Alot of questions on here Hard to Start. Best Answer..

[1980spitirejjs]

Like my sled now, it takes 10 minutes of pulling. Alot of posts say crank seals are easy, but can you get to them without tearing engine apart? Some posts say Screen in tank? Whwer would you start first, this being you already cleaned carb.

Thanks...

[Matt]

The check valve in the tank is the easiest possible think to check, make sure your impulse line is not cracked, and your fuel pump is rebuilt. Check those first. How easy the crank seals are to replace depends on what sled we're talking about, but at the very minimum you have to remove the engine, remove clutch & recoil/flywheel/ignition, and unbolt the crankcase. Bottom line on the crank seals is, if they're bad, your going to end up with a blown piston eventually.

[guitardude081]

Here's the problem with bad crank seals:
1. The sled will run lean and burn down
2. It is hard to tune a carb if the sled has bad crank seals
3 If your MAG side crank seal is bad, you won't put any pulse to the fuel pump which will in turn make fuel delivery to the engine almost impossible. The result is having to pull for a long time, the sled will run badly like is starving for fuel, and restarts will not be easy.

I would check the in-tank line. Shine a flashlight into your fill neck, if you spot the pickup line, grab it with one of the wire claw grabbers and pull it out through the filler neck. If there's a little plastic or brass fitting with a screen on it on the end of the fuel line, you're good. If you don't have a grabber, make sure your gas tank is nearly empty and just pull the fitting right out of the gas tank. There should be a fuel line and fitting attached.

Empty the fuel line to the carb. When you pull the rope does fuel start to fill the carb or does nothing happen? If nothing happens, order a $5 fuel pump rebuild kit and rebuild your pump. The Mikuni rectangle pump should take you roughly 1-2 minutes to rebuild. While you have the impulse line off the pump, check it for cracks and holes. Replace with black reinforced fuel line commonly called fuel injection hose.

If after you've done all of that, then you most likely have a bad crank seal. Rebuilding a Spitfire engine is extremely easy. Have your clutch and flywheel pulled by a shop. After those parts are off, it's all nuts, bolts and screws....and 2 circ clips. You can't replace crank seals without tearing the engine apart. New gaskets, rings and seals are a good thing. If you have to pull for 10 minutes, you have something majorly wrong. If a Spitfire doesn't start in 2 or 3 pulls in weather between -40 and 100 degrees, something's not right.

I'm putting my money on crank seals.

If you can get your engine here, and your cylinders and pistons are in good shape, I'll rebuild it for you.
Labor, 3 Hours: $210
Gasket set, complete: $25.00
Piston Rings, 2 sets: $40
Shop Supplies: $15
Total Rebuild Cost: <$300
~Jack

[1980spitirejjs]

Yes, it sounds like I have bad side crank seals MAG? Is this possible for some of the novice mechanics like myself to do?
I would love to have it rebuilt, wish I lived near MN. Anybody on thr forum around PA!

[harleysportster]

Yes, it sounds like I have bad side crank seals MAG? Is this possible for some of the novice mechanics like myself to do?
I would love to have it rebuilt, wish I lived near MN. Anybody on thr forum around PA!

There are a few of us in Pa. but on the Eastern side outside of Philadelphia. Check out this web site for an on-line service manual for your Spitfire.
http://www.vintagesnow.com/John_Deere_f ... July79.pdf
If you have had any successful experence with engines, I would give it a try. But if you feel uncomfortable, that's fine, but I would try and find the parts and take everything to a reputable mechanic.
You will need a few special tools, such as a clutch puller, flywheel puller and a torque wrench.
Good Luck,

[guitardude081]

A free-air engine is probably the best engine for a novice mechanic to rebuild and learn the fundamentals on. The other JD/Kawi engines had oil injection systems, fan towers and shrouds, gearcase assys, water/oil pump assys, water pipes and cooling hoses. Rebuilding other JD/Kawi engines will be a lot simpler after you've cut your teeth on a F/A TB340. The Liquifire engine works best when rebuilt with a few "out of the box" techniques. If you attempt it yourself remember to clean all parts thoroughly, check and scrutinize all parts carefully, wash your hands frequently and take your time. Before you re-install the cylinders, make yourself check for proper circ-clip installation 3 times.
~Jack