| One of the most valuable lessons to be learned when | | | | for the elusive problem. |
| playing with go karts is engine repair. Also, like any big | | | | And after I tore it apart I had to laugh, and be |
| problem to solve, some of the engine problems can be | | | | educated. The points on the engine had a spring that |
| very elusive and frustrating. I had this engine that just | | | | keeps the points coming back into position. Trouble |
| would not run right. It would run, but not fast, and it was | | | | was, the spring was on sloppy, and allowed the points |
| very frustrating. | | | | to literally float as the rpms increased. So what |
| What would occur is that the engine would start and | | | | occurred was the engine was literally losing spark at |
| run just fine, but when the throttle was opened up the | | | | the higher rpms. The floating points acted like a |
| engine would just back fire through the carburetor, out | | | | governor. Old "his and pop" engines actually use this |
| the exhaust, blow black smoke and just would not get | | | | method for slowing their engines down. Instead of |
| past really anything but idle. You can imagine my | | | | playing with the throttle, they play with the ignition to |
| frustration. I have this elaborate strait tube intake | | | | slow the engine down. |
| (which really is a high rise manifold) and this oversize | | | | Once the engine was reassembled the engine ran full |
| carburetor mounted to this 4 horsepower Briggs. | | | | throttle no problem. Understanding the reasons why |
| I had that engine torn down probably twice. Removed | | | | engines behave the way they do is very important in |
| the head, checked the valve clearances, tore apart the | | | | diagnosing the problem. One of the elusive things about |
| carburetor, added more sealant to the intake runner | | | | this problem though is the assumption that the points |
| and the carburetor interface...all to NO avail. The engine | | | | are fine, that the spark is consistent. The trouble |
| still ran like junk. Having just exhausted all remedies, I | | | | shooting motto is question everything and exhaust it at |
| took off the engine and tore it apart completely looking | | | | the least cost. |