PREDATOR 420 Won't Start. Please Help!!

[Rail rider]

So go buy a new one, clean up the old one, put it in the box and return it for cash.
Wait...That just ain't right.
Never mind.

Back in the day when harbor freight sold the blue engine . I bought one with the extended warranty. the exhaust tube to the muffler cracked at the flange after 2 months of karting...but, I lost the receipt. I lost no sleep over that trade.

 

[Joe-405]

So I guess my post was spot on with check the valve cover.

Slide the pushrod out and roll it on something flat and if its straight I would just reset your valve lash and I bet it will run. The factory could have gotten the valve lash wrong to begin with. I've seen it happen or the guy got trash in the carb and the hydrolocked cylinder knocked the lifter loose.

 

[Stringer]

I took out the rod and it appears perfectly straight by looking at it. I roll it on a level surface and there is the tiniest little wobble, barely noticeable to the naked eye. Do you think I'm good? Happen to know what the ideal valve lash settings are for stock? Thanks!

---------- Post added at 09:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:34 AM ----------

Upon closer inspection it appears the exhaust valve has no gap whatsoever. It moves when pulling the starter cord.

Part#6 Valve rotator (1 of 2) appears to be missing on intake side, as can be seen from my photo.

 

[Stringer]

well I found the rotator valve!!

Then I set intake to zero (so I think?) and tighten it. I pull gently on cord starter. Exhaust valve seems to work just as it should, and intake rod keeps popping out immediately. I keep trying over and over with the same result.


What should I be looking at now? Why does the intake rod keep falling out?

 

[tinamcjittles]

Take the head off or just the side cover and post some pics.. could be that your intake lobe is oddly low, could be a short pushrod, could be a problem with the rocker .. :/ Taking it apart is always the best method

 

[outcrydrummer]

The pushrod should not be bent at all.
You really need to take the engine apart and inspect everything. At this point I wouldn't trust any part of the engine without looking it over.
Again..... find that receipt and take it back. Start from scratch with a new engine.

 

[Stringer]

thanks I think I might try to take it back. the rod keeps coming loose because the valve is sticking. any quick fix for this?

 

[tinamcjittles]

Oh, that's easy! Take out the valve, make sure its straight, if it is then clean up the valve guide with some acetone and a Q-tip or however you like. If you have the tools you might as well re-lap it just because it's so much fun to lap valves...

 

[outcrydrummer]

For as clean as it looks in the valve cover I'd bet that the valve is bent as well.
Would make sense as more and more it seems that the carb flooded the engine and it hydrolocked which definitely could have caused a bent valve and it's corresponding pushrod.

The reason I keep saying return it is this:
You don't know what all is damaged
You seem you'd rather be riding than working on this engine
All that gas washed down into the crankcase and depending on how long it was running flooding out like that could have washed out the cylinder and cost you some compression even after replacing the valve, pushrod, etc.

If you have a shot at finding the receipt and returning it for sure you should do that.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Or just go buy a new one and put this brick in the box and return it.

 

[Stringer]

For as clean as it looks in the valve cover I'd bet that the valve is bent as well.
Would make sense as more and more it seems that the carb flooded the engine and it hydrolocked which definitely could have caused a bent valve and it's corresponding pushrod.

The reason I keep saying return it is this:
You don't know what all is damaged
You seem you'd rather be riding than working on this engine
All that gas washed down into the crankcase and depending on how long it was running flooding out like that could have washed out the cylinder and cost you some compression even after replacing the valve, pushrod, etc.

If you have a shot at finding the receipt and returning it for sure you should do that.

I just yanked out the engine and brought it to HF. Told them I bought it 3-4 weeks ago and lost the receipt and does not run. No receipt, no gas tank, no problem! Just had to buy a 2 year free replacement warranty for 79.99 and left with a brand new engine in box/w 2 year extended warranty.

Finally something going my way in the world of small engines.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

Easy button pressed

 

[Bbqjoe]

I just yanked out the engine and brought it to HF. Told them I bought it 3-4 weeks ago and lost the receipt and does not run. No receipt, no gas tank, no problem! Just had to buy a 2 year free replacement warranty for 79.99 and left with a brand new engine in box/w 2 year extended warranty.

Finally something going my way in the world of small engines.

That's a pretty rockin' deal any way you look at it.
The lack of bad karma is a super bonus!

 

[outcrydrummer]

There ya go!!!!!