Hi all,
Like the subject says, my 1984 Puch Maxi will idle but generate no horsepower; I have zero acceleration, but for whatever reason sometimes I can get some if I have a little bit of a pedaling head start. If I accelerate from rest I do not move.
-I first started by cleaning up the carb- no luck, the thing was clean as is.
-I then placed an external condenser where the two blue wires are held in the wire block- no luck.
-I then noticed that the horn sporadically goes off, so I jumped its wires together with a piece of heat shrink wrap- still no luck.
-I've since cleaned the points with a metal nail file and still have had no luck.
My spark plug is black and sooty, which if I'm not mistaken indicates an overly-rich fuel ratio, an ignition malfunction, or that I should try a spark plug with a higher heat rating. The needle is already at the leanest (highest) position available, so I doubt that is the problem. I don't know if the spark I have is weak because I have nothing to compare it to, so if anyone has a good link on that that would be appreciated. Does anyone have a suggestion for what to do next? Do I get new points altogether? New ignition coil? I've read about a problem similar to this that was the result of an engine with too many air gaps, should I measure compression next? It's getting warm out and I want to ride this darn thing :(