In our last SwedeTech’s Corner, we started the troubleshooting guide for clutch kart engines, addressing no sign of spark and engines that may be starving for fuel. In this edition we will continue the guide. Next month’s SwedeTech Corner will go into troubleshooting Shifter Engines. So enough rambling, let’s continue.
Before trying to restart the engine, always inspect the inside of the engine utilizing an inspection light. This can be done by removing the spark plug and looking inside the cylinder with the inspection light. Look for any damage on the piston or cylinder walls. If you see damage, do not run and consult your engine builder. You will see this statement many times in this troubleshooting guide. This should always be the first step in any engine troubleshooting. I’ve seen countless engines that had a huge parts failure or a seized top end, and the mechanic just kept cranking the engine over without looking inside to see if the engine was even functional…
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FKI April Teaser: Track Review: PKRA
By · CommentsOne of my main goals when I created FKI was to provide you, the reader, with the tools to gain competitive advantage over your fellow competitors. For those of you coming to PKRA (Phoenix Kart Racing Association) for the SKUSA Spring Nationals, this track review may arguably be my best shot to help you gain an advantage. Why? Because PKRA is one of the most technical tracks in the country and definitely the most technical place I have driven. Luckily, PKRA is as fun as it is technical with a constant left to right flow, a big banked 3rd gear turn, challenging high speed corners, and a very timely elevation change making the kink at the back of the track tricky to take flat in a shifter. Add Phoenix’s beautiful weather (for at least 8 months out of the year) plus the fact that the track is lighted and you have an ideal setting for a kart track! So, now that I have hyped the place up, let’s unlock its secrets…
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FKI March Teaser – Launching A Shifter Kart
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The Launch. Probably one of the most exciting aspects of racing a shifter kart and one of the most exciting aspects in motor racing period. Nothing gets my blood pumping more than the starter indicating to put your visor down, mashing the gas, and waiting for the lights to go green. That being said, as exciting as a standing start is, the launch is a critical component of your racing success. Master it and you will be presented with great passing opportunities before you even enter a turn. Get it wrong and you can put yourself in a hole, believe me I know. So what are the secrets to a good launch…
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Working at SwedeTech and answering the customer technical questions, I’ve been able to compile quite a list of troubleshooting tips. Most of the knowledge comes from direct hands on experience from the three of us in the shop. Feedback from customers also allows me to stay current with the engines that are used in karting throughout the world.
The information in this article will hopefully help you when the time arises. For all of us that have spent any amount of time at the track, some of these problems will sound familiar. This guide is created with a clutch or direct drive engine utilizing a pumper style carburetor in mind. So, I will quit blabbering with ‘fill content’ and get started…
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As I mentioned in last month’s FKI, a reader requested I do an article on what a good handling kart feels like. When I read the request I immediately thought, what a great concept! Everyone talks about the changes you can make to make your kart handle better but WHAT are we trying to achieve. As far as I know, no one has ever tried to define it. While the topic is of course a little subjective, there are some things you are looking for. So, I will do my best to put into words what you are trying to feel on the track. Hopefully, by the end of the article, you will have a better idea or at least a wider perspective of what you are looking for from your kart…
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