GUNNUT in Iowa
Member
- 392
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- 18
- Location
- Atlantic, IA
Sorry about the long topic. I think my Mule engine is broke and I don’t know where to start.
Some background information:
It is a 1968 A5 that has been converted to electric start with no charging system. There are no other modifications.
I replaced the hour meter and muffler. When I purchased it, the wires had been cut to the meter and it was full of rust. The new meter shows less than two hours. I have run one tank of gasoline through it since I purchased it in August of 2012. My first tank of gas was from the airport, as that is the only place I could find leaded gas. I use it for parades. It is stored inside. It leaks oil from both shift shaft seals. They are on order from NAPA.
The symptoms:
This Summer while as I was backing it out of the garage, I thought the motor suddenly became extra “loud”. I can’t say exactly why I think this, but it just sounded louder. Of course, I checked the oil and gave it a good look see. I did not see anything out of the ordinary.
Last month during a parade it “hiccupped” going up a slight hill. It ran fine for the rest of the parade route – maybe one half mile and 30 minutes. When I got it back to the garage, it would not start the next day. I checked the gas. Empty. I used the lawnmower gas can and put less than a gallon of gas in the tank. It started fine and I ran it for 15 minutes that day. The inside of the tank looks VERY good – no rust.
I started it last Saturday and backed it out of the garage. It is getting cold here and I used the choke. I ran it for maybe 45 seconds or one minute to get it out of the garage. Just before I shut it off, I heard a “noise” from the engine. It literally happened just as I shut it off. One half hour later I wanted to put it back in the garage. It would not start.
It sounded odd as it was cranking. Almost like the battery was low. I pushed it back into the garage and put the charger on the battery. When the battery was charged, I tried to start it. It cranked fine, but would not start. I added a little more gas. No joy. Perhaps I am dreaming, but I think I see “extra” oil on the floor under the left hand cylinder. There is also oil in that area of the engine with drips on the exhaust pipe. I am pretty sure this oil has not been there before, as I would have noticed an oil burning smell during the parades.
Back in my drag racing days, I rebuild engines and transmissions. I don’t even change my own oil now. Anybody got any suggestions? Pull the plugs and run a compression check? Drain the oil and look for engine parts? Prime the carb and crank until it starts?
Some background information:
It is a 1968 A5 that has been converted to electric start with no charging system. There are no other modifications.
I replaced the hour meter and muffler. When I purchased it, the wires had been cut to the meter and it was full of rust. The new meter shows less than two hours. I have run one tank of gasoline through it since I purchased it in August of 2012. My first tank of gas was from the airport, as that is the only place I could find leaded gas. I use it for parades. It is stored inside. It leaks oil from both shift shaft seals. They are on order from NAPA.
The symptoms:
This Summer while as I was backing it out of the garage, I thought the motor suddenly became extra “loud”. I can’t say exactly why I think this, but it just sounded louder. Of course, I checked the oil and gave it a good look see. I did not see anything out of the ordinary.
Last month during a parade it “hiccupped” going up a slight hill. It ran fine for the rest of the parade route – maybe one half mile and 30 minutes. When I got it back to the garage, it would not start the next day. I checked the gas. Empty. I used the lawnmower gas can and put less than a gallon of gas in the tank. It started fine and I ran it for 15 minutes that day. The inside of the tank looks VERY good – no rust.
I started it last Saturday and backed it out of the garage. It is getting cold here and I used the choke. I ran it for maybe 45 seconds or one minute to get it out of the garage. Just before I shut it off, I heard a “noise” from the engine. It literally happened just as I shut it off. One half hour later I wanted to put it back in the garage. It would not start.
It sounded odd as it was cranking. Almost like the battery was low. I pushed it back into the garage and put the charger on the battery. When the battery was charged, I tried to start it. It cranked fine, but would not start. I added a little more gas. No joy. Perhaps I am dreaming, but I think I see “extra” oil on the floor under the left hand cylinder. There is also oil in that area of the engine with drips on the exhaust pipe. I am pretty sure this oil has not been there before, as I would have noticed an oil burning smell during the parades.
Back in my drag racing days, I rebuild engines and transmissions. I don’t even change my own oil now. Anybody got any suggestions? Pull the plugs and run a compression check? Drain the oil and look for engine parts? Prime the carb and crank until it starts?
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