what should i do about engine?

[atvrider93]

i have a 1979(i think) scrambler that i got 2 weeks ago in a trade
the guy said the carb would need to be cleaned out so i cleaned it out pretty good. but, i cant get it to start. i hooked up 2 lawnmower batteries in parallel but i'm not sure if that in enough amps to get it going. i also noticed at one point while cranking it tht the starter wire where it connects to the starter motor started smoking.
i think the carb needs an oring for the float needle.
its a 16hp kohler, at least thats what i was told
should i get this one going or get a newer but used engine?

[LarryW]

Why did you hook the batteries up parallel together? Does 1 not spin it fast enough? It should. If the wire started smoking then it has either a bad connection or it cant take the amps for the period of time you had it cranking. Possibly to small guage of wire??? Which may explain why you used 2 batteries??? But Im guessing it was cranking a while before it started smoking so maybe no big deal. Will it start to run off starting fluid? If not then it may be another issue like spark usually but maybe compressions low either with valves or ring wear. With more info I bet we can help get that thing running for you.

[atvrider93]

when i hooked up a car battery it cranked what sounded like a good speed but my lamnmower batteries arent very high amperage
when i poured in carb cleaner i was able to get it to run for about 1 second but that the longest i was able to get it to run for. i was able to get it to pop some but thats it. it only smokes after cranking for a while and only sometimes. it does spark when i have the plug out touching the head.

[Amphiman1]

scrambler

carb cleaner will only make it stall, to not run at all u need starting fluid.....

[racerone3]

a little more info on your engine would be helpfull. kohler did both 2 and 4 strokes. a good lawn mower battery should be enough to get it going... if everything else is ok. the smoke tells me that you have a lot of resistance somewhere. check and clean all the cables in the starting system. also try pulling out the spark plugs and see how it cranks. while they are out check spark and compression. it's probably got points, and if it has no spark they might need cleaned/ adjusted. also check to make sure fuel is getting to the carb. 16hp is enough to give you a good taste of what one of these can do, and you can always upgrade later. i'd try to get it going, before i went to the trouble of an engine swap

[atvrider93]

4 stroke
1 battery wasnt getting it spinning too good
has spark
dont want to upgrade, just want it running

[LarryW]

ok, can you take the float bowl off. If so is there gas in it? When the bowl is off you can manually move the float up and down? Try that with gas in line and see if it flows. If you are getting fuel when you hold the float down then maybe the float needs adjusting? There are correct measurement for that but I ussually just play around with it till it works. Make sure you get all the little needle holes in the jets cleaned out. I have found wire brush bristle work good for that.

[LarryW]

Is the gas gravity fed or is the a pump?

[racerone3]

ok. total carb cleaning and rebuild. the kit is about $55. also check the fuel pump. i have a similar engine in my argo and if it sits for a long time the pump will lose it's prime. you can set a cup of gas up on the fender with a line down to the carb and see if it will run while gravity fed. i'd disconnect all the cables in the starting system and clean them, reinstall with dielectric grease just to be sure. clean the points and change the spark plugs just for good measure

[Amphiman1]

scrambler.

pictures picturesssssssss so us guys may help...

[atvrider93]

changed the spark plug
i assume gravity feed because it didnt come with a pump
the gas gets to the carb
the float moves up and down fine but the oring that goes around the float needle kinda rotted out so i removed it
basically the gas keeps comingand ends up leaking out of the carb in the overflow
for now i'm just trying to get it running for a few seconds then i'll find an oring i guessi guess i forgot to say that i'm trying to spend as little money s possible because i really dont have much lol

[kestianj]

my atv did the same thing , you just need a carb rebuild,just take the carb to a motorcycle repair shop ,they only charged me one hour labor and a rebuild kit was like 20 bucks...good luck

[LarryW]

ok, well sounds like you have it figured out. Without the o ring it is probably just dumping fuel into engine and is why it isnt running long. I'd get that fixed and go from there. You can get them cheap at hardware stores like $1 or less but not sure if they are gas resistant so if you go that route watch for that. Not sure how much a correct replacement one is but you should price it because it maybe worth it if it does cost few more $$$. Good luck

[atvrider93]

but shouldnt it run if i spray wd40 into the carb?

[LarryW]

I am not sure. It may sputter but I don't think it would run. And if the gas is on it is probably running into the engine flooding it out.