I purchased a used Phoenix for my daughter that looked like an easy fix, starts and idles decent but won’t rev up. Previous owner said the head gasket was replaced for the problem and it came back worse than when it was sent in (shop went out of business) will run all day at idle, so rich it will burn your eyes. Won’t rev, won’t move in gear.

I got it home and changed the plug to the updated and cleaned the carb, but the carb was in great shape, really didn’t need a cleaning. Drained gas, fresh fuel.

Checked all connections and grounds and everything looked great. Overrode etc and reverse sensor, nothing. By passed kill switch and still nothing. Tested for lean by spraying in carb while running, it chokes out. Tested for rich by shutting off fuel, it does not clean out just runs out with no change. Runs exactly the same with choke on or off, choke is operating properly, carb is clear (and simple)

Purchased a manual online and began the tests. I thought I was led to a faulty pulse coil, so I purchased the pulse coil stator and new rectifier (package) and installed, still nothing. I pulled the flywheel and verified the woodruff key was intact and correct. At this point I started to question the mechanical timing because the previous owner stated head gasket was repaired. I did compression test and it was 160 psi cold. Pulled cover and pulled cam to reinstall and set timing. Verified all valves and rockers were good, reinstalled cam and still same results.

Ran the engine with a timing light, timing looks correct to mark at idle, about 4 degrees before tdc, but go to rev and it’s erratic. Tested coil ohm on primary and secondary and it tests out. Did dielectric on all connections, and clipped ends of spark plug wire. Nothing.

At this point I was told it has to be cdi. I ordered a new hot shot cdi, installed, same result ?

Ran again last night and went through all connections while running and found nothing. I even wiggled the key off and on with throttle to test that. Made a jumper for coil ground to battery and nothing.

Harness looks to be damage free. However I did notice that the wires to the rectifier were unusually warm if not hot. This is with no headlight installed, not sure if that is normal.

At this point I am ready to take of the entire harness and start ohm testing and inspecting every wire, cutting away all covering and rebuilding that. Unless someone here has a better idea. I have never been stumped by anything I have repaired for this long. My daughter has anxiety wanting to ride it, I am two weeks and $300 into parts guessing, I don’t know what else I could replace.

I ordered a coil just for giggles.

And one other side note, the machine had a ground cable to a body mount that didn’t look factory, direct from battery the main cable. I relocated it to the starter area where there was another ground. Don’t know if this is correct. It runs the same with all cables disconnected from the battery as well.

Please help!