I've got a 1982 Polaris TX-C 440 chassis with a 1974 Kawasaki 400 engine from a '74 El Tigre. Both were free! I am trying to make a sled I can putt around on on the cheap side.
Guys it starts hard. If I am able to get it going, it wants to die. To keep it running I have to feather the throttle. If I floor it, it bogs and wants to die. If I don't lean into the throttle hard enough, it also wants to die.
While managing to keep the engine alive, I took some starter fluid and sprayed it at the crank seal on the PTO side. No change. I sprayed it at the right carb boot. No change. I sprayed it at the left carb boot... And suddenly the engine picked up and ran really well. It seemed to have power. I ordered a new boot for that side.
Little side note: my fuel lines have a few air bubbles in them... I think I should do a better job of bleeding them. Maybe some compressed air through the breather port on the fuel tank?
What more should I look for?
- Top end looks good
- Good compression (I don't have a tester but it feels real good on the recoil)
- New spark plugs
- New fuel lines
- New fuel filter
- New fuel pump (diaphragm)
- Amsoil 40:1 fuel ratio (for starters)
- Cleaned the fuel tank
- Cleaned up the carbs real nice
Guys it starts hard. If I am able to get it going, it wants to die. To keep it running I have to feather the throttle. If I floor it, it bogs and wants to die. If I don't lean into the throttle hard enough, it also wants to die.
While managing to keep the engine alive, I took some starter fluid and sprayed it at the crank seal on the PTO side. No change. I sprayed it at the right carb boot. No change. I sprayed it at the left carb boot... And suddenly the engine picked up and ran really well. It seemed to have power. I ordered a new boot for that side.
Little side note: my fuel lines have a few air bubbles in them... I think I should do a better job of bleeding them. Maybe some compressed air through the breather port on the fuel tank?
What more should I look for?