Honda GX160 5.5 buggy engine - Power issue

[jamesk1988]

Hey there,

I've been having a problem with an offroad buggy engine which i fear may be fatal but i thought it best to ask those who know what their talking about (i don't know a whole lot about engines/mechanics at all). After browseing through a few of these threads i think i'm in the right place although i dont think this is as complicated as other stuff on here! I hope someone can help me out.

Long story short, i've gotten a hold of an offroad buggy. I didn't pay anything for it, it had been sort of left and forgotten about so ive recently decided to get it going. It has a Honda GX160 5.5 engine. The problem is it had been left for about a year or a year and a half in a garage. The dynamo to start it had seized however but we got it working eventually and has started alright since. The problem now is that it is seriously lacking in power, it struggles to even pull me up a small hill. Granted it is SLIGHTLY better now than when we first got it going (few weeks ago) but still way down on power, when it worked before it was certainly much more powerful. We had a thought that perhaps the clutch was slipping but we checked it out and it seems fine, i have pictures and videos however of that if that would help.

I fear that time has took its toll and just crimpled it, however i dont know to much about this stuff and thought it best to ask for any ideas or things to check/test.

Thanks in advance

Cheers

 

[dgallup]

Most likely the carb is gummed up. It is not that hard to clean yourself or you could take it off & have a professional do it.

 

[jamesk1988]

Thanks for the reply!

Ah right, so strip the whole thing down and clean out the insides then. Its only a small engine so will probably attempt it ourselves. The whole point of it was to give us a wee "project" anyways to try and get it running again so no fun if someone else does it!

Do you recommend using any special stuff in particular to clean it out or do you just attack it with some steel wool or whatever.

Cheers

 

[patprimmer]

Pull the plugs and put some light oil in the holes, Leave over night. With the plugs out, rock crank back and forward about 1/4 turn by hand every few hours leave it at one end of free travel each time, then move it further next time. It would have been a lot better if you did that before attempting to start it. Idea is to get oil into corroded surfaces between piston, rings and bore and free up any sticking rings without scoring the bores. Also check valves are not sticking. Lube the guides and leave some time, then gently tap the valves a few times with a soft hammer. Make sure piston is well down the bore and tap valve progressively harder until the show no signs of sticking. Apply lube regularly and liberally.

After things are freed up, do compression and leak down tests.

Replace plugs filters etc.

Make sure ignition system works well.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[jamesk1988]

Some very descriptive advice there! Righto i'll get fired into that this weekend and next and let you know how i get on.

Thanks for much for the help guys! Much appreciated.

 

[dgallup]

No steel wool, scrapers or sandpaper! You will do more damage than good.

Go to an auto parts store and get a gallon can of carb/parts cleaner. The kind with a wire basket inside it. You are trying to clean out all the little internal passages that you can't get into and don't want to anyway as any metallic tool will gouge & damage the surfaces. Take the carb apart as much as you can being careful not to damage any gaskets or seals. Take out any removable jets. Follow the directions on the product you buy but you are probably going to want to soak it for 24 hrs.

 

[btrueblood]

...then put it back together, and wonder where all the extra bits were supposed to go, and go order a new carburetor.

 

[TheBlacksmith]

I was always taught to place all the parts on a cookie sheet in the order of disassembly. If someone shakes the cookie sheet, kill them then order the new carburator.

 

[jamesk1988]

Hey there,

I havn't forgot about this! Incase you guys think i have just abandoned this. I went out to just have a look and i put the clutch cover back on and gave it some new oil. It started but sounded like it was dieing and then cut off and wouldnt come back. After a while it started again and sounded normal, then after a bit it cut off and wouldnt come back. This just continues basically, the clutch case does feel red hot however i remember it always being like that (perhaps not enough oil been put back in? Although i didnt know that it would know to cut off if it overheated). Going to have to mess around with this when i get a chance.

Thanks for the advice everyone!