EZGO Medalist Engine Troubles - what am I in for?

[thepcssolution]

I came home last night and my children informed me that the Golf Cart "blew up". It had to be towed home by a friend with a 4 wheeler. I went to check it out and upon pressing the gas the engine made a loud "clank" and the starter started smoking. I could rotate the clutch about 4 - 6 inches backwards, hit the gas and it would turn over to that spot, "clank" and then the starter would smoke. It was obvius something was locked up. I pulled the spark plugs out and the drivers side plug looked like someone beat the business end with a hammer. I know the parts are spread evenly throughout the cylinder now and God knows the damaged those little parts caused... At minimum I'm guessing rings, piston, cylinder damage. I used to build high performance dirt bike engines so I'm pretty mechanicaly inclined but this is new to me. I do have a few questions....

Have any of you experienced this?
Do you think it will be a full on rebuild?
Is it worth it on a 95 cart?
What can I expect to be aggravating?
How much?

Thanks....

[scottyb]

Just a quick check needed to figure if it's top or bottom end problem. remove the valve cover and see it it swallowed a valve. Not much else could Get into the combustion chamber except maybe a bit of broken ring?

[thepcssolution]

I'm with you. I thought the same thing. I've watched kids grenade high performace race engines at the track... never have I witnessed the end of a spark plug look like this.

It should be fairly easy to tell by pulling the top cover off right?

[scottyb]

yes, one valve should be dropped or loose. There has to be bits in the combustion chamber to beat up a plug.

The bad news is the subaru engine is a throw away design with it's no main bearings.

[thepcssolution]

I thought this was a Robbin's? 2 Cylinder. How can I check? This is as deep as I've been under the seat other than filter cleaning, oil changes and battery swaps...

[scottyb]

Originally Posted by thepcssolution

I thought this was a Robbin's? 2 Cylinder. How can I check? This is as deep as I've been under the seat other than filter cleaning, oil changes and battery swaps...

Same. Subaru made the Robbins for Ezgo.
Another possibility is something odd that happened to me once. Check the carburetor to see if the choke butterfly is missing.

[sccowboy]

My 350 Robin threw a con cap and broke the rod last year. I rebuilt it successfully, but now may be the time to decide if you want to upgrade to another type of engine.

[scottyb]

OP never replied ??? I thought maybe it swallowed the choke butterfly.

[sccowboy]

Yeah maybe so. I hate when folks don't get back to us on the final verdict.