EZ-Go will "idle" from starter motor but not accelerate

[michaelmc29]

I took the carb off my cart to give it a good clean and make sure everything looked ok. I bought the cart this spring and have no clue the last time the carb was cleaned. The cart worked fine before I pulled it off. The plugs were black so I suspect it's running rich, but that can be fixed later. I put the carb back together last night and put it on, and now the dang thing won't get above idle, even if I choke it.

Butterflies for the throttle and choke work ok. The throttle will open the butterfly all the way, so I don't think there is any issue with the governor (never was before either).

I've got fuel coming to the carb (it's just a trickle coming out of the fuel line, not sure how strong this flow is supposed to be?). However, the bowl won't fill and it doesn't sound like any fuel is getting to the engine. It's just the starter making the engine crank. If I spray ether in the carb it will fire.

Main jet appears to be clean, pilot jet was pretty stuck so I didn't mess with trying to get it out. I tried to blow in the metal fuel inlet on the carb by mouth, but no air would flow. If I took the float and needle out, I could blow air through it. It seems like the float is not allowing the needle to recede enough to allow fuel into the bowl? I've got the needle soaking in car cleaner and will reassemble after work.

Anyone got any other ideas? I should have never tried to clean the dang thing... That's what I get for trying to maintain things.

[Dabble Inn]

Seems to me you're on the right track with a stuck needle valve, Not that it makes much difference but out of curiosity what year is the buggy? If it's an 80-88 you can get a new carb for around $20

[michaelmc29]

That's what I was thinking. I'm not sure why it all of a sudden decided to stick. Maybe my cleaning loosened something up a little bit and it got in where the needle sets. My cart is an 03 TXT.

[michaelmc29]

It also feels like it blows air out of the carb when I crank it. Not sure if that could be part of the problem. I'm thinking maybe a stuck intake valve or something? What befuddles me is that the son of a gun ran just fine the other day, and now it seems like there could be several things that all went to sh*t overnight! Process of elimination I guess....

[michaelmc29]

For the sake of making this forum as informative to others that may follow, I thought I'd post the solution.

I found out I put the needle and bowl float back together incorrectly. It's almost impossible to describe in words, but the needle has a "head" on it. This head has to slide in the groove on the float. I did not do this originally, so the float was holding the needle shut, not allowing gas to enter the carb.

[Dabble Inn]

Gotta luv those 'Ahh Haa' moments, Glad ya figured it out

[BrewCityMusic]

Way Cool - now go ahead and check/adjust those valves, You should try and make a habit of checking them once a season, it's fast and easy and will help keep that Buggy running like a Top !!!

[michaelmc29]

Valves have been adjusted, and oh boy did they need it.... I couldn't fit the feeler gauge between the cam lobe and push rod on a single one of the valves...