New Scooter, new member By FrankenMech (Read 3,486 times)

[sumdawgtwigg]

Sorry to hear about your health troubles, franken. I wish i could help you out more with the scoot, but i'm definitely rooting for ya!

[FrankenMech]

Thanks for the support!

I got the carb reinstalled tonight but it was too late to try to start it. My room mate goes to bed at 8:30PM then gets up at 3:30AM.

The replacement parts arrived yesterday from Scooter Depot. The parts look OK except they sent the wrong headlight bulbs. The bulbs I received are probably bulbs for a single headlight application. These dual headlamps may be a problem. The original headlight bulbs are a dual filament unit, 12V18/18W with a 20mm bayonet base and a heat shield. I have not found them anywhere.

When I get the scooter running I will test the spare parts. It looks like I will have to open the CVT case to confirm the belt numbers. Why don't they stamp the belt dimensions on the outside of the case?

[markwb]

Keep your chin up, Frank. I'm pulling for you also. The trike will run sooooon!!

[scooterbob]

I believe there should be a metal washer the size of the O-ring that protects the O-ring from the spring.

[FrankenMech]

Oct 9, 2013 19:38:06 GMT -6 scooterbob said:

I believe there should be a metal washer the size of the O-ring that protects the O-ring from the spring.

OOOOps... I did not see it. The spring end is ground flat.

[FrankenMech]

IT'S ALIVE!!![/u][/color]

The used UPS battery and a carb cleaning did the job.

I did not even have to set the idle speed. I may have to when it warms up though.

Now I can tuck it all back together and go for a ride.

Thanks for all the help and encouragement!

[sumdawgtwigg]

Man that's awesome! I'm so happy for ya! Can't wait to hear about your first ride.

[markwb]

Sweeeet!!!

[FrankenMech]

I packed a 13" Harbor Freight tool bag with tools and spares. It is stowed under the seat. I am all ready to go for a first ride in the daylight.

I still have one headlight out awaiting the correct bulb. The rest of the trike is all buttoned up. I installed some amber flashing LED's front and rear for visibility. The way I read the law here says it is considered a slow moving vehicle if it does not keep up with traffic. That lets me run the strobe light flashers on it. I also have the regular 4-way emergency flashers but I don't like running with them. I may encounter some resistance from the local storm troopers. I took some crappy cell phone pictures. I will have to investigate posting them.

The trike is one of these in black but mine is customized:
www.scooterdepot.us/mc-d50tkc.html

BTW- It does not have anti-lock brakes, a trunk, or the beak like front bumper.

I don't know how you guys handle all the plastic on your scooters. It was a PITA enough for me just to get that front console and battery box back together. There are 8 screws in that thing. I only put six back in.

When it started today it fired up with the first touch of the start button. No cranking at all. It startled me. I was expecting a crank session and more adjustments. The old used sealed lead acid battery spun that starter over easy. The battery would not run my UPS unit anymore. I had it on a float charger all night. My voltmeter seemed to indicate the scooter was charging it while running.

[sumdawgtwigg]

I love my china bikes but the plastics are def a big pain in the rear.

[kz1000st]

Oct 10, 2013 23:23:40 GMT -6 sumdawgtwigg said:

I love my china bikes but the plastics are def a big pain in the rear.

No joke. It took me an hour and a half to get the plastics off the first time I adjusted the valves on my 150. I can do it much faster now that I know the drill but it is annoying. Even the Fashion requires you to remove one panel just to get at the variator or rear axle. My Cub clone is all out there and a valve adjustment takes 5 minutes start to finish.

BTW, glad to gear you're up and running. Welcome to the club.

[FrankenMech]

Thanks to all here I am up and running. I looked very stupid out there today. I spent a bunch of time turning figure '8's in the parking lot down the street. Because of my stroke and meds I have a lot of problems with my balance. I continually fall over to the left. I can go straight, although the wind was a problem today. I can turn left. Turning right is double damn hard. I don't dare try to turn right onto a street with oncoming traffic. The 'target fixation' takes over and I have to hit the brakes quick. I am still fumbling with the controls. I have not ridden a motorized 'bike' of any sort for 35 years. Riding a plain bicycle has been out of the question for 10 years. This 3 wheel trike does not tip over as easy as two wheel vehicles but it is still difficult for me to ride. I took a chance on buying a scooter, but I need an economical way to get around besides walking. Newer cities in the US are not set up for walking.

I did enjoy being out and about today. I have not had a working vehicle for almost a year. I went to get my glasses fixed first. I fell while being attacked by wasps and tore my only good pair up a month or so ago. I did most of the scooter work almost blind with an old junk pair of glasses. I also stopped by the local constabulary and asked them to explain the rules and regs for my scooter. I figured it was better to ask than to get pulled over. They consider it a 'motorized bicycle' as far as regulations go. No tags. no registration, and no motorcycle license required. On the other hand the laws get fuzzy on registration and definitions. The people that write these laws are not the brightest. The police were not too happy about the amber LED strobe lights since they did not consider it a slow moving vehicle, that travels at 25mph or less, but as a 'bicycle' it is legal... I figure I need all the extra visibility I can get. The scooter odometer is calibrated in klicks. I have put 63 klicks on the clock today, or 39 miles. I can go 20mph uphill, ~30 on the flat, and 40mph down hill. So I guess that average is 30mph. That is fast enough for me at the present. I went shopping at Walmart, Harbor Freight, and the auto parts store. Lunch was at McD's. It is pretty bad when a person craves a double cheeseburger meal.

There were about a dozen old codgers like me that asked about the scooter and I got a lot of positive comments from other drivers both male and female. -Hmmmmm, now that I think about it, -all but one were female... Maybe these things are good for getting something besides groceries.

[sumdawgtwigg]

Great idea stopping and asking about laws! I also like to be sure of things like that. China scooters def turn heads! I get at least a dozen people eyeballing mine every time I'm out on it. I'm sure some are giggling at me but some seem sincerely interested in it.

Have fun and be safe out there!

[markwb]

Glad to hear you're coming up on line with the trike. Over time you will become more comfortable with operating the scoot. Have fun with it and be safe.

[FrankenMech]

I will just have to keep practicing right turns until I am comfortable with it. Which means time. I have too many $$$ and hours invested in this scoot to give up.