Can this be saved and is it worth trying? By genseeker (Read 1,651 times)

[genseeker]

Back in early Feb I traded a pickup for 3 scoots, a running 49, a parts 49 & what we were told was a 150 but instead seems to be a 250. Here's the parts scoot info:

Mfg : Benzhou Vehicle Group
April 2008
The cover for the nose reads Roketa. Side panels read MC-08-50B
VIN: LD5TCBPAX8*******

I can't find a tag on the engine like I found on my little 50, nor is there a tag inside the seat bucket like on my son's big scoot.

I have a bunch of pixs on photobucket, here's the album link, didn't want to post so many here at once.

s67.photobucket.com/user/genseeker13/library/Part%20scoot

I have no idea if this scoot was running or when it last ran, the engine is partly disassembled. My older son has seen the fun me & younger one have & now he thinks he might like one to play around with. I'm pretty handy with tools & I have done 90% repairs to my vehicles for well over a decade, everything from rebuilding carbs to tranny work to engine work. And if I think something is outta my experience, my baby brother has spent the last 20+ years working as a mechanic, both in garages & out. He even works on ATV/2 wheelers for people cause it's hard to find a shop around here. 

Basically, what I'm wondering is does anyone think this might be worth trying to save or should I just use it as my brother suggested - to get experience working on scoots myself? My brother also knows a guy local with a junkyard, we were out there the other day and he has prob 20-30 scoots in various condition that we could get parts from.

[twowheeler]

man that looks rough. How bad was the truck/ LOL

[Deleted]

oh boy, you could probably save it, but you would have questionable reliability for sure. If I had it, it would stay that way as a parts bike. you may also have questionable safety because of it sitting out, it might have bad rust inside the frame tube where you cant see it.

[genseeker]

Truck ran pretty well but had noticeable rust throughout body panels. Getting this parts scoot didn't figure into my plans, the guy just added it last minute. Originally, I had planned to sell the truck & buy 2 scoots but since we ended up w/ a 50 & 250, looks like I got the better deal. Living off disability alone, I couldn't afford to keep the truck tagged/insured & gassed up to go places. My brother suggested a scoot for me & motorcycle for my son, he feels I don't need that much power for my little groc store trips & such. Until I got the scoot I'd only been passenger on a bike so this will get me used to how it handles vs being in a car but I plan to trade up to a larger scoot one day.

[Bashan]

Before the apocalypse it probably looked like this:

Here's the owner manual.

Here's the wiring diagram

It's a 50cc. If it was a 250 that would be the number on the side.

You can check your VIN numbers right here. 

Oh, and you'll need this: Roketa Parts Department.  Rich

[genseeker]

If it helps, the parts scoot was kept in a storage building. If I do try to repair it, I will have the frame sandblasted and then powder coat or seal it myself with undercoating paint. Depends on if anyone around me offers powder coat.

[pmatulew]

It can be saved if you're willing to put the time and money in to it. I've started with worse before.

To make the Yay or Nay decision you'll have to start from the bottom and work your way up. Does it have legal papers? (if you need them for a 50 in your area.) Then strip the motor and see where you stand. What will it cost to repair or replace the engine? Then start adding up the cost of all the essential missing pieces. Lights, mirrors, grips, cables, hoses, brake parts, bodywork. Is it still worth it? Not much point in spending more than what it would be worth at market value.

If you've got a salvage yard nearby then you've got a leg up on most of us. Broken plastic can be mended back together if the pieces are all there. The milky clear plastics can be buffed out if they're otherwise sound. Even the painted parts might surprise you after a little elbow grease.

[genseeker]

no papers needed for 50cc here, not looking to sell it, more that my other son thinks it might be fun to have. Frame isn't wrecked and I can handle fiberglass decently but my brother has worked for over 15 yrs as mechanic & autobody so that is no trouble either. He won't charge me over the cost of supplies, cause we get along real well; I help him with stuff & he helps me with stuff, as long as I'm willing to wait a couple weeks since he does it in spare time. I've worked on cars/trucks so doing the electrical/engine/CVT work won't cost me either.

I figure if I can rebuild a Holley and it run right, then a scoot carb should be easy. I even rebuilt a little Ford 2300 with my brother just supervising and double checking for me and I used to handle all the tranny service on my pickups.

So guess I need to see what kind of shape the engine is in first since that will likely be the most costly. It'll have to wait until I can clear a space in my living room to put a table up to set it on. Can't ya tell I'm a country girl? An engine being rebuilt in the living room is normal for me, lol

[LUKE]

OMG!!! the guy whom you swapped your pick up with is just so damn lucky!!!! no offense meant but those scooters are so heavily mutilated. dunno what happened to them. But it's done, nothing you can do bout it... prolly what you can do is to take parts from each scooter to come up with one running scooter.

[jvino]

That scooter in the picture looks like a good parts scooter but anything is possible with time and money. Good luck that scooter looks like it needs a lot of attention.

[genseeker]

Apr 10, 2014 21:03:53 GMT -6 LUKE said:

OMG!!! the guy whom you swapped your pick up with is just so damn lucky!!!! no offense meant but those scooters are so heavily mutilated. dunno what happened to them. But it's done, nothing you can do bout it... prolly what you can do is to take parts from each scooter to come up with one running scooter.

We have 2 running scooters. I did get $500 cash to boot.

So a running 2006 Tank250, running 2010 Jonway 50, parts Roketa 50, $500 cash. Since high book value on my truck was only $1400, I'd say I got a good deal. No place around here you can buy a used 250cc scooter for under a grand. The guy just happened to be Ford Ranger/Mazda B2500 truck crazy, he has like his own little fleet of them. My brother said he has like 30 of them now. And I did have someone with knowledge of motorcycles check both the 50 & 250 out before I agreed to the trade. My brother is the one mechanic I trust not to screw me over.

[Bashan]

See....Luke lives for that. He got you to dump a bunch of adrenaline and he lives off of the metabolites...he's an alien. I keep telling people he feeds off of us and AAAARRRGGHHH!!

[pmatulew]

The coffee table comment cracks me up.

I seem to remember a yamaha project that spent the winter in my parlor one time...

While it's true that this scooter project has humble beginnings, and it's likely that it will never be a Pebble Beach contender, a project like this is often less about the end result, and more about the joy of doing, the skills you pick up along the way, the shared experiences between participants, and the sense of accomplishment from bringing a sad puppy back from the brink.

unsolicited testimonial: This stuff can work wonders --> www.walmart.com/ip/Meguiar-s-Ultimate-Compound/16550255

[cdoublejj]

Apr 7, 2014 17:48:04 GMT -6 @lanternscooter said:

oh boy, you could probably save it, but you would have questionable reliability for sure. If I had it, it would stay that way as a parts bike. you may also have questionable safety because of it sitting out, it might have bad rust inside the frame tube where you cant see it.

bang on it with hammer, not too hard but, hard enough that if there was serious rust, that it would knock that rust loose, which you would hear.

BANG! BANG! *sounds of rust falling and sliding down tubes.*