How to fix a Predator 212 that Stalls
There are a few types of stalling that can happen in Predator 212. The most common one is when you make a right turn, the other is when you give gas after starting the engine, lastly, your engine might be running great for a few minutes and then stalls after you give it gas.
Note: Almost all the diagnoses and solutions will apply to the Predator 224 as well
If you’re experiencing one of the above situations, here are the likely reasons why this is happening:
- If the Predator 212 cuts out at right turns, it’s due to the oil sensor
- If the engine is cutting out once you give gas, it’s most likely due to the carburetor’s main jet being jammed.
- If the Engine is dying after a few minutes or hours of use, this can be due to improper fuel tank venting, the valve float being stuck in one position and not allowing fuel to enter, the carb being clogged, the Ignition Coil Failure in heat (the most likely) or Debri in Gas tank/Fuel line.
1. Engine Cuts Off at Turns – Disconnecting the Oil Sensor
Predator 212 comes with a low oil sensor that shuts off the engine when it is not able to detect oil. This feature makes perfect sense for industrial use of the engine where the engine isn’t moving and as you may know, Predators are made primarily for industrial purposes.
However, they have gotten famous in the go-karting and mini biking world and the oil sensor isn’t such a great feature in a go-kart or minibike. When you turn the go-kart, the engine oil will move in one direction leaving no oil in the oil sensor side, which will then shut off the engine.
The solution is very simple, cut out the 2 wires that are coming from the oil sensor unit. Here’s a video from OMBwarehouse showing the process:
2. Engine Shuts Off when Given Gas
This issue is almost always due to the carburetor being clogged up. When you push the throttle, the fuel needs to climb up from the bowl up towards the venturi of the carburetor from the main jet, pilot jet, and the emulsion tube.
If any one of the jets or tubes is blocked by dirt, it won’t allow the fuel to go through it. Usually, the pilot jet getting blocked won’t even let the engine start, so if your engine is starting and dying as you give throttle, it will most likely be due to the main jet being clogged.
This is because the pilot jet is the primary supplier of fuel at low throttle and the main jet takes over at a higher speed.
The solution is to clean your carburetor. We have a step-by-step guide on how to clean your Predator 212 carburetor that you can check out.
3. Engine Shuts Off after a few minutes
Fuel Tank Venting Issue
Your fuel tank needs to breathe to function properly. If you feel like the engine is starving for fuel after a few minutes of usage, then it can be due to improper/no venting in the fuel tank.
Try to run without any gas cap to see if it makes a difference.
Main Jet Clogged
Other than that the issue can be the carburetor. If your engine is shutting off after half throttle or 3/4th throttle then it’s possible that the main jet has some dirt and is not allowing for more fuel to pass through it. So once again, clean your carb.
And finally, this can also be due to the valve float of the carb being stuck in one position or the seat and needle jet of the carburetor being dirty and not allowing the fuel to enter. In such cases, you might consider getting a new carburetor.
Note: In the case of an Upgraded/Modified engine, you should also consider the carburetor’s jet size. With an upgraded Air Filter, the air sucked in increases significantly, so you’ll have to match the carburetor accordingly (the Mikuni clones carbs almost always come with small jets, so get a jet kit with it)
Ignition Coil Failure
If the engine’s running well for a few minutes and shuts off, it could be due to the heating of the coil. sometimes, coil heating can cause the inner wiring to deform, it will instantaneously shut off after running for a few minutes.
Try to check for a spark when the engine is hot, if you get no spark, you can go ahead and get a new ignition coil.
Gas not Getting through to the Carburetor
If the spark is still present after heating, and the carburetor is clean, there must be a fuel supply issue, somewhere between the fuel tank and the carburetor. It could be a pinched hose, some dirt in the gas tank, or the carburetor’s needle blocking the entrance of fuel into the bowl.