1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

I just picked up an 86 DS. I got it running but it has a loud knock. I'm not sure if it's a slung rod or just the clutch. It sounds more external though. Anyone have other ideas?

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

These engines are notorious for throwing rods as their chosen form of suicide. They're great little motors, but after so many years, this is just what happens. It's hard to see, but try and look at the back wall of the engine block below the starter/generator. This is where the rod almost always tries to make its escape. If a bump is forming there, your rod is likely toast.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...339D0E6D13.jpg

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

It's a rod. Now can I just replace it or do I need a crank?

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

Your crank is likely egged-out, although it may look good. I rebuilt my motor twice with two different cranks that threw rods and both were egged-out even though they looked good (I didn't mic them out or anything). I thought I'd have a good one between them but nope, they were both bad. I ended up finding a running motor locally, but I believe the crank (and a new rod) can be machined and re-used. There was a golf cart shop in GA that offered this service, I think the cost was $250. I don't remember the name of the shop though. Maybe someone else knows.

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

When I worked at a small engine shop ( long time ago) we would send the cranks out for machining and install proper rod depending on how much was machined off the crank. I don't know if undersized rods are available for these engines.

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

That's the one! Thanks Jimmie.

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

If I swap in a harbor freight predator engine, what clutch can I use?

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

I think you can get an adapter and run the stock clutch. But I'm not 100%.

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

But...since you have an '86, and your clutch likely looks like the one below, I wouldn't use it. I'd upgrade to a better clutch. They started using better clutches halfway through the 1987 model year (most merchants will ID the newer drive clutches as "88-up")

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/i...psa3b9e617.jpg

Here's a thread where I went over some issues with the older clutches. Starts at post #29, and then some more info in post #94:

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/lifte...ift-25s-3.html

Re: 1986 club car, loud knocking.
 

I might just do that. I can get one local for $300.