85 marathon still won't run

pick · 01-03-2011, 01:50 PM

Still working to start this turd! Cleaned out tank, used fresh fuel. Loosened muffler to see if it was clogged, that is not the issue. Seem to have pretty good spark (bluish white) Removed carb, cleaned & reassembled, also added new fuel filter. Replaced some cracked fuel line. Still no run. Thanks Brew City & Dave Box for your recent suggestions. Not sure where to go next. Compression issue? What should compression be? Spark not hot enough, possibly not a good ground? This one still uses the seperate oil & gas reservoir, but I think I should go ahead & disconnect oil res. & premix fuel anyway. Any other suggestions anyone may have are appreciated. Im not new to carts, just gas ones.

Pocono Country Boy · 01-03-2011, 04:08 PM

If you disconnect the fuel line where it attaches to the carb, does it pump fuel when you crank it over?

pick · 01-03-2011, 04:37 PM

Yea, got a pretty good flow of fuel, but not a strong burst or anything like that.

Pocono Country Boy · 01-03-2011, 04:57 PM

That should be fine...it doesn't use much fuel anyway even when wide open.

Ok..just wanted to make sure you had that covered.

So--it won't start at all or starts and runs bad?

Fuel, check
Spark, check
Compression?

pick · 01-03-2011, 05:01 PM

Won't start at all. The guy I bought it from said he started it & drove a little ways & then it quit. It had been sitting for about a year. That's why I figured it might be a fuel issue & bad gas.

pick · 01-03-2011, 05:03 PM

I didn't check compression, I will have to go rent a comp. tester, the one I have is toast.

Pocono Country Boy · 01-03-2011, 06:15 PM

Just for grins, have you tried a new spark plug?

Dave Box · 01-03-2011, 06:36 PM

If you have a spark and the cart is not even trying to fire up I would squirt some gas into the air intake (temporarily remove the air filter) and see if she fires up. If yes then you have a carburetor issue, if no then I think that you are looking at an air leak somewhere. The 2 cycle engine is very intolerant of air leaks so you should check all the gaskets from the carburetor to the crankcase. Doing a compression test will help you diagnose the engine condition and you are hoping to see 130 psi + however the engine should try to splutter and run on very, very low compressions. Without wishing to sound like a prophet of doom your symptoms are very like a shot crankshaft seal, or two. Still try the gas squirt and the compression and get back to us.
Dave

pick · 01-03-2011, 07:48 PM

Thanks Dave, I don't think its a fuel problem. Plug is new & when I remove it I can smell gas in the cylinder. So I will have to ck compression tomorrow. How much of a pain in the A$$ are the crank seals? I am pretty good at working on the older cars on the basic stuff, but newer stuff with all the electronic crap, I try to stay away from. These carts are just foreign to me. Probably something one of you guys could figure out in 5 minutes. I will get back with you after I check the compression. I have never seen a website with so many members willing to help a newbie. Thanks again!

bud light · 01-03-2011, 08:13 PM

Are you getting spark to your plug.
Gas - fire - comperssion.

.45 ACP because shooting twice is silly

01-03-2011, 01:50 PM	#1
pick Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Benton, KS Posts: 53	85 marathon still won't run Still working to start this turd! Cleaned out tank, used fresh fuel. Loosened muffler to see if it was clogged, that is not the issue. Seem to have pretty good spark (bluish white) Removed carb, cleaned & reassembled, also added new fuel filter. Replaced some cracked fuel line. Still no run. Thanks Brew City & Dave Box for your recent suggestions. Not sure where to go next. Compression issue? What should compression be? Spark not hot enough, possibly not a good ground? This one still uses the seperate oil & gas reservoir, but I think I should go ahead & disconnect oil res. & premix fuel anyway. Any other suggestions anyone may have are appreciated. Im not new to carts, just gas ones.

01-03-2011, 04:08 PM	#2
Pocono Country Boy Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Pocono Mountains, PA Posts: 162	Re: 85 marathon still won't run If you disconnect the fuel line where it attaches to the carb, does it pump fuel when you crank it over?

01-03-2011, 04:37 PM	#3
pick Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Benton, KS Posts: 53	Re: 85 marathon still won't run Yea, got a pretty good flow of fuel, but not a strong burst or anything like that.

01-03-2011, 04:57 PM	#4
Pocono Country Boy Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Pocono Mountains, PA Posts: 162	Re: 85 marathon still won't run That should be fine...it doesn't use much fuel anyway even when wide open. Ok..just wanted to make sure you had that covered. So--it won't start at all or starts and runs bad? Fuel, check Spark, check Compression?

01-03-2011, 05:01 PM	#5
pick Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Benton, KS Posts: 53	Re: 85 marathon still won't run Won't start at all. The guy I bought it from said he started it & drove a little ways & then it quit. It had been sitting for about a year. That's why I figured it might be a fuel issue & bad gas.

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01-03-2011, 05:03 PM	#6
pick Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Benton, KS Posts: 53	Re: 85 marathon still won't run I didn't check compression, I will have to go rent a comp. tester, the one I have is toast.

01-03-2011, 06:15 PM	#7
Pocono Country Boy Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Pocono Mountains, PA Posts: 162	Re: 85 marathon still won't run Just for grins, have you tried a new spark plug?

01-03-2011, 06:36 PM	#8
Dave Box Respect the Cart Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rocky Mount, Virginia Posts: 2,190	Re: 85 marathon still won't run If you have a spark and the cart is not even trying to fire up I would squirt some gas into the air intake (temporarily remove the air filter) and see if she fires up. If yes then you have a carburetor issue, if no then I think that you are looking at an air leak somewhere. The 2 cycle engine is very intolerant of air leaks so you should check all the gaskets from the carburetor to the crankcase. Doing a compression test will help you diagnose the engine condition and you are hoping to see 130 psi + however the engine should try to splutter and run on very, very low compressions. Without wishing to sound like a prophet of doom your symptoms are very like a shot crankshaft seal, or two. Still try the gas squirt and the compression and get back to us. Dave

01-03-2011, 07:48 PM	#9
pick Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Benton, KS Posts: 53	Re: 85 marathon still won't run Thanks Dave, I don't think its a fuel problem. Plug is new & when I remove it I can smell gas in the cylinder. So I will have to ck compression tomorrow. How much of a pain in the A$$ are the crank seals? I am pretty good at working on the older cars on the basic stuff, but newer stuff with all the electronic crap, I try to stay away from. These carts are just foreign to me. Probably something one of you guys could figure out in 5 minutes. I will get back with you after I check the compression. I have never seen a website with so many members willing to help a newbie. Thanks again!

01-03-2011, 08:13 PM	#10
bud light Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lawrenceburg Ky. Posts: 1,771	Re: 85 marathon still won't run Are you getting spark to your plug. Gas - fire - comperssion. .45 ACP because shooting twice is silly