Earl's Scooters

[earlwb]

Here is the 2007 Roketa Fiji 150 scooter just uncrated circa Xmas 2006:


Here is the scooter ready to be checked out:


This is my other bigger "scooter" it is a 1992 Harley Sportster 1200:


Here I am caught in the act of playing with the scooter:

[earlwb]

So far so good, no catastrophes or disasters with it.
The only problem was a low beam filament on the left headlight broke at about 58 miles. When I went to replace it, I noticed that the bulb had a bit of a burnt oily residure on it. So either it was accidentally fingered at the factory or the oily fumes from the plastic all around it had settled on the bulb.
I now have almost 800 miles on it so far. If I ride it to and from work every day, I can rack up over 250 miles a week on it.
I have only had it up to 50 to 55mph tops so far. But in its defense, I have a lot of tools in the underseat storage area, and I am wearing heavy motorcyle armored apparel too. Currently that seems to be about as fast as it will go with me on it.
Currently it is getting around 77 to 82 miles per gallon.
The worst it got was 68mpg, when I was seeing about how fast it would go to and from work for a while. Later I settled down into a who cares, I'll just tool along, if you can't stand it, go around and pass me kind of a mode.
No nuts or bolts have fallen off either. Knock on wood.

[earlwb]

Before it really happened and the CVT drive belt broke. Iwanted to ensure that I could get the variator nut off and be able to replace the drive belt while out on the road someplace.
So here are some pics of what I did to be able to fix it in the field.
The at home test is a success, so i feel confidant that I can perform this procedure when out on the roadshould the belt break on me. The homemade variator tool and 14" break bar wrench both fit OK in my under the seat storage tub.

CVT Drive Unit exposed:


The OEM Drive belt is a Bando 835 20 30 size belt. it looks none the worse for wear at about 800 miles on it so far.


My homemade Variator Locking Tool:


Removing the 17mm variator nut using a 14" long 1/2" drive breaker bar wrench and the homemade variator locking tool. I had to use this long wrench, as they used a air-impact-wrench at the factory, and that nut was really on there tight. I had to use two hands and push down hard with my body to pop that nut loose. I then used some blue Locktite to reinstall the nut and tighten it back up. So being able to replace the belt out on the road is not a big problem for me now.


While I was at it, I thought it might be nice to see what the aircleaner looked like too. here is the top cover.


And here is what the air filter looks like with the cover off. Note the grid like strip just in front of the air filter. it contains a foam strip, than you need to check and clean from time to time. You can wash and dry that foam strip and reuse a lot. The air filter is a typical paper filter element that would need to be replaced as needed.

[bond007]

Smart thinking dude !!!!!!!! I may borrow your idea or something like it. I have not looked at my Pegasus tranny yet. Probably will at about 3000 miles. Unless i feel something funny going on in that area. Then I'll check immediatly, if that happens. Time and miles will tell. David,Thanks

[scooterollie]

Earlwb;
In your last pic showing the air filter element, notice the screen mesh just under and to the front of the filter. Remove the phillips screws holding the mesh in place and see how many holes there are in the bottom of the air box. My Fuji had one small hole open with foam blocks covering two more holes. The foam blocks were just sitting there, not glued in. I removed one at a time to check the difference. This will allow a little more air to pass through the filter element - it can handle much more flow that is being allowed. Do plug reads to check mixture. Gets a very slight gain.

[earlwb]

Interesting. Thanks for the info, I had totally forgot about that.
I'll check it out later for sure.

[surfborg]

Hey dawgs gotta question for ya'all. I noticed in the above pic of Earl's air filter box (the same as my box) there is a metal plate that appears to have some sort of sealant around the perimeter. What is that? I have the same plate, but mine is not sealed like that. If the sealant is important... what kind do you suggest I use to seal mine?

Surf

[earlwb]

Those little metal plates, as far as I can tell, are more or less large washers. They reinforce the plastic air filter box, to help prevent cracks. My guess is the sealant is a simpler way of ensuring the plates are well secured. But they could have used rubber washers under the plates as well. Using red, grey, or black colored Automotive RTV adhesive or sealant rated to withstand gasoline or oil would work OK.

[demon]

My intake box looks the same except i dont have the foamy mesh thing, just a crappy hole on the bottom and a liong twinsty tube to the carb... what a crappy design, Dawgs rx150i's design looks so much better, for stock at least

[scootwes]

Hey everyone,
I made that CVT removal tool myself, after seeing Earls photos, and after spending all day Saturday with an impact wrench and not a few dollars trying in vain to remove my pulley nut.
Looking at his photo, I made one that looked just like it, and the nut came off after one tug of the socket wrench!
Thanks Earl!

[earlwb]

You are welcome, I am glad it helped you out.

[earlwb]

I took this pic when I stopped at the Dallas Fort Worth international Airport today.

[Glennby]

Long ride?how far is the a/p from your house?.i work out of standford field.(Lou int'l ).

[earlwb]

I only live like 5 miles from where I took the photo at the airport.
My entire commute to work is like 23 miles by bicycle one way, about 25-26 miles by motor vehicle one way (you can cut through the parks on a bicycle).
There is a road named Airfield Drive that runs around the periphery of the airport used for maintenance and such. It makes a great route to avoid the freeways on scooters or bicycles.
We ride bicycles a lot on this road too.
But at rush hour it is great as you look over at the freeway and see everyone moving along at 15mph in grid lock, suckers.

They had closed the original airport observation park for renovations and such. So they had just recently opened this new one up. Since it has gravel instead of asphault, i suspect it isn't a permanent observation park. but they have a couple of picnic tables for those who like to watch the airplanes land and take off.

The airport is huge with five runways, most all going at the same time. the Airfield Drive road is like 20 miles long if you do the loop.

[earlwb]

I took this pic a while back at Lake Grapevine Texas from Oak Grove Park. The lake was down several feet from the last rains, but it is still like 8 to 10 feet above normal. All the parks are pretty much closed, and the boat ramps are still down. I can't beleive people were windsurfing in there, it is still like a cesspool from all the flooding and runoff. If you look close you can see that all the picnic tables and pavillions are still under water too.

[earlwb]

This is the famous Gaylord Hotel and Convention center.
Something like 1500 rooms, a huge hotel. it is busy all the time. they are booked up until something like 2015 for conventions. At this time.
the second pic is of a cool Mustangs Statue that is near the entrance to the hotel.

[earlwb]

Here is a pic of my scooter next to the giant branding iron at the Gaylord Hotel:


Here are some shots from that Dam Road over the Grapevine Lake Dam, opposite the pics I took from the other side of the lake.

[90GTVert]

No wonder so many of you talk about slowing down to enjoy the scenery, while I'm out buzzing around wide open in the middle of a bunch of corn fields. Nice pics.

[Aaron]

Nice pics Earl! I'll throw another one up next week.

Aaron

[earlwb]

I took these snapshots at the Pait Air Museum in Addison Texas at the Addison Airport.

[perus]

Earl, really great photos!

/Per

[Deleted]

Nice pics. I love riding my scooter so much, although I don't use it for transportation. Just for fun. By the way Im only 16 years old.

[earlwb]

Thanks
Don't worry adnasaleen, you will be a good scooterist before you know it.

[earlwb]

My Roketa MC54-250B maxi-scooter.




When I had first brought it home:

[earlwb]

Of course I have some of these 1:18th scale scooters too.

[earlwb]

Ok a couple of scenic pics of my MC54-250B maxi-scooter.

[earlwb]

Today after performing my Jury Duty Service for the County, I stopped by and visited our local Moxie Scooter Store. It is a great store if you happen to be in the area, drop in and check them out.
]

[jennymrose]

earlwb said:

My Roketa MC54-250B maxi-scooter.

When I had first brought it home:

Earl,

I am just about to buy my first scooter (probably a Lance 150cc) and I want to get a little trailer for towing it if need be. I will be graduating from college next summer and probably moving across California so I want to get a trailer to tow my scoot where it can't drive itself (freeways).

Problem is I only have a Toyota Corolla ('04) and it's towing capacity is 1500 lbs. I am assuming it can only handle a class 1 hitch.

I want to get this trailer:
www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42709
It looks a lot like yours!

It says it only weighs 220 lbs add some ply wood and round to about 300 lbs total. Plus the scooter will weigh about 250 -300 lbs. It would appear that I should be way under my cars limit of 1500 lbs!

What do you think? Would you feel comfortable towing your trailer with a sedan?

Also, do you only use the tie down straps pictured with the scooter on the kick stand or center stand?

If anyone has any input/ideas/experience to offer I love to hear it!

[shescoots150]

Really great pics, Earl. Do you mind telling me where you found "the collectables"? Have been wanting to collect them. Found some Vespa style toy scooters in pink and blue for $5 @ Dollar General with motor sounds and they beep. Picked one up for myself but being a collector got the bug to find more. Again, loved the pics.

[earlwb]

jennymrose,
Sorry for the delay I just noticed your question.
Yeah that looks like my folding trailer. I registered the trailer as a homemade trailer, as you get to assemble it yourself anyway. No problems at all putting it together. I didn't bother to put on the extra wheels for rolling it around all folded up.

Basically if you can get a trailer hitch on your car, you can pull the trailer with a scooter on it no problem. Now if you loaded a Honda GoldWing it might start getting iffy.

Get a spare wheel tire to go with the trailer, in case you have problems with a tire on the way or something. For long distances getting a trailer with the 12" wheels would be a better choice. In either case check your wheels frequently enroute in case a wheel bearing starts to go bad on you. i pulled the spindles off of mine and slathered on extra wheel axle grease to lube them up good as they don't put much grease on them at the factory. So if you do that, they'll probably hold up real well.

when you get the 3/4" plywood sheet, have the clerk simply cut it right in half in the store for you. When you lay down the plywood, you'll have to reach up under the trailer frame with a pencil and mark where the holes are. Then you drill a bunch of 1/4" holes for the 1/4" bolts and bolt the plywood down using 14/" bolts and nuts.
I used 1/4" galvanized carriage bolts like these shown here, as they have a round head that fits more flush on the plywood. Then you use nuts and washers on the other side.
store.nutsandbolts.com/cabogr5pl.html

I also used a ramp to load the scooter or motorcycle with, like this one:
www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90018

I installed a couple of "U" bolts on the front, instead of a wheel chock. I just use a length of rope to tire the front wheel down to the U-bolts. using the kick stand, gives the scooter a little wider stance for trailering with. But I tie down the scooter good as you don't want it to tip over on you as you go around a turn. Normally you tie the scooter down straight upright, but that is a little hard and tricky to do by yourself.
The U bolts look like these here:
www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~partsort
I also got some extra nuts and washers so I could tighten down the U bolt from both sides.

Here is a pretty good wheel chock:
www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96349
and here is the economy wheel chock:
www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97145