How to Tune Up a Gasoline Go Cart Engine

A go cart can be great to drive, and it is a form of entertainment that provides excitement in a relatively safe setting. The key to the performance of the go cart is having a well maintained engine. Like any mechanical engine, the parts on a go cart will begin to wear over time and reduce the vehicle's performance. Sticking to a routine maintenance schedule can help keep your go cart in optimum condition, and performing standard tune-ups should be a cornerstone of this preventative maintenance. It is easy to do with these steps.

Things You'll Need

• SAE 10W30 motor oil (20 ounces) Oil drain pan Oil filter Small funnel Spark plug wrench Spark plug gapper Screwdriver set Air filter (maybe)

Instructions

1. Change the oil in your go cart engine. You will first need to refer to your owner's manual to locate the drain plug for the oil tank. This can vary from one engine manufacturer to the next, but is often located just under the oil fill tube. Remove the drain plug and use an oil drain pan to catch all of the oil that drains from the engine. After draining is complete, replace the oil plug and fill the oil tank with the oil that is recommended by the manufacturer. Most go cart engines require around 20 oz. of SAE 10W30 engine oil. If your engine uses an oil filter, this should be replaced as well.

2. Inspect the spark plug on your engine. Gasoline go cart engines use a single spark plug to ignite the fuel air mixture inside the motor. Use a standard spark plug wrench to remove the spark plug from the engine. Inspect the electrode for signs of burning. If it appears burnt, replace the spark plug with a new one. Also use a spark plug gapper to check the space between the electrode and the plug. Most should have a gap between .025 and .030, depending on what your owner's manual recommends. If your spark plug appears to be in good condition it can be re-gapped and placed back in the engine. If it needs to be replaced, write down the numbers that appear on the plug and buy one that corresponds to those numbers.

3. Look over the spark plug wire for any signs of wear. The spark plug wire rarely encounters a problem, but if it does begin to crack or develop cuts, it can dramatically cut down on the performance of your go cart engine. If the wire leading to the spark plug looks damaged, it should be replaced. Otherwise, if the wire appears to be in reasonable condition, you can move to the next step.

4. Check the air filter to see if it should be replaced. The air filter is housed in the metal case that sits on top of the carburetor. A single screw is in the center of the lid (top) of this case. Remove that screw with a standard screwdriver and lift the top off. Pull the air filter out to inspect for damage. It can be gently washed with soap and water and allowed to dry completely. The inside of the case should also be washed, either with soapy water or with de-greaser. If the air filter is torn or excessively dirty, it should be thrown away and replaced with a new one.

5. Set the fuel air mixture of your gasoline go cart engine. Unlike our modern cars, which use sophisticated fuel injectors, go carts use the old-fashioned carburetor system. It is important to adjust the carburetor periodically, including during a tune up, to optimize the ratio of fuel to air. Use a screwdriver to turn the needle valve in the carburetor. Turn the valve clockwise until it will no longer turn. Keep track of how many rotations the screw makes, in case you have to reset the position. After the valve has been tightened all the way, turn the screw 2.5 turns counterclockwise. This will set the fuel to air ratio at the optimum level.

6. Start the engine. Since you have removed and replaced the spark plug, as well as made adjustments to the carburetor, it is important to start the engine to listen to how it sounds. It should ideally sound like a new go cart when it is started. If it sounds as though it is misfiring, repeat the previous steps to see what you have overlooked. Otherwise, if the engine sounds good, your tune up is complete and will not need to be repeated for another 5,000 miles.

Tips & Warnings

• If you ever need to clean the points of the engine, you will need to buy a special starter clutch removal tool. This will allow you to gain access to the flywheel for removal. Once the flywheel is removed, you will have access to the points, which can be either cleaned or replaced, depending on how much carbon build up is present.

Resources

• Source for go cart engines
• Information about small engine tune up