1991 480 yamaha phazerII motor

[golpher76]

So I got really angry at my jlo 340 yesterday and removed it from my max and I have a fresh rebuilt phazer motor sitting on my bench with nowhere to go. the clutch on it is new as are the carbs. I am building a new plate to bolt to the existing one and wanted to ask if I was going to have any issues that anyone could think of. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Oh and BTW the 480 is .020 over so it's like a 508.

[6X6]

Soooo. It kinda sounds like this will be a racer, or at least really fast when geared right. Do you have any photos of the machine? Roll Bar?
Would be cool to see you take this to Busco, Ashtabula etc...
It would be coo for ME to make it for that matter

[golpher76]

really have no need for it to be fast I need reliability. Tonight it will be running as my fuel pump was bad and no one was open yesterday for me to get some. I also have to modify the cargo area a bit b/c the phazer motor is taller, I plan on just removing the indent and making it flat then running a sheetmetal tunnel to the air holes in the side for fresh air intake. I'll take some pics and a video or 2 when she's all done and running.

[golpher76]

Well my friend just called me and I was talking to him about my project phazer engine mod. and he asked me if i realized that it was 53HP stock and bored.020 over i should be right around 60 or so now..... I am going to hurt myself. Might be time to gear it a little different to get more power and less speed.

[golpher76]

I got the fuel issue straightened out last night(one of the primer hoses was sucking air) so I eliminated the primer all together hooked up my new fuel line and she started and idled 2nd pull. It was about 9 when I got done so i just took one quick whip around my yard.... needless to say it is about 2 times as fast as it was. All this rain we have been getting has my field pretty wet so everytime i whacked the gas it threw some sod out the back...I am impressed.

[Mike]

We are going to have to see some video of this. It definitely sounds FAST!

[golpher76]

I took it out again last night for a minute on a old dirt road down the street from my house and opened it up a bit to clean it out. It definitely made me pretty nervous, The worst part though is the belt is really worn out......a new belt is just going to make it faster. I'll see if i can get my brother to take some video this weekend of me driving it around so you all can see what i am talking about.

[6X6]

You say that almost like it's a bad thing.
A bucket seat may be in order if you don't need the room for a second passenger and a harness, but I think you'll have a BLAST with it. You'll at least need belts so you don't fling yourself to the side, I've done that messing around on snowy roads

[Model Citizen]

You say that almost like it's a bad thing.

I was thinking the same thing last night.
If you have a good roll cage, lap belt w/ shoulder harness & slap on a helmet, you'll cut the "nervous factor" in half & all those things would be in your best interest before you test what that motor is fully capable of. We've never known anyone that got hurt because of speed in one of these things when they had those 3 simple things. They are incredibly safe machines if you prepare for the unexpected. Looking forward to your videos.

Bridget

[golpher76]

Well guys I apologize for no video's yet. I had to reposition the engine the float carbs weren't closing all the way and too much gas was getting past the needle at idle. I got the motor mounted back in so the carbs are straight now but I have an exhaust/drive belt challenge to deal with. I should have her buttoned up by this weekend so I can get some video... I also need to order a starter but it starts first pull everytime so it isn't a big deal right now.

[jpswift1]

Well guys I apologize for no video's yet. I had to reposition the engine the float carbs weren't closing all the way and too much gas was getting past the needle at idle. I got the motor mounted back in so the carbs are straight now but I have an exhaust/drive belt challenge to deal with. I should have her buttoned up by this weekend so I can get some video... I also need to order a starter but it starts first pull everytime so it isn't a big deal right now.

Exhaust and drive belt/pulley clearance is always an isssue with a custom build like this, but after all that hard work and fabrication it'll all be worth it! Keep us posted.

[golpher76]

Still no videos yet guys, after I got the exhaust all fixed up I relized i was still having a problem. I am still shooting fuel out the exhaust so I am going to take the carbs off again and check the floats for holes and also check the adjustment on the float needle. I think it isn't closing properly so at idle it is getting too much fuel, I'm not that good with these engines but if anyone has any other suggestions I'd appreciate them. I have been working on this for tooo long and i need to get it out and have some fun with it.

[golpher76]

So I got it running properly and figured out the fuel issue then catastrophe struck, I don't know exactly what happened but it backfired and caught the carbs on fire then the rest of the motor. I put it out quickly and nothing else burned/no one got hurt, my dad has been working on snowmobiles most of his life and he said he has seen it happen before just out of the blue. I had to pull the phazer motor and put the jlo back in temporarily, I am saving for a vanguard or a kohler command I am done trying to retrofit I learned my lesson.....well unless I get this attex my friend has. It's really beatup and needs a whole ton of mechanical love, but the body is solid and so is the frame. So for now it's just a slow 1978 maxII again.

[smog]

if you are still looking for an extra cool machine, try to find a Sachs rotary engine out of a Johnson/evinrude/articcat panter snowmobile.

YouTube - Single rotor lawn mower-YouTube.mov

[Mike]

That sucks, but at least it was pretty much contained to the motor itself.