Missfire and arching

Paulandrikopoulos · 05-09-2015, 07:40 PM

I have a 1987 ezgo 2 strike that I picked up. I had to replace the fuel pump and I can get it to fire now but only on full choke and the motor surges, misfires and i see arching but not just at the ignition wire or coil, and I can feel it when I touch the frame of the cart. I replaced the Ground cable but don't know what else to do. has anyone come across this before?
Thanks
Paul

cart around · 05-09-2015, 07:55 PM

Where else are you actually seeing it?

Basic questions:
How long have you had it?
Did it ever run good in your possession?
What work was done to it?
Did somebody put the piston in backwards?

Paulandrikopoulos · 05-09-2015, 09:47 PM

I Picked it up last fall for my kids. it did not run. The guy told me it needed a fuel pump so i put one in last week. The motor is a few years old and was running for the guy before the pump went on it.
The choke cable is snapped. I used pliers to hold the choke lever closed while starting it because I didn't feel like being zapped again and it was arching between the pliers and the snapped choke cable.
Very bizarre

Paulandrikopoulos · 05-09-2015, 10:02 PM

Sorry. I posted 1987 when it is actually a 1989

1989Marathon · 05-09-2015, 10:08 PM

Is your motor grounded to the battery?(motor grounded to frame, frame grounded to battery negative)

cart around · 05-09-2015, 10:09 PM

That's a crazy electrical problem there.

It's obvious that something is shorted. I'm thinking maybe an insulation break down of the coil, or spark plug wire.

The very first thing I would do is replace the spark plug, and the wire to see what happens. Maybe change the coil after that. I'm thinking that is the only source for a high enough voltage to arc like that. Any other short would most likely destroy the battery, or melt wires.

Go to this thread, and see reply #9. I uploaded the manual for an 85. I use it for my 87. It gives troubleshooting info in section R

EDIT: I see it's an 89. A 3pg 2 stroke probably has the same electrical system. The HEI conversion is the same.

Paulandrikopoulos · 05-09-2015, 10:21 PM

Thanks. Frame and motor are grounded to the battery. What does 2pg or 3 pg mean?

Paulandrikopoulos · 05-09-2015, 10:23 PM

I don't rally know much about these things like conversions, 2pg, 3pg.

1989Marathon · 05-09-2015, 10:30 PM

2pg was the older 244cc motor up until 1988. In 1989, EZGO switched over to the 3pg 244cc motor. They are similar, but different.

Like cart around said, check for an insulation breakdown in the coil, coil wire, or spark plug.

A picture of the coil, coil wire, and spark plug might be helpful.

Paulandrikopoulos · 05-09-2015, 10:45 PM

Thanks again 1989. I'm up in Canada and these parts are hard to come by. I know the plug is new and I used a car ignition wire to try and no different. I may have to look for a new coil. I'm beginning to think that the last guys problem was never a fuel issue but rather what it is doing now electrically.
I'm in Canada and these parts are hard to find. what is a pulsator coil and do you think it could be a problem also?

05-09-2015, 07:40 PM	#1
Paulandrikopoulos Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 31	Missfire and arching I have a 1987 ezgo 2 strike that I picked up. I had to replace the fuel pump and I can get it to fire now but only on full choke and the motor surges, misfires and i see arching but not just at the ignition wire or coil, and I can feel it when I touch the frame of the cart. I replaced the Ground cable but don't know what else to do. has anyone come across this before? Thanks Paul

05-09-2015, 07:55 PM	#2
cart around Test before replacing Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ohio side of the Pennsylvania border. Posts: 3,496	Re: Missfire and arching Where else are you actually seeing it? Basic questions: How long have you had it? Did it ever run good in your possession? What work was done to it? Did somebody put the piston in backwards?

05-09-2015, 09:47 PM	#3
Paulandrikopoulos Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 31	Re: Missfire and arching I Picked it up last fall for my kids. it did not run. The guy told me it needed a fuel pump so i put one in last week. The motor is a few years old and was running for the guy before the pump went on it. The choke cable is snapped. I used pliers to hold the choke lever closed while starting it because I didn't feel like being zapped again and it was arching between the pliers and the snapped choke cable. Very bizarre

05-09-2015, 10:02 PM	#4
Paulandrikopoulos Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 31	Re: Missfire and arching Sorry. I posted 1987 when it is actually a 1989

05-09-2015, 10:08 PM	#5
1989Marathon Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 6,730	Re: Missfire and arching Is your motor grounded to the battery?(motor grounded to frame, frame grounded to battery negative)
1989Marathon Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 6,730

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05-09-2015, 10:09 PM	#6
cart around Test before replacing Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ohio side of the Pennsylvania border. Posts: 3,496	Re: Missfire and arching That's a crazy electrical problem there. It's obvious that something is shorted. I'm thinking maybe an insulation break down of the coil, or spark plug wire. The very first thing I would do is replace the spark plug, and the wire to see what happens. Maybe change the coil after that. I'm thinking that is the only source for a high enough voltage to arc like that. Any other short would most likely destroy the battery, or melt wires. Go to this thread, and see reply #9. I uploaded the manual for an 85. I use it for my 87. It gives troubleshooting info in section R EDIT: I see it's an 89. A 3pg 2 stroke probably has the same electrical system. The HEI conversion is the same.

05-09-2015, 10:21 PM	#7
Paulandrikopoulos Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 31	Re: Missfire and arching Thanks. Frame and motor are grounded to the battery. What does 2pg or 3 pg mean?

05-09-2015, 10:23 PM	#8
Paulandrikopoulos Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 31	Re: Missfire and arching I don't rally know much about these things like conversions, 2pg, 3pg.

05-09-2015, 10:30 PM	#9
1989Marathon Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 6,730	Re: Missfire and arching 2pg was the older 244cc motor up until 1988. In 1989, EZGO switched over to the 3pg 244cc motor. They are similar, but different. Like cart around said, check for an insulation breakdown in the coil, coil wire, or spark plug. A picture of the coil, coil wire, and spark plug might be helpful.
1989Marathon Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 6,730

05-09-2015, 10:45 PM	#10
Paulandrikopoulos Not Yet Wild Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 31	Re: Missfire and arching Thanks again 1989. I'm up in Canada and these parts are hard to come by. I know the plug is new and I used a car ignition wire to try and no different. I may have to look for a new coil. I'm beginning to think that the last guys problem was never a fuel issue but rather what it is doing now electrically. I'm in Canada and these parts are hard to find. what is a pulsator coil and do you think it could be a problem also?

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