Installed Aftermarket Parts , Now Won't Run
- Thread starter Munk
- Start date
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Well I'm out of ideas guys. The rope technique failed regardless of how tight / how many times I wrapped it. I tried some clamps but the shape of that wheel doesn't give it anything to bite on hard enough. The ezbore device won't work either, since it would need the wheel off in order for that screw to fit into that notch. The only option left is impact wrench I suppose, but I wonder if it'll just spin the whole thing instead of only the nut.
Wait....what did you do with the rope?? You are supposed to take the spark plug out, and feed as much rope down the hole as you can. This stops the piston reaching the top when the crank is turned. If you have enough rope in there, it is impossible for it not to work as the crank gets stuck because the piston cannot move up and down.
It sounds like you tried to wrap the rope around the flywheel??
Ooooh, yeah I did the flywheel wrap haha! It's okay, I got an impact driver and that did the trick. Now I'm just trying to get that tiny c clip off of the nylon gear in order to remove it all the way. What a pain that thing is.
Huh, I just always wear good gloves and grab the flywheel and give it h3ll with the impact wrench and it always comes right off with no issues...but I use a good quality Ingersoll Rand on the highest setting so it hammers fast and really zips the nut off so fast the rest of the flywheel and crank mass doesn't have time to react to the inertia impulse.
Those little retaining rings suck to remove. They work well. If they came off easy engines would be breaking all over the place.
Those little retaining rings suck to remove. They work well. If they came off easy engines would be breaking all over the place.
Budget GoKart
Aka a kenbar
Ususally i put my rachet on the bolt and just stomp on it and it comes loose.
I got the ring off...finally. I'm so happy haha! I wish I had known that the governor arm hole won't accommodate a 1/4" bolt though (arrrrg Redbeard!), thought I was going to wrap this up today. Tomorrow should be a good day ��
https://photos.app.goo.gl/e6Husf2VnRkNcP1r8
Oh I guess to describe how I did it. I used a flathead screwdriver and hammer to open the existing gap a little, this took the longest amount of time... then the progress of opening the clip more plateaued. The angles were to restrictive, I didn't have any better tools to use, I got stuck. I then used the flathead in a prying motion to pull the ring away from the wheel a fraction of an inch, just enough for vicegrips to grab the ring the ring, and then pulled it down and off the rod. From there, I used the vicegrips again to pull the wheel itself off.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/e6Husf2VnRkNcP1r8
Oh I guess to describe how I did it. I used a flathead screwdriver and hammer to open the existing gap a little, this took the longest amount of time... then the progress of opening the clip more plateaued. The angles were to restrictive, I didn't have any better tools to use, I got stuck. I then used the flathead in a prying motion to pull the ring away from the wheel a fraction of an inch, just enough for vicegrips to grab the ring the ring, and then pulled it down and off the rod. From there, I used the vicegrips again to pull the wheel itself off.
Yup, most people retap the hole to accept a standard size bolt
Okay, got everything back installed and put new oil in there. I was slowly pulling on the pull start to get oil on some of the internal components, and noticed that it's locking up a bit part way through the pull. It'll then continue to pull normally, then lock up a bit. When I remove the spark plug and pull, no issues at all (no gas or anything spraying out). I reinstall the spark plug, issue comes back. Any ideas? It's the stock spark plug.
Edit
I found someone online who was having a similar issue, and for him it was the pressure release mechanism on the camshaft. I do recall the camshaft having fallen out of place during the governor removal at one point, to which I just put it back, but now wondering if that was somehow related to this issue (maybe position was wrong somehow?).
Link to that thread: https://www.doityourself.com/forum/...mall-engines/435770-hard-jerky-cord-pull.html
I don't know if that's the actual issue, and would prefer to check other things first before having to drain the new oil, pull everything back off, etc. What does this sound like to you?
Edit 2
Crap, I'm fairly certain it's the timing. I didn't check to make sure the dots were aligned on the camshaft as described in this video: https://youtu.be/eoUI5ejNNoU
Edit 3
Yep that was it. I had to align the dots on the camshaft, it was of by one or two teeth. Ended up following the steps in the video and no more pull start issue!
Edit
I found someone online who was having a similar issue, and for him it was the pressure release mechanism on the camshaft. I do recall the camshaft having fallen out of place during the governor removal at one point, to which I just put it back, but now wondering if that was somehow related to this issue (maybe position was wrong somehow?).
Link to that thread: https://www.doityourself.com/forum/...mall-engines/435770-hard-jerky-cord-pull.html
I don't know if that's the actual issue, and would prefer to check other things first before having to drain the new oil, pull everything back off, etc. What does this sound like to you?
Edit 2
Crap, I'm fairly certain it's the timing. I didn't check to make sure the dots were aligned on the camshaft as described in this video: https://youtu.be/eoUI5ejNNoU
Edit 3
Yep that was it. I had to align the dots on the camshaft, it was of by one or two teeth. Ended up following the steps in the video and no more pull start issue!
The current state of the go kart is that it'll start, and continue to run, only if I use starter fluid. It will not start by pulling or electric ignition, with or without the choke, if I don't use starter fluid. 
I pulled the spark plug and it looks pretty dark, perhaps running too rich? The kart will start without the choke on if I use starter fluid, but not sure if that supports the "too rich" hypothesis. The plug sparks when pulled and put against metal.
A pic of the spark plug
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wG4pGnSmx8dNfyc89
I pulled the spark plug and it looks pretty dark, perhaps running too rich? The kart will start without the choke on if I use starter fluid, but not sure if that supports the "too rich" hypothesis. The plug sparks when pulled and put against metal.
A pic of the spark plug
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wG4pGnSmx8dNfyc89
JTSpeedDemon
2019 Build Off Winner!
Looks lean, rich would mean greasy deposits.
It makes sense because: dry sooty deposits, needs choke/starter fluid. Try adjusting mixture needles, check for vacuum leaks between the carb and cylinder head, and if neither one works, you might want to increase jet size.
Also check for fuel delivery problems.
It makes sense because: dry sooty deposits, needs choke/starter fluid. Try adjusting mixture needles, check for vacuum leaks between the carb and cylinder head, and if neither one works, you might want to increase jet size.
Also check for fuel delivery problems.
That would seem to fit something else that was happening. The go kart had been sitting for a while, maybe 2 months, and once I got everything sorted out with the governor removal, I noticed that fuel didn't seem to be coming down the fuel line (even when disconnected from the carb). The line looked pretty empty, and I eventually had to syphon the gas to get it flowing. When I open the drain screw at the bottom of the carb, fuel comes out of the dump tube but not in a smooth stream, it drips pretty rapidly but it's kind of bubbling out of the tube... Maybe that is indicating a fuel flow issue? I can shoot a video of this if it'll help.
I've now tried starting the kart without the gas cap to see if that was the issue, since that has helped before with fuel issues (back when the kart was fully stock) but it didn't seem to make a difference this morning. The carb is a new gopowersports 22mm Mikuni, which I believe has a bigger jet, but maybe it has become clogged?
I'll also double check the air filter to see if there are any leaks around the adapter piece that connects to the head or around the cone filter itself.
mckutzy
Well-known member
Might have a really dirty fuel filter in the tank.. change that and see what happens...
JTSpeedDemon
2019 Build Off Winner!
On my carb, I can remove the high speed mixture adjusting screw(opens an approx. 1/4" dia. hole) and fuel drains out in a uniform stream. That's what it should be. If you can, pump some compressed air or carb cleaner through the fuel line to help clear it out, and of course, ^^^ check the fuel filter.
An air filter leak would not make a lean mixture, it's leaks between the carb and head that do that.
But, a properly working air filter is important.
An air filter leak would not make a lean mixture, it's leaks between the carb and head that do that.
But, a properly working air filter is important.
I'll try these things, but before I do I have some new info. I got the kart started using starter fluid and took it around the block. The engine seemed to run fine during this time. I parked it, did some errands, and came back a couple hours later. I was able to start it without starter fluid by pulling the cable with the choke on, but not the electric ignition. Then after some fiddling, I could start it with the electric ignition and choke on if Ipulsed the gas (not pedal to the metal, but pumping the gas light and repeatedly). I'm not sure yet if it's starting easier because the engine is warmed up, and that I'll lose the ability to do this if it sits a day/week/month.
Does this change any of your ideas as to what might be going on? The gas is somewhat old (March of this year) is that potentially a factor?
Does this change any of your ideas as to what might be going on? The gas is somewhat old (March of this year) is that potentially a factor?
mckutzy
Well-known member
Change the gas, clean the carb...
Might have to do a lemon juice boil on the works...
Might have to do a lemon juice boil on the works...
JTSpeedDemon
2019 Build Off Winner!
In my experience, a can of spray carb cleaner does magic.
(Also my mom would NEVER let me boil a carb in lemon juice in the kitchen. Not in a million years.)
Just as an update, I've been having luck with the kart starting. After letting it sit for about 2 weeks, it just took a couple of pulls, then once warmed up, started first try after that
I was taking it around the neighborhood to properly adjust the side mirrors I installed. At one point it was a bit of a straightaway so I was going full throttle for about 10 - 15 seconds and then lost power. Kart rolled to a stop and now isn't starting...not sure if I floated the valves or if something serious happened (I still have stock springs). No weird sounds or anything happened, no bad smells, no smoke/explosions, just won't turn over for the moment.
Is this something to worry about in your experience?
I was taking it around the neighborhood to properly adjust the side mirrors I installed. At one point it was a bit of a straightaway so I was going full throttle for about 10 - 15 seconds and then lost power. Kart rolled to a stop and now isn't starting...not sure if I floated the valves or if something serious happened (I still have stock springs). No weird sounds or anything happened, no bad smells, no smoke/explosions, just won't turn over for the moment.
Is this something to worry about in your experience?
JTSpeedDemon
2019 Build Off Winner!
Did a rocker arm come loose? Dislocated pushrod? I don't really know, but I'd check the valvetrain.
I now believe the rocker arms are okay. I was able to get the kart to start, and stay running for maybe 30 seconds before it started struggling and finally died. I noticed what seems like a small amount of black dust in the bottom of the gas tank, and so I'm wondering if perhaps a fuel filter or gas tank filter is blocked?
On a side note, how do people dispose of excess / bad fuel? I may want to clean out the tank, check filters, etc. but I have maybe a 1/3 tank of fuel in there.
Edit
I disconnected the fuel line from the carb and turned on the fuel line...no flow. I then disconnected the line from the fuel filter to test it that was causing a blockage...still no flow. I unscrewed the fuel shutoff valve bowl and noticed some black particles in there, then cleaned it out and reinstalled. I unmounted the gas tank and dumped excess fuel into another container. In so doing I tipped the gas tank to the side, and I swear, I could hear what sounded like SAND slowly sliding back and forth inside the tank. I did it a few times, and each time get a few seconds of "sssssssssssss" like a lot of fine sediment is dragging itself against the metal interior of the tank. How do I get it out of there??
On a side note, how do people dispose of excess / bad fuel? I may want to clean out the tank, check filters, etc. but I have maybe a 1/3 tank of fuel in there.
Edit
I disconnected the fuel line from the carb and turned on the fuel line...no flow. I then disconnected the line from the fuel filter to test it that was causing a blockage...still no flow. I unscrewed the fuel shutoff valve bowl and noticed some black particles in there, then cleaned it out and reinstalled. I unmounted the gas tank and dumped excess fuel into another container. In so doing I tipped the gas tank to the side, and I swear, I could hear what sounded like SAND slowly sliding back and forth inside the tank. I did it a few times, and each time get a few seconds of "sssssssssssss" like a lot of fine sediment is dragging itself against the metal interior of the tank. How do I get it out of there??
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