Improvements to My MC-54B-250 By insanetexan (Read 3,016 times)

[insanetexan]

After hearing of several people talking about charging problems on their 54B model scooters I decided to check my system with the multimeter. My findings are as follows;

Idling @ about 1800rpms I have 13.36 volts
Running at 4000 or more rpms I have 14.90 volts

Those are both reading at the battery connections.

A few improvements I have made or changed was my turn signal 1156 and brake lights to 1157 LEDs and all my instrument lights to 194 LED, and the turn signal indicators and fan and high beam indicators to 74 LEDs. My headlights I changed out the 35w/35w Bulbs for 60w/55w Halogen bulbs. I also added 2 12 volt power plugs that I connected to the ignition switch so they will only work with the scooter running. I have also changed out my instrument cluster with a new one and seems to be better. For some reason my old gauges was showing different readings than these new ones. For instance my fuel gauge was reading empty after only 80 or so miles, my temp gauge was flowing up to the halfway mark before the fan would kick on. Now with the new ones my fuel gauge jumped to half a tank of gas when I did the change over and now my fan kicks on when my temp gauge hits the quarter mark on the gauge.

Not sure if the RPMs are correct tho. @ 4000rpms my speed shows to be around 50mph and at 5000rpms I show to be doing 70mph. I did take it out on the Interstate a little while ago and at the 5000rpms (70mph) I was actually passing up other vehicles LOL and still had some left on the throttle. I will check these speeds later with the GPS and report back with my findings.

I also a while back changed out my variator to a Dr. Pulley Variator with 13 gram sliders.

Other planned changes for later will be to change the clutch to a high performance clutch and also changing out the gears for taller ones to get more top end speed.

[yoster]

The charging issues aren't with the 54B. It's the 244cc cfmoto versions (usually 54A) - you have the Linhai motor which doesn't suffer from these same charging issues (lucky! lol)

Regarding your headlight upgrades. I don't think anyone here has gone that high in wattage.. any heat/melting problems?

[insanetexan]

No I haven't had any problems with the heat so far. No melting problems either but I did leave the rubber boot off the back of the housing so the heat wouldn't build up and no problems with moisture either. Has rained past couple days and I rode it in the rain and the moisture didnt get into the bulbs.

[speedracer]

I'm curious where you purchased your headlight. Youster is right the 54B has few charging issues. The Led changes are helpful. I think your new gauges are messed up. My fan only comes on when gauge is at half. Fuel gauge is a joke as mine shows empty at 100 miles with still plenty of gas in it.

[yoster]

You can't trust the fuel or temp gauges on these things. They're all different, but can still be used to identify things like overheating.

I.e.: On mine, the fan kicks on right above the first mark on the temp gauge (so, like, VERY cold on the gauge). When It gets up to 1/2 way, I know I'm probably approaching overheating.

They all read a bit differently, just like all our speedo's are a little different. Some are as little as 8% off, others, like mine, are 20% off.

As far as my fuel gauge goes. Mine shoes Empty when I have half a tank left. I use the odometer to gauge how much fuel I have left.

[bobf]

Jun 27, 2011 11:17:39 GMT -6 yoster said:

The charging issues aren't with the 54B. It's the 244cc cfmoto versions (usually 54A) - you have the Linhai motor which doesn't suffer from these same charging issues (lucky! lol)

Regarding your headlight upgrades. I don't think anyone here has gone that high in wattage.. any heat/melting problems?

I have a MC 54 250B and it is registered that way by the state. It is the Honda clone water cooled engine of 244cc, I am told, but all papers call it a 250cc, My Certificate of Origin says MC-54-250B.

I am just bringing this up as I have seen this conversation about A or B before. Not real sure where the confusion comes from.
.

[yoster]

What confusion? The 244 finds its way in the 250A more often than the 250B, but we've seen it in both. The letter isn't a sole indicator of the engine it has.

[insanetexan]

SpeedRacer; I purchased my headlight bulbs from ebay. Here is the link to the bulbs I bought

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Head-Light-Bulb-Motorcycle-Scooter-50cc-125cc-150-250cc-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3f0ac3ef12QQitemZ270763552530QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

I understand that the gauges on these things really are just something to go by and not to be trusted just when I hooked up the new instrument cluster and without adding any gas my gauge read a half of tank instead of being on empty like the old one was and I was able to run another 70 miles before it reached the red mark on the gauge. That is when I always refuel anyway when my gauge reaches the red mark on the gas gauge. So yes it is just an indicator as to when I should fill-er-up.

[speedracer]

Texan, you must have changed the sockets for that bulb. I know mine has a BA 20D socket. I was able to put in 45 45 bulbs. Everyone is right the gauges suck. I use the odometer too. Fill it up between 120 to 160 miles. Most I ever put in was 2.5 gallons.

[insanetexan]

Yes Speed I changed the sockets or should I say I added the H4 sockets and left the BA 20D sockets in as well. The sockets cost 11.99 for the pair at auto zone. The H4 sockets from what I hear are the same ones you need if you want to add HID lights as well. So if I decide to go HID then I already have the sockets installed.

[speedracer]

Texan, I failed electronics 101, still working on how a light switch works LOL. Did those H4 sockets fit into the BA 20D sockets?

[insanetexan]

Speed; The sockets have to be wired in. When the BA 20D sockets are removed from the headlight fixture the H4 bulb will sit right back in the same place. I didn't think to take any pics of the light install.

[speedracer]

Thank Texan I didn't know it was an easy to do switch. I take it you are from Texas so I know it get real hot there. You have no problems with heat from those halogens? How many miles have you run using them if you don't mind me asking?

[insanetexan]

Speed; Yes I am from Texas hence the name lol and yes it gets very hot here. Most times between 90 and 100 so far but we have yet to hit our hottest month at that point it isn't hard for us to hit the triple digits. There is also alot of humidity here being I am right on the coast in Corpus Christi. So between the heat and humidity it tends get to be some real good scourcers.

On to the question at hand so far I haven't had any problems with heat buildup in the headlights. As I mentioned in an earlier post I did not try to put the rubber boot back on the back of the headlight socket, that way most of the heat can exhaust out the back of the headlight fixture. So far I have only gone about 45 miles but I will be taking a travel across town which about a 20 minute ride one way with lots of stop lights along the way so I will see and report back to let you know about how the lights do with the heat after that.

[speedracer]

Texan, I am going to let you do the testing on it. I was at Auto Zone this morning and then had two sets of H4 sockets. The one for $11.99 was for higher output lights. Did you just cut and solder the wires or used the twist method and plenty of electrical tape?

Good idea with removing the rubber boots. I don't think even in the rain you would get water into them. I do my best to avoid riding in the rain, too many nuts on my a** every time it rains.