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Post by cameratester on Jan 2, 2012 13:31:15 GMT -5
My TaoTao ATM50-A1 scooter sounds like a motorcycle. I was riding down the road yesterday and I heard this noise. it was quiet at first. I noticed it when I was stopped at a red light, and when I turned the throttle to go, then when riding down the road for about a mile, it got louder, so I pulled over and tried to see what it was, couldn't figure it out. Then I kept going, and it was quieter but then it got REALLY loud! So I had to drive it all the way back home. It sounds like a motorcycle. It's not normal at all. I had my neighbor look at it, we tried looking at everything, couldn't figure out where it's coming from. It sounds like it's coming from the engine, but it the sound sounds like an exhaust problem or muffler problem. I do (now) know that the oil was low, though it had some, it was pretty low, so I filled it up to the top. The oil has never gone down, it has always been the same amount through hundreds of miles. I don't know what's wrong. Here is a video of my scooter and the noise. Is this just an exhaust problem, and should I stop riding it? If it's just exhaust, I kind of like that sound, and wouldn't mind riding with it, but if it's something in the engine, then it could be dangerous. Not to mention the pinging noise, It's gas ping or whatever it's called, that started as soon as I changed the spark plug (the original was dead and in horrible shape) and adjusted the A/F Mixture screw to make it richer, the neighbor said it was too lean. But the pinging sound happened right after that, he also put 87 octane in it, and I used a lot of it and filled it with premium, actually waited at a gas station watching people to see if they use premium (which took an hour) and then went after then to fill my tank with premium. It still does the pinging sound. How do I fix that too? Please help! Thank you! www.youtube.com/watch?v=q55sLcHzHe8 |
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Post by cameratester on Jan 2, 2012 13:33:09 GMT -5
Here is the video embedded
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Post by Scooter Elements on Jan 2, 2012 13:36:34 GMT -5
Sounds like an Exhaust leak. Take off your manifold and see if there are any cracks in it. if so either buy a new one or take it to get it welded
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Post by inkyben on Jan 2, 2012 13:44:51 GMT -5
Bolts from the header most likely came loose. If they're loose then throw on some washers and that'll fix them from backing out again.
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Post by cameratester on Jan 2, 2012 14:23:43 GMT -5
I know that the nuts that are in this picture www.provoscooter.com/media/how-tos/exhaust-derestriction/Figure16LRG.jpg were missing from my scooter, they must have fallen off, so we got some 2 nuts (uuh sorry) and put them on, and it still made that noise. Is it because the nuts came off? And if that's the problem, how come when we put new ones on (regular hex nuts) it didn't fix it, and what's the fix? Oh and if it's possible, I'd REALLY love to have this sound, but if it's going to damage or hurt anything (me or the scooter itself) then I need it fixed. And Please help me fix the pinging noise. I had this issue before. I would ride down the road going up hill and riding and it would get so loud that it would start to idle even when I turn the throttle, it wouldn't move, I'd have to sit on the side of the road and wait a few minutes and ride again. It happened before at top speed and going up hills, now it's happening all the time, but it hasn't cut off yet, because I've been pulling over and letting it sit every so often, but I know it would cut off (start idling while riding) like it did the first time. Since the first time it did it, the carburetor went bad and so did the petcock, so I got those replaced and it didn't do it anymore, but then when the spark plug went bad, and it got replaced and then I got the A/F mixture screw turned to make it more rich (the neighbor did it, said he did it at 1 1/2 turn) it started doing the pinging sound again. Is it the spark plug? I THINK the spark plug is standard, does it have to be cold or hot? I really need help with all of the above. Thank you so much! And what's a manifold and a header and where are they located? Sorry. I'm not a mechanic, the neighbor is the mechanic. |
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Post by Scooter Elements on Jan 2, 2012 14:31:06 GMT -5
I know that the nuts that are in this picture www.provoscooter.com/media/how-tos/exhaust-derestriction/Figure16LRG.jpg were missing from my scooter, they must have fallen off, so we got some 2 nuts (uuh sorry) and put them on, and it still made that noise. Is it because the nuts came off? And if that's the problem, how come when we put new ones on (regular hex nuts) it didn't fix it, and what's the fix? Oh and if it's possible, I'd REALLY love to have this sound, but if it's going to damage or hurt anything (me or the scooter itself) then I need it fixed. And Please help me fix the pinging noise. I had this issue before. I would ride down the road going up hill and riding and it would get so loud that it would start to idle even when I turn the throttle, it wouldn't move, I'd have to sit on the side of the road and wait a few minutes and ride again. It happened before at top speed and going up hills, now it's happening all the time, but it hasn't cut off yet, because I've been pulling over and letting it sit every so often, but I know it would cut off (start idling while riding) like it did the first time. Since the first time it did it, the carburetor went bad and so did the petcock, so I got those replaced and it didn't do it anymore, but then when the spark plug went bad, and it got replaced and then I got the A/F mixture screw turned to make it more rich (the neighbor did it, said he did it at 1 1/2 turn) it started doing the pinging sound again. Is it the spark plug? I THINK the spark plug is standard, does it have to be cold or hot? I really need help with all of the above. Thank you so much! And what's a manifold and a header and where are they located? Sorry. I'm not a mechanic, the neighbor is the mechanic. a manifold and header are the same thing. Its the metal pipe that connects to your muffler to under the scooter to your valve head  |
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Post by cameratester on Jan 2, 2012 15:05:22 GMT -5
I know that the nuts that are in this picture www.provoscooter.com/media/how-tos/exhaust-derestriction/Figure16LRG.jpg were missing from my scooter, they must have fallen off, so we got some 2 nuts (uuh sorry) and put them on, and it still made that noise. Is it because the nuts came off? And if that's the problem, how come when we put new ones on (regular hex nuts) it didn't fix it, and what's the fix? Oh and if it's possible, I'd REALLY love to have this sound, but if it's going to damage or hurt anything (me or the scooter itself) then I need it fixed. And Please help me fix the pinging noise. I had this issue before. I would ride down the road going up hill and riding and it would get so loud that it would start to idle even when I turn the throttle, it wouldn't move, I'd have to sit on the side of the road and wait a few minutes and ride again. It happened before at top speed and going up hills, now it's happening all the time, but it hasn't cut off yet, because I've been pulling over and letting it sit every so often, but I know it would cut off (start idling while riding) like it did the first time. Since the first time it did it, the carburetor went bad and so did the petcock, so I got those replaced and it didn't do it anymore, but then when the spark plug went bad, and it got replaced and then I got the A/F mixture screw turned to make it more rich (the neighbor did it, said he did it at 1 1/2 turn) it started doing the pinging sound again. Is it the spark plug? I THINK the spark plug is standard, does it have to be cold or hot? I really need help with all of the above. Thank you so much! I still need help with this above message. Thank you! |
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Post by cameratester on Jan 2, 2012 15:57:01 GMT -5
And I just checked the header/manifold. There are no cracks at all. I just felt it. It's rusted. Could a tiny hole cause the problem? Maybe I missed a hole, but I felt very slowly down the header and I didn't feel anything but just a little bit of rust. Nothing serious. I don't think there's a crack. Which makes me wonder what's causing the sound! I'm REALLY hoping it's not something in the engine. I hope it's just an exhaust issue. I still need help with the above message, about if it's a problem that I need to fix or can I keep it like this, and about the pinging sound. Thank you!
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Post by Scooter Elements on Jan 2, 2012 15:58:47 GMT -5
usually mine cracks near the very top where it connects to the valve head you should take it off and inspect it
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Post by 50dude on Jan 2, 2012 16:00:36 GMT -5
The pinging may be caused by lean running, as a result of the exhaust coming loose. Are you sure the new hex nuts you put on are tightened up properly?
If you want a deeper sound you could modify your muffler and upset a little, but if the header is loose or damaged it isn't a good idea to keep running it.
Hope this helps
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Post by inkyben on Jan 2, 2012 16:48:26 GMT -5
That's one of the main things I upgraded on mine was the exhaust. The stock exhausts aren't bad but they don't tend to have a long life expectancy especially here in Florida with the humid salty air. I kept my OEM exhaust on for the first 600ish miles and when I took it off I swear it sounded like a big baby rattle from rust inside lol.
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Post by larrball on Jan 2, 2012 18:57:29 GMT -5
On my scooter i have a PAIR hooked to the exhaust and when i take the hose off the PAIR valve it sound's just like how yours does in the video. cant's say if you have a PAIR on yours but the hose im referring to look's like this.  And goes up and around to the air intake. Just thought i'd post this just in case it might be of some help as if the hose comes off anywhere it can be a bit of a head scracher at frist. But like the others, i'd take off the exhaust and inspect it,the muffler and the gasket before any damage is done. |
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Post by brianpresnell on Jan 2, 2012 20:44:24 GMT -5
Remove the header pipe from the head and make sure you did not lose the copper ring that act as a gasket. If you did, you need to get a new one before you mess up the valves.
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Post by Scooter Elements on Jan 3, 2012 9:23:00 GMT -5
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Post by terrilee on Jan 3, 2012 11:41:50 GMT -5
I AM NOT A MECH
but it does sound like u lost the gasket
between the "head" and the pipe.
esp if u put bolts on and the noise is still there |
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Post by scootingkid941 on Jan 8, 2012 10:13:27 GMT -5
check your manifold and air box connections as well, i had my air box slightly come loose on a ride and it sounded like a motorcycle.
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Post by silverfox96 on Jan 8, 2012 11:30:34 GMT -5
I'd bet that when you lost the nuts from the exhause, you lost the exhaust gasket, too! Don't use the ring type! Use the full gasket type and make sure you have the correct threads in the nuts you are using. I wouldn't ride it until you have it fixed! You can warp a valve really quickly if your exhaust is leaking, requiring a head rebuild, or worse a new engine!
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