2004 TXT hard start

[parks531]

2004 TXT 295 Robins engine, have to hold choke out for 60+ seconds before it will attempt to fire. Doesn't matter if its hot or cold outside. Valves are set at .005 cold, fresh NGK plugs, newer and clean air filter. Any other suggestions? Or is this thing just cold blooded? Thank you for your help!

[JPonLKN]

Clean the carb...pull both jets and emulsion tube, use a strand from a stranded copper wire to clean all the holes in the emulsion tube.

[parks531]

Thank you, forgot to mention it has a brand new OEM EZGO expensive carburetor on it which was replaced less than 6 months ago by a reputable shop due to a misfire from the after market junk one on it. It has been a hard start even from day 1 with this brand new carb. I'm open to cleaning it like mentioned but I forgot in my post it does have a 6 mo old OEM carburetor and has done the cold start regardless of which carburetor was on the cart

[trig123]

If this ezgo is a 2004 it should have the MCI engine in it. They cranked much better than the pre mci engines. Ezgo did get that part right.

I normally don't even had to choke one for more than a few seconds and if I do choke more I usually gas foul the plugs.

The 295 MCI carbs have a 13mm venturi instead of the 15 mm in the pre mic which improved things.

If your carb is indeed the OEM and you look inside it you will see a 13 stamped on body of the carburetor with choke open.

I put a new OEM carburetor on a 2006 MCI 295 a few years ago and I couldn't get it to crank after sitting. I discovered the new one had the choke plate binding and wouldn't open but a little. I just never looked after I put it on. Make sure you check that yours is actually choking all the way when you pull cable.

Have you checked the compression on this engine ?

[parks531]

Thanks, it is stamped with a 5 on the throttle plate. It was an ezgo field service kit carburetor part #603913 it came with shield, rivets, spacer, etc. Compression is 140 and 165. Intake valves are adjusted to .005 but much harder to get set than the exhaust valves

[trig123]

Originally Posted by parks531

Thanks, it is stamped with a 5 on the throttle plate. It was an ezgo field service kit carburetor part #603913 it came with shield, rivets, spacer, etc. Compression is 140 and 165. Intake valves are adjusted to .005 but much harder to get set than the exhaust valves

Well, I was wondering what happened to you
Did you hold the throttle wide open manually when you checked the compression ?
If so then this engine is on the low side ( 140 ) . Plus you shouldn't have that much of a difference in those two cylinders . A good running engine will have 170 pounds of compression on both cylinders. Test again making sure you hold the throttle wide open and report back.

[CP241]

They’re spacers and should press into the plastic. They help prevent the bolts from crushing the plastic when you tighten the airbox to the carb. It should sit flush. If it doesn’t sit flush then it’s gonna run lean and suck dirt into the engine. And make it hard to start

[CP241]

Agree with trig

You never mentioned, how does it run once it starts and runs? Why was the carb replaced? Did it have this same issue with the old carb? Have you checked to make sure the timing belt isn’t stretched or jump a tooth? What’s the history on this cart? Did you buy it this way, or have you owned it for a while and it slowly got to this point or did it suddenly happen overnight?

Lot of unanswered questions here

[parks531]

Originally Posted by CP241

Agree with trig

You never mentioned, how does it run once it starts and runs? Why was the carb replaced? Did it have this same issue with the old carb? Have you checked to make sure the timing belt isn’t stretched or jump a tooth? What’s the history on this cart? Did you buy it this way, or have you owned it for a while and it slowly got to this point or did it suddenly happen overnight?

Lot of unanswered questions here

It runs great other than a small amount of backfire through the carburetor at the start of engine. ( Once it gets warm it's non existent) this backfire through the carburetor just started after a full genuine clean of the carburetor 2 weeks ago (venturi tube was cleaned with stranded wire). Microswitch clicks before the throttle moves on Carburetor. Carburetor was replaced by me 2 years ago when I purchased it due to a hard start, I put a cheap Chinese carburetor on it and had many issues and took it to a shop which replaced it with the ezgo service kit carburetor that is mentioned in my prior post. Hard start has always been an issue since I've owned the cart. Haven't checked timing belt whatsoever ever, any input on checking it/ correct timing?

[parks531]

Originally Posted by parks531

It runs great other than a small amount of backfire through the carburetor at the start of engine. ( Once it gets warm it's non existent) this backfire through the carburetor just started after a full genuine clean of the carburetor 2 weeks ago (venturi tube was cleaned with stranded wire). Microswitch clicks before the throttle moves on Carburetor. Carburetor was replaced by me 2 years ago when I purchased it due to a hard start, I put a cheap Chinese carburetor on it and had many issues and took it to a shop which replaced it with the ezgo service kit carburetor that is mentioned in my prior post. Hard start has always been an issue since I've owned the cart. Haven't checked timing belt whatsoever ever, any input on checking it/ correct timing?

3-20-2023 Correction no backfire at all (must of been fuel sitting in the carburetor while doing some of the diagnosis, it was nice enough outside today and went for a drive. No backfire, had power, started somewhat better (little use of choke to start) but it is running rich! Has new NGK plugs, thoroughly cleaned carburetor. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!