GX160 Won't Start

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propain37

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So about a month ago I flipped over in my go kart and the plate on the engine which has the throttle lever got bent. When I flipped over the engine also started smoking and then shut off. Now when I recently tried to start the engine it wouldn't start. So is there oil in the combustion chamber or what happened. If anyone does ask, I am fine and ok. I was just scared to ride my go kart after a while and also learned why go karts don't have seatbelts. So yeah, my engine won't start.
 

landuse

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You might have oil in the bore. Take the spark plug out and pull the cord a few time vigorously. This should expel any oil in the chamber if there was any. Check to see if you have spark at the same time. Put the plug in the boot and then hold against the block and pull the cord. You should see a blue spark
 

propain37

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So I took the plug out and it sparks and there wasn’t any oil in the cylinder. The engine still won’t start. I’ve removed the low oil sensor so it’s not that.
 

JTSpeedDemon

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Might wanna drop the bowl on the carb, there could be gunk built up, of there could be unknown damage.
Does the engine have compression? There may be a small crack or fracture in the block/head.
IDK. These are just ideas.
 

propain37

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I think I figured it out, it seems as though the bolts that hold the carburetor have bent which removed the seal from the carb to the actual intake inside the head. How would I fix this
 

Hellion

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Yeah, show us the damage.


Might be as simple as new carb mounting bolts, or you may have trashed the whole carb.
 

propain37

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I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get photos since I had disassembled the entire intake side but it looked like the gasket wasn’t making contact and the mounting bolts were bent. I got new mounting bolts and a new gasket and well turns out there’s supposed to be this spacer that goes in between it. Well I didn’t know about the spacer when I ordered the gaskets and bolts so now I just ordered the spacer. Well I didn’t know the spacer is supposed to have a gasket so yeah. Is the spacer absolutely necessary cause I mean I could file down the mounting studs where they are kinda greater in diameter and then tighten it down. This probably wouldn’t have happened if I posted pics but that’s my fault.
 

BigWes

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You want the spacer...it serves multiple purposes...for one it prevents fuel from getting too hot in the bowl. And various other things. Trust me you don't want a carb bolted right to the head.

Wes
 

propain37

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So if I didn’t order the gasket for the spacer, can I buy rtv or is the gasket necessary
 

mckutzy

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Use some cereal box cut out to the right size, lightly coated with oil. Not soaking, just a light skim coat....

The spacer, or insulator is required... More importantly, if it ran before and im asuming it had all of its parts....
What went different when you put it back together again?
...And where is/was the original insulator plate?
 

propain37

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More importantly, if it ran before and im asuming it had all of its parts....
What went different when you put it back together again?
...And where is/was the original insulator plate?

Well the entire assembly was bent on the studs. The stock airbox was also damaged so I bought a performance one to replace it. The stock insulator plate was cracked and I didn't really check how it should be assembled I didn't know it even existed after I removed the broken insulator plate. So thats what happened to that.
 

landuse

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Just wait for the spacer and make your own gasket. The cereal box method works well. I have done it before. Gasket maker would also work, but I always just find it's a bit messy
 

propain37

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So I did as mckutzy recommended with the cereal box and printed out a template and cut it out. I made sure to have the little hole in there and used a drill to make sure it’d be there. Installed it and it started second pull. Thanks. Also, what does that little hole do out of curiousity.
 

JTSpeedDemon

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I've found, I'd venture to say ~75% of the time, the reason an engine won't start, is either a gummed up carb, or a gasket problem.
 

propain37

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I've found, I'd venture to say ~75% of the time, the reason an engine won't start, is either a gummed up carb, or a gasket problem.

Yeah, the last time my engine didn’t start my dad told me to clean out the carb. This time it was the gasket that broke and the fact that the seal was non existent
 
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