Tao Jeep carburetor trouble

[garetrose]

Hello, I'm new here from Northern California.

I'm having a hell of a time with my kids tao go kart. I bought it used, wasn't running. Took it to a shop that sold them previously. They fixed it perfectly. Then it sat. Wouldn't run. I cleaned the carb, nothing. Read online about switching from the pz 19 that was on it to the pz 20. It starts and idles like money. Reverse, all the power, no issues. In forward though and specially up any amount of hill, it runs like crap, will bog and try to back fire.

I've switched back to pz 19 and ultimately gone through 4-5 carbs now. I just can't get it right. Gonna post some pics and hopefully figure out a way forward. Those couple times right after the shop fixed it (they no longer work on them) my kids had so much fun on it. I shouldn't have left the California gas in it. I'm obviously missing something here though, as multiple new carbs and following multiple videos trying different techniques and I can't get it.

Thanks!

 

[Hellion]

Please have a seat and one of our tech staff will wander in soon enough.

Lots of cheap “Amazon” carbs are pure junk and won’t work right, even straight out of the box. Might hafta get a Nibbi carb or something. Gotta use quality gas indeed but unless it's full of water and debris, it should go.

It’s not your problem YET but those cone filters are basically for street use (basically a sterile environment) and only filter out the gnats.

 

[panchothedog]

Have you tried flushing out the gas tank?

 

[Grizzlymi]

I have never had good luck with knock off slide carbs, floatbowl style I have had great luck. Bought a couple chinese VM22's from Isky back in the day and those worked just as good as a Mikuni(for some reason).

Could be issues with the jets. Jetting with the right size for your area, elevation, etc..... can play a huge factor in the carbs performance.

Good luck with issue and hope your kids can ride soon. More will chime in soon, the "experts". Welcome to the site!

 

[Hellion]

floatbowl style I have had great luck.

You and BrownStainRacing with his stock appearing carbs. I remember those days before the Mikuni craze.

 

[Hellion]

I shouldn't have left the California gas in it.

Did it corrode the carb or turn it white and chalky? The California gas, like the rest of the nation is what, E10 10% ethanol (or more)? If you’re not going to run the carb dry before storage then yes you’re playing with a marked deck. Going through 4-5 carburetors trying to fix the thing is insane!

You must verify the entire fuel system for cleanliness and function. Don’t replace carbs but learn to service them. No excuse in 2026 when there’s boring videos galore on how to do it (and tune them).

I feel for you though. You’re a neophyte and you have a steel learning curve before you.

Pull the spark plug and take a photo of the firing sparky sparky end. I am curious to see if it indicates too lean or too rich on the air/fuel mixture.