G9 lost compression

[QB100]

thought I was all set for the summer at the seasonal campground.....wife has become dependent on the cart to get around... however it didn't last.

Wife called and the cart died and wouldn't start. When I arrived for the weekend I started the basics,

it turns over but doesn't fire.

check spark- good
check fuel- gushes out the inlet when it turns over

check plug- yuck.. brand new plug about a month old is completely black and has a lot of deposits built up on it..... clean it up and put back in... still nothing.

by now the wife has other projects for me to do... so after hauling lumber for a project we put the cart on the trailer and take it to the local cart specialist.

He checked spark and tried a new plug.. nothing. He said the G9 was notorious for getting a piece of carbon to break off ininside that would get lodged and cause issues.

He wanted to do a compression test but my cart was like #20 in line to get looked at, so we left it.

2 days later he was able to get a compression test done and it was not good.

He hasn't gotten into it enough to determine if just the valve needs to be redone or if its an engine rebuild.



I was wondering a couple things that maybe you could help answer.


what is a fair price for the following work:

valve job? the guy said about $175

complete engine? he says $600-$700


any other advise on this topic or other items to look at on the cart while in the shop? I will ask that he makes sure the carb is tuned properly to avoid the buildup I seen which may have contributed to the issue in the first place.

Wife wants to keep the cart and get it running as we already have a lot tied up into the seats/paint that will be hard to get out of the cart. She wants here cart back sooner than later...

Thanks again for your input/help.

[smallblock450sl]

Sounds like a push rod might have fallen off the rocker arm.

[QB100]

you were correct smallblock. problem was that I didn't have tools or time at the campground to investigate further. the local cart place took 2 weeks to get to it after the compression test... total cost $25...

I was going to have them install the new heavy duty shocks and put a windshield on but the wife doesn't want to be without the cart any longer... looks like these will have to wait til the end of the season.

Thanks again, you guys have great input here.

[smallblock450sl]

Good for you. I truley believe that's why BGW is the best, everyone really wants to help. Glad I could help in a small way.

[sho305]

I'd check the air filter and make sure the airbox is together and totally sealed, they are very picky about that and it can make them run poorly.

[QB100]

I went through the and replaced the air filter and put some extra measures in place to be sure the air box was tight.

just need to get to the end of the season then I will have a professional do a complete tune up and check of the cart to make sure its running at its best.

I was limited on options when it went down.. the cart shop was the only one within a reasonable distance and he had carts lined up everywhere for work.

sounds like there is a lot of opportunity out there for those that know how to work on them!


thanks again!

Now if I can just find a new side pillar the for the one that I lost during transport....

[QB100]

HELP! problem not solved!!

after I get the cart back from the shop and they got the push rod back on and supposedly "adjusted" the valves I still had a problem

first trip around the park at a "social visit" it wouldn't start. Got my tools and took the valve cover off and the push rod was off again.

so I adjusted the screw a little bit down.

after a few runs the other push rod came off, so I adjusted that one down a little bit.

same day the same one came off, so I adjusted it down a bit more.

was ok the 2nd day of the weekend and the cart seemed to be running ok.. for now..

my worry is that both adjuster screws are just about at their limit for the jam nut to stay on.

someone at the park thinks I need new push rods as mine may have worn down....

I seen the "sticky" on valve adjustment and will do that procedure next weekend.

couldn't find anything on replacing the push rods when searching the forums.

Could use the experts opinion here.

attached is a pic of the valves after the first adjustment.. right now the screws are down even further.

thanks again for the help

[G1-G9]

Are the push rods bent? Take them out and roll them on a table or anything flat.

[Mike Mac]

What I see is no oil getting to the top end. I'm also guessing that the rocker arm support has worn to an ovel. and has allowed the rocker arm to raise up and down, letting the push rods work their way out.

Also, I bet you need to take all the shrouding off and clean the oil caked on dirt on the head and cylinder fins.

[Mr. Mike]

QB - It's really not hard to get the push rods out. Just remove the 4 head bolts and pull the head off and rods will be slid down where the red dots are in the pic.