1987 Gas Marathon Won't Start

[mach-1]

Hello all,

I have an '87 Marathon gas cart. I had been using it in the yard to help build a fence for about the last month or so. There is not a better machine for hauling fence parts and posts....but I digress....

So, I get all done with the fence project, and decide to reward the cart for it's trusty service with a nice bath. That was the mistake!

I power-washed the entire cart, including the engine. (which turned out to be a bad idea) Now she will not start. I checked and it's getting good spark, so I'm wondering if the fuel pump is hosed up. Any advice on what the check?

Thanks,
Mach-1

[DOOmsman]

you have spark you say so now
fuel? compression?
Check the air filter for water.

[mach-1]

Thanks for the reply! I checked it over again. I pulled the spark plug, and it was pretty goo'ed up from the prevoius owner running the mix @ 32:1.

Cleaned and re-gapped the plug, and it runs like a top now. I'm not sure what's going on with it. It ran just fine before I washed it. Strange.

[DOOmsman]

May have been loosing some of the spark to moisture.

[BigEd358]

Since you power washed the motor and all of the electronics, check each and every wire and the contacts. It's possible one of the wires broke loose, or lost contact with the connector. I have a 1987 Marathon as well so I'm used to trying to trace wires. Electronic issues are always a pain to check.

[ScooterMcTavish]

Washed mine with a low pressure hose, and it actually screwed up the microswitch - possibly your switch was stuck/shorted off due to water in it, and it worked now that it's dried up.

Opposite happened to me - my microswitch got stuck on when it got wet - cart wouldn't turn off but would idle when the foot was off the gas. A bit of PB and a dry out and everything was back to good.