1978 EzGo Gas Cart running issues

[jakefd79]

I have a 1978 EZGO gas cart with a Robin engine. Cart starts out running good at full speed for about 5 minutes, then slows down to almost stopping. Give it a rest for a few minutes and will do the same thing. I recently rebuilt the drive clutch and noticed it was sticking in the open position, but I don't think this would cause the instant slow down. I noticed a good bit of exhaust smoke right before it would slow down and chug along. Any suggestions.

[my1423]

Could be many different issues. Start with an easy one first.
Try running it with the gas cap loose or off.
Have seen plugged vents cause this. Tank builds a slight vacuum and starves for fuel.

Are you premixing or does it still have an injector?
The smoke is it black or white with loads of oil?
If you premix look in the tank and make sure you don't have a blob of old nasty gas oil in the bottom. If you do drain it out and add some fresh fuel and oil.



Does the exhaust get really hot?
If you shut it off wait 5 seconds and restart does it run ok for the 5 minutes or does it immediately run slow?

[my1423]

Are you saying the clutch is still sticking? If it is that is your problem.

[jakefd79]

It is premix gas/oil. Just put fresh mixture in. The smoke is white. The exhaust does get hot. Original time it stop was due to the positive wire to the coil melted to the exhaust and blew the fuse. I moved the wire and replaced fuse and still has issues with slowing down to a crawl.

[jakefd79]

Yes the clutch is still sticking. I think the weights are sticking in the up position and not letting it close. I am going to pull the weights and cleane the housing and put them back in and see if that helps.