've had. On one of them, if you pulled the throttle closed ALL the way,the linkage would make contact with that tab/wire and ground out the coil. In essence,a remote off switch. But this might be something that came on specific end product use,ie, a tiller or lawn tractor...... Throttle all the way down and it shuts off.... Does this ring a bell to anyone?

Jim....there are 2 green wires attached to the magneto....both grounds....one iss routed to the kill switch located in the shroud. ..which has a black wire....which carries voltage from the magneto to one side of that switch....so when you flip the switch...it grounds out the magneto/coil.....the other green wire is connected to the circuit and goes to a plastic isolation block on the outside of the shroud. ....to hook up an external kill switch. ...

Make sense and help refresh the memory.....?????

EDIT:....and no....there's no minimum throttle kill... (electrically).....that's why there is a switch in the shroud. ...you may be thinking of a Briggs......

 

[OzFab]

Just for reference...where is the coil?

It's under the starter shroud

 

[4rcFed]

I guess what I was getting at....is that shroud easily removed, or is there anything special to know before taking it off, any precautions, etc??? I just don't want to pull it apart and make another disaster for myself.

 

[OzFab]

Nope, 4 bolts & it should fall off...

 

[Poboy kartman]

I guess what I was getting at....is that shroud easily removed, or is there anything special to know before taking it off, any precautions, etc??? I just don't want to pull it apart and make another disaster for myself.

.....YES!!!!!!! ........removing a shroud requires EXTREME CAUTION........you never know what might be living in there!!!!!!