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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 19, 2009 17:37:19 GMT -5
So, I've had my new scooter for about a month now, and so far the only thing I've done is change the engine oil and gear oil. Lately, it seems to be running a little more... sluggish, so I thought I'd run through and give it a proper tune-up and figure out what's making it run that way. A brief description of the way its running... it seems to do well at lose speeds, accelerates OK, idles nicely, but once I get up to 25 or 30 mph and higher, I can feel a slight loss of power that kinda comes and goes. It's never really completely died out on me driving down the road, but after going at higher speeds, it seems to be more sluggish and "chuggy". Some things I figure I'd check that I haven't done so yet: Fuel filter (just to check it) Spark plug (this prob needs to be changed, but I can't figure out where it is... I think underneath on the front but it looks like I'll have to take off the seat to get to it) CVT Belt (looks like I have to take the muffler off to get the cover off) If none of this really seems to help, I imagine I could check the carb and clean it, but my mechanics skills are limited, so this will be a learning experience for me. I have a GY6 manual that will help, but really I just need to get in there, get some panels and parts off, and start tuning it up. If any of you have any suggestions, video links, or other things I should check on while I'm looking at it that may be tied to the problem, they would be much appreciated. Also, finally, I didn't get a manual with the scooter or anything, so i don't really know how much to gap the spark plug. Its a 150cc Chinese GY6, so I don't know if there's a standard for that. Perhaps it depends on the plug you use too. I hate to make a new thread specifically for a vague problem like this, but I predict i will run into some issues and hopefully will be able to use this as an outlet to get some solutions. Thanks guys! (P.S. I was searching youtube for a video about spark plug removal for the standard GY6 and I couldnt find it, you think it's worth taking some pictures/video for future do-it-yourself'ers?)
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Post by chrish on Nov 19, 2009 17:53:45 GMT -5
the belt is on the opposite side of the exhaust - just take off the CVT cover (where the kick start is). Just to get that out of the way.
Is the bike making any strange noises when it's kind of 'chuggy'?
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Post by harrywr2 on Nov 19, 2009 18:10:57 GMT -5
If the front of the bike is 12 O'clock, the spark plug is on the side of the engine at 2 O'clock. Follow the wire to the shiny plastic spark plug cap. The plug itself is not visible. Spark plug gap should be on your EPA plate. Spark plug gap is normally between .6mm and .8mm .024" to .032". Somewhere between 500 and 1000 miles your valve gaps will need adjusting. Just a normal park of 'post break in' mainenance. Valve gap adjustment proceduer for a 50cc here. scootdawg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=discussion&action=display&thread=19177150cc is the same...i ntake valve between .003 and .004 inches and exhaust between .003 and .005 inches. Mechanics choice. Some like looser, some like tighter. In that range..they all work. Looser is a little louder. I personally like .003 inches on intake and .004" on exhaust. Some like .004 intake and exhaust.
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Post by indy50 on Nov 19, 2009 18:30:00 GMT -5
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Post by ootscoot on Nov 19, 2009 18:44:28 GMT -5
1st thing I did with my very first scoot was remove the seat bucket and just checked out the engine, got familiar with the way things were laid out - followed the wire (coil) to the spark plug, pulled the plug - carefully - and looked at it, hmmm looks ok I guess, then checked out all that bunch of tubing (vacuum lines) coming from the front of the carburetor...hmm, some seemed to be kinked - couldn't unkink them - bought vacuum line from car parts store, replaced and waddayaknow - bike ran better than ever!...had to turn the throttle adjust screw back out... So, I would first think about checking the easy stuff like vacuum tubing, then before digging in deeper, find a scooter forum and ask questions...there's some expert advice here! - don't forget to take pictures - just to help remember what went where...
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 19, 2009 19:03:38 GMT -5
Thanks guys! Great advice here, and I'll definitely get on this as soon as I get some sunny (or at least dry) weather on a weekend.
Also, I screwed up earlier, when I said that I had to take the exhaust off to get the belt cover off, I meant the air intake. I'll take pictures and post them when I'm done. I just found my camera, and am looking forward to getting this stuff up and running.
It's also not really making any noises when it loses power and feels like its struggling to go, just kindof loses the drive power and the engine seems RPM seem to lessen too, so I presume its engine related, not a belt problem or something. No banging, knocking, or anything that I can pick up on. I may try to take video of me riding around just to get some audio.
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Post by chrish on Nov 19, 2009 21:48:15 GMT -5
Did the temperature drop considerably recently? If it did, it might be running really really lean - it could cause that issue.
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Post by JR on Nov 19, 2009 21:57:32 GMT -5
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 19, 2009 22:32:34 GMT -5
you know... it has been colder lately. To be honest, I haven't adjusted the mixture at all, but I bought it used from someone. What's odd though is that it'll drive fine for a lot of the day, but say, on the drive home it'll start to crap out on me. It's not consistent.
I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but it also seems like the engine has been running a lot hotter than normal. After riding home today and it having that bogged down feeling, the exhaust and storage compartment right above the engine seemed much hotter than it usually is.
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Post by als01seville on Nov 19, 2009 23:00:17 GMT -5
Hi Omgyouresexy, Sounds like what Chrish said, your running very lean, probably due to the colder weather. Try adjusting your air/fuel mixture turning it counter clockwise. To adjust it correctly you want the Highest rpm, once you adjust it to the highest rpm you probably will have to adjust your idle screw to get your idle down a little. Alleyoop
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Post by chrish on Nov 19, 2009 23:12:23 GMT -5
A buddy of mine has had similar issues, but the bike would drop speed & sound like it was hitting a rev limiter - turned out to be a faulty stator. It's odd that you haven't noticed any changes in the engine sound.
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 20, 2009 10:06:43 GMT -5
Pardon the ignorance, but what exactly does a stator coil do? I'm wondering if I could deduce if it might be that if a broken or inoperable one would have other effects as well. Would it affect starting?
Also, out of curiosity, my battery is charged enough to start the scooter most of the time, but not all the time. I don't know if it's low and just needs to be charged or if it's show, but would having a faulty or low charge battery somehow cause the scooter to get chuggy and sluggish while driving? The scooter feels like its wanting to die out, but won't.
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Post by harrywr2 on Nov 20, 2009 10:23:20 GMT -5
Pardon the ignorance, but what exactly does a stator coil do? I'm wondering if I could deduce if it might be that if a broken or inoperable one would have other effects as well. Would it affect starting? Some people might call the stator a 'magneto' or generator. Besides making electricity the stator has a 'pickup coil'. The spark is controlled by the pickup coil. The stator pickup coil just senses when the engine is at top dead sensor so the CDI can fire the actual 'coil' that makes the spark.
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Post by wf1761 on Nov 20, 2009 10:43:37 GMT -5
You may have moisture in your gas tank, drain the old gas and put in new.
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Post by rapidjim on Nov 20, 2009 10:47:38 GMT -5
While you are in there add about a quarter of a can of Seafoam to the gas. Great additive to keep your fuel system clean.
Jim
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 20, 2009 12:38:47 GMT -5
I know I ran a bit of seafoam through about 2 tanks ago. It's possible that there is some in this tank as well. I wanna take off the paneling and check the spark plug adjust the carb and all that today. I'll take some pictures and post them.
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 20, 2009 18:34:59 GMT -5
So today, I took the panels and seat off and started digging around. I pulled the spark plug and and checked it, and it seemed ok, but I didn't check the gap as I have no gap tool (should be picking one of those up). Here's a view from the top of the engine. I ran through the air/gas mixture tuning procedure. I didn't seem to improve on anything doing that. It seemed like it was set pretty well already. I noticed that there was about a whole turn of play in the mixture screw where it didn't make a different, or change the idling. I dont know if I need to change that fuel filter or not. Does that look like the one that came with the scooter or a better aftermarket one? Also, the only abnormal thing I found was a hose coming out the of bottom/back of the carb that wasn't connected to anything. I didn't see anywhere that looked like it should be connected, but I don't know. The picture below is showing where the tube is coming from and how it's not connected to anything. Maybe it's an outlet hose or something... and it supposed to be there. I don't know. Below are just a couple other pics of the engine in case anyone notices anything out of the ordinary: (I'ma link to the images just to save people's load times. Feel free to check em out if you'd like...) photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs072.snc3/13942_742484997069_11800103_41708451_5207055_n.jpgphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs052.snc3/13942_742485031999_11800103_41708454_6829720_n.jpgphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs052.snc3/13942_742485041979_11800103_41708455_3464784_n.jpgphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs052.snc3/13942_742485056949_11800103_41708456_5172636_n.jpgThanks for the advice everyone. I'm really glad I'm doing this. I fee like a have a much better handle on the way it runs. I need to take off the belt cover tomorrow and give it a good check. I'm also debating painting the panels since theyre kinda scuffed up, but I don't know if they would look good or not painted. Right now, here's a bit of the damage on the main side panel under the seat:
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 20, 2009 19:38:41 GMT -5
Also, just to add a video I recorded. I know I'm going to look like an idiot for not knowing what most of this stuff is, but I just thought maybe a view of everything from up close might help, especially if it were more than just pictures.
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Post by einism on Nov 21, 2009 1:21:07 GMT -5
you are running to lean your plug color should be a coffee color, not white. try adjusting your air fuel mix screw.
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 21, 2009 17:20:14 GMT -5
OK, it's good to have that confirmed. When I readjusted the carb, I'm pretty sure I have it more rich now than it was before and it seemed to be a little more responsive. Hopefully this will help with the power loss.
I tried to get the CVT cover off to take a look at the belt, but that cover was stuck on as hard and unmoving as it could be. I took off every single bolt that connected the cover to the back, including the two behind the air intake and filter housing. I whacked it with a hammer using a thick wad of paper towel and even some rubber to keep from chipping off the paint, but nothing. It was rock solid. I don't know if I'll be able to get it off. Any of you guys got any advice on this?
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Post by harrywr2 on Nov 21, 2009 17:43:38 GMT -5
I whacked it with a hammer using a thick wad of paper towel and even some rubber to keep from chipping off the paint, but nothing. It was rock solid. I don't know if I'll be able to get it off. Any of you guys got any advice on this? Sounds normal for first time removal. There are a couple of guide pins in the case..so it has to come off straight and evenly. I do believe I may have ended up using a fine chisel and light tapping at the seam between the cover and the case to get at least one of my covers 'started' coming off.
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Post by anhoa on Nov 21, 2009 23:26:19 GMT -5
omg,
Don't forget to replace that gas/fuel filter with a small engine or lawn mower fuel filter at Autozone/Advance Auto Parts.
Anhoa 79xx miles and counting...diapers.
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 21, 2009 23:54:21 GMT -5
OK, will do. Question... do I need to completely drain the engine to switch the filter, or could I somehow clamp the hose off, turn on the engine to drain whats in the tube, then switch it out?
Thanks.
Oh also, I'll try to chisel thing, however before i do that, do i need to have a replacement gasket?
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Post by "Big Guy" on Nov 22, 2009 0:53:18 GMT -5
I hope this post will answer all of your questions with six simple steps: 1) Do a PDI 2) Do a valve adjustment 3) Go for a ride 4) Have a beer 5) Have another beer 6) Pat yourself on the back Pretty simple! The little hose that goes nowhere from the bottom of your carb is most likely the drain hose... -Rich
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Post by JR on Nov 22, 2009 8:38:57 GMT -5
Spotted one thing in your video that may or may not be a problem! Right after you show the kick starter you go up to the air filter intake and it shows a clamp on a hose inlet and on my scooter there is indeed a hose going to that port! If that port is open then you are pulling a lot of extra air in, if it's capped then all is OK! This port with the arrow is what I'm talking about! JRR
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Post by omgyouresexy on Nov 22, 2009 22:50:59 GMT -5
Oh wow, real good spot jrryan. I'll go back and check and see if that's closed. I wonder if maybe that open ended hose I questioned is supposed to feed back into that hose and maybe just got cut or something. I'll check and see if it's got a plug in there... maybe the carb outlet right there is supposed to feed back into the air intake?
You said yours had a hose coming into it right? Any way you could follow that hose on your engine and see where it is supposed to meet (next time you're checking it out, no need to strip yours down)? If it's the back base of the carb, near the air intake (which it may not be - I don't know the benefit of having a hose loop there), then we might have an answer to our problems!
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