150cc hornet basic maintenance? By newbonsuperhornet (Read 1,584 times)

[newbonsuperhornet]

Hey everyone. So I've been digging through a lot of threads trying to better understand what basic maintenance I need to be doing on my bike, but in all honestly most of the information is too advanced still. Feels like I'm reading Latin. I don't know a thing about air fliters, oils, gas, most of the parts.... pretty much anything. I can fill it with gas and I know where the battery is lol. Does anyone know anywhere I can find some visuals to help me start identifying parts and perhaps basic stuff I need to check regularly? Is it better to turn the engine off with the key or the kill switch? Which gas is best to fill it with? I was told Premium. Is there a best way to warm it up before I ride? I find it can stop on me if it's not been running long. I understand rev'ing it isn't smart when you start it up. AHHH so much to learn!


I have under 50 miles on my scoot. I only take it to work.

Also is there any riders in Long Beach who want to get together?

Hit me with some knowledge? Thanks everyone.

[Bashan]

Your engine is a GY6 so always refer to that when looking for info. Look in the Video section of the Library and you'll find info on engine oil change, gear oil change, and setting the valves. Change both oils as soon as you get the bike to get the China oils out and then set the valves. Then change both oils again at 100 miles. After that change the engine oil every 500 miles and inspect the air filter. Do the tranny oil and set the valves every 1000 miles. Eyeball the drive belt every 1000 miles or every spring, and take the CVT down every 2000 miles and give it a good cleaning and inspection. Rich

[sprocket]

Check on YouTube for GY6 engine...most Chinese scooters have this engine in different sizes.

Use regular gas not premium and warm it up a minute or two, just let it idle

Changing oil??



HTH

[newbonsuperhornet]

thanks!

[Kaveman]

why only regular gas ? Wouldn't premium keep carbon from building up better than regular ?
will

[sprocket]

Basically, all premium fuel does is resist knock, with additives...the 'cleaner running' is B.S.

For a low compression GY6 engine 87 AKI octane is the preferred fuel and in some situations 89AKI based on altitude etc.

The manuals by the way say 90-92RON octane (also called RQ-92) but this is the CHINESE grading system and the U.S. equivalent is 87AKI

see the charts here

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

Oh ya.. ethanol is terrible in these engines.. avoid it if you can

www.epinions.com/content_2346164356?sb=1

[bcgreatness]

it doesnt really matter but i do kill switch then key. also i would do a full PDI on that scoot since its still relatively new. also since your hornet has only 50 miles on it, i would NOT run it past half throttle, 3/4 throttle at the most untill atleast 500-600 miles. another note, because your hornet is new, and the engine is not broke it yet, it will want to die on you on occasion for the next couple hundred miles. reason being, is because over time, and natural wear and tear, the valves will stretch a little, throwing off your perfect adjustments, so if i were you, i would set the idle on the high side to where it almost spins the wheel. i have mine set at 2000rpms and it still wants to die every once in a while, even after a perfect valve adjustment. as far as the warming up goes. i find that after letting my scoot warm up for atleast 5-10 mins when i have the time, it grants it almost peak performance as apposed to just starting it, letting it sit for a min, and taking off. technically, you dont have to allow the engine to warm up, only thing you need to wait for is to be sure all of the fluids are circulating, then its fine, which that period of time is about a min or less. but like i said, if i start my scoot, wait a min, and take off. it takes a few seconds to hit top speeds, when i let it warm up for 5-10 mins, i notice that it accelerates to top speed much faster. on the petrol note, my scoot says use 90 octane and above, i use 89 which is mid grade but im lucky to have a no ethanol "farm equipment" fuel gas station around the corner. bad part is a gallon of that stuff is over 4$ for regular. well hope i could help! happy scootin'!

[newbonsuperhornet]

thanks for all the advice, it's much needed! I do have a new problem however.... now when im at a dead stop and start to accelerate there is a rattling that i hear and it feels like a grinding or vibration. it doesn't sound right. just randomly happened when I turned it on the other day. I looked around after a short ride and nothing looked like it was rubbing or anything. No idea where to look for the problem now. Any ideas?

[terrilee]

try doing this
stick it on the center stand
get it to idle speed
and get your ear down there and listen
it will greatly help the mechs , here
if you can give 'em a idea where its coming from.
say the CVT case, or the right side or where ever

helps them and stops em from giving the wrong solution

[silverfox96]

newbonsuperhornet: 99% of all the information the guys and gals give you on this forum is spot on and you can take it to the bank!!! However, there are different schools of thought on a couple of things mentioned by you.

I have found that the best way to "break-in" a new engine is to ride it like you intend for it to perform, with one difference. You must vary your speed. Wide open throttle for too long will/can do harm to these llittle engines. WOT for extended time and distance can cause blow-by in a brand new engine and result in the blowing out of oil, which obviously is not a good thing. Break it in with varying speeds, from slow to fast.

Another thought is the octane used in these little engines. They can have compression up to 150 to 185 psi, which makes them very high compression engines. It's my opinion, (and others) that regular gasoline will cause them to "ping" which is Pre Ignition Knock and that isn't good for them either... hard on pistons and valves. That's why I use only premium gas in mine. Actually I only use Shell V-Power. It's 93 octane and I get absolutely no ping and really good performance. In addition, there is no ethanol in the Shell V-Power fuel. Ethanol destroys gaskets in the carb and also is death on the rubber fuel lines on these little engines. I know that sprocket disagrees with me on this subject, but I think that we have agreed to disagree.

In the long run, you must be the one to decide how you want your new scoot broken in and what fuel to use, but I suggest that you do some research on your own and make a decision that you can live with.

No matter what way you decide, everyone on here only has your best interest and the best interest of you new scooter at heart.

[sprocket]

Most GY6 150s are 8.8:1 and the CFMotos are 10.2:1 not particularly high compression...

[jct842]

The only bike in recent history that premium helped was in summer on a 1200cc crotch rocket....it did not help high speed but in town the low speed power was smoother. The only way I would run premium today would be if it was the only way to get pure gas instead of ethanol. The positively worst fuel you can run is ethanol even if it says shell on the pump!

[sprocket]

If you are getting pre-ignition with 87AKI you should adjust the air/fiel and do a spark plug read and perhaps up jet or raise the diaphram needle a notch to richen up the engine.. you might be lean...

Could also go to a colder plug...