1976 Harley very little power

Yofrankie

Ive read others posts but none seem to be finalized with people checking back when problem is solved so I apologize if you’ve heard this one before.
New to me 76 Harley gas three wheel cart has little power.
Runs better in reverse but still slow
We put on a new carb
Checked the points gap
Replaced the starter
Replaced the condenser
Checked all grounds
Got the buggies unltd top end kit and installed
Cleaned out the muffler-wasn’t a problem
New battery
Checked for brake drag

I still have little to no power forward and little power in reverse

Can someone provide some ideas, esp if you’ve had the same issue and have successfully diagnosed and fixed

Much appreciated

BGW

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raydhd

Have you run a compression test ? Does it run better with the choke on ?

Yofrankie

I will do another compression test
Choke off runs better
Also we pulled the belts and ran the generator and in reverse it flies but forward has little power. That said could it be the generator that’s toast ?

Lochlin

You need a compression test for sure. 90+ psi is where you want to be but a bit less should still get you running. That said, assuming your new top end went on right you may be ok. You still need to confirm it poor compression = no go.

Two other areas that can rob power are timing and clutches.

Timing with points is very difficult. Even tiny differences in timing will be the difference between a great running motor and one that's awful. Do some forum searches on timing as it's been talked about a lot.

Clutches are a different story. If one is stuck or slow to open then it will hold an otherwise good running back, making it seem like the engine isn't developing power. However, the engine is delivering power. It just seems like it isn't as the stuck clutch is bogging things down.

Yofrankie

Huh...ok
So compression 67 psi
I’m guessing that’s a crank seal issue?
Separately, Could the generator also be shot ?

raydhd

No crank seal doesn't affect compression. Probably a broken ring. Those rings are very frail and break easily. Also you need to set them just right in the ring land in proper position with the piston pegs.

Yofrankie

I the compression number didn’t change with the top end rebuild though. 67 before the rebuild 67 after. Would compression be effected by the ability of the generator to turn the motor fast enough to get an accurate psi reading?

raydhd

Most engines spin a lot slower with a geared starter than these with S/Gs and give a proper compression reading.You did have the throttle wide open ? Another issue would be you did check the reed valve ?

Lochlin

Compression is just the measure of the pressure inside the top when the piston is at Top Dead Center. How fast the engine is moving will have very little impact on it.

The good thing is that you know what your issue is. That's half the battle right there.

Though they aren't hard to do, there is a specific way that those top ends have to go on
to include proper torque of each head bolt. Here is a link to a service manual for your cart. Putting the head on is described on page 3-5 and 3-6 and torque settings are at the beginning of each chapter.

The first time I did a top end it took several attempts to get things right as the rings either shifted or broke, I didn't torque right and the head gasket leaked, whatever. You'll get it.

Yofrankie

Ok that’s good info
I don’t see the link though???