I have been to alot of forums and not many care to discuss the OLD stuff. I understand they are a PITA but they are still around. I have a mid 80's LT125 and mid 90'S LT 80 that I want to get running, just for the neighborhood kids to learn on. Where is a good forum who's members know about and want to discuss the OLD stuff?
Because I am the neighborhood kid's Mr Fixit, someone had left this LT125 and LT80 in my driveway for me to get running.
If this is THE place to discuss the old stuff I'll start with the 125.
The LT125 will crank after several pulls, runs for a few seconds then dies. While running if I slowly give it gas it will rev up a bit and die. If I quickly give it gas it dies imieditly. Sometimes it will idle for 2 or 3 minutes the die. And it smoked like hell.
I replaced the rings and valve seals, rebuilt the carb and replaced the plug.
Now it runs the same only it doesn't smoke.
The idle screw on the carb is backed out so that the slide is closed because it will not crank otherwise. The mixture screw is out 3 turns. Fuel is about 6 monts old.
If I can get it running I plan to invest in more parts and manuals and get started on the LT80.

 

this is ur place to find info id check valve clearance and if u have strong spark.. the 80 should be easier to get running

 

we like the old stuff. without it , we would'nt have the new stuff.

 

The spark is weak. If I gap the plug at 40 there is no spark gap at 32 and there is weak blue spark. What is the proper plug gap? Removed the pull start and wanted to clean and check the magneto, but I don't have a puller.
How can I check the pick up coil and the ign. coil?
After the blisters healed from pulling last week I got it cranked today and slowly increased the RPM with 2 or 3 small pops from the exaust it died. It ran about 1 or 2 min. I did this twice, then it would only run for a few seconds.
I'm beginning to think I have an electrical problem.

albung, the 80 needs carb parts and battery before I can try cranking it. won't be long I hope.

 

040 seem big to me on that gap .024-.028 is gap on my 230. u will need a book but u can check resistance on both pickup and ign coil.

 

Not sure how to check resistance on the coils, but I do have an ohm meter.
This is what happened today. I removed the carb and intake. Replaced the o-ring on the intake. Set the plug gap to 28. Primed twice, pulled the pull start rope twice and it fired up. I revved up and it started to die out. I revved slowly and it revved up. As it warmed up it ran better and throttle response got better. Once it got hot I let it idle for a few seconds but it would die if I gave it gas. I was able to do this twice. The second time it ran at high revs it began to pop out of the exhaust pipe.
The strange thing is, while it was running I turned on the headlight to see if it worked and the popping would stop. I let it idle and tried to ease the throttle when it died.
Then it would not crank again.
I wonder if the valve timing is off? How can the valve timing be checked?
This LT125 has a choke cable above the throttle, but the leaver was missing. I made a leaver to use until I get it running.
What difference is the sound in the motor, between starving for fuel and flooding out?

 

check ur plug.if whitish color,considering it ran long enough then ur too lean. if real black then too rich and should be blackish smoke if that rich. to test ign coil primary resistancebetween +and - which is where ur wires connect should be between 0 and 2 ohm. to test secondary resistance between + and plug wirewith boot installed should be between 10-25k ohm. this is info from my manual for my 230 s which should be similar. try putting some sea foam brand carb cleaner in ur gas 2-4 oz to full tank gas. this stuff works wonders on cleaning out crud in the carb. try unhooking the kill switch, i had similar issues with mine when full of mud

 

After it runs awhile the plug is black and whitish grey smoke. Does the jet need to be replaced? Acording to your coil check my coil is good. Already disconnected the kill switch.

 

float level too high? sounds to me like ur carb has issues. I would try the sea foam its cheap