Predator 212 stalls when warmed up?

[Browndodge]

I've had good luck for about a year with this Predator 212 on an old Carter go kart. I made a plate to put a big air cleaner on it, removed the governor and put a straight pipe exhaust. After drilling the main jet a little it runs great, makes lots of power.

Until recently. Now when I ride it starts up great and runs great for 3 to 5 minutes, then it starts bogging down when the throttle is pressed. It idles fine but will not accelerate then dies if I give it gas. After this it is hard to start until it cools down. Any ideas?

Is this just what I get for bragging on this cheapo motor?

 

[Poboy kartman]

It's not the engines fault...it's yours....straight out of the box...it would be going strong still...I suspect your air cleaner has let the carb get dirty.

 

[ultralight01]

If there was a leak in the air cleaner plate, of a hole, or if the air filter wasn't oiled... That would dirty the carb. You might have to clean the carb and get a real air filter kit from eBay.

 

[Browndodge]

So a dirty carb can run great for 5 minutes, die, then run great again once it cools off? I'll try cleaning it again.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Well, your engine may be getting hot from running lean....(dirty carb) or I could be way off base and it could be your coil.

Or it could be slowly running out of gas because the main jet is partially clogged.

Check for spark when it quits running. Also pull your plug and either read it or post a pic.

Someone else may be able to help more....sometimes it's hard to diagnose online...and someone else may have an idea that clicks or spurs other members to chime in.

 

[Jfive]

 

[Iron John]

I'm not convinced you have an air cleaner problem as dirty air does not get onto the fluid path taken by the fuel as it fills the bowl, goes thru the main jet, emulsifies, and hop scotches along into the venturi. If your air cleaner was totally slim shady you might kill compression or something else, but it is not going to plug a main jet.

When it cools off and you restart it, is it running on the choke? If you use the choke, does that make it run better or worse after a cooldown and restart?

When it is warm and it starts to bog, what happens if you partially close the choke?

When it bogs when warm, do you see black smoke in the exhaust?

We want to figure out if you if, when it warms up, it is leaning out or running rich.

 

[Lefturns75]

For what its worth, I had the same problem with my Predator 212. My problem was with the fuel tank vent. I had run a longer hose from the tank and zip tied it in a horizontal position on the frame rail with a plastic fuel filter in the end. I found the filter would fill with fuel and cause me a problem just like yours. I ran the vent hose so it points straight to the ground and I have not had that problem in over a year. That was the only thing I changed. Check your vent hose route and location.

 

[bob58o]

I was going to say an issue getting the fuel to the carb bowl. I'm guessing the bowl is emptying. Inline fuel filter clogged? Pitched hose? Needle valve issue? Gas tank vent issue?

Good call Lefty.

---------- Post added at 10:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 PM ----------

Open the bowl drain and time how long it takes to fill a 16oz cup

 

[chancer]

Just pull the rubber hose off the carb and see if fuel flows easily.

 

[bob58o]

Just pull the rubber hose off the carb and see if fuel flows easily.

If flow is good from the hose, but not from the drain in the carb, then it may be a needle valve issue.

Check from the hose with gas cap on and then off.
Then repeat from carb bowl drain.