1989 Marathon - Running like crap!

[2001bluebird]

Beginning of the season, this thing usually fires right up, runs like a top (better than most of the newer carts in camp...) But, not this year....

Last year I ran it out of gas, so I asked my Dad if there was any gas left (to get it on the trailer) to make a long story short, I put gas in my golf cart (that still has the factory oil injection hooked up.) with weed eater mixture. I put in just enough to get it on the trailer.

I go to use it for the first time, its running like CRAP and the spark plug is severely fouled. Its "skipping" backfiring, smoking really bad and barely moves. Pulling choke out makes it worse....

So I figured it must have been the mixed fuel, so I put fresh (unmixed) fuel,cleaned spark plug... ran like new. I go up to camp to use it again, running like crap again. Any suggestions?

Things I'm going to check:

Fuel filter
Fuel Bowl on Carb (dirt, water)

Does anybody know if they sell a carb rebuild kit for these 2strokes?

P.S. I do use Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment

[racin161]

Cleaning the spark plug may not do it.Once fouled its junk try a new plug fuel filter first.If it still does it yes there are carb kits but a good cleaning would most likely solve your problem.

[2001bluebird]

I'll get a new plug then! I needed to change the fuel filter anyway. Thanks for the help!

[racin161]

COOL

[2001bluebird]

Does anyone know what the spark plug gap is on this thing?

[madoc1]

pretty sure it's .028-.030.

[2001bluebird]

Thanks!

[pachanga90]

Usually you can drop the float-bowl,clean everything and reassemble it without a kit.Just try to keep the bowl-gasket in place on the carb so it doesn't stretch.I drop mine occassionally and clean it out,and I haven't bought a kit yet.Definitely go for a new plug,fuel-filter,and drain and flush the tank(swish a little clean gas in it to make sure no oil or moisture is left behind).

[doozerann]

bluebird, just my opinion but i would get rid of the injector and mix 128-1 thats 1 ounce of oil to 1 gallon of gas. spark plug gap is 030. once a plug is fouled its done.

[pachanga90]

I'm all for pre-mixing too,I know the ratio is 1oz/gal,but I mix mine 1-1/2oz per gal. only for the fact that we run the cart wide-open for long stretches quite frequently.It doesn't smoke at all or foul plugs.Just a little extra insurance.