Just fried a Predator 212

[Slimmpd]

Installed an NIB 212, "63", today. Fresh gas and seafoam, Vavoline 10-30. Switch off and pulled through 20 times with the rope starter to get a little lube splashed around. Switch on and it started first pull. Let run through 3, heat/cool cycles outside with a snail fan blowing directly on it. Cooled down the final time and installed on Murray Explorer. Running a comet 20 drive and driven.
Took it home, checked the oil and gave the kids instructions on what and how to do the break in. They putted around the yard never more than half throttle. I was out there with them the whole time and watched them close. Youngest stopped to let the oldest drive for awhile. I noticed a hot metal smell, just thought it was a new motor burning off some paint or whatever. Oldest drove around the yard one time. No WOT, doing just what I said do. While watching him I heard a loud squeal and the kart rolled to a stop. I walked over gave it a once over. Tried to pull the rope and it wouldn't budge, locked up tight.

 

[Rail rider]

Take it back asap

 

[B_Bimmer]

It's too bad you 'll probably just switch it out, I would love to know what gave. Gotta admit, it takes me about long enough to warm it up before wide open throttle was passed a few hundred rpm ago. They build a lot of engines, it sucks you had a problem, but things happen, even with premium products, which harbor fright does not sell.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Ummmm..."Seafoam?"

WTF were you thinking?

That crap...( well...it's not really crap,) ....but...scrubs lubrication, as it's meant to DEGUM OLD ENGINES!

To " break in" NEW engines, YOU NEED MAX LUBRICATION!!!

 

[chancer]

Take it back
I put oil in one, had never heard of "break in" at that time. Started it and sent her on her way.
Still going strong 2 years later.
I think i changed the oil once.

Take it back They wont even question you anyway

 

[Poboy kartman]

BTW: Predators taste better fried in Canola oil.

 

[Slimmpd]

Yeah I'm taking it back tomorrow. Just sux that I got to undo everything I I did today.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I read this the other day and found it interesting. I'm gearing up to build a radical Honda, and I figure I'll give it a try. With a governed predator the process would pretty much be bolt it up, pour oil and gas in it, and let the kids have at it for a while and then just change the oil.
http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

[Slimmpd]

Something else.
While installing this motor I used the throttle cable that was already on the kart and was hooked up to an older predator "30" that came with the kart. This motor ran pretty good but would cut off about 1/3 of the time when you let off the gas to make a turn or whatever. Carb was cleaned at a small engine shop that gets a lot of business but apparently, it didn't fix the issue. Installed this new motor figuring I'd get a new carb/sort it out later.
Anyhow while installing the motor, I ran into the first problem, that being the throttle return spring. This spring would not pull the throttle arm back to idle no matter what I tried. I went to marvins and bought a stronger spring, hooked to one of the holes in the throttle arm and found a place to anchor it. I guess that should have been the first hint that the motor wasn't right.

 

[chancer]

Nope. ALWAYS us an extra return Spring.
The spring that come with these are not really return springs at all.
Remember there is a STIFF lever and you manually push it to throttle up and throttle down.
There is a spring there but is is way too weak to rely on. and not designed to be a throttle return spring hooked to a throttle cable.

 

[landuse]

You can loosen the nut holding the lever arm slightly so it returns easier

 

[Poboy kartman]

And disconnect the low oil sensor to keep it from dying.

Next time, just read the manual, dump the proper (non-synthetic) oil into it at the proper amount, and like Chancer alluded, don't even worry about "break in!"

It doesn't hurt, certainly, to follow the procedure, (if only for peace of mind should something go awry...)

But...99% of the time, these are bullet-proof 1 or 2 pulls start engines right out of the box.

Edit: Do change the oil at the recommended interval however...and note the above recommended added return spring, and ESPECIALLY, the loosening of that throttle lever nut!

 

[Slimmpd]

Why not Mobil One 10-30?
I use nothing but this in my mowers both singles and twins and haven't had an oil/lube related problem yet. Got several new gallon containers in the shop bought cheap so that's my go to. Was thinking about 15-40 diesel oil. It's cheap and my 7.3's don't mind what's in them as long as it's clean.

---------- Post added at 05:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:54 AM ----------

On returning the engine to HF.
For whatever reason I got a case of the guilts and felt I needed to explain exactly what happened to the 212 and what I saw/observed right before it seized. The clerk with the hoop hole era rings and neck tats had a blank look on his face as broke the events down over about a minute and a half.
When I finished making myself feel better, he just looked at me and said, "you want your money back or another motor".
Me: another motor please
Him: pick out what you want
Me: give me a sku that ends in 363.
Him: they're right behind you.
Me: oh
Me: does the 90 day warranty on this motor retro back to when I bought the first motor or does it start today.
Him: it starts today.
Me: so no matter what, I got 90 days on this motor to bring it back if I don't like it.
Him: yep
Me: so even if nothing's wrong I can bring it back and get a new one every 90 days.
Him: yep

They must sell a million of these things a year. I wonder what their actual cost is. Probably 40/50 bucks ea.

 

[Hellion]

Installed an NIB 212, "63", today. Fresh gas and seafoam, Vavoline 10-30. ...with a snail fan blowing directly on it...

Why the Sea Foam? That product is for used engines only; ones that you may want to "Dissolve Oil Deposits in Crankcase" or "Dissolve and Clean Fuel Residues in Fuel Systems". I see no benefit to using it on a new engine. However, it would seem like it really did the trick on "dissolving oil deposits" as your engine most likely seized from lack of lubrication.

Why the snail fan? Normal operating temperatures are what we seek whether we are breaking-in an engine or not. These engines all have forced-air cooling via the fan blades on the flywheel. Very efficient and effective. You knew that, right? Probably no harm done though, but a dubious procedure.

 

[Weeder]

Sodium silicate would have done a quicker job of seizing your engine.




Party on!

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

Sodium silicate would have done a quicker job of seizing your engine.




Party on!

Something tells me you are familiar with the process they used on the cash for clunkers cars.

 

[chancer]

Something tells me you are familiar with the process they used on the cash for clunkers cars.

Oh! NO! Have you seen those videos. So sad and disturbing.
Grown men CAR GUYS no less destroying perfectly good American v8. Cars for fun. In the name of Global Warming!
It is really sick how people "sheeple" really, that should know better would go along with a govt program and destroy things. Things theyshould cherish no less!!!
1984----2+2=5
They sky is falling! The sky is falling!

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I saw it in person a few times. It always made me cringe.

 

[Weeder]

Dude I made out on the clunker thing. I bought an old ford suv for like 400 hundred bucks and I drove the crap out of it for about 5 years. I sold it to Mr bammit jammit for 1500 hunny.



Party on!

 

[B_Bimmer]

That program was just wrong. The used car market in my area still hasn't found normal again. Or rather normal changed never to return. Regardless, it hurt a lot of people like me.