Workhorse intermittent starting

workhorse · 03-24-2009, 04:32 PM

I have a 2000 Workhorse St-350 and sometimes it will run great for a day or maybe two and then it won't start for maybe a month or two then all the sudden it will run great again. The carburator is spotless, compression is good, recent valve job, good blue spark.Dealers have been less than helpful.Anybody else ever have this issue? Thanks

rusty · 03-24-2009, 11:16 PM

Hello workhorse and Welcome to the forum.

Someone should be here anytime that can help.

scottyb · 03-25-2009, 06:43 AM

Intermittent problems are the hardest to fix. Especially when you take it to a shop and then it doesn't do whatever the problem is......

Next time it is not starting check for fuel at the fuel filter or carb, and spark at the plug

ruredy · 03-25-2009, 06:58 AM

Let me see if I understand this correctly....... you try starting your cart for a month or two and then one day, out of the blue, it'll run for no apparent reason for a few days then repete the cycle.

workhorse · 03-25-2009, 07:51 AM

Yes Jon that's what the thing does, really annoying! The first dealer I talked to said that they don't have electrical problems with these machines. The second said that even though the resistance on the pulser coil was way low(only 19 ohms) that the igniter was the problem. I don't want to spend $420 on the igniter to find out it isn't the problem. I have been a mechanic for 23 years and usually when I find an electrical component with the resistance that far off from specs, it's the problem. I just don't to start swapping a bunch of parts hoping to eventually stumble on the right one. Thanks

ruredy · 03-25-2009, 08:08 AM

So it's not firing the plug when it does this?

workhorse · 03-25-2009, 08:32 AM

When it bothers, everything seems to be perfect, carb is clean, compression is good, nice blue spark on the new plugs, timing has looked good eveytime I have checked it. Doesn't make any difference if I squirt gas in the carb. So it is either not firing at the correct time or not always firing under compression. Thanks, I am really frustrated. I think I'll go start from the beginning again.

ruredy · 03-25-2009, 08:42 AM

Could be the pulsar coil, that thing is basically a magnet and it might be getting some rust,

or something stuck to it now and then. They don't usually go bad.

workhorse · 03-25-2009, 11:08 AM

I just rechecked everything:spark, timing, compression, valve clearance, valve timing,took carb apart again, everything looks perfect - but obviously something is wrong and I'm overlooking it!

ruredy · 03-25-2009, 11:16 AM

Have you tried different plugs? also a problem that's happend to a few members is the fuel system becoming vapor locked due to gas cap vents plugging up.
Just a thought or 2

03-24-2009, 04:32 PM	#1
workhorse Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6	Workhorse intermittent starting I have a 2000 Workhorse St-350 and sometimes it will run great for a day or maybe two and then it won't start for maybe a month or two then all the sudden it will run great again. The carburator is spotless, compression is good, recent valve job, good blue spark.Dealers have been less than helpful.Anybody else ever have this issue? Thanks
workhorse Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6

03-24-2009, 11:16 PM	#2
rusty Golf Cart Photographer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Falls Texas - My Ride 2010 Club Car Posts: 6,236	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting Hello workhorse and Welcome to the forum. Someone should be here anytime that can help.

03-25-2009, 06:43 AM	#3
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,417	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting Intermittent problems are the hardest to fix. Especially when you take it to a shop and then it doesn't do whatever the problem is...... Next time it is not starting check for fuel at the fuel filter or carb, and spark at the plug

03-25-2009, 06:58 AM	#4
ruredy Born Wild Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clover SC. Posts: 5,552	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting Let me see if I understand this correctly....... you try starting your cart for a month or two and then one day, out of the blue, it'll run for no apparent reason for a few days then repete the cycle.

03-25-2009, 07:51 AM	#5
workhorse Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting Yes Jon that's what the thing does, really annoying! The first dealer I talked to said that they don't have electrical problems with these machines. The second said that even though the resistance on the pulser coil was way low(only 19 ohms) that the igniter was the problem. I don't want to spend $420 on the igniter to find out it isn't the problem. I have been a mechanic for 23 years and usually when I find an electrical component with the resistance that far off from specs, it's the problem. I just don't to start swapping a bunch of parts hoping to eventually stumble on the right one. Thanks
workhorse Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6

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03-25-2009, 08:08 AM	#6
ruredy Born Wild Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clover SC. Posts: 5,552	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting So it's not firing the plug when it does this?

03-25-2009, 08:32 AM	#7
workhorse Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting When it bothers, everything seems to be perfect, carb is clean, compression is good, nice blue spark on the new plugs, timing has looked good eveytime I have checked it. Doesn't make any difference if I squirt gas in the carb. So it is either not firing at the correct time or not always firing under compression. Thanks, I am really frustrated. I think I'll go start from the beginning again.
workhorse Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6

03-25-2009, 08:42 AM	#8
ruredy Born Wild Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clover SC. Posts: 5,552	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting Could be the pulsar coil, that thing is basically a magnet and it might be getting some rust, or something stuck to it now and then. They don't usually go bad.

03-25-2009, 11:08 AM	#9
workhorse Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting I just rechecked everything:spark, timing, compression, valve clearance, valve timing,took carb apart again, everything looks perfect - but obviously something is wrong and I'm overlooking it!
workhorse Not Yet Wild Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6

03-25-2009, 11:16 AM	#10
ruredy Born Wild Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Clover SC. Posts: 5,552	Re: Workhorse intermittent starting Have you tried different plugs? also a problem that's happend to a few members is the fuel system becoming vapor locked due to gas cap vents plugging up. Just a thought or 2

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