Drive clutch(es) not engaging

[kram214]

Original drive clutch on the '99 RG (Carry All) was turning but not engaging the drive belt. Decided to replace the drive clutch with another OEM clutch. Same problem continues with the new clutch. Checked the battery, it read 9V. Switched out the battery from my second RG , reading 12v+. No change to the operation of the drive clutch. The driven clutch spins freely by hand. Any suggestions on what to pursue at this point???

[lockman1]

Welcome to BGW!

My question is... Is the engine starting and reving up? or is it just turning over with the starter?
(The drive clutch doesn't engage until the engine revs to above 900 rpm's or so...)

[Fairtax4me]

Pull the plug wire, stick a spare spark plug in the wire and lay it on the engine where it's touching metal. Crank the engine and see if you have spark.

[kram214]

Thanks for the suggestions - yes, the RPMs are only at the startup range, and there is good spark. Following the basics, checked for fuel - pulled the intake hose off and shot in some starting fluid - which did the trick. The problem is somewhere in the fuel system.

[kram214]

Turns out the issue was some foreign material in the carb. The bowl was full of what looked like yellow fluffy sawdust similar in color to the paper in the fuel filters. A mouse had also chewed into the air filter sometime in the distant past.
Cleaned up the carb and put it back in, put in new air/fuel filters, and to my surprise, though the bowl filled up no gas was getting to the throat of the carb. Pulled the carb again and sprayed it with carb cleaner, pushed a wire through the intake jet. Didn't see anything come out, and the cleaner fluid went through the jet like nothing was obstructing it. Put it back on, yet still no immediate results. It took shooting more starting fluid, and working the choke a few times, before actually getting gas to mix with the intake air. So all is once again well.