Just bought a sled- Couple of newbie questions - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

Duden89 · 06-29-2009, 11:06 PM

I just bought my first sled ( 88 Wildcat 650 ) from kccats the other day. I'm taking the motor out for a project so it will mainly be used in the summer time so I need to rejet and do some tuning. But before I take out the motor I'd like to drive the sled for a bit just for fun. It starts fine, but runs pretty rough and doesnt wanna take off. I know its running a very rich mixture, but is it possible to drive it real quick without rejetting? I've been doing a lot of reading and found the link to clean the Mikuni carbs and plan on cleaning them. Is rejetting really just as simple as unscrewing the old and screwing in the new one? Do I need to adjust the pilot air screw/pilot jet or jet needle too? Right now the temp is around 80 degrees.
The next question is about the oil injection system. How exactly does that work? Anyone have a link to where I can read up on it? I'm also low on oil and don't know where to find ARTCO oil?
Thanks in advance for the help

**smallengineguy** · 06-30-2009, 07:31 AM

If it's jetted for 20 degrees, it won't go very well in 80 degrees, unless you rejet it. You don't need Artco oil, and good 2 stroke oil will work.

**RJ Gleason** · 06-30-2009, 07:43 AM

The oil pump is gear driven at the center of the crank shaft and is flow controlled by a cable connected to the throttle.
It pumps oil into the base of the engine just below the reeds where the turbulence is greatest to allow it to be mixed with the gas so it can lubricate the bearings and cylinder walls.

It is extremely rare that these pumps ever go bad.

Duden89 · 06-30-2009, 07:49 PM

Would Farm'n'Fleet or something along those lines carry 2-stroke oil? Is it safe to take a quick test drive if the low oil light is on? Its still got oil just a lil low.

SkiDoo86 · 06-30-2009, 08:25 PM

With it bein hot outside, you might not get enough power right now to get it goin anywhere.

Duden89 · 07-01-2009, 12:55 AM

Well I got the main jet swapped out and raised the clip on the jet needle to a leaner position but its still not wanting to go past 4k rpms. Its pretty smoky, and right when the clutch starts to engage the rpms drop slightly and it wont go anywhere. Tried running it for 5-10minutes to get it warm but still the same thing. It wont idle very well at all, but I think I just need to adjust the pilot air jet? I think Im gonna pull the plugs out tomorow and clean them/gap them if I can find the correct clearance. It was sitting for two years so I'm also gonna drain the fuel and put some fresh fuel in. Anything else that could cause it to not get up and go?

**RJ Gleason** · 07-01-2009, 11:35 AM

Gap is 0.035

SkiDoo86 · 07-01-2009, 04:58 PM

Well like mentioned above, these sleds are ment to run in 20 degrees, not 80 or so. They run way to rich for the warm temperatures. You might b ebetter off adjusting when it gets colder.

Duden89 · 07-01-2009, 11:02 PM

Well I've got it jetted to match the 70 degree weather (maybe a touch on the rich side) but it still doesnt want to take off. The engine sounds like its "pinging", almost like some firecrackers goin off? I have no idea if thats normal or not? One of the exhaust pipes smoked a little out of the first connection right by the motor so that might cause the noise. Any ideas why it wont take off? I would jet it even leaner but I dont have a size lower jet.

**RJ Gleason** · 07-02-2009, 08:40 AM

That plug that is clean is not firing at all under pressure.
Try switching the plug wires around and see if the problem follows to the other cyl. this will tell you if it is the plug or maybe a bad end cap or wire.

Duden89 · 07-02-2009, 10:14 PM

Well I got her up and running today. Got it warmed up, and after a little bogging down it would rev up and take off like a bat outta hell. Took it for about a minute of driving before it quit. A couple minutes later it would fire up, run a little bit, then quit. Seems like when it gets hot it quits. The main jet should be the right size for the temp, maybe a little too rich so the bogging I expected. But why would it quit after it gets hot? Hopefully I didnt screw anything up too bad...

**RJ Gleason** · 07-03-2009, 07:15 AM

That usually points to a coil breaking down.

Duden89 · 07-03-2009, 04:11 PM

Well I got my shop manual in today so its time for some studying. I'll post back when I figure out whats goin on.

Duden89 · 07-03-2009, 09:52 PM

Got a slight problem I cant figure out in the book- it won't turn off easily. The push button doesnt turn it off and turning the key off won't do it either. I have to choke it out or rev up and let off and talk to it nicely to kill it. Would this also point to a problem with the coil?

**RJ Gleason** · 07-03-2009, 10:09 PM

After is shuts off, will it restart with out pulling the button back up?

Duden89 · 07-04-2009, 12:05 AM

Not sure I'll have to try that...but I have to get some new plugs monday since the ones I have are basically missing an electrode. I think they are the culprit behind the running crappy issue. Should I a 50:1 mixed fuel/oil ratio since the motor has been sittin for a couple years?

**RJ Gleason** · 07-05-2009, 05:09 AM

As long as there is oil in the tank and no air in the lines, you should not need to mix at all.

**kccats** · 07-06-2009, 07:37 AM

Wait What!!! Wont shut off? Pinging? Missing Electrode!!! It is preignition!!! I'm sorry dude, I've been so busy with my roof and all I haven't been on here lately!
Hows the antifreeze level? Sounds like you need to drain it and pull the heads, or atleast pull the exhaust and plugs and have a look at the exhaust! Call me, text me, PM me, Email me, and I'll talk you threw it!

Duden89 · 07-06-2009, 11:21 PM

The shut off issue was just a matter of me not having a chance to look at it. The wires just fell off the ignition key and the shut off works now (but the position of the key doesnt matter when it comes to startin and stoppin, not a big deal though). The pinging is what I was worried about. I thought it might have been the bad spark plugs but even with new plugs it pings. It will run ok for about 30 seconds before it bogs down and shuts off. I was thinking it was pre-ignition but I wasn't for sure. There is an exhaust leak on the magneto side that smokes and blows some oil on the exhaust pretty good. I checked the spark plugs and the side with the leak was a lighter color, a light tan color as compared to a medium brown on the other side. Whats the probable cause of preignition? Carbon build ups on the pistons? Would preignition cause the motor to shut down like that?
Forgot to mention that the coolant reservoir tank isnt hooked up to the cooling system. Its got a couple of dead bugs in the tank and there isnt a hose connecting it to the system. Not sure how its supposed to work but It has coolant and never had a high temp light come on. Also the carbs like to spit a little bit of fuel back through the intake side of them.

**RJ Gleason** · 07-07-2009, 12:19 AM

Make a video clip of the engine running so that we can hear it.
There is a certain amount of pipe "ring" that you will hear with the hood open or when it is inside a garage. This is normal for a 2 stroke engine.