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Post by wingcommander on Feb 22, 2010 14:36:06 GMT -5
Question: Can you use fix a flat on scooter tires? I went out this morning to check the tire psi's and noticed the front tire was flat. I put air in, but it's leaking from the valve stem. I can't afford a new tire at the moment but do you guys think fix a flat would work?
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Post by erictheviking666 on Feb 22, 2010 14:41:52 GMT -5
Yeah Iv'e used it for short periods of time. Your best bet would be to get some Green Slime. That works much better that standard fix-a-flat.
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Post by wingcommander on Feb 22, 2010 18:49:30 GMT -5
thanks erictheviking666. I tried slime, but the valve stem actually broke while trying, so I took the tire off and went to a local shop and got that fixed for $15. I could afford that just not new tires Thanks for your help!
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Post by teknoyd on Feb 22, 2010 19:28:01 GMT -5
You should also replace the other valve stem, or run the risk of being stranded. A few years ago there was a large batch of failure prone valve stems shipped on Chinese bikes. You may have a set on yours. If so, they will rot out and leak to flat. Yours is old enough it might be part of that batch. Maybe next time you won't be home when it happens! Here is a thread about it: scootdawg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=16275Also, slime wouldn't work on a valve stem because it gets slung to the outer part of the tire, away from the valve stem. Glad you were home when that tire went flat! - Tek
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Post by wingcommander on Feb 22, 2010 21:19:36 GMT -5
Yeah glad I was home to Tek. When the next pay check comes I'm taking the scooter down and having the rear wheel replaced as well. I thought that might be a good idea to. Thanks for the link. Gonna read about it now.
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Post by wingcommander on Feb 23, 2010 0:05:25 GMT -5
Guys one thing I noticed when I went for a ride this afternoon after putting the tire back on; the spedo seems a little less responsive? is that normal? Like it's taking a few mins after stopign to get down to 0 now to be fair I don't know if this is new or if it did that to start with. But I think I would've noticed it?
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Post by teknoyd on Feb 23, 2010 8:40:40 GMT -5
If the little gadget that goes between your front wheel and the fork was in wrong you might get some weirdness, but I don't think it would be like that. More like a bouncing needle or nothing at all.
Check and make sure it's spinning and there are no kinks or drastic bends in the speedo cable.
- Tek
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Post by wingcommander on Feb 24, 2010 20:57:28 GMT -5
Hey guys how do you take a rear tire off? I want to replace the valve stem and I called the shop, they wan't $75 to do it ($65 labor / $10 valve stem) But the tire shop I took the front wheel to said if I brought jus the tire in in they would put a new one on for $15, so how do I take the rear wheel off? Thanks in advance.
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Post by teknoyd on Feb 25, 2010 0:42:18 GMT -5
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Post by wingcommander on Feb 25, 2010 1:25:16 GMT -5
Tek, It must have just been rust, because the brakes have stopped the shaking. Now if I can just get this tire taken care of I can ride without worry caused from the valve stem
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Post by teknoyd on Feb 25, 2010 8:48:39 GMT -5
Great news on the brakes! Just another day or two until you're legit. You'll have to join us in scooter tag.
- Tek
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Post by wingcommander on Feb 25, 2010 10:13:04 GMT -5
I know Tek, I can't wait to get the class over with! I've been on a few back roads & just across the street to campus, but this bike was made to go faster I just don't want to try it out until I get my lic. on our main roads (not higways just the main ways to get places) I don't think I want to go on tollroads ect. I think I'm going to try and take the back tire off today, thanks for the great post on how to do it. I'll keep you posted.
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Post by tortoise on Feb 25, 2010 12:32:24 GMT -5
how do you take a rear tire off? I want to replace the valve stem Why do you need to REMOVE the tire? Valve stem discussion thread . . video. Most of the queries you have posted have been discussed in numerous threads. It is obvious that you are NOT making much of a research effort!
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Post by wingcommander on Feb 25, 2010 15:34:17 GMT -5
Tek, Thanks for the great link, I wasn't able to get my muffler off however. I think this might be one time, I have to break down and take it to the shop But at least for the next few days I'm just worrying about studying. The mirrors are holding up great! Saved myself some massive money so thanks for that advice to! I'll keep you guys posted on how the class goes!! Wish me luck!!!!!! I'm going to need it
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Post by wingcommander on Feb 28, 2010 20:35:23 GMT -5
;DI passed my motorcycle class!!!!;D
I have maybe a silly question, but I"m going to try again to take the rear tire off, and I know the other post say to use a jack, but can you just balance the scooter on something using the center stand? If not, will a normal car jack work? If so where would I place it exactly? Thanks guys!
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Post by teknoyd on Mar 1, 2010 23:37:03 GMT -5
Congrats on passing the class, that's great! I hope your weather is good there now.
You can probably get away with using the center stand, just remember it's not as stable and be really careful so it doesn't come down while you're wrestling with it. I don't know where you'd put a jack on that anyway. A motorcycle is made more for cradling motorcycles, not so much a scooter with a full body.
Ideally you might get a friend to be there and help stabilize the bike.
- Tek
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Post by wingcommander on Mar 13, 2010 18:42:50 GMT -5
Tek, I have a quick question, the other day I rode the scooter with a friend on the back, (I think to fast / to much weight) & it started to smell hot so I stopped let it cool off (I didn’t notice the smell until I stopped) then slowed down on the way home, but now I'm seeing a little oil leak? What should I check? Also my front brake, I have to pull super hard on the brake lever to make it stop, so hard my hand hurts. any suggestions? Thanks again
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Post by teknoyd on Mar 15, 2010 7:45:40 GMT -5
Hey WC,
Oil leak - that's a tough one without being there. The oil leak might be coincedental to the smell. By that I mean it may have had a small oil leak that had gone unnoticed until examined more closely after the hot smell.
What was the smell like? Might it have been the belt or clutch? Were you doing a lot of stops and starts at the time?
Brake - look at the front brake pads. Are they very thin? Is the fluid low? Is the cable bent somewhere between the lever and the brake itself? has it always done that since you bought it?
Other than that, are you enjoying it?
- Tek
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Post by wingcommander on Mar 15, 2010 11:25:33 GMT -5
Yeah I was doing a lot of starts & stops. it seemed like the smell was coming from the middle of the bike so I was assuming it had something to do with the oil leak.
The brakes have always done this since I bought it, it's just a little scary to have to pull it that hard to stop. It will stop, just takes a little longer. I will look at the things you said and let you know this afternoon.
As for enjoying it, I'm loving it! It's a lot of fun and has saved me a TON of gas going to school & back! Thanks for all your help again!
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Post by gmoney on Mar 15, 2010 13:56:18 GMT -5
You don't have to remove your tire to replace the valve stem! You can put it up on center stand, pull in the rear break lever using a rubber band or rope or zip tie. Position the valve stem at the 5:00 O'clock position, remove the inner core of the valve stem to release all the air. Next get a large C clamp and using a scrap piece of wood, place one end of the C clamp on the rim with the scrap wood between the rim and clamp. The other end of the C clamp needs to be on the tire bead. Screw the C clamp down until the bead comes off the tire. Pull out the old valve stem, insert the new one from the bottom. Pull the new stem using a pair of vice grips with the cap on the valve stem. This will seat the stem so it won't leak. Install the inner core and take clamp off. Add compressed air to 30-35 Lbs pressure, and your done. There are several videos on YouTube demonstrating this if you can't follow my instructions. The cost of a large C clamp is around $5.00-$10.00. Valve stems cost $2.00, vice grips, another $5-10 dollars. Much cheaper than taking the wheel off, and easier too!
Gary
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Post by wingcommander on Mar 17, 2010 23:52:17 GMT -5
Tek, I couldn't find a crimp in the line or anything , and the fluid did seem a bit low as well as the pads seemed thin. what kind of fluid would I get to replace it? I can't seem to find a post of how to go about replacing pads/fluid do you know of one? I've googled & looked on youtube, but haven't found anything for ABS disc brakes.
Gmoney: Thanks I'll try that!
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Post by wingcommander on Mar 18, 2010 18:39:03 GMT -5
Ok so I got the hand vac. brake pump from harbor freight, & put new fluid in, got the brake fluid coming into the pump, put everything back together, the brake handel is still to tight & when you do a rocking motion with just the front brake it won't roll foward but will go backwards slightly now What did I do wrong?? Here's what I did. 1. Filled the res. up with dot.4 fluid 2. attached the hose from the pump to the bleeder / turned the valve open 3. pumped the fluid out a few times 4. put everything back together. The scooter will stop, (I havent' taken it on the road just the parking lot) but I'm concerned about it rolling backwards slightly in the pre-ride check??
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Post by teknoyd on Mar 18, 2010 22:38:32 GMT -5
WC,
How many miles on the bike?
I'm wondering if the brake pads are worn to the point you need to replace them.
Maybe you could compare them to a newer scooter. Do you have a shop there where you could go look at the new similar bikes?
Another thing - does the brake feel spongy, or is it firm? (should be firm)
If it's not firm you may need to bleed the brake again.
We had one good day here, and tomorrow rain again with possible snow the next day. I'm ready for spring.
- Tek
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Post by wingcommander on Mar 19, 2010 0:41:57 GMT -5
Brakes are firm Tek, We do have a scooter shop but they don't stock the Eagle style scooters you can order them just not look at the first :sigh: The bike has 1778 miles on it. So could the pads be messed up do you think? as for weather. We have had very nice weather here for like 1 day as well then it will rain for 3 then maybe be nice for a 1/2 day. I to will be glad for better weather. Kinda hard to work on the scooter with it flooding
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Post by teknoyd on Mar 19, 2010 23:09:12 GMT -5
That seems kind of young to need new pads to me. I'm not sure what that could be. I supposed the pads could be glazed. That could happen if something got on them. Then they become too "shiny" to do their job. You could either replace them or pull them off and lightly sand the glaze off.
As I write this we are being blanketed in snow again...
- Tek
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Post by savy09 on May 16, 2010 17:34:08 GMT -5
Hi Dawgs talking 50cc/150cc scoots- I've narrowed my first scoot search to a 2009 new 50cc BMS Heritage scoot from
MXmotorsports in FL or Familymotorsports in PA. $1,000-1150 delivered to my door on Long Island, NY- looks like yours Tek
(NY state don't need motorcycle endorsement for 49cc/30mph) Q?A- can I later change weights to goose it to 40/45 mph ?
junior dawg (73) - Savy09
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Post by teknoyd on May 17, 2010 22:48:22 GMT -5
Cool - I didn't know BMS made a 50 in that style. I know other importer do, so it doesn't surprise me.
You can change the weights and you'll get more take off probably a little more top end, but I wouldn't count on 45.
You might go to the 50cc area and see what other modifications have been made to the 50cc bikes and see if it's anything you want to tackle. The CVT weights are definitely and affordable upgrade, also a performance variator.
Good luck!
- Tek
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