Trouble Shooting

These solutions aren't necessarily the solutions to your problems, but hopefully they will help you.

Problems I've Had                                   Solutions to my Problems

Carb leaks all the time                                               -Grit stuck on the float needle.  I'm not sure if "float needle" is the
                                                                                  proper term, but it's the little rubber tipped needle which stops the
                                                                                  flow of gasoline into the carb when the bowls are full.  The floats
                                                                                  move the needle up as the level of gasoline rises, but if there is grit
                                                                                  in the way the needle cannot shut off the flow of fuel, and it overflows.

No spark                                                                 -Bad condenser, check out the condenser before you replace your
                                                                                  coil.  Your coil can be checked if you bring it in to a shop.

                                                                                -To check your spark plug you can hook it up to a dirtbike,
                                                                                  lawnmower, etc. (which you know works), ground out the threaded
                                                                                  part to any metal on the motor, and turn it over.
                                                                                  If the plug sparks, it's good enough for your motor to run with.
                                                                                  Spark plug gaps don't make a big difference, but it
                                                                                  should be fairly close.

                                                                                -Bad points.  I recently had this problem, I adjusted the points and after
                                                                                  that it just wouldn't run.  I cleaned the points with sandpaper and carb
                                                                                  cleaner, but it just wouldn't go.  My friend Dan really sanded the points,
                                                                                  and then it ran.  It ran like crap, but it ran.  I bought new points, and she
                                                                                  runs like a dream.  Bottom line - points are finicky and points are cheap.
                                                                                  If points are the problem, just buy new ones.  Mine were $15 Can.  I
                                                                                  should also note that Bill (e-mail correspeondant) had exactly the same
                                                                                  problem and couldn't figure out what it was partly because his points
                                                                                  looked great.

                                                                                -Bad wire.  These are hard to track down sometimes, but with an ohm
                                                                                  meter it's not too bad.  Just hook it up at either end and if there's
                                                                                  continuity, it's good.  No continuity, no good.

Runs only with choke on                                           -No air filter.  Mine wouldn't run worth a darn without my air filter.
                                                                                -Plugged up exhaust.  Check out exaust mod.