Help troubleshooting a Predator 212

[kartnoob101]

I have a fairly new predator 212 that is having some issues starting & staying running.

First off, starting it. I wasn't present for the initial startup (it was delivered when I was out of town and a friend started it up), but ever since the first time I've started it, the choke has been very finicky. I've used a few other small engines (snowblowers, generators) and the starting procedure has been pretty flawless: choke all the way on, pull 1-3 times, let it run for a few seconds, and slowly move the choke lever to off. On the predator, it's a 5+ minute chaos of trying every possible choke position while the engine sputters and dies after 1-5 seconds, hoping that it will stay running long enough to get the choke off. Today, while trying to restart the engine after it died (see below), I spent ~10 minutes with no success, just increasingly short sputters until I couldn't even get it to sputter anymore...

In the event that I do get it running, the fun doesn't stop there! It occasionally cuts out while idling, seemingly randomly. I think I know how to fix this (set idle higher by finding idle screw on the carb), but I've included this info in case it's related to the startup issue.

It has no modifications except disconnecting the yellow oil sensor cable.

I don't have much experience with engines so I'm asking here before trying any fixes by myself because I'm scared of harming the engine in my ignorance, but I think I should check the spark plug and perhaps the air/fuel mixture?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[DirtyDamage]

Sounds to me like a dirty carb. Easy solution, get a can of carb cleaner, take off the carb, take apart carb, clean with carb cleaner.

I'm tight on time right now so search youtube for "How to clean a carburetor for small engines" and pick a video. It'll getcha headed in the right direction...

I'll check back soon when I have more time to answer any further questions.

 

[kartnoob101]

Thanks, but I'm a little unsure that this is the issue considering the engine is less than a month old and has been run maybe half a dozen times? Why would the carb get dirty so quickly?

Edit- not to mention it's been difficult to start since the second or third start

 

[DirtyDamage]

Running without an air filter or just running in certain conditions can clog it up. Also stale/old gas could be the problem.

 

[kartnoob101]

It was already acting up after one 30-minute run out of the box with the stock air cleaner, I'm not convinced... But I suppose a cleaning wouldn't hurt regardless!

 

[DirtyDamage]

Okay, then if you want to get more into it here's a list.

Valve lash
Sparkplug
Carburetor
Fuel delivery
Ignition coil
Oil change could help if it's grimy or low it won't start unless started at a angle
Shorted out kill switch
The list can go on and on

 

[kartnoob101]

Come to think of it, stale gas could be part of the issue. I've topped it off about two weeks ago with gas from a tank we keep for the lawnmower/snowblower that is months old and mixed with fuel stabilizer, and the kart sits under a tarp in a part of the driveway where it gets direct sun a few hours a day.

 

[DirtyDamage]

Well there's your problem possibly

 

[Poboy kartman]

Probably not dirt...but water that's your problem....see if you can find a turkey baster at a dollar store and suck the gas out of the bottom of your tank....put it into a clear jar so you can see if theres water there....

Now...if so...you have a choice : drop the bowl off the carb or pull the air filter and spray carb or brake cleaner in the carb and keep starting it until it runs on its own.

 

[kartnoob101]

Thanks poboy, I read up on water in fuel tanks and the symptoms sound very similar to what I'm experiencing. I'll check that asap. I do wonder how enough water got in there to be an issue, though...

 

[afremont]

It wouldn't be a bad idea to change the oil since it's a new motor and should be broken in now. Lots of metal particles accumulate in the first half hour or so of operation and it's a good idea to get that out. I'm sure it has nothing to do with your running issues, but still it's a good thing to do to promote a long life for the motor.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Thanks poboy, I read up on water in fuel tanks and the symptoms sound very similar to what I'm experiencing. I'll check that asap. I do wonder how enough water got in there to be an issue, though...

Somehow...in it's infinite wisdom....the government decided we needed to add ethanol...(produced from corn) ...to pump gas to protect the dwindling oil reserves...(despite the fact that over half of known oil producing site sit fallow....a byproduct of cheap foreign oil)....which in turn has turned a bunch of third world nobodies into rich and powerful adversaries .

And....it is more expensive to produce...more problematic to transfer...and causes vehicles to get much worse gas mileage.

Not to mention the millions in government subsidies to corn growers our taxes pay...so we can pay more for gas that destroys our engines....
Anywho....alcohol (ethanol) draws moisture out of the air....

 

[OzFab]

Step #1: Change the oil
Step #2: Drain the entire fuel system, flush & refill with fresh fuel
Step #3: If you still have problems, return for warranty; as soon as you turn a wrench on it, you void the warranty...