EZGO gas engine rattle...

[firemedic89]

Hello everyone, new to the site and have a tech. question, and i hope its in the right spot lol. I recently bought a 98 EZGO gas, the body is in good shape and its lifted with mud tires. I bought it from a guy who said it was running, then it wouldnt start and sat in the barn for a year(it didnt have gas in it, and the oil was barely touching the dip stick). I put new plugs, battery, oil, and gas in it. The motor was locked up but i managed to put oil on top of the pistons and break it loose with a pipe wrench. I turned it over, blew the oil out the pistons, replaced the plugs and it ran good and strong for about 20 minutes around the yard. It then developed a knock which is now a very loud rattle when it turns over and gets louder as the engine revs it ovbious metal on metal rattling inside the crank case, and yes it has oil in it. I'm only in this cart $600, I have one just like it that runs so if its a expensive fix ill just use it for parts (which is why i originally bought it). Any idea's on a cheap fix? Maybe tear down the engine and see if its a loose rod? Any info is appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

[deerhunter30]

I say pull it apart and see what's going on in there, it could be rebuilt for about $300 as long as no machining is needed.

[firemedic89]

Probably what I'll do. I hear crankshafts for these motors are pretty pricey any idea?

[kgsc]

Chances are it is a connecting rod. Good news is they are aluminum and the crank is steel so in most cases you can polish the crank, put in a new rod and rock an roll. Obviously I would check everything out while you were in there and would also change more than that because you are in there anyway. Now that being said, for roughly a grand you can drop a clone kit in there and go from 9hp to say 18...

[firemedic89]

Thanks for the info gentlemen. I'm just gonna get it running for now, but I've been researching those big block kits on here and they have definetely sparked my interest when more time and funds allow.