Hello all,

New to the site, hoping to maybe get some help. Bought a quad off craigslist. Was told it would turn over but wouldn't start. Took apart the carb, cleaned. Put it back together and I could get it to start for just a few seconds. I noticed I was getting gas out of my exhaust. I then turned off the gas line and cranked it, and i got it going again, and it would stay running if i opened and then closed the gas line over and over again. So then I started to play with the fuel/air screws. I had adjusted it to where I could leave the gas line open and the atv stayed idling. I shut it off, after about 3 minutes went to start it again and couldn't get it. So i went through the same thing again, playing with the fuel/air screws and turning the gas line on and off. Finally started to get it back up and then POP. I look over and my oil level sight glass and blown out. WTF? Does anyone know what is going on there? I have some mechanical knowledge but I have never gotten this deep into a engine repair. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

At a guess, your float has sunk. Could be a faulty float or float needle, or just dirt stuck to the needle. Clean the carb out, check both needle and float for problems, put all those adjusters back to stock and change the oil. Fuel has run from the carb into the cylinder, exhaust and crankcase, a spark has ignited the fuel in the crankcase and blown the sight glass.

 

Hey thanks for the response! I have a new carb on the way and a new sight glass coming in. You wouldn't happen to know how to change the sight glass would you? Just not sure what I use to seal it in there because it just slips in there and doesn't really seal too well.

 

Afraid not, Buyang use Honda C110 clone engines so if anyone on here has had to fit a sight glass to a Honda or other clone, let us know how to do it. I suspect you may have to fit it from the inside, or it could be held by a spring ring that has gone.

 

Yup, merryman is right on this. Stuck float will cause too much fuel flow thru and motor can't burn it off fully. When you get your new carb, verify the float isn't stuck by putting a fuel tube on the carb fuel inlet and blow while turning the carb upside down. It should seal and your air blowing should stop. This will show a proper functioning float.

 

merryman and MPDano, thank you very much for your help! I appreciate it.

 

Update: New carb came in, I tested it like you said to do MPDano, it passed. Hooked it all up and it she ran beautifully. Now my problems, brand new battery, just taken off the charger, atv won't start. Just makes a buzzing noise. But when I hook up jumper cables it fires right up. Second problem, I have a oil leak at the shifter seal. Any help on the electrical issue would be appreciated. I have read some people just take out the seal and clean it off and put it back and it works sometimes. I guess that will be my first try.

 

Awesome! Yeah, used ATV's are fun to troubleshoot. Do you have a volt meter? If so, hook it up to your connected battery and see what it says when you turn the key. It shouldn't drop too much. To me, sounds like your new battery is shot.

As far as the seal, I say go for it. Maybe if you got a hair dryer and heat it up a little to get it more pliable, then smear some silicone or dielectric grease on it and reinstall. If it seals, then your good. If it leaks very little, ride it and let the warmth seal it up. If none of that works, time to buy a new seal.

 

A few days ago when I first got the atv I bought a new battery and it wasn't giving me anything at all, so I took it back and they checked it and said it showed dead but when they put it on the charger it showed it to be 100%. They said the tester they hooked it to wasn't good for smaller batteries so that's why it showed dead. But I exchanged it for a different battery. Tester still showed dead. But I took it home and that's where I'm at with the starting. I had it on the charger for a little while before I put it in the atv and still had nothin just making a sound. I don't have a volt meter but I should probably get one. I want to just leave it on the charger for a while but I don't want to over charge it. My charger is just a cheap manual one that won't stop charging on its own and gives no indication of charger

 

Harbor Freight has some volt meters but they don't last long. I ended up getting a good craftsman one from Sears.

My charger has a meter on it. You can safely charge at 2amps for about 8 hours. Always good to have good tools as your gonna need them anyways.