Leopard 125 help

Sean Swisz · Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 19

I got this chassis a few months ago and I re-kitted the brakes and carb along with some other minor things. I took it to East Lansing Kart Track for open practice today and the kart ran great... but when it hits around a 5 minute mark the RPM's drop to idle, I have no throttle control and then it shuts off/stalls out by itself after about 15 seconds of no throttle control. I noticed every time it happened I was getting on the gas coming out of a corner. It is a Parilla Leopard 125 with a Tillotson HL-334B carb with a standard airbox. I do have the second ground off of the coil-to-frame like the manual said. The engine water temp was around 104-106

I started thinking it was fuel so I reset the screws on the carb back to 1 1/2 and 1 1/4 for the H & L settings then re-adjusted the idle screw. It worked and at about the same time limit of 5 minutes it would shut off again. I then found out I could start it after waiting 5-10 minutes on a cool down. Next session went out again and the same thing happened!

Need help before race on Sept 28-29 please!
I also have a video on youtube showing one of the last sessions of it shut off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6G5ktM-Nik

Thanks in advance

William French · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 2:50 am Post subject: Leopard help

Check to see if you still have spark once it happens. If you don't, then it is probably a bad coil. They tend to fail after getting good and warmed up.

Dan Haynes · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 9:29 am Post subject:

That's a little low for the water temp. We try not to hit WOT until we are at at least 110-120* and try to get the running temp to about 130-140*. Having never experience it I'm just throwing it out there but are you possibly in the early stages of a cold stick?

EDIT: After watching the video that seems like an awfully long time to still only be at 104-106? Are you sure your gauge is accurate? What was thw ambient temperature? Any tape on the radiator? What are your EGT readings (No Al, I'm not cutting in on your territory!!! Laughing

). How does the plug look?
_________________
Blaise Haynes
#3 Arrow X1-CIK
TaG
Cook Racing Engines Parilla Leopard

Sean Swisz · Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 19

I do not have tape on the rad or an EGT probe and the air temp was around 60-65F. I am running the pink colored water wetter which says it lowers the water temp by almost 10 deg...

I cant check for spark since it happens so quick and by the time I got my kart back on the stand, I would push the button and it would fire right up! Also I did notice after a few sessions a little bit black oil was coming out of flex tube on the exhaust, since I don't have the wrap for it got on the back bumper and sprayed on my suit a bit. Is that normal? I was thinking it was to much fuel from the carb and its getting passed out the exhaust. Sorry for noobish questions, its my 1st TaG motor.

Thanks guys

Jim Derrig · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:36 am Post subject:

Check your fuel supply by looking for air in the line right where it attaches to the carb. Possible air leak in a carb gasket.

The water temp is too low, but not nearly so low as to cause a "cold stick."

Matt Dixon · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:11 am Post subject:

Is the fuel tank vented...?
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Matt Dixon
94y Energy Corse/Swedetech

Sean Swisz · Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 19

Yes the fuel tank is vented. The kart is getting fuel, no air bubbles, ect. The kart runs awesome but it seems that 5 minutes is enough time for the coil to heat up and then stops producing spark. From what I have been reading and hearing from people leads to a bad coil. I have a coil getting shipped from a member here named Cory. I will give it a try and let you guys know how it works out.

Sean Swisz · Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 19

Well guys I'm back to square one... This was the big race I was getting ready for and the coil cut out again even after installing a known-working used one. It ran fine during the first practice which was about 25 minutes. After that the only thing that was changed was adding fuel, and changed up the gear ratio. And just like last time it takes about 5 minutes for the coil to heat up and then the coil stops producing spark. The only other thing I can think of changing is the stator next. What do you guys think.

Thanks, Sean

Skip ahead to 6:15 if you don't want to watch a few laps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saJbqc0w458

Jim Derrig · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:56 am Post subject:

Since it only takes about 5 minutes to swap out a stator, you can try it though I doubt that's the problem. Especially since if your battery is charged the motor will run fine even without the stator.

Shameless plug, but I've got a complete push button e-box, coil and stator if you're convinced the problem is electronic and want try a total swap out. This is the push-button system, not the key system. PM me if interested.

Jean Stafford · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:40 am Post subject:

You didn't mention whether this Leopard of an 03, or 09.

I have had a couple of 03's act like this, and had to swap out the box over the battery.

Call Russell's they can check it out and evcen replace it if necessary.
_________________
Jean Stafford
Stafford's Racing
Dayton, Ohio
ROTAX Repair station,
jean@sgandt.com
Started Karting in 1959
"Some people are like 'Slinkies', worthless, but they bring a smile to your faqce when you push them downstairs."