5hp Briggs, issues.

[B.M.800]

So I got this briggs funpower on this manco kart.
It wont keep running, however it runs fine when the back end is up, yes the tires do spin when its off the ground. (could the clutch be shot?) This thing is startin to get irritating.

It has 18in rears, 74 tooth sprocket, and 12 on the clutch. I do plan to put in a jackshaft.

What could be my problem here...

 

[kendelrk]

clutch is either extremley or and not free, can you turn the drum by hand? that or it could be shot, the shoes are staying engaged, and when you put down the rear and stop to idle they are still out and never close,the engine isint making the rpm needed to turn the tires so its basically like a direct drive motor, make sure you can spin the drum freely by hand, is it new or used? might need a new clutch

 

[B.M.800]

It turns, its not new, but that old either. It was on this kart.
Probably less than 30hrs on the thing...

I hate this briggs... wish my honda was running!

 

[kendelrk]

try disassembling and giving a good cleaning, springs or shoes might just be stuck or caked with dirt or something

 

[r97]

A 6:1 ratio with 18" tires, a 5hp, and a centrifugal clutch is just asking for trouble. Sounds to me like your putting far too much strain on the clutch. Over loading the clutch can lead to overheating which can ruin the springs, this would cause the clutch to engage early.

I am a bit surprised the clutch doesn't just slip, but if the idle is high enough, the springs are damage enough, and the engine isn't too powerful, I could see it happening.

It could also be that your idle is so low, and the springs are so damaged, that the engine is just barely staying running and that little bit of load from the clutch kills it.

 

[B.M.800]

Thats what makes me wonder, the red kart came with a briggs 5 hp, and same gearing.

 

[r97]

But does it have a centrifugal clutch and 18" tires?

 

[B.M.800]

Yup, thats what the guy had on it.

 

[B.M.800]

Im certain theres something wrong with the briggs. Clutches dont go bad from nonuse, last time I used the clutch on my red kart(way heavier than the manco) it went fine.

I did have the chain too tight though, the axle is also bent so it got to a point I had a hard time turning the wheels. So I loosened the chain up, that solved that problem.

But the motor just conks out, it will sit there and idle fine but when I get goin it dies. Mixture need adjusted?

 

[kendelrk]

sounds like it needs one, how i tune my briggs is to turn it all the way in, out 2 and 1/4 turns and hold the choke and get it warm a little, then once it runs off of choke play with the adjustments

 

[B.M.800]

Well hopefully this weekend I can work on it.

 

[oompaloompa543]

Make sure your gas tank is clean too, I had the same problem and it was because the gas tank was dirty so it was plugging the carb...i had to take it to a radiator guy to get cleaned.