spitfire problems

JDXsand00s · Post by **JDXsand00s** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:56 pm

i figured i would try and get my 79 spitfire going today but i'm not having very good luck. it has a rebuilt engine with new seals, gaskets, and pistons and 110 psi each side. in the stand, if i ease the throttle it will run at 35 for a long time. if i open the throttle completely, it dies immediatly. also, when i try and drive it along the ground, even without my weight, it won't budge. i tried another external coil and that didn't help but i haven't changed cdi yet, don't think that is bad. any ideas on what is wrong, i don't think i timed it before i put it in the sled. i think this could be a problem. thanks.

JDXspec · Post by **JDXspec** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:28 am

I would try looking into the carb first. Sounds like maybe a plugged passage somewhere. I assume its a butterfly mikuni. They can tricky to clean sometimes. Can you save it with the choke when it starts to die?

JDXsand00s · Post by **JDXsand00s** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:45 am

i don't think it is the carb, i had it apart and cleaned several times last summer. also, it will rev up to 35 in the stand with the choke on or off. it is a mik slide valve. my 82 spit with the butterfly also would run fine on the ground with the choke on, there didn't seem to be a difference in performance.

Post by **Matt** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:12 am

You shouldn't worry about performance on the stand. It doesen't mean much with no load. Have you adjusted the choke? It should be making a difference. Your '82 should not be able to run with the choke on after being warmed up either.

But anyway, if you marked the stator position before rebuilding it, and put it right back where it was, the timing should be OK. If you didn't mark it and didn't time it when going back together, that is definitely an issue.

MARK · Post by **MARK** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 4:11 pm

Try running it without the air box and see how it runs ?"SHORT PERIOD" without the airbox

JDXsand00s · Post by **JDXsand00s** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:02 pm

actually snowmobile is fairly hard to start, i've been squirting gas through the carb to get it started so the airbox has been off the whole time. what would inability to start be blamed on if the fuel pump is good? i think timing is the problem as i just bolted the stator plate in when where it looked close when i rebuilt it.

JDDDeere · Post by **JDDDeere** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:20 pm

Just my 2 cents...

and for reference... my Spitfire motor (Kohler) has about 118 psi on both sides... not sure what others get.

Deleted User · Post by **Deleted User** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:57 pm

I am also havin trouble with my 79 Spitfire. It has a Kohler engin, and 115lbs of compression on each side. I think the timing is off on it, but I can't raise it past idle on or off a stand. I cleaned the carb, and replaced the plugs, but it still wont run.