Bossdaddy 220 Posted Wednesday at 09:30 PM 1996 Honda 300 fourtrax 4x4, not the same one that had the rear diff problem, this one is running way to hot either driving down the road or sitting still and idling. This thing run as go as any I have ever seen, plenty of power, revs up good no problem with running. No smoke and starts just by touching the button. I haven't got a clue except somehow it may be a bad fuel mixture, but it runs so good. It has a rebuilt OEM carb. Any help would be appreciated, thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadetree 6,036 Posted Wednesday at 10:04 PM 33 minutes ago, Bossdaddy said: 1996 Honda 300 fourtrax 4x4, not the same one that had the rear diff problem, this one is running way to hot either driving down the road or sitting still and idling. This thing run as go as any I have ever seen, plenty of power, revs up good no problem with running. No smoke and starts just by touching the button. I haven't got a clue except somehow it may be a bad fuel mixture, but it runs so good. It has a rebuilt OEM carb. Any help would be appreciated, thanks. bad oil flow ?, or running too lean ?. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Wednesday at 10:47 PM Could bad oil flow come from a filter being installed backwards? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadetree 6,036 Posted Thursday at 01:12 AM 2 hours ago, Bossdaddy said: Could bad oil flow come from a filter being installed backwards? haha..sure...but..it would destroy your engine in about 1 min or less before it would do what you are claiming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATC4ever 1,102 Posted Thursday at 02:51 PM How long ago did it start over heating vs when the carb was rebuilt? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Thursday at 03:07 PM Shadetree, I did check the oil filter and it was installed correctly so thank God that was not my problem not saying it’s not an oil flow problem. It just wasn’t the filter. Thanks for your input. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadetree 6,036 Posted Thursday at 03:12 PM 3 minutes ago, Bossdaddy said: Shadetree, I did check the oil filter and it was installed correctly so thank God that was not my problem not saying it’s not an oil flow problem. It just wasn’t the filter. Thanks for your input. good deal !. yeah..once the oil filter is installed backwards ?..its game over for that engine really fast !. as for it over heating ?..like i said..running too lean ?, or lack of oil circulating in the engine ?. could be a worn oil pump ?. oil pick up screen clogged ?. hard to say with it being an old engine with many miles/hrs on it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Thursday at 03:15 PM ATC4ever, I bought this thing about three months ago and it has set up in my shop and I drove it very very little so I could have had this problem when I got it. I just don’t know. The carburetor looked real clean, but I noticed it was leaking around the bowl so I pull the carb and opened it up and somebody had pinched the O-ring, which was causing the leak. I did nothing to the carburetor but change the O-ring and reinstall it, but I noticed how clean and new everything looked inside the carburetor. This thing cranks and runs as good as any I have ever seen, but it could be running too rich I don’t know how to look at one and listen to one and know that it is running too rich. It may be an oil flow problem. I don’t know. Thanks for your input. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Thursday at 03:18 PM shadetree, is there a quick way to check the oil flow? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadetree 6,036 Posted Thursday at 03:19 PM 1 minute ago, Bossdaddy said: ATC4ever, I bought this thing about three months ago and it has set up in my shop and I drove it very very little so I could have had this problem when I got it. I just don’t know. The carburetor looked real clean, but I noticed it was leaking around the bowl so I pull the carb and opened it up and somebody had pinched the O-ring, which was causing the leak. I did nothing to the carburetor but change the O-ring and reinstall it, but I noticed how clean and new everything looked inside the carburetor. This thing cranks and runs as good as any I have ever seen, but it could be running too rich I don’t know how to look at one and listen to one and know that it is running too rich. It may be an oil flow problem. I don’t know. Thanks for your input. running rich won't cause it to overheat...running lean on the other hand ?..yes !..will cause it to overheat. very clean carb ya say ?..think about this..sense when does a 30 something yr old carb show to be spotless ?..lol. tells me its a aftermarket china carb !!.. and this will cause all kinds of problems !. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadetree 6,036 Posted Thursday at 03:23 PM 5 minutes ago, Bossdaddy said: shadetree, is there a quick way to check the oil flow? quick ?.ummm..no quick way...it takes a few min's. you can check two ways, pull the oil line bolt at the top at rocker box, with kill switch off..crank it over a sec or two..watch for oil flow at rocker box oil line, DON'T LOOSE THE WASHERS ON THE BANJOI BOLT !. you can also do the same on the right lower side where the oil line bolts up, do the same, bolt out, a quick sec or two cranking will tell you if you are getting oil flow ?. last but not least, pull the fuel tank, remove the valve inspection caps, crank it over..watch for oil flow down in there. this is cleaner, less mess when checking..but it takes more time. p.s. with kill switch off, elec start prob wont work..you may have to kick start it ?. but if you use the ele start ?, pull the spark plug , you dont want it to run at all !. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 57 Posted Thursday at 04:29 PM I have a similar issue but not sure if it really is hot or if something with wrong with the overheat sensor? I guess I am not sure what temperature "running hot" would look like? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Thursday at 04:39 PM Shadetree, I misspoke when I said it may be running rich. I meant to say running lean sorry about that. When I said the carburetor was clean, I didn’t say it was spotless. I know you have cleaned many carburetors and that is what this one looks like it is real clean for a used OEM carburetor. It has the OEM marks on it. It is not a Chinese knock off. Thanks for the info on checking for oil flow. I appreciate your knowledge and I appreciate your help. Thank you. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Thursday at 07:06 PM (edited) Shadetree, after checking the oil at two different locations. I have oil by the time the engine turns over two times I think according to what you said that should be sufficient. I went on and pulled the carburetor and taking it back apart to see if I could see anything that might be causing this thing to run lean. I really don’t know what I’m looking for. The carburetor is clean inside. I got pictures of the jets to see if they are the proper ones or if I should change to something else. I really don’t know what will cause one to run lean. Can anybody explain or help me on that or just tell me what I should do next, thank you. Edited Thursday at 07:17 PM by Bossdaddy More pictures Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 7,783 Posted Thursday at 07:35 PM I'd let it idle at night in the dark, see if the heater pipe glows red. That's a tell tale sign of a lean fuel condition. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadetree 6,036 Posted Thursday at 07:39 PM 27 minutes ago, Bossdaddy said: Shadetree, after checking the oil at two different locations. I have oil by the time the engine turns over two times I think according to what you said that should be sufficient. I went on and pulled the carburetor and taking it back apart to see if I could see anything that might be causing this thing to run lean. I really don’t know what I’m looking for. The carburetor is clean inside. I got pictures of the jets to see if they are the proper ones or if I should change to something else. I really don’t know what will cause one to run lean. Can anybody explain or help me on that or just tell me what I should do next, thank you. all jets are correct ( i checked )..so this means the air fuel mixture is not correct. while upside down, outside the float bowl. there is a mixture jet, this is a jet, spring, tiny washer, and very tiny o-ring, this jet sets the air fuel mixture. if you took this apart awhile back ?, you may have either lost the tiny o-ring ?, or..you did not set the turns to the correct setting ?. first make sure you have all of the parts for this mixture jet ?, from a lightly seated turn down into the hole, count one end of the slot watch for this one end of the slot as you back it out, back the jet out roughly 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 turns. DO NOT TIGHTEN THIS JET DOWN HARD !!..OR YOU WILL BREAK THE VERY TIP OF THE JET OFF IN THE HOLE.THEN YER SCREWED !. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadetree 6,036 Posted Thursday at 07:40 PM 5 minutes ago, jeepwm69 said: I'd let it idle at night in the dark, see if the heater pipe glows red. That's a tell tale sign of a lean fuel condition. you are correct, but !!..at idle it won't glow cherry red...you would need to hammer on it to get it that hot at the header pipe. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Thursday at 08:03 PM OK guys thanks to both of you, I will go set the air mixture and put that little man back together and install him and wait for dark. I’m sure I will be talking to you guys tomorrow hopefully to thank you for all your help and that my machine is fixed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadetree 6,036 Posted Thursday at 08:35 PM 31 minutes ago, Bossdaddy said: OK guys thanks to both of you, I will go set the air mixture and put that little man back together and install him and wait for dark. I’m sure I will be talking to you guys tomorrow hopefully to thank you for all your help and that my machine is fixed. does this mean the check is in the mail ?..j/k !. hope it works out for ya !. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldmxrider 76 Posted Friday at 12:08 AM Read Your spark plug. Post a picture. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Friday at 01:32 AM I'm already in for the night and going to the hunting camp tomorrow. I'll get back to messing with it Sat. if all goes well, thanks for more input. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATC4ever 1,102 Posted Friday at 03:19 PM 23 hours ago, shadetree said: running rich won't cause it to overheat...running lean on the other hand ?..yes !..will cause it to overheat. very clean carb ya say ?..think about this..sense when does a 30 something yr old carb show to be spotless ?..lol. tells me its a aftermarket china carb !!.. and this will cause all kinds of problems !. I was thinking lean yup, gotta be the best way to cause an a/c'd engine to get hot & stay running. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spock 46 Posted Friday at 05:32 PM Make sure to inspect the intake manifold, I've seen quite a few fail and cause an air leak. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossdaddy 220 Posted Sunday at 02:36 AM OK guys, I got the carb put back on this morning and the thing still runs great but it don't run hot at all. The only thing I found that might have been the problem was the little rubber O-ring that goes on first on the air mixture screw was mashed a little and didn't look right so I replaced it if it wasn't that I don't know what it was. I ran two 300s for 20 minutes sitting side by side and was checking temps regularly and they was almost identical revving them up occasionally. I'm so thankful it's not running hot anymore, I will keep an eye on it. Each time I deal with you guys I learn so much from y'all. I hope each of you that took the lead on this or just made comments know how much I appreciate your time, Thank You 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites