Go Kart Making Loud engine noise after a donut

[dougandbeth]

Hi all,

So as many of you know the kids received a brand new Hammerhead Mudhead from Santa. So took it out this afternoon in about 2 inches of snow and my 8 year old basically stayed in the cul de sac doing donuts and having a blast. Here is what's weird...

After about 10 donuts the engine stalled and started right back up but it seems to be making a very loud knocking noise (sort of like no oil in a car). If you let it sit for a minute and restart the noise goes away however once you get up to a high speed it stalls and knocks again.

Maybe too much gas in the line because of pressing the gas hard on donuts?

[Dirtroad]

Did you go through any break in procedures?

[x-bird]

i used to do a lot of skidpad testing for cornering g analysis. going in "hard" continual circles can be rough on an engine to say the least. centrifugal force and some oiling systems do NOT work well. he probably loaded the top end of the engine with oil and starved the bottom end. if the engine is knocking now while running in a straight line, either the rod big end or crank main bearings are shot. Don't know if those litle engines run plain bearing or inserts. fwiw, mopar engines were ALWAYS the worst, smoke screen after two laps of the 100'.

Your best bet is to stop right now, no more riding, drain the oil and check for metal.

[Dirtroad]

Hammerheads website is conflicting, says the engine has a 180 day warranty but also says it has a 3 year warranty.

Who knows if they would even cover this. Who knows if this was even your fault.

Hopefully you registered the buggy within 14 days or they wont warranty anything.

[Johnny 5]

What weight oil are you using? if it is cold enough for snow I would run thinner oil.

[Dirtroad]

He is probably using what came with it.