Proper RPM for Harley Gasser

SeanDo

Hi All,

I Have a new to me 1973 Harley Gas Cart. I owned one just like it when I was a lad and also worked on a golf course that used the same. The one I have now is starting to come around.

I suspect she was sitting in some marsh or wet areas given the sediment that was plugging the starter generator. I have cleaned that out and oiled the bearings. Turns great now. Replaced the belts and cleaned the carb. I have also put fresh gas in with a 1.5 oz to 1 gallon mix of 2 stroke oil. After futsing with it for a day I finally got her to run by pouring some gas mix in the cylinder directly. She fired a couple times and when I went to get a compression tool by the time I returned she would start and run. BTW, compression check was 90+ frwd and 95+ reverse.

She will run now if I keep fiddling with the choke. In all the work I probably changed the mixture screw. My question is what should she RPM at? She seems to run at a high RPM and I just dont remember what they used to sound like in the day. I have not set her on the ground as of yet.

Thanks,
Sean - First time poster - long time golf cart fiddler.

BGW

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tew45

Your compression is excellent. The idle mixture is set at 3/4 turns open. Throw the governor away. Top rpm is what ever it will go. Idle RPM is zero. Does not idle. Push the gas it goes let off the gas it dies. Normal. Make sure the fuel system is clean and air tight. Fuel system is probably a little dirty. If all works as supposed to, put it on the ground and try it.

SeanDo

Thank you Tew45.

I did put air in the tires and dropped her on the ground. She would not run proper at all. I could get her to move by closing choke until she started to move then backing off on choke. Then she would run a bit and bog down. I had to keep fiddling with the choke and throttle to get her to move. Assuming it was running lean I did adjust the mix screw.

I took the muffler off and she moves wicked in reverse. But same behavior in Frwd. I am thinking it to be Frwd timing but am open to the experts. I do have strong spark at points and plug. BTW, new coil and condenser and plug. I restore cars so I have these handy all times. This is my first cart, actually my sons project.

Thanks for the tips.

tew45

The timing procedure has been covered a few times on this forum so check it out. The muffler may be plugged.

SeanDo

Yes. So I have discovered and I have downloaded your .DOC file your on timing complete with picture as well as some of your responses from other posts.

Will tackle this soon. I will do without your stop for now.

tew45

If you understand the issue here it is easy to do without the stop. It is just quicker.

ckiguy

sean you have the same issue i had just went through. it would run like dog poo with a muffler. the muffler got toasty hot! would only run with the choke being fluttered contantly. i adjusted the poitns and the timeing and ripped the muffler off and ran it straight pipe. ran like a raped ape, just a little loud. neighbors said it sounded like a bi plane, or a p51 on a dive run. hey its a harley, loud pipes save lives! i have a tach on my timing light and it said i was running over 9k for rpm. thats a little fast if you ask me, but it was with no load on the engine. as tony said rip that govenror off! and throw it away!

SeanDo

Here is a quick update. I set, checked and reset the timing. Gap at TDC is .022 and at each side of TDC (on the dots) is .01 or just barly open. We confirmed multiple times. I cant say it didnt improve but it aint cruising.

We did notice that one of the main bolts that seems to hold the flywheel cover to the cylindaer was backed out. Tightened that and reset all timings again.

Same issue. Goes like a bat out of hell in reverse and is a fine balancing act in frwd to get it to budge.

Is it possible the cam wears in only frwd? Or the points wear in one direction?

SeanDo

Have been reading all the posts I can find like this and all roads point to timing. Except the one guy who had a pin hole in the cylinder. But I strongly doubt that is my problem since I have verified suction at fuel pump in Frwd.

Maybe what I'll do is take a video of timing it and post for review. I have been known to follow directions and still get it wrong. I am going to focus strictly on timing for now as my usual MO is to rip and replace, that has not served me well in the past.

Appreciate the extra thoughts and ideas guys. These are great old carts and tons of fun.

tew45

It Sounds like timing but I just can't be sure. There are many odd things that can happen to an internal combustion engine. I would have to place a bet on timing. The points could be at fault but again?