Under Powered 150 By mxmatt (Read 603 times)

[mxmatt]

I don't get it.  My little scoot just doesn't seem to have the power it once did.  At take off it seems fine, but it really seems like it is lugging the motor for the rest of the power band.  It eventually gets up to top speed but at a slower pace than before.  Penny for your thoughts. 

[Deleted]

you've been having a smoking problem. does the exhaust have a converter in it? if it does it may be clogged by the soot from the smoke.

[Bashan]

CVT belt? And of course I still have to come back to rings and compression. Do you have compression equipment Matt? I can't remember. Rich

[mxmatt]

Educate me  @lanternscooter . Not familiar with a converter.

Bashan I have the 842 on there but it seemed like I had more power before I swapped out the starter clutch.  I don't have compression equipment.

[jct842]

The $21.99 tester is the one I have.

www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=compression+tester

If you are going to continue to work on these engines they are essential. Takes all the guess work out. You have a scooter that was running good yesterday and now it shuts down when hot.....pull the plug and check compression and if its low or gone you adjust valves. Recording it when you change oil over several years could show the health of the rings. It's a real quick way to diagnose problems.

[Bashan]

Lantern is talking like a CAT converter, sometimes they have a loop through the exhaust and they get extra hot and burn off unspent hydrocarbons. But I'll let him elaborate if he wishes. But John is right bud, for the money, it is probably one of the best tests for engine maladies. They are easy to use and cheap to purchase. The finger over the spark hole does not cut it IMO. Rich

[Deleted]

Jun 4, 2014 20:07:18 GMT -6 mxmatt said:

Educate me  @lanternscooter . Not familiar with a converter.

yup like Bashan just said. it can get clogged with soot however because its just a mass of very small passages. the thing itself is like a honeycomb made of platinum and other catalytic materials (actually called a PLATINUM MONOLITH ). it converts unburnt hydrocarbons like a burner with additional oxygen from the PAIR system, and if the PAIR is unhooked it doesnt function as well or get as hot and can clog.

[mxmatt]

Jun 4, 2014 21:07:36 GMT -6 @lanternscooter said:

Jun 4, 2014 20:07:18 GMT -6 mxmatt said:

Educate me  @lanternscooter . Not familiar with a converter.

yup like Bashan just said. it can get clogged with soot however because its just a mass of very small passages. the thing itself is like a honeycomb made of platinum and other catalytic materials (actually called a PLATINUM MONOLITH ). it converts unburnt hydrocarbons like a burner with additional oxygen from the PAIR system, and if the PAIR is unhooked it doesnt function as well or get as hot and can clog.

OK, I get it.  Like Bashan said it's a CAT for a scooter.  Is it inside the muffler housing?  Is it something that needs replaced or can it be cleaned with solvent or something?

[mxmatt]

Jun 4, 2014 20:26:00 GMT -6 jct842 said:

The $21.99 tester is the one I have.

www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=compression+tester

If you are going to continue to work on these engines they are essential. Takes all the guess work out. You have a scooter that was running good yesterday and now it shuts down when hot.....pull the plug and check compression and if its low or gone you adjust valves. Recording it when you change oil over several years could show the health of the rings. It's a real quick way to diagnose problems.

I'm on it.  Thanks John.

[Alleyoop]

If the Catalytic converter is clogged if it has one you need to get a new muffler cannot clean it out. So then just get a performance muffler it will be louder but it will free up the exhaust.
Alleyoop