G1 Problems: cranks, but will not run

[sontag1]

My G1 was running great about a week ago. Then...I started to have to run with the choke on. Now....it will crank like crazy, but it will not run.
Muffler has been BBQ
The air filter is clean and sealed
The fuel pump is clean and fuel is flowing to the carburetor
My plug looks good and getting spark
The spark is jumping about a 3/8" gap
The spark is orange if that matters (I seem to remember reading that the spark should be bright blue)
I am getting compression

At first I thought something might have 'broken loose' inside the muffler and my exhaust was stopped up, but that is not the case.

I even shot a tiny bit of ether/starting fluid into the carb just to see if it would fire, and nothing!

So....what do I do next?
Thanks,
Kevin

[GMB74]

Sounds like you covered all the possibilities except crank seals:

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/gas-y...tting-old.html

[sontag1]

Thanks GMB74! I guess it is time to get a SM and get to work on that little bitty engine. I just finished working on my Subaru Forester last weekend. My front crank seal was leaking on that sucker, but it was time for my 105K maintence too. So I ended up replacing my TB, WP, front seals, and fixing a leak in the OP. I guess I am warmed up now, and ready to work on my Yamaha! I will pull it and start working on that sucker this weekend!

[slonomo]

what was your compression? it might not be the seals, usually with bad seals it will run just not have much power.

[sontag1]

I do not know the actual compression #s. I am just saying that I have compression based on the fact that I have resistance when the piston is moving. I do not have the means to get the actual compression. I do not have that gauge.

I have been running the cart with the choke pulled all the way out for some time now. It was running strong until about a week ago. I was climbing a big hill when it did die a slow death.

[sontag1]

I finally did a compression test this afternoon, and it is not good news.

I did it several times and the numbers varied between 65 psi to 80 psi.

So I guess it is time for a rebuild.

So my question is, What do I need to do next?
Are there any good rebuild threads out there? videos?

Thanks for any advice.
Kevin

[porterc39]

I did a G1 rebuild write up a while back, here is the link to it.

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/gas-y...html#post69310

[sontag1]

Thanks Porterc39! It is always good to follow in someones footsteps, and I am pretty good at reading directions.

[sontag1]

I have gotten loads of good advice, and it looks like I am going to start out by replacing the crank seals and going through the top end. I will start this weekend. Thanks for all the great advice I have gotten. I am sure I will be looking for more before it is all over with!
Kevin

[sho305]

Usually you can look behind the flywheel and behind the clutch and see oil leaking out the crank....that is bad seals. Note a 2 stroke the intake air (air and fuel actually) goes into the crank, the piston comes down and pushes the air up the transfer ports into the cylinder, the piston closes the ports to get compression while sucking the next cycle of air into the crank. This is how the bad seals mess things up, they can change the air/fuel mixture as well as leak compression out of the crank area. This does not mean you have bad rings, though if they are not fresh I would do them anyway because worn rings have a much larger effect on power than in a 4 stroke, a 2 stroke will only have max power with a new bore and rings. Usually bad seals starts as needing choke to get it started and poor running at low rpm. Also check for any leak at the intake area, make sure the reeds are closing.