Race Kart questions

[jbe24jg]

I recently picked up this late 90's tony kart of craigslist for the whopping price of $100 and am looking to get it running. Its a pretty amazing piece, the engine is a 100cc rotary valve two stroke engine by PCR, when running it should be able to do 70+. The man I bought it from said his friend gave it to him 3 years ago because he was getting married, he never used it within those three years. I picked it up and it wouldn't roll, its direct drive so I figured the engine was seized, luckily the rear disc brake was just frozen. Engine turns, plently of compression, but no spark. Its a cdi system, I'll post pics. Tomorrow I'll break out my multimeter.
photos are attached

 

[landuse]

Awesome! It should be great when you have it running. Direct drive is a bit of a pain though

 

[anderkart]

Nice, man you got a deal

Did you already try disconnecting the kill switch?

 

[couldbeanything]

That's awesome dude

 

[jbe24jg]

No kill switch on it, I see a disconnected wire though, I assume this went to a kill switch, I should be getting spark without it tho. Normally all a kill switch does is grounds that wire which kills it. Doesnt really need a kill switch though its direct drive so coming to a complete stop should kill it, could be im not turning it over fast enough, I was spinning it fairly slow, I'll check power with my multimeter tonight. Update, I rinsed out the fuel tank and got some new fuel line for it, cleaned it up some more too.

 

[jbe24jg]

Update She has bright blue spark! cleaned all electrical contacts and the spark is great, now what to fuel it? The residue in the bottom of the tank had a red tint, smelled oily, figured its redline two stroke oil, any thoughts?

 

[itsid]

very likely

I'd run an oily mixture first 1:15 if you do not intent to take the engine apart for a small service, just to add another drop of oil every here and there...
half an hour maybe.. then switch to whatever is recommended by the specs (likely 1:16-1:18)

tto my best knowledge the 100cc Rotax on 'my' Tony ran with Shell Racing M all the time.. every time, but any quality 2stroke racing oil will do I guess.

'sid

 

[jbe24jg]

thanks sid, I planned on doing 16:1 sunoco 93 octane to Redline race kart 2 stroke oil. Any advice on starting? push it? wrap a strap around the wheel? Also what did you mean by a drop of oil hear and there? a couple drops in the cylinder?

 

[itsid]

Nope just mix one quart with a tad more oil (~1:15) and use that first (otherwise empty tank of course)
that way the engine should see those extra few drops of oil just in case it wants some

starting.. nope...
direct driven karts... single person... not pleasant.. you need someone to start it while you're in,
either on a axle lift with an e-starter, or being pushed.. whatever works for you.
pushing it yourself and jumping in... *shrugs* never tried.. not keen to do

Personally I drove a direct driven kart exactly once (fun lap, practice day... long time ago) I don't like it too much;
if the rules state so.. sure, I'm not a racer anyways... I don't care much.
for fun.. I'd always get a clutch.

'sid

 

[landuse]

I would hate to bump start a kart all on my own. Trying to jump in while the thing is going is not my idea of fun

 

[John551]

I'm not sure, but Ithink an easier way than bump starting would be to tie a high density rope or towing line around the right rear tire, than pull and it should start up.

 

[Rickracer]

On the stand, I strap start my shifter kart, but it's not direct drive, to actually ride it, probably gonna have to be a push start.

 

[jbe24jg]

yep, I'll be strap starting just to be sure it runs, but for a test ride I'll need to round up a few friends to bump it. two stroke oil is scheduled for delivery thursday.

 

[landuse]

So you sit in the kart and strap start it? Still not my idea of fun. If you strap start it without sitting in the kart you are going to have the same problem as bump starting it

 

[Rickracer]

I'd recommend starting it, getting it warmed up, making sure everything is working good, then shut it off, set it on the ground, then push or bump start it. I have a lift I've made for my kart that goes under the rear frame rails, and has a long handle that I push to the ground that rolls it up, raising the back tires off the ground, this allows me to strap start it, put it in neutral, set it down, get in it and take off. Something similar might work for you, just have someone raise the handle setting the back tires on the ground after it's running?

 

[anderkart]

If you have access to a kart-starter, you could use it to test-start/warm-up your engine while your karts on a stand. You'd just need the correct sized socket to fit your drive gear nut.

You could even build a stand that'd securely elevate the back bumper/tires off the ground, then start the engine with a strap around the tire or kart starter. Then hop in the running kart, rev it up a bit, and have a lever on your stand you could reach to pull forward tilting the kart off the stand.

I knew a guy that built a kart starting-stand like this for his direct drive racekart. He just used a wood 6x6' with an old 1/2" breaker bar attached as his tilt-lever. Pretty slick, worked great. Let me know if you want more details about building one

No kill switch on it,

Doesnt really need a kill switch though its direct drive so coming to a complete stop should kill it,

True, but a functioning kill switch could end up saving your life. They come in pretty handy if your throttle ever sticks at full speed while entering a corner.

 

[jbe24jg]

"this allows me to strap start it, put it in neutral, set it down, get in it and take off."

no neutral, but I believe strap starting and letting her warm up will be the best bet. Is there any probem with just putting a couple of 4x4's under the rear bumper to raise up the tires to strap start it? When I actually go to test it I'll get a couple friends to help me bump/push start it. Oil gets here tomorrow, depending on when it comes I may or may not have time to test. I did bleed the brakes today and that was a pain, the reservoir is tiny so you have to keep feeding it tiny bits of fluid. they work well though. shes coming along nicely.

 

[Rickracer]

Mine actually still has the kick start shaft & lever, but I leave the lever off. I'm told if a crash or spinout should cause the kick start to be engaged while driving that it would trash the trans, but I can slip the lever on, kick start it, and pull the lever back off as well.

 

[anderkart]

Yeah, 4x4's should be tall enough. But whatever size you use; you could make it a little more secure by cutting a groove for the bumper to lock into.

 

[jbe24jg]

well fresh gas and two stroke and started right up. it was tricky at first because you have to turn it over for a bit for the carb to pump the gas. once that happened it went like like a stabbed rat, clocked it at 63 and it has more to give. probably wont ride it too much more though as I dont want to wreck it before selling.