Replacement motor gas kawasaki

[Rmiller863]

Anyone have any good suggestions for a replacement motor for a club car carryall? My current fe350 kawasaki motor has only 80 pounds compression and will not run. I was thinking a vegas cart motor, maybe the honda , or even harbor freight. Yeah, I know. But I don't want to get into it for 4-5k dollars after all the extra mounting hardware, exhaust, etc. Its only something we ride around the neighborhood once a week, if that. Maybe best option is another kawasaki motor. Thats fine too. Just getting ideas from anyone whos done it before. Good and/or bad. Thanks

[CP241]

If it’s at 80psi and not knocking or making bad noises then you’ve got a good rebuildable motor. I’d give the cylinder a quick hone to deglaze it, throw a new rod and set of rings in it, and call it a day. Check the valves tk make sure they aren’t worn (intake can wear with high hours, new ones is about 20 bucks) I’ve never had to bore one of these cylinders, they don’t ever seem to wear out. I’d bet dollars to donuts a few hours time and around $150 you’ll be back in business.

[CP241]

And depending on what year your carryall is (if it’s got a 350 I’m guessing 97 or newer) you’ll need a high speed set of gears if you put anything but a club car engine in it. The 97+ Kawi’s rotated opposite most drop in engines. Which means you’ll have to put it in reverse to go forward and vice versa. While this won’t hurt the transmission at all, reverse gear ratio is different (lower) that forward so you’ll have LOADS of torque but top out around 10mph

[trig123]

This is not the key start cart you posted about a few years ago is it ?

FE-350 Engine
"GENERAL INFORMATION
Prior to attempting time-consuming repairs to the cylinder assembly, a cylinder compression test should be performed using a standard compression tester. Low compression would normally indicate a problem in the
cylinder assembly such as defective rings, gaskets, etc.
• Key-Start Engines: These FE350 model engines are equipped with an automatic compression release valve (ACR). This valve releases compression pressure at normal cranking RPM, resulting in lower compression. At a normal cranking speed of 550 - 600 RPM, the compression should be typically
71 psi. This value could vary slightly depending on wear of components affecting compression. See Automatic Compression Release Valve (ACR) Inspection on page 3-22.
• Pedal-Start Engines: These FE350 model engines are not equipped with automatic compression release valves (ACR). At a normal cranking speed of 550 - 600 RPM, the compression should be typically 156 psi. This value could vary slightly depending on wear of components affecting compression."

Just wanted to make sure because one almost fooled me four years ago.

[CP241]

Originally Posted by trig123

This is not the key start cart you posted about a few years ago is it ?

FE-350 Engine
"GENERAL INFORMATION
Prior to attempting time-consuming repairs to the cylinder assembly, a cylinder compression test should be performed using a standard compression tester. Low compression would normally indicate a problem in the
cylinder assembly such as defective rings, gaskets, etc.
• Key-Start Engines: These FE350 model engines are equipped with an automatic compression release valve (ACR). This valve releases compression pressure at normal cranking RPM, resulting in lower compression. At a normal cranking speed of 550 - 600 RPM, the compression should be typically
71 psi. This value could vary slightly depending on wear of components affecting compression. See Automatic Compression Release Valve (ACR) Inspection on page 3-22.
• Pedal-Start Engines: These FE350 model engines are not equipped with automatic compression release valves (ACR). At a normal cranking speed of 550 - 600 RPM, the compression should be typically 156 psi. This value could vary slightly depending on wear of components affecting compression."

Just wanted to make sure because one almost fooled me four years ago.

Good point trig. Key start with ACR 80psi is a great reading, and you’ve probably got something else causing it to not run.

If it’s pedal start then that motor is tired and needs rebuilt. It’s probably not gonna run on 80psi

[Rmiller863]

This is a different cart than posted before. It has a key start ignition, but it has the without ACR sticker on the motor.

I compression tested a key start cart, as soon as I pressed the gas it shot up to almost 200psi. I tested the pedal start cart , it stayed around 80. It never changed. When I spin the clutch, it has strong resistance, or feels like good compression. I bought this cart at an auction. The cams were not moving up and down. I split the motor in two and fixed the broken rivets that were not moving the cam shaft. Inside the motor looked clean, no metal shavings, or burnt oil. Put it back together and back in cart and it’s still not running. Could it possibly be compression is good and an electrical problem. Since it has a key start ignition with a pedal start motor? It does have spark and is getting fuel. Im stumped. I did notice there is no rev limiter box on front of motor. It’s gone. Will it run without a rev limiter? Any help is appreciated. Thank you

[kgsc]

If the cam quit moving is it possible one of the valves is bent or is this the kind where they won’t hit?

[CP241]

Are you sure the cam is timed correctly? I’d check that first.

If you have spark then yes it will run without a rev limiter. Is there a sticker with a manufature date on the motor? Some of the newer FE350’s didn’t have a rev limiter and also had manually adjustable valves instead of HLA’s.

[Rmiller863]

There is a sticker that says fe350. Is there a date on that sticker? How do you check timing? The bracket is there for the rev limiter, it’s just missing.

[trig123]

Originally Posted by Rmiller863

There is a sticker that says fe350. Is there a date on that sticker? How do you check timing? The bracket is there for the rev limiter, it’s just missing.

CP241 was asking about the cam timing.
Here is what he was referring to I think