Looking for the noise!

[LivermoreDave]

G1 cart. Owned for about a year, has performed flawlessly. Here's my situation.

After sitting inside my shop throughout the winter. Last week we took it for a spin. Started and ran fine for about 15 minutes, then the engine started to pull down as if it was seizing, and then stop running. It would not crank forward, in reverse it started and ran fine but noisy. After a few minutes it stalled as well, switching to forward we were off again for a short while. This went on for about 10 minutes until we got home.

I removed the starter/generator, felt fine. Took it to a repair shop so it could be loaded in case the noise was load sensitive. Quite as a mouse!

Back at the shop I continued, spinning the axle assembly, no noise. Spinning the engine by hand with spark plug out, no noise to speak of.

I re-installed the starter/generator, disconnected the coil, spark plug removed. While spinning the engine with only the starter/generator attached (no drive belt) the engine produces a noise consistent with a rough bearing housed in an aluminum case.

The engine has an offset, possibly a gearbox on the driver's side. Is there a gear set inside that's causing the noise or is the noise a crankshaft bearing?

Thanks,
Dave.