Go kart starts fine then simply won't run

[Lavastar889]

So we got this go kart(specific model: dong fang DF200gka) from some guy for free, he said it's been sitting outside for a few years, so we took it home, replaced the ignition switch, then took the carb off and deep cleaned it, it started and ran just fine, left it for 4 hours, now it cranks but doesn't start. We tried starter fluid, it sputters for a few seconds then uses up the fuel we sprayed into it, and doesn't draw new fuel(this is the exact same problem it had before we deep cleaned the carb).

 

[Functional Artist]

How well did you clean out the gas tank?

Sounds like something may have went
...& "clogged up" your just-cleaned carb

 

[Lavastar889]

How well did you clean out the gas tank?

Sounds like something may have went
...& "clogged up" your just-cleaned carb

Just looked in the tank and there are all these floaties in it, before we filled it up we saw the tank was dry so we just assumed it was fine.

 

[Sparkwizard]

Can you add a filter in the fuel line?
Drain the tank, clean the carb, add a filter and try again.

 

[Lavastar889]

Can you add a filter in the fuel line?
Drain the tank, clean the carb, add a filter and try again.

That's what I just realised, is that there's already a filter in the line, and those floaties wouldn't have stopped fuel flow or gotten to the carb.

 

[Sparkwizard]

If that filter is full of trash, it will definitely restrict fuel flow.

 

[Lavastar889]

If that filter is full of trash, it will definitely restrict fuel flow.

It's a new filter and looks clear, we are going to try with a gas spray bottle instead of starter fluid, that seemed to at least convince it to want to start for the first time yesterday.

 

[Sparkwizard]

Is there a fuel pump or is it strictly gravity fed?

 

[Lavastar889]

Is there a fuel pump or is it strictly gravity fed?

The fuel getting to the carb is gravity, the only fuel "pump" is the engine sucking the fuel in.

 

[Functional Artist]

I would start at the begining/source (gas tank)
...& go thru the whole system

Take the fuel line off
...drain the tank
...& then, clean the tank out (floaties=NOT good)

While you're at it, clean or "blow" anything out of the fuel line (from tank to carb)
...also, re-clean the carb

Once everything is "clean" get ya some
...fresh gas
...& a new filter (they aren't usually cleanable)

Now, with clean fuel
...in a clean tank
...running thru a clean line (& filter)
...goin' thru a clean carb
...you'all should be "good to go"

 

[Lavastar889]

I would start at the begining/source (gas tank)
...& go thru the whole system

Take the fuel line off
...drain the tank
...& then, clean the tank out (floaties=NOT good)

While you're at it, clean or "blow" anything out of the fuel line (from tank to carb)
...also, re-clean the carb

Once everything is "clean" get ya some
...fresh gas
...& a new filter (they aren't usually cleanable)

Now, with clean fuel
...in a clean tank
...running thru a clean line (& filter)
...goin' thru a clean carb
...you'all should be "good to go"

We tried with gas spray bottle, it started, ran fine, but doesn't idle or start with battery cranking.

 

[Denny]

Your gas tank is dirty, your fuel valve is dirty, your lines and filter are dirty and your carb is dirty. Get to cleaning.

 

[Sparkwizard]

On the other hand, floaties are much preferred to sinkies.
Sinkies will cause pluggies, but floaties never will.

 

[Lavastar889]

On the other hand, floaties are much preferred to sinkies.
Sinkies will cause pluggies, but floaties never will.

I don't thinks it's caused by a block, runs just fine when we spray some gas into the carb manually, then runs off gas tank gas, just doesn't pull gas into itself initially when trying to start normally, also doesn't idle, which it was before it had this issue.

 

[Sparkwizard]

Please show a picture of the carburetor?

 

[Lavastar889]

tell me if you need more angles

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

That black round thing on the carb is an auto choke.
Maybe it's not working and that's why you can't start it.
Try holding your hand over half of the intake. You are acting like a choke. Will it start this way?
Your gonna have to play with how much you cover it. It's a feel type thing.

 

[Lavastar889]

That black round thing on the carb is an auto choke.
Maybe it's not working and that's why you can't start it.
Try holding your hand over half of the intake. You are acting like a choke. Will it start this way?
Your gonna have to play with how much you cover it. It's a feel type thing.

That makes sense, the air filter is also torn apart right now so the intake has access to open air, I'll mess with it tomorrow though, the weather's pretty bad up here.

 

[Lavastar889]

That black round thing on the carb is an auto choke.
Maybe it's not working and that's why you can't start it.
Try holding your hand over half of the intake. You are acting like a choke. Will it start this way?
Your gonna have to play with how much you cover it. It's a feel type thing.

Weather cleared up out of nowhere, we messed with it for around 15 minutes and couldn't get it to start with just the battery, but seems to do just fine(except for idling) when we spray some gas in to initialize it.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

How did you clean the carb?
Spray stuff in the hole from a foot away?
or did you take it apart and inspect all the jets. Cleared out the Small Idle Circuit holes in the throat. Blew air through all passages?

Sounds like the idle Circuit is still clogged.