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Old 09-07-2015, 04:22 PM   #1
Stone
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Default 86 marathon, some insight please?

I have an 86 marathon which I'm pretty happy with except she has no power on hills and takes a while to get up to speed on flats. I am not knowledgeable about exactly how the clutches, belt, and crankshaft work.

I watched while my nephew tried to go up a steep bank and the primary clutch was barely spinning, certainly not fast enough to pull in. I tested the compression and got 100 and I am not sure what to check next. I know the secondary is closing when the cart shuts down and I know the clutches work properly when the rear end is jacked up.

I want to go by standard troubleshooting procedures and tackle the cheapest/easiest things first. I know a shorter belt would help low end but I don't want to do that until I have done what I can with clutches and made sure there is not something I am missing.

Also, Can someone tell me if the rubber plug in the left center of this photo of my differential is the only thing I need to remove to fill it ..................and what oil to use?

golf cart differential.jpg
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Old 09-07-2015, 04:37 PM   #2
Morgan44
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

100 is on the low side of things. It's not going to be a great runner at that compression. The plug is for filling, and I used 80-90 gear oil when I had that rear.
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Old 09-07-2015, 04:40 PM   #3
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

Thanks!

What can I do to get the best performance for 100 compression until we can decide if we want to rebuild?
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Old 09-07-2015, 04:47 PM   #4
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

Nothing you can do really. With low compression numbers you can't get what the motor is capable of out of it. Your losing all of its oomph. I'm not saying it's your only problem, but the one that I would address first.
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Old 09-07-2015, 11:31 PM   #5
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

I don't think 100 pounds is low enough to cause a problem. Mine was 90 cold, and it still screams. I would start looking at a clogged exhaust, and possibly a ripped diaphragm in the fuel pump.

A good carburetor cleaning would be in order after that.
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Old 09-08-2015, 06:41 AM   #6
Stone
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cart around View Post
I don't think 100 pounds is low enough to cause a problem. Mine was 90 cold, and it still screams. I would start looking at a clogged exhaust, and possibly a ripped diaphragm in the fuel pump.

A good carburetor cleaning would be in order after that.
Thanks, I did some more reading and found that is 100 okay.

I should have added more info:

I have BBQ'd the muffler, it has a new fuel pump, and the carb has been thoroughly cleaned.

1. Is there any test for the muffler such as air flow?

2. I do question the carb as it doesn't seem to make much difference when I play with the adjustment.
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Old 09-08-2015, 10:49 PM   #7
ldj1002
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

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Originally Posted by cart around View Post
I don't think 100 pounds is low enough to cause a problem. Mine was 90 cold, and it still screams. I would start looking at a clogged exhaust, and possibly a ripped diaphragm in the fuel pump.

A good carburetor cleaning would be in order after that.
I agree, Mine has 100 and my wife and I are 425lb between us and it does fine, even on hills
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Old 09-09-2015, 02:37 AM   #8
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

Have you checked the belt width? Should be 1 3/16" wide. Much less and it will slip. The clutches operate by attempting to stay in equilibrium. As the drive (front) clutch closes it grabs the sides of the belt and pulls it into the rear (driven) clutch. This changes the gear ratio to allow the engines power to transfer properly to the rear end (think ten speed bike gearing). If the engine is revving properly when jacked up and no load, then you MAY be having issues with the belt being worn out or the clutches not engaging properly. The compression normally would be 120+ but 100 isn't totally gone yet just realize that a rebuild is coming. You could also have leaky crank seals.
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Old 09-09-2015, 06:53 AM   #9
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

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Originally Posted by sccowboy View Post
Have you checked the belt width? Should be 1 3/16" wide. Much less and it will slip. The clutches operate by attempting to stay in equilibrium. As the drive (front) clutch closes it grabs the sides of the belt and pulls it into the rear (driven) clutch. This changes the gear ratio to allow the engines power to transfer properly to the rear end (think ten speed bike gearing). If the engine is revving properly when jacked up and no load, then you MAY be having issues with the belt being worn out or the clutches not engaging properly. The compression normally would be 120+ but 100 isn't totally gone yet just realize that a rebuild is coming. You could also have leaky crank seals.
I am going to check the seals today.

I have measured the belt and ordered a new one just in case but based on what I saw when I watched it try to go up a steep hill I don't think it's the belt. However..........I am basing that on my limited knowledge of how this entire process works. Correect me if I am wrong but if the belt were worn, wouldn't the primary clutch spin and just not grab the belt? I saw the primary barely spinning and the engine not revving.
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Old 09-09-2015, 11:32 AM   #10
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Default Re: 86 marathon, some insight please?

I see that you have done a muffler BBQ. Have you tried disconnecting the muffler, and making a test run since then?
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