Am I testing for spark correctly?

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Small2Large

Small2Large

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Got my FH running today, but then it died and wouldn't restart. Couldn't get it started again for anything.

Switched out plug and still wouldn't restart.

To test the plugs, I took off the coil, unscrewed the plug, stuck the plug in the coil and gave the pull start a yank while holding the coil. Sometimes it would spark, sometimes it wouldn't. I got a little shock a few times so I'm guessing its working.

I then tried touching the plug to something metal on the buggy like the muffler and the hole the plug goes into. When doing that I got a spark every time, a larger one than I got before. Is that the proper way to test for spark, or was the first way correct where the plug touches nothing.

I'm trying to figure out if I have a short somewhere. Thanks
 
Check the air vent....is not clogged
Is the klunker on the bottom of the fuel tank?or could be plugged
Airfilter dirty?
Your fuel lines ok? no cracks or pin holes?
These are just some simple things ..that will make your engine not run or quit
Like Kypt.said plug has to be grounded.......Slawhammer
 
I would assume you are referring to the plug cap, where the wire attaches to the plug? Or are you referring to the actual coil?

W/O the plug being grounded it will not spark.

Did it just die all of a sudden?
 
Full tank. Just cleaned and re-oiled air filter. Cleaned carb. It started easily and ran for all of 1 min after it started with the recommended starting HS and LS needle settings. It was freaking flying while it was running though so at least I think I have my high speed problem taken car off.

It died while at idle, about 1 second after I coasted it to a stop. I'm pretty sure it died because the idle screw wasn't adjusted right yet since I cleaned the carb, but that's not a big problem.

Just to make sure I'm not flooded, all I have to do is turn the car over with the plug out and give the starter a few yanks right? I've tried that but to no avail. I've actually had this exact thing happen before where I'd come back to it the next day, unflood the motor again (never actually seen any gas come out) and it would start right up and priming.
 
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seeing how you cleaned the carb..I would guess you had the carb off the buggy?
Do you have the fuel lines in the right place?
the top line next to the primp bulb is the return line....
the bottom is the fuel inlet from the tank with the klunker......
sounds like your not getting fuel......Slawhammer
 
well only other thing I can think of is maybe the gasket is not correct from the carb to the intake block...the small pulse hole is blocked...But that would be strange you only ran for 1 minute then quit....
Did you use diconnect copulings for the pico killswitch wiring?and not hard wire direct..
So you can take the wires apart.....If you disconnect the kill switch will the engine start and run?.......
If you got spark & fuel & air it should start at the base carb needle settings.....
Slawhammer
 
slawhammer said:
well only other thing I can think of is maybe the gasket is not correct from the carb to the intake block...the small pulse hole is blocked...But that would be strange you only ran for 1 minute then quit....
Did you use diconnect copulings for the pico killswitch wiring?and not hard wire direct..
So you can take the wires apart.....If you disconnect the kill switch will the engine start and run?.......
If you got spark & fuel & air it should start at the base carb needle settings.....
Slawhammer
Click to expand...

The picco switch kills the plug spark right? Since I'm getting spark, it shouldn't be the picco. I verified the picco is working correctly.
 
yup your correct..picoswitch kills the spark...thought montary got a electronic glitch
and killed the engine...But you did say you had spark...I was going on would not restart...Maybe the internal carb jets are plugged...I think some reason your not getting fuel.....That's why good idea to have a second carb around...to switch them out...
Slawhammer
 
Hey got it started, but still having the same tune problems. Either it won't idle because there's to much fuel, or it leans out to much on the high side because there is to little fuel.
 
Take your idle screw and back it out all the way until the throttle shaft is not hitting it. Now tighten it in until it just hits the throttle linkage. Now screw it in a 1/4 turn. Now adjust your (L) screw until the motor idles like you want it too.;)
 
Take your idle screw and back it out all the way until the throttle shaft is not hitting it. Now tighten it in until it just hits the throttle linkage. Now screw it in a 1/4 turn. Now adjust your (L) screw until the motor idles like you want it too.;)
You should find the setting will be around 11/2 to 11/4 turns out from the bottom.
 
Bigger the Better said:
Take your idle screw and back it out all the way until the throttle shaft is not hitting it. Now tighten it in until it just hits the throttle linkage. Now screw it in a 1/4 turn. Now adjust your (L) screw until the motor idles like you want it too.;)
You should find the setting will be around 11/2 to 11/4 turns out from the bottom.
Click to expand...

Tried that, but in order for the FH to run good at full throttle, I have to back out the LS and turn my throttle trim up. The idle screw can't even adjust enough to keep it from dying.
 
I think you have an air leak... Pull the motor and replace the gaskets. Or better yet, pull the motor apart and put a big bore head kit on it!

I can honestly tell you, these motors are MUCH harder to tune with the crappy exhaust-can on them... It's too hard to tell how the motor is running because you can't hear it.
 
Trip said:
I think you have an air leak... Pull the motor and replace the gaskets. Or better yet, pull the motor apart and put a big bore head kit on it!

I can honestly tell you, these motors are MUCH harder to tune with the crappy exhaust-can on them... It's too hard to tell how the motor is running because you can't hear it.
Click to expand...

how much are gaskets, i heard head kits don't fit these engines.
 
Well if a 3 bolt engine...You may as well throw it in the trash....Buy CY Engine...
You can get a good engine like trip did G290 for about 199 from DDM....
About the only thing that may work from the 3bolt engine is the motor mounts....
....................Slawhammer..............
 
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