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Hi all,
My 2006 karting season was nonexistant due to MORE starting issues on my Leopard and I hope my $125 to CSC went to good use. My last track day was back in March! Not by choice trust me, but here is why…
My starter/powerpack or?? failed for the millionth time in March so after a call to Russell Karting I shipped my two starters and power pack to them. After SIX MONTHS and COUNTLESS phone calls I got everything back and of course the race season was over. No hurry to get ready again so just last week I got everything reinstalled and guess what? Nothing happened.
This has driven me to the edge as far as what I want to put up with so I am wondering if anyone is interested in my Leopard package. The engine is great when it starts but I have given up. The warranty work that was done didn’t do anything, so if anyone has any bright ideas I am open to them. I am not asking for some ridiculous advise, low ball offer, etc. what I am asking for is either a reasonable offer on my engine package or some REAL help.
I really do love karting but I just wasted a complete season waiting around for nothing.
ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
thanks for reading.
Jim Beach
Tag Masters #17Jim,
There are some good kart shops in town that can help you. Imi and Billett work on everything, I know Action is a Leopard dealer as well as Sac Motorsports.
If you do a search on Ekn, you will find a lot of information regarding Leopards. I have never run one (have raced next to a bunch) but remember seeing an upgrade kit or something like that for the starter contacts and brush’s. This forum is also a good place to get help. Shemerhorn, Welch, Ray, Poole, Furgeson, Samu, Burton or any of you Leopard guys. Can any of you help point him in the right direction? If it takes a starter kit and you don’t feel comfortable installing it, I’ll help.
It’s a good engine package don’t give up too easy, Come out and race.
Rick
thanks for the info. I have worked with JB and the guys at Action a lot and the only reason I didn’t take the kart to them is because Jim Jr. at Russell told me that everything would be taken care of under “warranty”. What I received from Russell included my two starters with the new brush kits and my powerpack. I was under the impression that the powerpack (the new solid state version)had been fixed also. I still have an older fuse style powerpack that didn’t start the engine either.
The major frustation is that after six months of waiting and having all of the work done under “warranty”, nothing works.
I am beginning to lean towards the stock moto class so I could at least get the engine started. I have already dealt with using an external starter with the engine last season which made me start in the back per TAG rules.
Keep the ideas coming though!
thanksSorry Brian,
Forgot about you guys. (figured you were out golfing, lol) Get some help from the local guys Jim, we have people here as sharp as anywhere.
Stock moto is a very cool and growing class. Don’t know how much seat time you got in your Tag but, the more Tag time you have, the better shifter pilot you’ll be. The Leopard is a very basic package that has given many hours of good performance to a lot of racers here. If you didn’t get a lot of seat time in your Tag, you may want to get it going and get time under your belt.
Also, Does it turn over and not start or just not turn over? Your aux starter indicated that it won’t even turn over. That wouldn’t be a coil would it Brian?
Rick
Jim,
I have a leopard motor and have experienced starter problems like crazy. Mine all stemmed from the brushes breaking in the starter motor. I really haven’t found the best way to fix this, but I can tell you, it’s how you use the silicone on the brushes when you reasemble. I have put new brushes in 5 times now and this last time, it appears to be working prettty well so far.
If you haven’t done the brushes before, I’d be happy to step you through it. Not sure if this is your problem. But whenever I press the Green button and nothing happens, it’s always been the brushes in the starter.
Good luck, and don’t give up.
Tony
If it runs after being started externally, the coil will be fine. But sometimes after trying many different things you can hurt the coil by not keeping it grounded.
Hopefully Jim Jr. gave you a new black box. The black box is the entire electronic brain to the leopard.
Rick,
Golf is for Mondays when the track is closed. Hopefully it will become snowboarding mondays. Mike Cunningham will have to play golf without me.
Happy Turkey day!!!
BR
according to the paperwork from Russell, both of the starters had a brush kit replacement. The black box should have been fixed too, but neither one of mine do anything. I think I will take the whole thing to JB and the Boys in a few weeks (gotta work you know) and bite the bullet to find a solution. If they can’t perform their magic then it is going to be decision time I guess.
I appreciate all of your ideas and help.
JimI’ve said it once, I’ll say it again…
Have you checked the Fetzer Valve? 8)
Sorry to hear you’ve had so many issues. I’ve felt that pain before!
When you take it to the shop to diagnos it I’d try to replace one part at a time and see if you can locate the problem that way.
It’s all about ball bearings nowadays! :idn: 8)Oh Mike,
You’re so technical! :sun:
Jim & Tony,
Leopards use the same starter as the Rotax Fr125. As a service center, we received a bulletin from Bombardier that solved the problem.Fill in the area around were the positive carbon brush wire is soldiered to the positive pole with silicon, to dampen vibration, that frays the wiring. Do not use a silicon with acetate because this could lead to rust at the terminal. It ‘s not a bad idea to take this protective measure with new engines and starters to help avoid the problem. This fix worked with for us.
What is the trick to holding the brushes while inserting the stator?
Craig,
I had my son, who’s hands are a bit smaller hold in the magnets while I slide it together. We’ve also used screw drivers to hold the magnets back. I’ve done it by myslef as well.
If you need help, I’d be happy to run through this with you. I have the same starter motor in my Rotax, so Im sure I’ll be doing these fun repairs again.
Tony
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