Need Scrambler Help

[PowerTrike]

Polaris 86250R/es trike seemed to be running great a few days ago when i parked it. It sat for a couple days and today I decided to go ride a little in the fresh snow. Started normal and idles great once warmed up but didn't want to run good past half throttle at all. :( Sounded funny like it was bogging or something (hard to describe). I think its running real lean when opened up. Pulled plug and it was hot, dry, and had a little white buildup on the tip. Airbox had gas in it and carb was dripping gas out where it comes in. Gas backing up? Is it most likely the carb to blame? Plugged up somehow?
Any Ideas on what to check or do would be greatly appreciated! :)

BTW: I'm running 87octane pump gas right now if that matters.

Also electric start or lights don't want to work at all. Click is heard coming from the starter relay. Relay shot?

[PowerTrike]

Plug change didn't make any difference either. I guess it sounds more like it is "missing" than "bogging" I'm not sure if its running lean.

[PowerTrike]

Anybody? Its still missing bad with no power and I can't figure it out. Would like to narrow down the problem. Drained gas and checked/cleaned petcock and fuel filter becuase I wasn't sure if the flow was keeping up. I haven't had time to rip off the carb yet but I did run a bunch of "Sea-Foam" through it along with spraying a ton of carb cleaner through it. Checked for leaks also but found none. Dindn't make any difference whatsoever.

1. Compression problem? (my tester won't fit under the frame/tank to check) Could it still idle perfectly if it needs headwork?
2. Fuel/air? Could it very well be a carb problem even if chemical cleaners didn't do squat? Reeds??? Do they just go bad??
3. Electrical prob? (spark looks strong but i don't know if its consistant)

[conig]

I had this happen to my big red, I have no idea how similiar the carbs are.

but anyway the two screws that attach to the carb slide came loose, at first one was managing to block the arm that lifts the slide from coming all the way up. second time the slide wanslt moving up at all. I had gas in the airbox when this happened.

[ClayW]

I dont know if its possible on a trike, but on I have seen a few large Small engines that were overfilled with oil, blow gas and a small amount of oil out of the carb. It also ended up getting gas in the motor oil. Dont know if thats possible on your trike or not. The gas builds up on top of the piston, then works it way down, because its thinner than oil. Then in gets in the crank case. Neigbors Big Riding mower did that 3 weeks ago. Just an idea.

[PowerTrike]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I will check the exhaust for blockage when I get a chance. The starter relay/solenoid seems to be working fine (tested with a multi-meter) I think the starter is locked up and needs a rebuild. Mostly concerned with the missing/no power problem now. I'm not seeing gas in the airbox anymore but it still runs the same. I will check again for loose screws conig. These engines sure vibrate a lot at idle and something could have possible came loose. ClayW: Scramblers are 2 strokes. Can't overfill with oil, but thanks anyway.

As for the reeds. Do they typically just go bad on a 2 stroke? I have never seen any go bad before, even on an older banshee that was ridden hard...

[MIK6]

PowerTrike.... I have a scrambler as well, so good luck w/ it. I have had no problems yet w/ mine so i don't have any advice to give you yet. BUT w/ my Tecates I can tell you that when the needle sticks in my carb, gas leaks into the carb and into the cylinder/ base. When you get fluid in the base you get fluid locked, the liquid gas does not compress and it will stop the motor from running rite or at all. I took my T3 apart and turned it upside down to let the gas drain from my plug hole (I didn't want to pull the motor apart and put new gaskets in), it worked for me. I looked at the Scrambler manual and it has 8 pages on the carb alone, nothing looks different from any other 2 stroke carb I have seen. You might want to get ahold of HOWDY he had another copy of the manual that might be for sale. I was told that the starters do go bad pretty easy, I'd bet thats the problem. I'd try to hit it w/ a 12 volt jumper wire and see what it does.

GOOD LUCK W/ IT
KEEP US INFORMED
MIK6 / Mike

[PowerTrike]

Mike: Thanks for the info. I have seen your Scrambler pics before and it looks great. Nice job on it! Hope it stays problem free for you.


w/ my Tecates I can tell you that when the needle sticks in my carb, gas leaks into the carb and into the cylinder/ base. When you get fluid in the base you get fluid locked, the liquid gas does not compress and it will stop the motor from running rite or at all. I took my T3 apart and turned it upside down to let the gas drain from my plug hole (I didn't want to pull the motor apart and put new gaskets in), it worked for me. I looked at the

Checked the Scrambler and found a drain plug at the bottom of the cylinder base. Didn't have to turn engine upside down. (just above starter) Drained it and in fact a little bit of gas did come out. Still seemed to run the same.

UPDATE: I found out that I do have a fuel delivery problem atleast ocassionally and that is why gas is sometimes backing up into the airbox and out the gasline. I thought plug has always shown good spark when pulled and looked wet. However I think the "wet" was Oil from the Oil Injection and not gas. When this happens you can pull on the starter forever but it will not start. Let it sit for a while and boom, it starts first or second pull if plug is clean. Getting gas...not going into airbox.
When I first bought the trike it wouldn't start at all, but started fine later. I now think it did this because it would not start and plug was wet, with oil and not gas or not enough of it. Thought it was just the plug but it did start first pull with the old plug even in the cold weather later on. However it still ran good once it got going? Now sometimes it will start first pull, idle great, but have no power and miss from there...