I have an EZGO golf cart with a Robin 2-stroke motor. It recently started showing the following symptoms:

Loss of power
Excessive smoke (blue smoke)
Increased fuel consumption

It also has an odd, intermittent noise that makes it sound like a model airplane.

The motor is old and probably well worn inside, but the symptoms came on so suddenly I am thinking that the problem is not just wear.

Any ideas what might be causing this? I have not opened the motor up, but I'm guessing it has some sort of reed valve on the intake. Could there be something wrong there that might explain this problem?

My 1st guess would be broken ring(s)

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

Well, what if I don't like that guess?

That sounds right. I think I will have to add a motor rebuild to my to-do list.

2nd that, my trailbikes used to go through a set of rings in a season. makes them hard to start and low on power

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

x3 on broken rings....easy fix....

Got compression test?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Haven't gotten that far yet. This will be a weekend project, along with about 100 other weekend projects that I need to do.

Rings will not cause a 2-stroke engine to smoke as it has no separate lubrication system. Most likely, something has caused the mixture to go rich. Take a test run without the air filter for starters.

Do you mix the oil and gas yourself or does it do it for you?

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I mix it. I've been using Amsoil 2-stroke oil at 80:1.

First guess would be a broken reed valve. The crankcase would load up with fuel. The reed valves need to seal the crankcase on the downstroke of the piston to force the incoming fuel and air charge into the combustion chamber. However a broken reed valve will normally make it very hard to start. If it has float type carburetor check the float level or for a sunken float. (400 feature wins running 2 stroke engines) Sorry couldn't resist my own flag waiving. Good luck.

You didn't run it without oil did you?

I bought my jetski for $100 cause the PO ran it without oil.
Removing the head shouldn't be too hard. I used carbon fiber read valves in my rebuild.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

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No. I've been mixing Amsoil 2-stroke oil with the gas at an 80:1 ratio.

I agree. An over-rich mixture will cause loss of power, smoke and increased fuel consumption.

Cleaning or replacing a plugged air filter would be a cheap, easy fix. Go for it.

Then too, since this problem has appeared suddenly as you say, you may have a 'sunk' float, or a gummy float needle that no longer shuts off fuel to the carburetor at the proper level. Have a look down the carburetor throat when the air cleaner is off.

Oh, and use a flashlight, not matches.

Let us know what you find.