Just wanted to introduce myself and ask a question. My name is Eric and I am from NW Ohio. Just picked up this pretty clean Marathon Mini Truck, only 8K , with a very rare street legal title! I've been learning a lot from the site, but my question has to do with the transmission. It is only a 3 speed, but from what I've been able to find there were no 3 spds, and only the 4 spd (no 5's) was imported to the US. I've read about a 4th gear lockout on other models and wonder if anybody knows this to be the case for mine? I know this a Chinese model, but the legal title and the fact that it is left hand drive sold me. From what I can tell it seems to be mostly a copy of the older Suzuki Carry. Are some parts interchangeable, like lift kits? Great site and thanks in advance.
Since Wuling did manufacture KEI vehicles under license from Mitsubishi and Daihatsu I wonder about the quality of these Chinese versions. Please keep us informed! As for your transmission lockout question, you could always pull the tranny and check. I am not a mechanic and I managed to do it on my Ford Courier. These trucks are so simple! Just make sure you don't overtighten the bolts during reassembly!
There is a gentleman that used to import Marathon trucks and sell them in Alabama. He only provides parts now, but he explained to me that of all the years he sold them, he never had engine or transmission problems. Typically it was wheel cylinders and the occasional clutch that need replaced. Having worked on mine for a few months it appears that build quality is much higher than the Chinese minibikes and atvs you could pickup back in the early 2000's, so that is a plus. Only time will tell!
Couldn't tell you how yours is sat upped for the speed limiter but the USA marketed left hand drive Daihatsu had a C clip in the transmission. Then added to that it had a gizzmo that the speedometer cable screwed into that screwed into the tranny that would send a signal to the carb. to shut off fuel when hitting a certain transmission rpm, or maybe it killed the voltage to coil, dont remember. On some older models there was a little black box(switch) under dash that had slow speed(12mph max) and high speed(25mph max).
Thanks for info! Truck has an MSD ignition and it can rev higher than I feel comfortable going in third, so I believe any rev limiter or fuel cut has already been disabled. I have had it up to 43 mph (65-70kph on the speedo) but I have 23" tires on it now, and that is with only 3 gears! I plan on pulling the transmission over the winter to find fourth.
For grins you might take off the plastic between seats , it may be that the shifter might have a block right there keeping it from falling into 4th gear if it has a 4th ?
Thank you! But I already tried that first at the suggestion of the parts supplier. Was really hoping that it would be that easy, oh well. It will give me a chance to go through the trans and change the fluid.
