Tank 250 problem - throttle & rear brake issues By genseeker (Read 771 times)

[genseeker]

So last night my son got ready to leave a friend's house on his Tank 250 and the throttle was stuck open or something. He didn't call me before doing anything with it, just rode it home, riding the brakes the whole way. Don't know the exact distance, somewhere between 1 & 1 1/2 miles. Said it tried to take off with him as soon as it started. Well, when he got in, he informed me that the rear brakes are apparently seized now cause he couldn't walk it backwards to park it.

Scoot has 10" wheels so it's a short case. We have a smaller scooter frame that takes 10" wheels as well. For possible future info, how difficult would it be to move his drive train to the other frame? That frame is a small body 150 cc and we have a title for it.


For now, guess I need to get brakes but I have no idea what might be wrong with the throttle. He said it ran fine going over there. However, we both got gas a couple days ago at the same store and both scoots were hesitating a little. We put premium in them both, didn't bother to hang the nozzle between filling them, lol. 

[Alleyoop]

Well easy enough to see what is making the throttle stick open first check at the carb were it connects to the bracket. Usually with throttle cables its the way they are strung back to the carb. If you have a pretty good sharp turn the metal cable inside digs into the cover inside and will bind them.
Alleyoop

[Bashan]

There's a little rubber boot on the cable where it meets the carb. That can get stuck and hold the throttle open. Pull the seat bucket and inspect the carb. The 250 and 150 have completely different mounting apparatuses. Unless you are very adept at metal fabrication....forget it. The short and long case engines are only in 50 to 150cc engines. The 250's are not separated into short and long case.

[genseeker]

Got the throttle issue solved, he fixed it so no idea what it was.

Rear brakes are a major issue though. It's disc brakes. When we went to move it, the brakes were no longer locked so we moved it easily. I was helping him guide it while he pushed and the rear brakes went completely out. I've checked the fluid level and its fine. Can't see anything wrong with the disc brake assembly either. As far as the hose that is visible without removing body panels, I can't see any fluid leaking.

Any ideas what could be wrong with the brakes now? And where can I order pads for it? 10" wheel. When he squeezes the lever, it has just enough resistance to say it does.

Also found out he thinks he should only use the rear brakes, when I tried to tell him he needed to use both sets together, he told me to stop criticizing his driving. No idea which of his friends told him to just use the rear brakes, but using both front & rear together makes more sense. Am I wrong or was he given wrong info?

[Alleyoop]

You use both brakes so he was told the wrong info.
Alleyoop

[Bashan]

Actually that is completely boneheaded. The front brake on any two wheeled vehicle is the most important. Point out to him that if a bike has a disc and a drum brake, the disc is ALWAYS upfront. Why do you think that is? It's because when you stop a bike the forward stopping forces all translate to the front wheel. The front wheel on a bike does 70% of the stopping. Often, the rear just keeps the backend from coming around. If you were going to use one brake, which is stupid, you'd use the front, not the rear. Tell your son to wise up and listen up. I don't know how old he is but I guarantee you there's decades of accumulated riding on this website and I don't have to ask, they'd all tell you to hit the front brake with the back and to use it every time. He's going to get hurt listening to his rocket scientist friends. Rich

[jct842]

X3 on rear brake. There to keep from passing the front wheel. Even on cars ....disc on front...... drum on the back.

[genseeker]

Any ideas on what might be wrong with it? Plenty of fluid in the reservoir, doesn't leak when when squeeze the lever, barely any resistance on the lever.

[jvino]

Front brakes are the majority of stoping power like said by others. Is the brake cable pull in without resistance it would probley be needing a new cable. If that is not the problem the pads might be glazed but from my experience at least with scooter the back brake doesn't do much braking power. Just helps slow down. Now if your coming into a turn and need to slow down and there is wash out every where that would be a good time to only use back brakes due to front end washing out.

If there is barly any resistance on the lever and it don't spring bake you have a spring on the back of the brake assembly that might need a turn or two in. Clockwise I belive. Good luck gen seeker and you are right tell that boy what's up with the braking power. You should use front brake more than rear.