ive got an 2007 ez go gas cart with the robin 295 engine in her.last race she started chugging a bit and surging a bit at low speeds and intermittent pop...the plugs aren't that old but I did a pair of plugs a fuel and air filter and no more pop but it still has a surging at low speeds...full throttle she is fine with plenty of power.
any ideas how to smooth her out?

maybe bad fuel?

quote:

maybe bad fuel?

I was thinking that could be possible...

Modern gas is worse than ever....Ethanol in it...

If it sits any length of time it can and does cause numerous problems with small engine carbs...The passages are very small and can easily become restricted.

Classic symptoms....won't run smooth.....popping...have to keep choke on to keep it running...

Old gas used to leave gummy deposits but it took time...gas became dark and smells bad...

Modern gas leaves a greenish, yellow. sugary type deposit and it will do it in a much shorter time period.

I often fix this problem and advise others with similar problems what it is.....

Best you can do is drain the fuel from the carb anytime a machine is going to sit a while...

Not always easy on many machines..

I have 2 Onan 4KY generators....they have drains on the fuel bowls....I drain them before every winter...

I use fuel additives like Stabil in all my yard equipment and even that is not always effective....The gas is terrible...

I'll add that my small engine repair guy told me to use only 93 octane in all my equipment and I have been for several years now in my lawn equipment as well my golf cart, scooter and generator without issue after having my carbs gum up on 87 octane fuel in the past.

Can you guys not get 100% gas up there? It’s all I run in every gasoline engine I own.

no

Only place I’ve been told you can buy ethanol free gas from a pump is at airports selling AV Gas. You can buy it at Home Depot in small cans for extremely high cost per gallon.

There are lots of stations around here with non-ethanol fuel at the pump. All the Wawa's have it. It works wonders in anything with a carburetor.

Most marina’s and areas near water will have ethanol free gas.

Check valve lash
.005 I believe

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Check valve lash.005 I believe

probably a good idea as well...I also checked the butterfly linkage.as you apply gas pedal your supposed to hear the solenoid click before the throttle opens..im good there.
so check valve lash and fresh fuels

I use a product up here in MA called Star Tron Enzyme fuel treatment it’s designed to defeat the ethanol run it in all my small engines and classic cars works great

valve lash is a very tight .006 so I don't think that would affect performance.
so down to fresh fuel with an additive for the ethanol based fuel

we have true gas at the pump in some places and at fuel distributors.thats mostly all i use in small engines

quote:

Originally posted by jenavet:
valve lash is a very tight .006 so I don't think that would affect performance.
so down to fresh fuel with an additive for the ethanol based fuel

Most small engines I work on (Onan's) call for very little lash..... They use solid lifters and if an exhaust is too tight it can cause trouble once the engine is hot....Exhaust side gets tighter and holds valve off seat ....runs rough, pops....once it's hot...

Most of it happens from valve and seat wear...

I set 'em on the loose side.... .003"-.004" cold....

Throw some race gas in it let it eat....

Did you buy fuel for your golf cart on your trip to the track last weekend?
If you did I would bet that its the junk fuel we have here in the northeast.

Put some other stuff in it or get the regular gas at Home Depot for $6.00 a Quart.

quote:

I set 'em on the loose side.... .003"-.004" cold.

I went back and set them at .004. find out this weekend

I've been using the Lucas Ethanol additive in my generator on the race trailer and all my lawn equipment. It's been working great for me. Speaking of that, have a nice day everyone. Time to go mow the lawn. Yuck!!