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Steve C.
New member
Username: Steve_c
Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 203.201.134.6
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 11:53 pm: | 
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Round trip Ferry ride to holiday island $90 - Gasoline for the Attex $15 - Having the Attex break down on a beach with the incoming tide - PRICELESS!
The Attex (Superchief Lil Truck) was not running as well as it should. It had been sitting for a few months. Before I took it out on the beach, I drove it up and down the road a couple of times just to see how it was running. It seemed to be a bit sluggish and didn't have the get up and go like I remembered. It nearly felt like there was a governor on the motor... I also noticed that one cylinder registered higher on the temp gauge than the other. Anyway, I drove it up and down the road a few times and got it up to operating temperature and turned it off once I got home again. After a little while, I went outside and started it up again. Everything seemed fine except for the lack of power. I then took a chance and took it out on to the beach where the sand was hard and flat. I just drove along as I normally would, but noticed even more that the engine was lacking power and holding back. I persevered and kept going and then a few times out of nowhere there was a burst of speed and then it went back to wat it was and then another burst of speed and then back to what it was. During these bursts of speed, I had not altered my grip on the throttle. After a little further, there was a "POP-POP" sound, so I spun her around and headed for home real quick. Then all of a sudden BRRRRRRrrrrrrr.... She died. Battery is flat, so I lifted off the rear deck to try starting it again and it was as dead a door nail. I tried starting it off and on for the next few minutes. NOTHING. So, I decided not to panic (can be a challenge with incoming tide ha, ha). I was on my own since my three year old screamed and cried when I tried to take him for a ride. I went down to the waters edge and waited for it to cool. After a while, I removed the plugs, put in another set and tried starting it. It then started, so I jumped in and took off home. It popped a couple more times and was still lacking power. I got it home and that was it. I had enough!!!
I have a feeling that it is the old problem of one cylinder not getting spark or enough spark again. We have relocated a lot of the electrics to keep it away from the heat, we have replaced plug leads, we have replaced coils and condensers. It sure has me beat.
Can anyone with more experience with the Chaparall engine powered Attexs help me out? This is sure driving me nuts.
Thanks in advance. |
Larry Wright
Intermediate Member
Username: Xljimmy
Post Number: 58
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 64.109.110.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 08:45 am: |
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Maybe the dead battery is sucking juice from coil trying to charge it? or short? Possibly something in charging system.
I bought one of those lights that plugs between the sparkplug and wire. It blinks when current is going to plug. Might help alot if you think it is coming and going. Just drive it around till it does it and look for the light. |
Larry Wright
Intermediate Member
Username: Xljimmy
Post Number: 59
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 64.109.110.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 08:51 am: |
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You said you waited awile when it wouldnt start. Replaced plugs and ran. A batteries voltage slowly raises when unused after being used. So maybe wasnt plugs?? I would try another battery or charge it if still good. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 64.109.110.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 09:15 pm: |
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Maybe the battery dying is sucking juice from coils or coils not getting enough juice??? short somewhere??? |
Mike Maroni
Member
Username: Micmac
Post Number: 22
Registered: 07-2005
Posted From: 204.188.173.50
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 05:05 pm: |
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check the fuel system. You may have a small obstruction that cuts the fuel off in certain situations. The battery being flat may just be a coincidence. It might be flat from sitting for so long. Good luck |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 203.201.134.6
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 04:15 pm: |
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Hi and thanks for getting back to me.
Could a flat battery really do this?
We have a dual temperature gauge and one cylinder was reading nearly 80deg higher than the other cylinder.
When the machine stopped, it was totally dead. Would not start, not even act like it was trying to start. I reckon I gave it about 15-20 minutes rest and then swapped plugs. It then started reasonably easy, but still lacked power. This is a Superchief and the maximum speed I could reach was 20mph. Those couple of times where the engine acted like it became free again, it quickly got up to 45mph, but that only lasted for 10secs and then it just went back to being underpowered.
Very weird!!!
Thanks for your help. |
Larry Wright
Intermediate Member
Username: Xljimmy
Post Number: 60
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 64.109.110.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 10:19 pm: |
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I am not sure on that motor but did have a motor that did the same thing with battery being problem. If charging isnt working I know that would cause it. Just something to check. After a battery dies voltage does climb back up. Like in a digital camera after you let it sit dead a few minutes you can get a couple more pictures. Could just be a coincidence but if you cant figure anything else out I'd check it. |
david berger
Senior Member
Username: Davidrrrd
Post Number: 307
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 172.163.0.225
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 06:53 pm: |
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i sure hope you figure this out because my 2 stroke acts exactly like that too!
im puting a new exaust in and i have looked up my spark plug gap and found it is diferent than i was useing, i don't know if this will make it any better yet and wont till i finish a fraim out re-organization of my poor ol worn out buggy. |
Steve (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 203.201.134.6
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 06:10 am: |
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So do I!! It looks like I will just rebuild the engine and see how that goes.
With the engine in pieces, I sure would like to fit CDI.
Thanks, |
Mike Cummings
Junior Member
Username: Hydromike
Post Number: 16
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 141.149.254.227
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 09:24 am: |
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Steve,
If your CHT gauges are reading 80 degrees different from one another, I would strongly suspect something different than a battery. One cylinder is likely running far leaner than the other. Did you perform a compression check on each cylinder? They should be within 10% of one-another. Your PTO or Mag-side seal may have a leak, or you may have a ring sticking on one side. The rebuild you're speaking of should address all of these issues. A CDI would also be a great upgrade. I know of at least one person who has done a couple of them on the Chaps, and they run absolutely incredibly. Good luck!
~mike |
steve chunn
New member
Username: Semper_fi
Post Number: 8
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 152.163.100.65
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 01:27 pm: |
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Mike let's hear about the cdi installations. Either the 1 or 2 cylinder 2 strokes.
thanks
steve |
Larry Wright
Intermediate Member
Username: Xljimmy
Post Number: 61
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 68.73.67.141
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 09:17 pm: |
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I agree with Mike. I didnt catch that 80 degree thing. Sound like a dead cylinder. Hope you get it figured out and good luck.
Larry |
Steve C.
New member
Username: Steve_c
Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 203.201.134.6
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 07:22 pm: |
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Hi, thanks for getting back to me.
We have taken the carburettor (Mikuni) off and cleaned it out.
We need to do a compression check still.
I am not sure it is a seal... The engine doesn't have many hours on it...
Maybe I am wrong?
Here is a site showing a CDI conversion...
http://members.aol.com/pullingtractor/ignition.htm
Has anyone tried this method? |
steve chunn
Junior Member
Username: Semper_fi
Post Number: 10
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 205.188.116.8
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 09:10 pm: |
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Steve C.
I am using the Brian Miller method on a 2f-400 I am building up. I have it mocked up and it fires a great spark every time the sensor comes in to proxiity of a metal trigger. Only problem is how to get an aluminum rotor mounted that you can set your metal triggers into. I used the Ford blue grommet CDI device. Otherwise it should be a great system. I can send pics if you need. I set it aside temporarily to finish my l-297 so I could get to riding.
Steve Chunn (not Steve C.) |
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