Need Advice and Help Appraising a Kart.

[Russ Clark]

Vernon, to be completely honest I didn't even realize that rotating the choke knob would do anything. I had read people mentioning that with the PMW carb but I hadn't seen anyone mention that with the PWK. I will give it a try thank you.

[Joe Ricard]

So the best way to get all the systems running and warmed up is a 4X4 under the rear right frame rail. Both rear wheels should be off the ground this way. Put it in 3rd gear and wrap a strap around the tire. Give it a big yank and it should fire right up. Then you can tweek on the idle speed screw and choke etc.

What sort of RPM are you idling at? Even Hondas are pretty high 1950 to 2100 ish.

Then hit the brake and it should stall and stop. If you try to fire it back up then it should immediately fire and idle like a dream.

The above starting procedure was taught to me @ Nationals 2010 by the kart owner I co-drove with.
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Arrow AX-8/ Rotax Sr.

[Russ Clark]

Thanks Joe. I unfortunately don't have a computer for the kart so I don't know the RPM's or temp. I was planning on using an infrared termometer on the radiator until I decide to get a computer. Keep in mind, I haven't actually bought the kart yet.

If anyone has a better idea of how to take a temp without a probe, I'm all ears.

[Jason Vehige]

For initial testing don't sweat the exact numbers... Just make sure the cylinder and radiator have some heat by testing with your hand....

At your first race if it is really cold tape up the radiator some so it does not over cool during a run.... If the radiator gets so hot you can't put your hand on it for a few seconds take some tape off......

I avoid the tape issue by using an IAME inline thermostat... Works great, fast warmup, not sure why more do not use it.... Available at RUSSELL Karting, there are other inline units but the IAME one has never let me down or leaked....
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Jason Vehige

08 Gillard Charlotte / SGM sl204
05 Vanspeed Sirio / SGM sl204

[Scott Boito]

PWK carbs don't do anything when you rotate the choke knob. Unfortunately. Have to mess with the air screw instead. Or get a small hemostat to hold the throttle cable where you want it...
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KM #68 - Haase/Honda kart
BetterOffRacing
Member of the SCCA KAC

[Christian Hubbell]

I thought the pwk had an idle screw, maybe not. Just shut the choke off when you're sitting in it with your foot on the gas. Keep the revs up, like way up, and slip the clutch. They want to go fast and hate to go slow so it takes some work to do it right.

[Joe Ricard]

Most shifter karts won't just putter away from a stand still. Pretty much got to "wrap them riens up in your hand and control the beast".

Moving through grid is a delicate balance.

Launching from start is just a kick in the pants. 11K RPM and let it rip.
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Arrow AX-8/ Rotax Sr.

[Russ Clark]

Thanks guys for all of the tips. I had no idea it was that tough to get a kart rolling. I also wouldn't have guess that the clutch would put up with what you guys are describing, but it sounds as if the clutch can handle it. I plan on doing some low speed test launches tomorrow, I will update after that. If all goes reasonably well I will be racing this weekend.

On a side note I picked up some fresh non-ethanol 93 from the Sunoco here. I had been using the C12 I mixed up over a month ago and figured that may have been contributing to my idle problems. I will only mix a small amount to test and won't mix more until the night before or on race day. I'm just trying to eliminate as many potential problems as possible.

[Jason Vehige]

Being a Moto of unknown orgin (and compression) I would stick to C12... 93 is fine for a short test but even if the motor is stock 98 is as low as I would go.
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Jason Vehige

08 Gillard Charlotte / SGM sl204
05 Vanspeed Sirio / SGM sl204

[Joe Ricard]

Bet you thought karting was the easy button huh.

Wait till the sea of cones turns into a blur of orange-ish suggestions.
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Arrow AX-8/ Rotax Sr.

[Vernon Head]

Russ, then there should be a screw with a spring under it that will raise and lower the slide. That will also set the idle.

[Russ Clark]

I genuinely need help now. I just tried about 20 times to get the kart rolling in my driveway. It stalled every time. I tried being easy with the clutch, I tried running high rpm's and letting the clutch out and I tried revving it up hard into the throttle as I let the clutch out (almost like you would to do a burnout in a car). Every time it stalled. It is obvious that the tires spun at least a few times from the marks on the tires and I did have a little forward movement but it seems as soon as their was any real load the motor it quit.

I can say that a lot of black oil was coming out of the pipe and smoking quite a bit. I thought at this mixture it shouldn't smoke much. I mixed 2 ounces of oil to about 62 ounces of gas. Also at the manifold and at the pipe to silencer joint it was blowing oil so it seems the springs are not making a perfect seal. I did get some temp in the motor this time but it would sill not idle off of the the choke. It still seemed to rev pretty good but I can say it seemed to load up some and I had to work it pretty good to clear it so it reved the freest. If I didn't keep revving it, it would eventually load up enough to stall. Also when it is dead cold I can pull the choke and start it in 2nd gear with no throttle. Once it starts to get heat in it I have to use a bungie to hold the throttle open some.

I have not changed the gearing and I was told the current gearing is good for 127mph. So I would say this is much longer than you typically use for autox.

At this point I don't know enough about the characteristics of the motor to determine if it is just not running well enough to move itself or if this is solely driver error. I have a hard time thinking it is something I am doing when I let out the clutch because I did try what felt like a balls out clutch drop to just see if I was being too gentle.

Any advice you guys can offer is appreciated. I don't really have anyone in the area to help me trouble shoot. The bike shops don't really want to talk to me and the guys at the Monticello weren't the nicest to me when I went out there and everyone seems to run air cooled clutch karts. Please help, I think I will end up missing this race with the kart. I am pretty much out of time to fiddle with it before Sunday. But if there is a quick few things I can look into I would love to get it out on the track. I just don't see taking it if I can't get it rolling. Also if any more details will help I will provide what I know. I tried to include everything that seems pertinent.

Edit: I kept the choke on the whole time. Mostly because I could not shut it and keep the kart running while I got in. I will say that the kart seems to rev the same regardless of what is going on with the choke, it just idles better with the choke on.

[Michael Taksa]

Count the number of teeth on you gears, karts don't go 127 MPH with honda cr125 unless you have aerodynamic bodywork and draft, but if it is geared for road race even the seasoned racer will have hard time with standing start. Do not run with choke on, it killes the perfomance, you have to flor the gas and slowly let the clutch out. And by floor the gas I mean having your neighbours call the cops because of noise. Thats is for a race start, for test, if you feather the clutch and let it out slowly you can probably get ging around 5000-6000 RPM. And with chike off just use your right foot on the accelerator to keep the motor going. Most karts dont idle, it's ok.

[Michael Taksa]

this is about the RPMS and sound of a standing start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8po9W44Kc4

[Joe Ricard]

Not the best launch but you get the idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mxI6xpRaI_M
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Arrow AX-8/ Rotax Sr.