My bad luck with these sleds continues!

zachalyse · Post by **zachalyse** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:59 pm

Well, For 3 years now I've had an 83 that Ran ok but I could never seem to get it dialed in in the clutches no matter what I tried. Decided to pass it on and start over.

zachalyse · Post by **zachalyse** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:09 pm

After reading some posts in hear I'm beginning to wonder if it was a stuck thermostat. At no point did the guage move up towards the red. After the meltdown, one plug looked perfect and the pto side plug was kind of a dry grey. Does this sound like the problem?

vmax-540 · Post by **vmax-540** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:49 pm

If the plug was gray and the other looked OK then it sounds like it was to lean ( carb setting ,bad gas ,air leak,or even crank seals ) you need to check all these things and find out why it leaned out.

zachalyse · Post by **zachalyse** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:15 pm

Can ethanol give me problems with gas?

zachalyse · Post by **zachalyse** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:16 pm

How do I check for air leak and the crank seal

zachalyse · Post by **zachalyse** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:11 am

Is a #310 main jet safe for this sled running in Maine at 25 F along with the new ethanol gas? Could this be my problem?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:06 am

What elevation in Maine?
To the nearest 1000 feet would be fine.

zachalyse · Post by **zachalyse** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:02 am

1000. Maines mean elevation is 600. The area I was in was 300

Post by **Vmax540** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:46 am

zachalyse wrote:Is a #310 main jet safe for this sled running in Maine at 25 F along with the new ethanol gas? Could this be my problem?

Some new sleds have a switch that is used to richen when using Ethanol, that and if you have ported cylinders/gutted airbox/air leak or even bad gas could easliy cause a melt down. If only the PTO cylinder is affected, I would look closely at that carb to airbox boot or the carb to cylinder rubber mount. The PTO which is the most likely seal to leak can be checked with a running engine and while spraying starting fluid on the seal if the engine revs on its own you have found a leaking seal. A seal kit is cheap insurance much less exspensive than cylinders and pistons.

zachalyse · Post by **zachalyse** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:33 pm

Shined a light and found a hole in the top of the piston towards the exhaust side.

agfirecat · Post by **agfirecat** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:48 pm

im runnin 290's in my 83 and im at about the same elevation that your at and it runs excellent that was what the factory settled on for the vmax they started out with 310 i beleive i posted a thread in the garage with the carb specs if you would like to reference it

jipcee · Post by **jipcee** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:03 am

zachalyse wrote:After reading some posts in hear I'm beginning to wonder if it was a stuck thermostat. At no point did the guage move up towards the red. After the meltdown, one plug looked perfect and the pto side plug was kind of a dry grey. Does this sound like the problem?

When you see grey (or silver) on the plugs that is usually the melted aluminum from the piston.
Grey-Silver on the plugs is a tell-tale sign that you burned down.
How long where you running 40 mph (around half throttle I would assume)?
It is also very easy to burn down at partial throttle openings.
Usually a hole in the piston is from detonation, caused by bad gas, ignition timing to far advanced, or octane rating is to low for the compression rating.
I would check your timing and compression.
Always use good high octane fuel.
Good luck...................jipcee

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:55 am

Every time I see the sticker on my filler lid cover that says,
"Use Regular Leaded Fuel of no less than 93 Octane"
I have to chuckle.

When was the last time you saw 93 octane Regular?

It has been quite a while since I saw any 93 octane Premium.

The best I can find at a gas station around here is 92 octane unleaded with 10% ethanol.

I can get race gas in the summer at the race track, but it is harder to find in the winter when the track is closed.