Dongfang wont start

[afremont]

Is there a low oil shut-off on these things? Oil is right at the bottom of the zone, I'll top it off when I pick some up.

My neighbor conned me into looking at her son's kart/buggy/whatever. I haven't had a chance to do much yet, but a shot of starting fluid down the carb didn't result in it firing. Gas is getting to the bowl okay and it's not overflowing. I suspect no/weak spark right now. I don't know what size the motor is yet, 110/150/169cc, but it's a motorcycle type engine, horizontal, electric start (on the charger now). Seems fairly newish. I'll get some pics when I get back home in a little while.

She claims the kids rode it all weekend after she got it and suddenly it didn't run any more. They ran a couple of tanks of fuel through it. Air filter has a small hose hanging with the end open. Not sure where that goes yet, or if it is supposed to just have a plug. Seems like it should be some kind of PCV thing. Will check compression later too. Hoping they didn't wear the cylinder out with dirt/dust.

Any ideas of what to check if no spark is occurring. This is some kind of CDI ignition which I know virtually nothing about.

 

[anickode]

It's not a 2 stroke, is it?

 

[Bbqjoe]

Uh oh.

 

[afremont]

Definitely not a 2-stroke. I was able to get it running today. Took the carb off and cleaned it out as best I could. The bowl is riveted on so no getting in there. It idles great with the choke on, but will not take fuel when you try to accelerate. Won't idle when warm and choke is off, but will start and run as long as you keep the throttle up a bit. No idle adjustment other than taking slack out of the cable which doesn't work anyway. I guess it needs a new carburetor, wondering if I can find one for it. Sprayed carb cleaner around the outside of the carb and intake and no effect, so it doesn't seem to have any vacuum leaks. I'm guessing main jet is clogged with something.

I'm sorry I ever got involved in this. This thing is almost new (manufactured Jul 2016) and cost over $2000. It's a decent frame and suspension, but the engine is the pits. Has forward neutral and reverse, whoopee. Lights, a horn and even turn signals for some reason. Model DF125GKA

Here it is:
http://www.df-motor.com/product_show.asp?id=661

Claims 3 forward gears, a real deathtrap.

 

[anickode]

So it's got 3 speeds and is limited to under 25mph.

Sounds fun.

Sounds like the carb is gummed up. Probably just needs to be cleaned vs replaced. I'd drill out the rivets and give it a good thorough cleaning. Replace the rivets with screws and nuts.

 

[afremont]

I got it running now, I'm guessing they worked on it themselves first. Mixture screw backed out wayyyyyy too far. They had it about 1 3/4 turns out. It needs to be more like 3/4. I cleaned the carb as best I could, they can drill their own rivets out. It runs pretty good now. I connected the two hoses together where there should be some kind of PCV filter thingy. At least it won't be sucking dirt into the engine. Spark plug was a little loose, along with about half of the bolts holding the chassis together. There is a plug missing in the engine case:
https://goo.gl/photos/pKpWXeuhUummXNbh6
I don't have any idea if that hole has let dirt into the gearbox oil. Honestly, I don't much care, but I guess I should drain the gearbox, flush it with something (kerosene?) and put new oil in it, assuming I can figure out how. Seems to only have one forward gear, at least that's all I could get out of it. If it didn't have so many Chinese cheap-cuts, it could be a decent kart....maybe. I think my solid suspension, too-quick turning ratio nerf-dog is faster.

 

[afremont]

Turns out that hole does not allow dirt/water into the oil. Despite the manual, there is only one oil compartment for the crankcase and transmission. I spoke to a guy at a local dealership that sells a lot of these Chinese buggy things. The carb bowl is actually not riveted, but has screws holding it. To get them out, you have to file or grind a slot into the heads. I was able to purchase the plug for the hole in the flywheel/stator cover.

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