Hey From Africa

[marcgoldhawk]

Hey there, my name is Marc and I'm from Zimbabwe, so these sort of things dont come about very often. A colleague of mine gave me this go kart just for some fun. But I dont even know where to start nor what it is. I know it doesnt start. Any help would be great.

 

[landuse]

Hey there Marc to the forum.

It looks like you have an older race kart frame, but I am not too sure what type of engine you have. It looks like a motorbike engine, but I am no 100% sure. Take some closer pics and we might be able to ID it better. It looks like a Suzuki engine

You might just need to give the carb a really good cleaning, and the guys here on the site will be able to walk you through that if you want to.

Nice score by the way. It also looks like you have hydraulic brakes

 

[OzFab]

Hey Marc, welcome to the forum.

All I can tell you about your kart is it has an old 2 stroke engine which shouldn't be too hard to get runnning.

 

[fowler]

Welcome

As for the kart
It looks to be running a 2 stroke motor bike engine
My bet is it is quite quick

To get it to run and to label all the requirements

check it turns over
Check it has a spark by turn ing it over while the plug is out of the head but in the boot
Rest it on the head
Check it has fuel and it has fuel delivery to the carb
Make sure the fuel is premix
The carb is Likely dirty, that is just what happens over time

The fact it has no air filter is a bit of a worry
If u can, do a compression test
If not then put your finger over the plug hole and turn the engine over
There should be no way u can hold your finger down

If it passes those tests then it must be electrical

Is it kick start or electric?

 

[marcgoldhawk]

Thanks for the replies!!! It does say Suzuki on the engine right by the seat... As for trying to turn it over, it has an ignition type setup but no key or battery? There is a kick start point on the engine but no crank. Could I 'Hot Wire' it to try turn it over?? I'm off to get some oil and a new spark plug. Also on the rear, next to the fuel tank, there is a yellowish plastic container that looks like some kind of water container. Any ideas as to what it is??

 

[landuse]

Thanks for the replies!!! It does say Suzuki on the engine right by the seat... As for trying to turn it over, it has an ignition type setup but no key or battery? There is a kick start point on the engine but no crank. Could I 'Hot Wire' it to try turn it over?? I'm off to get some oil and a new spark plug. Also on the rear, next to the fuel tank, there is a yellowish plastic container that looks like some kind of water container. Any ideas as to what it is??

That could be the DIY fuel tank for the engine. If you can, post some closeup photos of the engine

 

[fowler]

Where do the hoses run for the yellow container
It is likely an oil tank that mixes the oil with the fuel as u go

I wouldn't trust it just yet just get it running on pre mix then investergate the tank

To hot wire it u can connect the jumper leads
Then get a small peice of metal and jump it over the two main connection for the soliniod
This will likely not start it but it will turn over

I'd require more info on the engine before I can say how to actually start it

Take a pic of any numbers u find and a pic of the ignition switch plus any random wiring pics

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Welcome to the forum! Just for the sake of being thorough- You cannot "hot wire" an engine that doesn't have a starter. From the distant pics, I cannot tell if that is an electric start engine.

As for the yellow tank, I agree with Fowler- it is likely for the oil injection. Normally, you would fill that tank with 2-cycle oil, and a pump would distribute it within the engine.

 

[marcgoldhawk]

I'm having difficulty in posting more pics (slow internet connection). I have discovered that it is not an electric start, but a kick start. Now trying to turn it over, nothing is happening. The kick start mechanism is turning about 90 degrees to the rear and thats it, nothing else happens. Any ideas?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

If the kick starter is not engaging the engine, it sounds like the ratchet pawl or spring is broken. Get a service manual- you're going to have to partially disassemble the engine/gearbox.