Seek advice re: TGB r50x scooter -- dies while I'm riding! By tominbmore (Read 8,888 times)

[tominbmore]

Thanks for the great tutorials, Rich!  I will look those over.  I will also remove the storage compartment to expose the engine, etc., and will take some pics of it.

Alleyoop, thanks for the compliment!  She's a beaut!  

Now, as to the potential "bad gasoline" issue... I will drain the tank if that is called for, and then replace gas with 93-grade unleaded. Maybe that is all that is needed.

As for your questions about oil, I cant see smoke coming out of the exhaust when I rev, but yes I have been smelling a slight burnt smell when riding.  In fact, when I left the seller's house i asked him about it and he said that some oil gets burned off in the driving process.

Anyway, you should know that the oil tank is more than 3/4 full of the same oil the seller gave me when I left his place.  I don't know much, but it sounds like the oil is not the issue.

Just to be sure, I will include a video here I just took of the scooter when idled and when revving on its center stand.  It is uploading now to dailymotion.com, and I will include it in the next post.

As to the lean/rich issue, I have read up on this, and now I know what it means for an engine to run "lean" or "rich."  I cannot tell you which one it is if either.  It ran perfectly the night I bought it, but now it conks out.  I'm willing to test this out at your suggestion.

Question:  What makes you think that is the issue?  Also, before I plunge in and start fiddling with the carb (never done that before), is there a way for me to test it to see if indeed there is a "lean" problem?

Thank you both for your insights!!  I want to sort this out before the end of the weekend, if it kills me.  You're giving me great leads.

Rich, pics of the full engine are forthcoming after I get the storage compartment pulled off.

tom

[Alleyoop]

As to the lean/rich issue, I have read up on this, and now I know what it means for an engine to run "lean" or "rich." I cannot tell you which one it is if either. It ran perfectly the night I bought it, but now it conks out. I'm willing to test this out at your suggestion.

Question: What makes you think that is the issue? Also, before I plunge in and start fiddling with the carb (never done that before), is there a way for me to test it to see if indeed there is a "lean" problem?

The main reason is they set the carbs really lean to pass emissions and they will act pretty good for a while but as the motor breaks in then they need more gas. The other thing I do not like that you mentioned is the amount of smoke its a 2 stroke and ALL 2 STROKES SMOKE that is THE ONLY THING that lubricates the motor. So if not enough oil mixture in the fuel they will run HOT and quit basically the piston seizes and will not run again until it cools off. Then you start them up and run them and once they get really hot they will seize again. So the oiling is VERY VERY important
that it does smoke some.
Alleyoop

[tominbmore]

OK, I see your point, thanks man.

In the morning I will try some tests to see if it is running lean, if you have ideas on a good test for that.

I will try the bad gasoline test first, only bc it had been mentioned.  Attached are several pics, for you and Rich (Bashan).

The first three are of the engine area with the seat storage compartment lifted off.  (Note that the compartment is still technically attached through a wire thingy on the right side of the first two photos bc this scooter has a phone jack charger connected to the battery via the storage space!).

The last one is one I took while trying to point the camera underneath to follow what i think are the fuel and vacuum hoses as they head up to the gas tank.









Also, as alleyoop suggested, I'm including a link to the vid I took of the idling and revving, to see if "smoke" was happening anywhere...



Please let me know where I should disconnect the vacuum hose so I can suck on the hose and get the fuel hose to empty the regular unleaded gas into a jar...

I can try the carb/lean thing after I try that.

Thanks! 

[Alleyoop]

I did not see any smoke at all maybe due to the lighting. But as you know if oil is being burned it will smoke some.
Alleyoop

[Bashan]

I was thinking the same thing. I don't know much about 2T but I would think there should be some smoke and the lack of it concerns me. Rich

[Bashan]

#1 is a vac line and probably runs to the fuel valve or petcock. Putting a vacuum on there should release gas from the tank down to the carb through that filter on the adjacent line. Did you see how you can use a syringe for that? They're 3 bucks. I'm not sure what #2 is but I'm assuming it's part of the oil injector and that filter off to the right is on the supply line. Have you checked that filter? #3 is in fact the spark plug and oddly, that's a strange place for plugs on a scooter but this is a 2T and doesn't have a valve mechanism sitting on top of the head so the plug can go right in the middle of things. Rich

[jwhood32]

I run premix these things are notorious for the oil pump going up and locking the engine up cause u have no clue it stopped working,I also have a red r50x that I'm in the process of building and I'll be removing the oil pump on this also just giving u some suggestions on saving your self the pain and hassle of rebuilding the motor on yours!!!

[Bashan]

Agreed, it is a system on that type of bike that is catastrophic if it fails and I'm not sure you get any indication that it quit. Is there a low pressure oil light or something like that? I personally would mix it up if I were running that kind of engine. JMO, Rich

[tominbmore]

Hey guys, great info!

Rich, I really appreciate you taking the time to ID those various lines in there! I'm gonna go ahead and drain the gas using your instructions and alleyoop's pointers.

By the way guys, I just started 'er up and on a regular idle, I saw visible, light, smoke emanating from the exhaust. pretty sure that is a good sign. I took a vid and will include it in a sec.

After I do the new gasoline test I'll try the carb adjustment alleyoop suggested.

Also, tx for the input in re the oil, guys. I'm gonna keep the pre-mix idea in mind for future reference. Now I just want to find out whether the source of this issue is "bad gasoline" or a carb air-to-gas ratio issue.

tom

[jwhood32]

Tom do not ever take your scooter to tnk scooters on eastern.ave they have no clue what there doing period,trust me from past experiences!!!

[tominbmore]

Also, Rich (Bashan), I took the air filter out to see if that looked dirty.  here is a couple pics:  





Any ideas whether it looks to be the culprit?

Thanks!

tom

[tominbmore]

Thanks,  jwhood32, good to know!

[tominbmore]

Update regarding smoke appearing... Here is the vid. If you look carefully you can see it emanating. Camera doesnt seem to pick it up as well as the naked eye does. Thoughts?

[tominbmore]

Also, any tips on how to get the fuel hose and vac hose off the carb?
Freaking things don't wanna budge!

[jwhood32]

Sent you a pm,filter looks pretty good too me is there any oil residue in the airbox and I would clean it with warm soapy water rinse out and 're oil the filter with some filter oil or the good 2 stroke oil I use amsoil interceptor oil you can get at salvos auto parts it's like $9 a bottle it great oil,dump a little of that In a Ziploc bag and put filter in Ziploc seal it and get filter oiled take it out and pop it back in and filter box!!!