Post by craiger45 on Aug 23, 2014 9:18:54 GMT -6
I found this post and have lived by it with my current 150 cc and previous 250 cc scooters. They both drove great and never broke down while I was out driving. Hope it helps you...
{Sorry I don't know who wrote this, I wish I did so I would be able to give him credit}
In the spring of 2008 I purchased a new Chinese 50cc 4 stroke scooter because I wanted to rage against the Big Oil Machine. She ran good for about 4000 km when there became a noticeable loss in the engine performance. Who will work on my scooter? I thought to myself. I was unable to locate a Chinese scooter mechanic or a good shop at the time. So I learned how to properly adjust my valves, she ran great once again, and so I learned by virtue of necessity.
I navigated my browser to various online scooter forums, I made contacts and developed relationships with shop owners who sell and work on Chinese scooters, I downloaded service manuals, got my hands greasy, then I threw myself out there, working on peoples scooters to get the real world experience that I needed. They love me, they are grateful, and they appreciate the fact that I am there to fix their scooters for them. I get paid and I enjoy the work. It is a good feeling when I help a fellow scootist.... to get his knees back in the breeze.
There are very few Chinese scooter mechanics out there period, and even fewer highly skilled ones. This is how I got into the whole scooter repair business. I saw a great need for Chinese scooter services, and now I am busier than a one armed paper hanger. This is my 3rd year servicing Chinese scooters. My phone rings continuously and I am one heck of a sought after guy. I have diagnosed and repaired hundreds of these scoots with a 98% success rate.
Do you want to become a Chinese scooter mechanic? There are only 4 things your scooter needs to start up and run. Fuel flow, Ignition, Vacuum, and Engine compression. OK, You got that? Congratulations! You are now a Chinese scooter mechanic.
All joking aside there is much more to these scooters than I had ever imagined, I am still learning. I use to joke about it and tell people...."It's a Leaf Blower with a seat and wheels on it...Easy Peasy Chineesy!"
But to be serious, you at least now know the basics. And if your scooter won't start or run properly, it is absolutely one of the 4 things I just mentioned. Fuel flow, Ignition, Vacuum, or Engine compression.
The Chinese scooter is actually an amazing machine. The quality is every bit as good as a Honda or a Yamaha and they will last just as long, IF you know what to do with one of these scooters, directly after she comes out of the shipping crate. You see the Chinese think that we are very intelligent people, and they expect us to know what to do, and figure it all out for ourselves. I will list the most critical criteria that must be met in order to give your Chinese scooter a long and well performing life. This must be done when she is brand spanking new.
1) Change the engine oil before you put 1 mile on it! The oil your new scooter ships with, is for start up and testing purposes only, and overseas transport. It was never intended to be used to operate your scooter with. Change the oil before you ride your new scooter. 5W 50 is what you need. (good quality gear oil replacement is a good idea too)
(2) Use ONLY 93 octane gas, I cannot emphasize this enough. The GY6 4 Stroke engine is designed to run off of high octane gasoline, and this fuel will keep your carburetor very clean. If you put 87 in your scooter you will be calling me very soon to replace your carburetor and your fuel petcock valve. Cheap gas will gum up your carburetor and destroy it.
3) Use a good quality spark plug like NGK or a Honda silver wing iridium plug. Replace your stock ignition coil with a high performance coil.
4) Check all the bolts, make sure they are ALL tight.
5) Set your intake valve lash to 0.08mm and your exhaust valve to 0.10mm
6) Do not expose your scooter to the elements, leaving it outside in the rain will destroy it in no time. Drain the carburetor and bring the battery inside for winter storage
7) Do not let your buddy next door who is really good at fixing lawn mowers work on your scooter. Do not attempt to work on the scooter yourself unless you are sure of your abilities, you have done your research, and you have excellent mechanical skills and the correct tools.
8) Engine Break In: Allow the choke to kick off and warm the engine well before riding. For the first 500km avoid overheating the engine. Ride for an hour or two then let her cool down for an hour. You can give her full throttle, just don't overwork or overheat the engine when she is brand new.
9) Replace your original CVT Drive belt with a Gates Powerlink Belt and it will last 10 times longer.....10,000 km instead of 1000 km. Trust me replace the belt now....When your drive belt breaks you are stuck on the side of the road. Then it will begin to rain, then hail balls, Lightening, followed by gale force winds, then your cell phone battery will die right there on the spot. Been there done that.
The Chinese scooter is a very good quality scooter. It will run forever if you follow the 9 steps I have listed above. The problem is that many of the shady dealers who sell you a new Chinese scooter do not perform a PDI(pre delivery inspection) They do not replace the fluids, test the ignition, engine compression, valve adjustment, or inform you that your scooter requires 93 high octane gasoline to run properly and reliably. A legitimate dealer selling Honda or Yamaha scooters would perform a complete and detailed PDI before you even purchase a scooter from them. This is a mandatory procedure for the Japanese scooter dealers, but rarely is a PDI ever performed at your local Chinese scooter retailer. A retail store is not a dealership or even a repair shop. My advice is to buy a Chinese scooter from a reputable outfit like Scootertronics dotcom.
My 50cc 4 stroke Chinese Scoot has 22,000km on her and she runs great! My 150cc has over 13,000km and is a very nice running ride. Very reliable die hard scooters and both are Chinese. Both have the original engine maintained only by an oil change and valve adjustment every 1000 km and 3000 km respectively. Real Chinese junk huh? LOL The engine compression is perfect on both of these scooters. Both scooters have far exceeded my greatest expectations, and I am impressed every time I start one up and ride. I am here to tell you that these scooters are not cheap Chinese crap like many people believe they are. The problem here lies within the fact that 95% of the Chinese scooters sold to the public by a retail outlet, lack the essential preparation by the seller, and or the owner that is critical to perform before the new scooter is operated.
Your Chinese scooter is comprised of 90% Japanese parts made in Taiwan, it is a Chinese scooter only because it is assembled in China. The carburetor, some tires, the drive belt and a few other misc parts for your Chinese scooter are made in China, the vast majority of the parts however are manufactured in Taiwan. The GY6 4 stroke engine is an exact replica of a Honda engine using the same exact Japanese engine parts. It is the SAME thing, it is a Honda engine! It will run forever if you use a good quality oil and keep it clean.
Make it go faster and perform better:
*93 octane Sunoco, Citgo, Shell
*High performance carburetor
*Gates powerlink drive belt
*High performance ignition coil
*No Rev Limit CDI Controller
*Iridium Spark Plug
*36 psi in both tires
*High performance variator and clutch
*High performance exhaust system
Long Live the Chinese Scooter!
{Sorry I don't know who wrote this, I wish I did so I would be able to give him credit}
In the spring of 2008 I purchased a new Chinese 50cc 4 stroke scooter because I wanted to rage against the Big Oil Machine. She ran good for about 4000 km when there became a noticeable loss in the engine performance. Who will work on my scooter? I thought to myself. I was unable to locate a Chinese scooter mechanic or a good shop at the time. So I learned how to properly adjust my valves, she ran great once again, and so I learned by virtue of necessity.
I navigated my browser to various online scooter forums, I made contacts and developed relationships with shop owners who sell and work on Chinese scooters, I downloaded service manuals, got my hands greasy, then I threw myself out there, working on peoples scooters to get the real world experience that I needed. They love me, they are grateful, and they appreciate the fact that I am there to fix their scooters for them. I get paid and I enjoy the work. It is a good feeling when I help a fellow scootist.... to get his knees back in the breeze.
There are very few Chinese scooter mechanics out there period, and even fewer highly skilled ones. This is how I got into the whole scooter repair business. I saw a great need for Chinese scooter services, and now I am busier than a one armed paper hanger. This is my 3rd year servicing Chinese scooters. My phone rings continuously and I am one heck of a sought after guy. I have diagnosed and repaired hundreds of these scoots with a 98% success rate.
Do you want to become a Chinese scooter mechanic? There are only 4 things your scooter needs to start up and run. Fuel flow, Ignition, Vacuum, and Engine compression. OK, You got that? Congratulations! You are now a Chinese scooter mechanic.
All joking aside there is much more to these scooters than I had ever imagined, I am still learning. I use to joke about it and tell people...."It's a Leaf Blower with a seat and wheels on it...Easy Peasy Chineesy!"
But to be serious, you at least now know the basics. And if your scooter won't start or run properly, it is absolutely one of the 4 things I just mentioned. Fuel flow, Ignition, Vacuum, or Engine compression.
The Chinese scooter is actually an amazing machine. The quality is every bit as good as a Honda or a Yamaha and they will last just as long, IF you know what to do with one of these scooters, directly after she comes out of the shipping crate. You see the Chinese think that we are very intelligent people, and they expect us to know what to do, and figure it all out for ourselves. I will list the most critical criteria that must be met in order to give your Chinese scooter a long and well performing life. This must be done when she is brand spanking new.
1) Change the engine oil before you put 1 mile on it! The oil your new scooter ships with, is for start up and testing purposes only, and overseas transport. It was never intended to be used to operate your scooter with. Change the oil before you ride your new scooter. 5W 50 is what you need. (good quality gear oil replacement is a good idea too)
(2) Use ONLY 93 octane gas, I cannot emphasize this enough. The GY6 4 Stroke engine is designed to run off of high octane gasoline, and this fuel will keep your carburetor very clean. If you put 87 in your scooter you will be calling me very soon to replace your carburetor and your fuel petcock valve. Cheap gas will gum up your carburetor and destroy it.
3) Use a good quality spark plug like NGK or a Honda silver wing iridium plug. Replace your stock ignition coil with a high performance coil.
4) Check all the bolts, make sure they are ALL tight.
5) Set your intake valve lash to 0.08mm and your exhaust valve to 0.10mm
6) Do not expose your scooter to the elements, leaving it outside in the rain will destroy it in no time. Drain the carburetor and bring the battery inside for winter storage
7) Do not let your buddy next door who is really good at fixing lawn mowers work on your scooter. Do not attempt to work on the scooter yourself unless you are sure of your abilities, you have done your research, and you have excellent mechanical skills and the correct tools.
8) Engine Break In: Allow the choke to kick off and warm the engine well before riding. For the first 500km avoid overheating the engine. Ride for an hour or two then let her cool down for an hour. You can give her full throttle, just don't overwork or overheat the engine when she is brand new.
9) Replace your original CVT Drive belt with a Gates Powerlink Belt and it will last 10 times longer.....10,000 km instead of 1000 km. Trust me replace the belt now....When your drive belt breaks you are stuck on the side of the road. Then it will begin to rain, then hail balls, Lightening, followed by gale force winds, then your cell phone battery will die right there on the spot. Been there done that.
The Chinese scooter is a very good quality scooter. It will run forever if you follow the 9 steps I have listed above. The problem is that many of the shady dealers who sell you a new Chinese scooter do not perform a PDI(pre delivery inspection) They do not replace the fluids, test the ignition, engine compression, valve adjustment, or inform you that your scooter requires 93 high octane gasoline to run properly and reliably. A legitimate dealer selling Honda or Yamaha scooters would perform a complete and detailed PDI before you even purchase a scooter from them. This is a mandatory procedure for the Japanese scooter dealers, but rarely is a PDI ever performed at your local Chinese scooter retailer. A retail store is not a dealership or even a repair shop. My advice is to buy a Chinese scooter from a reputable outfit like Scootertronics dotcom.
My 50cc 4 stroke Chinese Scoot has 22,000km on her and she runs great! My 150cc has over 13,000km and is a very nice running ride. Very reliable die hard scooters and both are Chinese. Both have the original engine maintained only by an oil change and valve adjustment every 1000 km and 3000 km respectively. Real Chinese junk huh? LOL The engine compression is perfect on both of these scooters. Both scooters have far exceeded my greatest expectations, and I am impressed every time I start one up and ride. I am here to tell you that these scooters are not cheap Chinese crap like many people believe they are. The problem here lies within the fact that 95% of the Chinese scooters sold to the public by a retail outlet, lack the essential preparation by the seller, and or the owner that is critical to perform before the new scooter is operated.
Your Chinese scooter is comprised of 90% Japanese parts made in Taiwan, it is a Chinese scooter only because it is assembled in China. The carburetor, some tires, the drive belt and a few other misc parts for your Chinese scooter are made in China, the vast majority of the parts however are manufactured in Taiwan. The GY6 4 stroke engine is an exact replica of a Honda engine using the same exact Japanese engine parts. It is the SAME thing, it is a Honda engine! It will run forever if you use a good quality oil and keep it clean.
Make it go faster and perform better:
*93 octane Sunoco, Citgo, Shell
*High performance carburetor
*Gates powerlink drive belt
*High performance ignition coil
*No Rev Limit CDI Controller
*Iridium Spark Plug
*36 psi in both tires
*High performance variator and clutch
*High performance exhaust system
Long Live the Chinese Scooter!
