[Sean S]

Common Robert, age is just a frame of mind, man! Are you thinking of lining up the PITT track-day the day before the AKRA event? It’s a 4.5 (9 total) hours drive for me, not counting load times, so that would be an extremely long day. I am interested if it was a 2 day event or if it was synced up with the AKRA event.

Sean

[Sean S]

I know you said you would be making more announcements soon, but I was wondering if there will be on-site camping (tent) and shower facilities. Just need to know soon or start looking for a hotel.

Thanks

[Sean S]

I’m not sure if you mean you rebuilt the carb, engine or entire “kart” as you said. If it was just the carb, then gaskets are most likely the problem. Take it apart, watch the video step-by-step and pausing it to confirm the gaskets are in the correct order and orientation. The needle o-rings do crack and form an angle to them, so its a good idea to replace them also. Make sure the intake block is installed the right way. There is a hole on each reed/intake block and the carb that need to match up.

You said that the engine fires up to full throttle, idle, and back to full throttle again. If the engine is doing that, how does it get a chance to get to 160 deg? Double check your water lines are installed the right way and make sure the water pump bands have tension on them, so they don’t slip.

[Sean S]

What does your current clutch drum look like? Does it have holes in the face (MY09) or is it solid (MY07)? I only ask because my friend (don’t ask me why) has both engines with more 07 parts. He sometimes uses the 07 drum, which is wider, on the 09 Leopard. He said it works if you double up the washers on the engine side of the clutch bearing, pushing the drum away from the flywheel/clutch assembly… He never said anything about wear yet, but I’m sure it would just push the chain and driver out more, causing wear on the cover like that. Or possibly the engine side, coned thrust washer is backwards? The coned/angled part should be facing the engine. The angle of that wear pattern on you cover looks like the drum/driver is pushed out too far and the links/pins of the chain are dragging on it.

Hopefully someone others will chime in with some other tips. Here is an exploded view of the clutch side. https://cometkartsales.com/Leopard-MY09-Clutch-Parts/

and welcome
EKN is the greatest place on the interwebs

[Sean S]

Yep, it’s for Dave! He said that with the new Evo kit there is no adjusting of the power valve. It’s automatic adjusted through the new kit and depends on how you have that ground wire attached (on or off).

And yes, that was a bummer that your brother couldn’t run the kart at M-O. It was REALLY slick, so I can understand why they wouldn’t want it on the track.

Sean

[Sean S]

Will the gate be open all night or will the gate guard be on duty Friday/Saturday nights? Something came up last minute and I’m not sure if I can get there for Saturday racing. I might pull in around 9-10pm either tonight or Saturday and have to put up a tent real quick.

[Sean S]

Great! Thanks a lot, Bruce.

[Sean S]

Thanks Bruce! So racing would actually be during the week and not on the weekend?

Move in: Sunday 27th

Racing: Monday 28th – Wednesday 30th

[Sean S]

Haha, I think you’re right, Gif.

Mark, from what I read in many articles I saw online, this new OK engine is supposed to “level the playing field” as far as price and any advantages of the many engine options out there. They are trying to get back to the origin of karting by going direct drive, which I would love to see again. They mentioned getting everyone on the same package so there is limiting the drivers performance, potential, or wallet. You just have to buy it first…

Jim, they have a decompression valve so you don’t need to lift the rear. From what I saw, you can just roll the kart and push the decompression valve down or have someone push you from behind. I understand what you are saying, but it seems this would eliminate a lot of cost for external starters, clutches, electrical components that fail, etc. All of which I purchased already :)  Hopefully I can stick out the Leopard until there is a stable package available

[Sean S]

Just saw this in my feed when I arrived at home.
Rick Dreezen demonstrating then 2016 IAME OK.

[Sean S]

I think I’m in a 52 Alpinestars right now, so not sure if it would fit. I’m about 5’9″ 155lbs. How tall was the person that was using it before?

[Sean S]

I haven’t tried to switch electronic sources on a Leopard, so hard to troubleshoot. Check the grounds and check the rubber bumpers that hold the coil off of the chain/hub guard. Mine backed of a bit one time and was arching across to the small coil wire. Check for compression. Was going 2-wide into a corner off the straight, stuck it and didn’t realize and went off track. Started it again in the pits to warm up for next race and it would not run or rev unless hand/foot was on the throttle to hold any kind of rpm. Later found out that a small piece of the ring broke when it stuck and would hold just enough compression to run at low rpm. I cringed pretty hard when I saw it. From what I saw over the past few months, it looks like you were running it pretty long on the same piston and looking for a DIY or builder. Maybe something to check into.

The name escapes me at the moment, but you can send your electronics off and get them tested as everyone suggests… Russell? Try swapping back to the 07 power packs and see if that helps.

[Sean S]

I’ve had the same problem with multiple sets of wheel. I clean them with Simple Green to get most of the crud off, then spray some Brake Clean on a rag and scrubbed both sides of the wheel lip.

I know you said you confirmed that they are not leaking from the bead locks, but it’s a good idea to change this seals. I changed them last year and they were already cracked and dry rotted again at the start of this season. Also a good idea to run tap & die kit through the wheels and bead lock screws. Hopefully that helps.

[Sean S]

Robert: LAR’s karts never ran! Johnny never showed up and Larry was helping pit for Wayne.

Event: This was the first time running with DKC and it was great! Everything ran perfect and I didn’t notice any hiccups. The only tiny issue was that most people (or at least Bob, Wayne, Larry and I) in the lower pits were unable to hear any updates over the speakers for race time changes due to incoming weather. As Jeremy already said above, combining classes on Saturday made room for an hour of open practice, which was great. That lead into Bob’s Race Clinic and his little tip shaved off 1 sec + for me. The track dried very quick Sat/Sun mornings and no one ran in the rain. Now on to Belding/Grattan weather…

Grattan weather man:        Forecast  vs.  What really happens
70% of rain/thunderstorms = No ran
0% chance of rain/cool night = torrential downpour

Sleeping in a new 5×6 “waterproof  for up to 2 minutes” tent at the race track was actually pretty fun :) (Moved tent under our race canopy so we were good)

Thanks again DKC/AKRA for the great event. See you all at Mid-Ohio.

[Sean S]

“Starter Ring Fixing Nut” 30mm Socket
Page 26-29

Looks to be the standard size socket. As long as it fits through the clutch wrench you should be fine.

http://www.iame.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/APPENDIX-5-044-MANUALE-REVISIONE-PARILLA-X30-125cc-RL-TaG-ENG.pdf

[Sean S]

Will the event run if it rain is in the forecast? Just wondering if I should bring wets or not (limited space).

[Sean S]

Brb, cleaning the drool from my keyboard. Sending PM with my email address.

[Sean S]

Thanks Freddy,
I’ll give him a call tomorrow.

[Sean S]

Does AKRA have any new rules for brake systems on TAG’s?

[Sean S]

PM’d and emailed twice.
PM or email me back if you still have items for sale.

[Sean S]

Thanks Ric!

I’ve had an account ever since I’ve been renting AMB transponders to check my results. I’ve been to the site, typed in the number and says it’s incorrect since it’s not registered to my name, which would be another $43. I downloaded the software and it says “not activated, click here to purchase a subscription”.

I don’t see how paying a hefty subscription every few years is worth it for a little yellow box that puts out a radio frequency, AFTER that little yellow box has been purchased for $170+. I look at it as them cheating me since they provide nothing, except keeping that red light from flashing. It’s like buying a new car and then after 1-2 years of owning it, {insert manufacture} remotely kills the car and says “pay us $XXX or your car won’t work anymore”. All AMB, now MyLaps are doing is further monopolizing on a market they they have cornered years ago, only because EVERYONE has AMB/MyLaps and the tracks have the loops and software (before there were subscriptions). Companies have been doing this with phones, electronics and PC games over the years, so that’s why this gets me a bit irritated. You buy it, but you still don’t own it.

Thanks for the response Ric, but could you elaborate how and why you think a subscription based transponder is worth it to you? Maybe I’m missing something… Are there any features besides checking your times online?
Check this company out. http://www.westhold.com/products_timing.html
Kart transponder, 3 year battery life and replaceable for $99, no subscription.

[Sean S]

Perfect example

[Sean S]

Ughh… thanks for the update Ric. I was reading for hours about these the other night and your answer just confirmed it. I’ve read so many articles/forums online and I’m just as angry as everyone else about the new lease program transponders, along with the crappy website. Since I now have a flashing red paperweight that the guy from here decided not to say anything besides “transponder for sale”, I’m currently finding a way to crack it.

A transponder “should” be a simple device, transmitting a certain frequency signal to a receiver (loop/timing system). If a track is still using the old loop hardware (AMB 160 and up) and software for timing, the subscription shouldn’t matter, should it? There has to be a way to reset the internal clock or flash it back to it’s original settings. The thing was never connected online, so there would have to be an internal clock to set off the red flashing subscription expiration date of 1, 2, or 5 years. If anyone has any thoughts about this and is equal or a few steps ahead of me, please let me know. Reading into it more before splitting the thing open.

[Sean S]

Thank you to Robert and everyone behind the scenes who put the effort into making this happen! Another big thanks to everyone that went out of their way to try and find a similar tiny screw that vibrated out of my carb fuel cap after 1/2 a lap and sent me packing for home. After looking and asking everyone for a screw, it was Rumsey Racing and Lil Johnny that kept a cool head and thought of pulling a screw FROM A LIGHT SWITCH PLATE IN A GARAGE and then fabing up a gasket out of a Coke can box! Absolute genius! It was really great seeing Bob Cole again and getting another luxurious front seat ride back to the pits :) I really hope this will continue as an annual Spring/Fall tradition.

Sean

[Sean S]

I’ll take it.

[Author]

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