91 Gas CarryAll II

[Fairtax4me]

If that’s the case, the only reasons would be incorrect parts, or a very bent connecting rod.

[Club91car]

Ignore my last couple of messages. Here’s the latest. Took the head off and found top dead center. Put the head back on and hooked up the leak down tester. Not good. Comes back as “moderate” leak. I don’t notice anything coming from the intake or exhaust. Or around the gaskets (which were all new). So that leaves the piston/rings? Which are also new. Or a bad bore job? Possible the rings didn’t seat?
Suggestions?

[Fairtax4me]

Piston Rings should have come with some instructions showing proper installation. Top, center, and oil control, and should show proper end gap placement. Were those followed?
And again, did you check ring gap clearance? Did you check piston side clearance?

Brand new rings don’t seat right away. Initial break-in takes about 5-10 minutes of running at normal operating temperature. It has to run for usually 1-2 tanks of gas before they’re fully seated. If they’re not installed properly or the end gaps are too wide, compression will be too low to get it to run. Either due to blow-by through the ring gaps, or low tension between the rings and cylinder wall.
Normally when I ring a small engine I squirt a little gear oil around the cylinder wall so there’s a heavy thick oil on the rings to help bring the compression up for starting.

Assuming that’s all been checked. Are you sure the cam timing is correct? I’m not sure of what the markings are on the KF motor, but they’re usually pretty apparent.

[Club91car]

No instructions came with the rings/piston.

[Fairtax4me]

Then are we just running on the assumption they were installed properly?

Somethings not adding up, and that something is why it’s not running. A simple rebuild is not a goose chase when parts are measured properly and installed properly. I think I’ve given all the advice I can help with here. Hope you can find out whats wrong with it.