Ok. I need some help. I have a go cart and i need to get it started. I am going to look at it saturday. All i know about it is it is a pull start i believe and i think it has a kohler engine. They say it ran fine last year and now it wont start. I am thinking that the gas got cloged up in the carb. First thing i am gonnna do is check if all fuel shutoffs and all safety switches are on and then try to start it when that does not work then i was gonna take take the carb filter off and pour some gas down the intake then try to crank it over. if that works then i know tha it i is cloged up in there and in should repeaat that for alittle then hope it blows it self clean. Am i on the right track? Any suggestions Hints what to do what not to do. Help please ASAP.

 

Give it a few pulls, then pull the spark plug, smell it for gas....If it smells like gas or looks "damp" then its getting fuel. Next with the plug out of the head, ground it against the head and crank it over, checking for spark. Those are the two things to check for when trying to fire a small engine like that.
Could be the spark plug gap, and or a worn/dirty plug, so watch for that as well.
If it isn't getting fuel, then you're probably right, something is clogged in the carb somewhere. I would pull it and clean it through and through. You can hope it "blows" itself out, but it most likely will just run like crap. Probably would suggest cleaning out the fuel tank and carb in that situation.

 

If it's a newer one, they have a *kill* switch. Usually it runs from the steering wheel back. Behind the seat is the connection. Lots of times the connection comes loose. Basically a plug type connection. 'Course, the switch on the fuel line could be closed, too.

If all looks good, check for fire at the plug. And go from there.

 

Air filter so that biatch can breathe. Make sure the first time you pull it the choke is wide open. Might take 2-3 pulls to get that almost start sound. close the choke and pull some more

 

Pull that crappy kohler off and throw it in the scrap bin.

Put on a nice Briggs and Stratton engine and ride happy! LOL (Small employer plug).

That's the only help I can offer.

 

I had a kart with a chainsaw for an engine Gotta floor it to go anywhere...

 

All replies are good ones.


...also,

khendrix is absolutely right.

Briggs and Stratton make OUTSTANDING small engines.

I did a little test, and this is no exaggeration:

I bought a cheapo push mower from Wally-Hell about 7 years ago. It was about 100 bucks or something. The only things I have replaced in that 7 years in the plug and the air filter. It still has the original oil in it.

I prime the carb 3 times, and it will start on the first pull. Now, if it's the first start of the season, after it has sat inthe shed all winter, it might take 2 or 3 pulls, but it'll crank right up, and run like a dream.

 

My 5HP Brigs & **** motor crapped the bed within the first 4 months of use when I was a little kid... Hasn't run right ever since

 

YOu better change the oil jamz! It's super simple.

Drain it into the neighbors ditch, and refill with 20 OZ of oil.

 

 

Hey all thanks for the help i thought i would give yall an update i fixed the go kart today it was a ken bar go kart with techumusa 6 hp enine. It is running fine but stumbles on take off alittle. Thinking that may be from the stalish gas and the carb still just blowing thin s threw. if not i am gonna try adjusting the idle screw which i think is right there by the carb? what do you all think.

P.S.
I got it started like this
1. pulled the cord 5 times sounded like a healthy engine.
2 took air filter off and sprayed starter fluid.
3. it fired up then died did that 6 or 7 times and each time i kept hitting the throttle till it did not stall.
4 now it idles ok alittle bit of stumble i have to find out what the gap is on the plug and what it should be and then if that does not work then i will try adjusting the idle screw.

Any one got any suggestions on what else to do?

 

Drain the gas tank and dump some of that in the tank with new gas.

Thats the best stuff ever.

I'm not big on additives but that stuff is a stabilizer/cleaner, it'll clean the varnish out of the entire fuel system including carb bowl, needle and seat, and jet.

 

Maybe you should put a 5.4l Triton V8 3v on your Go Kart. Ehh... why not Roush it too... while you are at it.