The Matrix: Rebuilding By runningslow (Read 26,569 times)

[sprocket]

Looks like you don't have the plastic shroud on that engine...it will cease.. even with the open front...

[runningslow]

I didn't take the shroud off, its there. Kinda hard to see in that pic, though.

[runningslow]

I haven't posted in a little bit. I have nothing to report, but I wanted to bump my thread back to the top.

I've actually been spending more time fixing my truck lately. So much so that my wife thinks I'm cheating on her with the Ranger and the Matrix, since I've been spending most of my free time in the garage.

[runningslow]

<gotta bump my thread back up!>

Well, not that anyone on this forum will be too interested, but my truck has never run better! Woohoo! After replacing both coil packs (why Ford decided to put 8 spark plugs on a 4 cylinder is beyond me) and replacing the camshaft position sensor, my truck idles beautifully and no longer bucks and sputters while going down the road. My gas mileage has improved, too! A big improvement!

I think I somehow broke my Fuelly badge for the Matrix... I accidentally entered a fuel up from the Ranger on the Matrix page and it significanly hurt the average. Even deleting the entry still hasn't fixed the badge.... (EDIT: ITS FIXED!! ;D)

Ok, now back to some serious scooter news that actually realtes to this thread. I have a few more projects lined up for the Matrix, but I haven't gotten around to them just, yet, and I'm not sure when I will. Maybe my new camera will help motivate me! :-) The scoot is perfectly ridable, so I'm not in a big hurry, and these will give me something to do with the scoot, when I find it a little too chilly to ride this winter. (I know I'm in Florida, but I need some better gear.)

So, here's the winter Project list:
- Pull apart the variator and start experimenting with roller weights.
- Fix my rattling rear caliper... stupid rubber bushings....
- Body work. I still need to fix my front fender and some minor repairs to the belly pan.
- Paint! Once all the body work is done, I want to give the Matrix the Krylon touch!

[ccprof]

Have fun Josh. I'm plowing snow!

[runningslow]

Once again in an effort to keep my thread on the first page, here's a small update:

I managed to (at least temporarily) fix the rattling caliper. I pulled the caliper loose, but left the hose attached. With a little persuading , I was able to separate the pins (that the caliper rides on) from their bushings. I then wrapped a few layers of electrical tape on each of the them, lathered them both up good with some lithium grease, packed more grease into the bushing, and reassembled everything. No more rattle.

Sorry, I didn't take pictures as I was doing this... even though I have a brand new camera.

I'm also starting to have second thoughts about my naked handlebars. I think I may try making a custom handlebar fairing, by starting with a mold of my original one. make it out of fiberglass or something.

[digilaz]

I have that exact same scooter, and have been waiting for the weather to get nice before I start rebuilding. I got my matrix for free from a friend, so anything I spend on it will be worth it. My body is beat to hell too, but I need to find replacement parts for it. All the ones that I've seen so far are expensive, and don't look like they will fit. What is your top MPH with your fresh engine?

[digilaz]

My matrix is a 150cc one. But when i got it, the front was off, and there were no signs of there being an oil cooler mounted there. Its an 08 one. Is it supposed to be like that, or do I need a new oil cooler?

[runningslow]

The only place I've found that is offering UM original parts is www.alpha-sports.com/
I haven't bought anything from them, yet, so I can't vouch for them.

Mine's an '09, but I don't think the '08s were all that different. The 150 may not have had the oil cooler, but I don't know for sure. Hmmm... There's also the possibilty that its had the motor swapped. Does the CVT cover have the UM logo on it? If you take the front plastics off, you should at least see where the oil cooler would mount (just two threaded holds in a little plate between the forks. I doubt they would have two different frames for the different bikes.

As far a top speed, going by my bike speedo (which I verified by GPS) and not the factory speedo, I'm able to cruise comfortably around 50mph. Usually, without a headwind, I can get up to 55+. Once, in a full tuck, without a headwind, I had it briefly up to 63.

I haven't played with variator weights and belts, yet. However, since my crusing RPMs are around 6500, I think the weights may be too heavy. The current belt is also an 835. Not having the done the sharpie trick, yet, I'm assuming that a 842 belt will ride higher on the factory 115mm variator and that lowering the weights a gram may yield me a few more mph. I'll start playing around when I get a free weekend and some money for a new belt.

Please note that I'm 6'-2" tall and currently weight about 245 lbs. I also hope to gain a little by loosing my target 40 lbs. I also want to add a windshield to reduce drag and improve riding comfort, especially in wind.

My ultimate goal is to upgrade the motor to a 250 and put my new 161QMJ in something else. I'll just either have to get my hands on a wrecked 250 (preferred) or buy all the parts outright, which may be cheaper to just buy a new Chinese 250. Then I would just need a little time in the garage.

[runningslow]

Meh. I am currently on the side of of the road, with a shredded belt, waiting for the wife in my truck.

Mental note: keeping a spare belt on the bike is pointless if you also don't have all the tools with you to install it.

UPDATE: Scooter is back at the house and I'm at work. Looks just like a shredded belt. The motor still runs and idles like it should. Thankfully I do have a spare, but I'll have to wait until I get some free time to install it.

Since I've gotta pull the variator anyway, this is as good as time as any to start experimenting with weights. Plus I might as well get that new 842 belt on order now, so I'll still have a spare.

[runningslow]

I've put probably a few hundred miles on the Matrix since my last post about the shredded belt. I put on the spare Gates belt I had from the old motor and everything seemed to going fine.

However, the other day, the scoot started trying to stall on me at an idle and would appear to bog down at acceleration. It almost felt to me like the belt was binding and it felt like that moments before the last belt shredded. I trucked the scoot home (for unrelated reasons) and I pulled the cvt cover this weekend. The belt looks fine. So, I pulled the variator and the clutch and they seemed to be in good working order (although I did find another piece of the old belt hiding behind the clutch). I reinstalled everything and the bike started and idled like expected. However, after a few moments of idling, it eventually wanted to stall again. I twist the throttle to rev it up and appears to run normally. I would hear a slight rattle at higher rpms, but I think that may be a loose bolt somewhere that I need to track down. If its not....

Any ideas where I should start looking? I guess I should start with (what I hope is) a loose bolt, but I probably just need to adjust the carb and valves.

[gmoney]

My bet is your valves need adjusting. One of the symptoms of valves being tight is stalling at idle once the engine is hot. I'd adjust the valve gap at .004" on intake, .005" on exhaust. Try that and see if that cures your problem.

Gary

[runningslow]

Thanks for the feedback. Valves are probably due for an adjustment anyway. I think its been about 2000 miles, but I'll have to check my records.

I guess I know what I'm doing when I get home from work! :-D The forecast looks amazing for the rest of the week, so I wanna ride! The highs are going to be 75+! This is the time of year that Florida tricks me into staying.

[ccprof]

Josh - glad to hear that the weather's good and you're riding!

[runningslow]

Feb 15, 2011 13:02:10 GMT -6 ccprof said:

Josh - glad to hear that the weather's good and you're riding!

I don't mean to brag, because I know that a good many of you are buried in snow this winter. I'm sure spring won't come soon enough!

I was planning to take the Matrix off the road to finish the planned repairs and upgrades, but this weather is just too tempting.