Adventures with a 2 stroke Mantis

[andyd]

I gave up last yr and used a spade fork instead. Don't wanna do that again. The other day, I happened across thread on the Tractor Forum saying that a cruddy off switch failed shut. "nother guy chipped in saying to sand the magnets too. BTDT, but I hadn't thought of it. I was about to find a coil. I first drained the yr old gas pulled the plug and tried for spark. couldn't see one ,but got a tiny, almost pleasant, tingle. Time to sand the magnets . The coil is one legged with 2 magnets? I managed to sand that too. I pulled the shut off wire off just to eliminate it. I put the starter on and pulled it over. Blue spark. I put the plug in. I got it to pop several times, but not catch. Thats where I left it. Come day light, I'll find the B 12 and add an oz or 2. The TF is 40:1 ,so the Mantis should handle it OK. I'm gonna let that soak overnight before I get serious with the carb. It has a Chinese clone of the original Zama. More later when I get some results

 

[Oldtom]

I was given a Mantis that sat for years with E10 gas in it. The carb passages are so tiny as to be "unclearable" so I am buying a new carb. Thanks for the tip about sanding the magnets. Will try that if the spark is weak.

 

[andyd]

Originally Posted By: Oldtom
I was given a Mantis that sat for years with E10 gas in it. The carb passages are so tiny as to be "unclearable" so I am buying a new carb. Thanks for the tip about sanding the magnets. Will try that if the spark is weak.
Yah me too. I had the carb off it. I pulled the starter to take a look at the piston. It lit right off and scampered down the bench. Most Ive had it running to date

 

[andyd]

It's alive!! 3rd carb did the trick. getting the huge grommet onto the tank was a PITN. Inorder to get it on, I had work it on without the hoses. I used a piece of lashing cord half hitched around the bitter ends to pull them through. Now to straighten out the throttle cable at the trigger to relieve its binding.