or complicated piece in the puzzle regardless of problematic history or
just sheer panic. Like checking spark plug heat range, the fuel, fuel tank
and carburetor before leaping to the conclusion that the engine is bad.
The proper course of action
when performing diagnostics on a machine is to start with the simplest
possible problem and work up from there. The difference from a novice and
professional is the latter's reluctance to condemn the most expensive
or complicated piece in the puzzle regardless of problematic history or
just sheer panic. Like checking spark plug heat range, the fuel, fuel tank
and carburetor before leaping to the conclusion that the engine is bad.
And so it went for us that after all those things (including trying three different carburetors and carb set-ups) were reviewed, revised and perfected to rid us of the mystery mis-fire, the spare engine was prepped and installed. This entire process consumed Saturday (April 1) but as soon as the engine was bolted in, it almost started itself.
In
trying to find the combination that would be the cure, the engine had deteriorated
to the point of back-firing from both the exhaust and the carburetor. This,
experience told me, was more likely timing than mixture and the decision
to swap the fresh motor for the spare was made. We bought the spare, which
we had been referring to as "the beater motor", at a kart swap meet last
February. It was said to be a solid engine but in need of being freshened
up (kart parlance for being rebuilt). But it's role would be just to absorb
all the practice miles the girls and I would do early in the season and
get freshened up into a spare race motor around June or July. But with
no time to pull the race motor apart to see what was up with the timing,
the spare was looking like it might be our race motor for our first race
next week. Running on the stand and running under load are two very different
things though and some wheels-on-the-ground testing was in order before
we could be comfortable showing up in Circleville with that power plant.
Sunday dawned through a steady rain. Much needed here in Central Ohio but timed badly as far as we were concerned. With The Weather Channel on the TV and on the computer, we watched the progress of the green blotches as they crossed Ohio. Late in the the afternoon, it seemed, would be our chance. Sure enough, about 2:30 the pattering stopped on the deck and we were loaded up and heading to our "test track".
While the air was dry, the test track wasn't. I hadn't gotten around to mounting the rain tires so we would be learning how dry tires on a wet track worked on a kart. The answer turned out to be "surprisingly well". The most uncomfortable thing about driving the kart in the wet was the damp and crud that got flung all over us. Our kart doesn't have much in the way of bodywork and the spray off the tires found its way into everything.
Each
of us (Julie opted out of wet practice) had about 30 minutes total behind
the wheel. Tracy and Dana started cautiously and gradually worked up their
speed - just what a team manager wants to see from his drivers. Both girls
were responsive to my suggestions on going a little bit faster which was
fun to see. Tracy had a slight mis-step early on, clipping a curb (right)
but the kart was none the worse for wear, just a little paint scraped off
the side pod. Much worse will likely happen to this kart once the racing
begins. By the time we were done we had all had our mis-steps, Dana with
a happy little loop and me with too many spins and slides to count.
For my part, between my spin-outs I was able to conclude that the spare motor will do for next week's race. It certainly won't be up to running at the front but neither will I. It should run the entire event reliably which is my main objective at this point and maybe with a little luck outrun at least a few competitors. We'll see in 7 days. Stay tuned.
Race back to 2000