390 clone carbs

army · 06-22-2013, 08:14 AM

I ordered two of these for my 390 clone. .ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?campid=5336154569&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2 Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FNEW-CARBURETOR-ADJUSTABLE-FITS-HONDA-13HP-GX390-%2F111064731577%3FssPageName%3DADME%3AL%3AOU%3ACA% 3A3160"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CARBURETOR-ADJUSTABLE-FITS-HONDA-13HP-GX390-/111064731577?ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:CA:316

One for experimenting with and the other will be untouched so I have a backup if I seriously mess the first carb up. I wouldn't have bought two if they were expensive but if I can't spend an extra $18 without breaking the bank then I friggin quit. The stock carb that's on my engine now is actually working so it will be on the 3rd string team. It's seriously cold blooded. It has to be choked to restart it no matter how warmed up it is and it warms up very slowly. Takes 5 minutes before it will run acceptably without the choke 2/3 on. That gets old pretty fast when I wanna take a short ride or just use it around the yard. It's been like that since new so it isn't anything I've done to it. I'm still trying to come up with a good choke mechanism that I can use from the seat. The choke design it has now is good for a stationary engine but sucks big time when trying to adapt it to a cable.

Here's my cart project. It's a long way from done and at this point I don't even know what it will actually look like when I'm finished. I'm having fun just winging it. If you look close you'll see an airbox made out of a 220V electrical junction box. I also used a black 2 1/2" threaded ABS pipe adapter and a white plastic adapter to mount the air filter. The exhaust is a header pipe from AGK and a muffler from a 214 JD garden tractor. The combo seems to work pretty good. I had a more restrictive muffler on it and that choked it too much on the exhaust side. It wouldn't rev up worth a darn.

I tried an electric fuel pump setup but it just won't work. Overflows the carb bowl no matter what I do. I had a regulator in there that (allegedly) dropped it down to 1 PSI and I put a T in the line between it and the carb and diverted some of the flow back to the tank. Still wouldn't work right. I'm going to try again today.

sho305 · 06-22-2013, 07:56 PM

You have to jet the carbs, they are all lean from the epa excepting maybe a marine one. Hate to say it but you can get a scooter carb 24-32mm (24mm is stock clone 390) for around $30 that should work better after you jet that. Problem with lawn carbs is they are not really for throttling they are made to work on a governor at higher rpm all the time. Motorcycle type carb is better its made to run at any opening. You can use a torch tip cleaner or tiny drill set to enlarge the main jet until it runs better. Make the tiny idle jet a tiny bit larger if you need to so it does not backfire slowing down and it will start warm every time with no choke. Get that idle screw working many are covered with a plug.

army · 06-23-2013, 05:03 AM

Sho.. you're one of the guys whose posts I always pay attention to here. Every good forum has a core of knowledgeable members who are willing to share their expertise.

The carbs I ordered are supposed to be adjustable for the idle mixture. I've read various threads on this topic that mentioned bike carbs but I haven't found any that will fit my clone for $30. Do you recommend a particular brand of carb? I don't mind buying one if I don't have any success with the ones I bought. I actually got two so I can mess around with the jetting. I'm 58 now and my eyesight is starting to be iffy. I'm also not as steady handed as I once was. If I screw up one carb I'll have the other one still in the box. I think like that a lot. I'm an IT guy and I also do quite a bit of programming. I always have copies of a program frozen at various points of development to fall back on. Obviously can't do that with a carb but at least I'll have one that hasn't been fiddled with.

sho305 · 06-23-2013, 11:03 PM

Its pretty easy just don't strip out the main jet with a dull screwdriver. Oh I see the idle mix screw sticking out, that is good. If you turn it out more than say 3 turns it stops working, then you have to make the idle jet bigger. Idle jet is under the idle speed screw on top, in that black plug under speed screw. Pull that plug out. Don't make that jet much larger a little goes a long way. I ran a little wire through it and sawed on it some. The main is center of the float as usual, the e-tube may fall out behind it. File that one larger little at a time until it does not miss at full throttle. Make sure the engine is warmed up when you make test runs. Then read the plug. It should miss some full throttle when cold and stop after running a couple minutes at most (in summer weather maybe 70F), then you are close to good jetting.

Those and the scooter carbs are all Chinese. Not sure one is better than another, though some say they are but mostly people racing gokarts and such and modifying them.

Carts are too much fun and too handy to have around. Always happy to help someone out if I have time to get on here. These carbs are simple you will see, get that cart rolling and enjoy it. The CV type scooter carbs are more complex but not that much different. The CV carbs are also more forgiving of jetting being off. They are copies of brand name carbs like mikuni or klien. The CV carbs have a shutter in there that opens with engine air flow, so they don't bog out when you hammer the gas. Cars used them, quadrajet carbs had shutters on the secondaries in the 70s on most GMs.

army · 06-25-2013, 06:22 AM

Carts are definitely fun and relatively easy to work on. My little hobby farm is surrounded by a 300 acre parcel that belongs to my dad. About 4-5 miles of creek banks and field boundaries to ride along. There's a couple woodlots I can traverse too but the mosquitoes don't seem to like golf carts and attack on sight. Most of my riding is low speed. Once it warms up my 390 clone will putt-putt along at barely above an idle without a glitch. It reacts very well to the throttle. No delays or sputtering at all. The belt setup seems to be right on as far as when it engages and overall performance. It idles down so well now I can shift from fwd to rev or neutral with the cart running. Like I said, it's choking it EVERY TIME I start it up, warm or cold, and the lengthy warm ups that are really bugging me. I want to get it to where my wife or daughter can jump on it and drive it around without extensive mechanical training.

geoffw · 06-25-2013, 05:03 PM

Army,

Richen that carb up...Drill out the pilot and get the pilot circuit running properly first BEFORE drilling out the main jet. The adjustable carb is good and will help with small adjustments causes by weather changes.

-Geoff

army · 06-26-2013, 05:43 AM

That's the plan Geoff.

The new carbs arrived yesterday. Only had time for a quick look but I didn't see the same adjustment screw that's in the pic/description of the carbs on eBay. Instead it's a tapered end screw with no head and will have to be modified to make adjustments. Definitely not as advertised, which I'll be taking it up with the eBay seller. I'll post some pics tonight.

Either I eliminate the cold blooded nature of the 13 HP clone or out it comes and in goes a 10 HP K241 Kohler I have on hand. The Kohler has a 1" horizontal inch shaft, a mechanical fuel pump that works great and it starts and runs perfectly. Barely have to choke it cold and not at all after that. It's old school (points/condenser/coil) but I've never had an engine run better. Brings a tear ta me eye.

geoffw · 06-26-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by army

That's the plan Geoff.

The new carbs arrived yesterday. Only had time for a quick look but I didn't see the same adjustment screw that's in the pic/description of the carbs on eBay. Instead it's a tapered end screw with no head and will have to be modified to make adjustments. Definitely not as advertised, which I'll be taking it up with the eBay seller. I'll post some pics tonight.

Either I eliminate the cold blooded nature of the 13 HP clone or out it comes and in goes a 10 HP K241 Kohler I have on hand. The Kohler has a 1" horizontal inch shaft, a mechanical fuel pump that works great and it starts and runs perfectly. Barely have to choke it cold and not at all after that. It's old school (points/condenser/coil) but I've never had an engine run better. Brings a tear ta me eye.

Call me if you need help with the clone. Theres no reason you cant get it to run tip top.

-Geoff

army · 06-26-2013, 12:21 PM

Thanks Geoff! I don't give up easily so the clone will likely stay in the cart. Nice to have the Kohler in the bullpen though. I have a `98 Club Car that also needs an engine so if I can get my clone engine working acceptably I'll likely buy another one for the CC. I only paid $225 on sale. Pretty hard to go wrong. I also have a sweet little 8 HP (genuine) Honda that's waiting for something to do but I want more wheaties than that.

geoffw · 06-26-2013, 01:28 PM

I hear ya! These things are fun and hard to beat for the money!

06-22-2013, 07:56 PM	#2
sho305 Vegas modded 420 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West MI Posts: 15,445	Re: 390 clone carbs You have to jet the carbs, they are all lean from the epa excepting maybe a marine one. Hate to say it but you can get a scooter carb 24-32mm (24mm is stock clone 390) for around $30 that should work better after you jet that. Problem with lawn carbs is they are not really for throttling they are made to work on a governor at higher rpm all the time. Motorcycle type carb is better its made to run at any opening. You can use a torch tip cleaner or tiny drill set to enlarge the main jet until it runs better. Make the tiny idle jet a tiny bit larger if you need to so it does not backfire slowing down and it will start warm every time with no choke. Get that idle screw working many are covered with a plug.

06-23-2013, 05:03 AM	#3
army Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 533	Re: 390 clone carbs Sho.. you're one of the guys whose posts I always pay attention to here. Every good forum has a core of knowledgeable members who are willing to share their expertise. The carbs I ordered are supposed to be adjustable for the idle mixture. I've read various threads on this topic that mentioned bike carbs but I haven't found any that will fit my clone for $30. Do you recommend a particular brand of carb? I don't mind buying one if I don't have any success with the ones I bought. I actually got two so I can mess around with the jetting. I'm 58 now and my eyesight is starting to be iffy. I'm also not as steady handed as I once was. If I screw up one carb I'll have the other one still in the box. I think like that a lot. I'm an IT guy and I also do quite a bit of programming. I always have copies of a program frozen at various points of development to fall back on. Obviously can't do that with a carb but at least I'll have one that hasn't been fiddled with.

06-23-2013, 11:03 PM	#4
sho305 Vegas modded 420 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West MI Posts: 15,445	Re: 390 clone carbs Its pretty easy just don't strip out the main jet with a dull screwdriver. Oh I see the idle mix screw sticking out, that is good. If you turn it out more than say 3 turns it stops working, then you have to make the idle jet bigger. Idle jet is under the idle speed screw on top, in that black plug under speed screw. Pull that plug out. Don't make that jet much larger a little goes a long way. I ran a little wire through it and sawed on it some. The main is center of the float as usual, the e-tube may fall out behind it. File that one larger little at a time until it does not miss at full throttle. Make sure the engine is warmed up when you make test runs. Then read the plug. It should miss some full throttle when cold and stop after running a couple minutes at most (in summer weather maybe 70F), then you are close to good jetting. Those and the scooter carbs are all Chinese. Not sure one is better than another, though some say they are but mostly people racing gokarts and such and modifying them. Carts are too much fun and too handy to have around. Always happy to help someone out if I have time to get on here. These carbs are simple you will see, get that cart rolling and enjoy it. The CV type scooter carbs are more complex but not that much different. The CV carbs are also more forgiving of jetting being off. They are copies of brand name carbs like mikuni or klien. The CV carbs have a shutter in there that opens with engine air flow, so they don't bog out when you hammer the gas. Cars used them, quadrajet carbs had shutters on the secondaries in the 70s on most GMs.

06-25-2013, 06:22 AM	#5
army Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 533	Re: 390 clone carbs Carts are definitely fun and relatively easy to work on. My little hobby farm is surrounded by a 300 acre parcel that belongs to my dad. About 4-5 miles of creek banks and field boundaries to ride along. There's a couple woodlots I can traverse too but the mosquitoes don't seem to like golf carts and attack on sight. Most of my riding is low speed. Once it warms up my 390 clone will putt-putt along at barely above an idle without a glitch. It reacts very well to the throttle. No delays or sputtering at all. The belt setup seems to be right on as far as when it engages and overall performance. It idles down so well now I can shift from fwd to rev or neutral with the cart running. Like I said, it's choking it EVERY TIME I start it up, warm or cold, and the lengthy warm ups that are really bugging me. I want to get it to where my wife or daughter can jump on it and drive it around without extensive mechanical training.

06-25-2013, 05:03 PM	#6
geoffw Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 961	Re: 390 clone carbs Army, Richen that carb up...Drill out the pilot and get the pilot circuit running properly first BEFORE drilling out the main jet. The adjustable carb is good and will help with small adjustments causes by weather changes. -Geoff

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06-26-2013, 05:43 AM	#7
army Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 533	Re: 390 clone carbs That's the plan Geoff. The new carbs arrived yesterday. Only had time for a quick look but I didn't see the same adjustment screw that's in the pic/description of the carbs on eBay. Instead it's a tapered end screw with no head and will have to be modified to make adjustments. Definitely not as advertised, which I'll be taking it up with the eBay seller. I'll post some pics tonight. Either I eliminate the cold blooded nature of the 13 HP clone or out it comes and in goes a 10 HP K241 Kohler I have on hand. The Kohler has a 1" horizontal inch shaft, a mechanical fuel pump that works great and it starts and runs perfectly. Barely have to choke it cold and not at all after that. It's old school (points/condenser/coil) but I've never had an engine run better. Brings a tear ta me eye.

06-26-2013, 12:21 PM	#9
army Gone Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 533	Re: 390 clone carbs Thanks Geoff! I don't give up easily so the clone will likely stay in the cart. Nice to have the Kohler in the bullpen though. I have a `98 Club Car that also needs an engine so if I can get my clone engine working acceptably I'll likely buy another one for the CC. I only paid $225 on sale. Pretty hard to go wrong. I also have a sweet little 8 HP (genuine) Honda that's waiting for something to do but I want more wheaties than that.

06-26-2013, 01:28 PM	#10
geoffw Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 961	Re: 390 clone carbs I hear ya! These things are fun and hard to beat for the money!

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