Clinician
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Post by nehmo on Jan 14, 2018 2:54:27 GMT -6
Today, 14 January, I received the replacement carburetor from Scooter Madness. (We bought the scooter in October) It took so long, I thought it was never coming. Anyway, they do eventually honor the warranty. I haven't installed the new one yet. It seems to have a drain hose attached to the bottom of the bowl. That's the only difference from the original.  |
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Post by nehmo on Dec 24, 2017 15:46:53 GMT -6
I never did try to clean the carburetor. I realized the matter should be covered under the warranty, so I got in touch via email with Scooter Madness, who sold us the scooter. (My wife had already tried and failed to get someone in charge to talk to her on the phone. I suspected this was my wife's impatience or something.)
Don't buy from Scooter Madness.
I realize the quickest route to repair would be to remove, clean, and check the carburetor, but I didn't want to void a warranty (which I thought was real). Plus, the problem could be something more serious than dirt. I emailed Scooter Madness.
Although I had high hopes Scooter Madness was honoring its warranty, I'm now convinced they are giving me the run-around. The emails they have sent me say they have ordered the part, but later emails say they "sent" the issue to parts.
Plus, the process has been dragging on for months.
I'll have to start a new thread regarding what their reputation should be. And I'll see what recourse I have via the credit card company.
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Post by nehmo on Dec 11, 2017 2:07:11 GMT -6
The scooter came without any oil in the crankcase. Are you saying the Chinese test these engines without oil? We bought the scooter from Scooter Madness. I was in an email conversation with someone there, but they stopped replying. The previous messages only covered (simple) issues I had already thought of. I never heard of empty cranks before. Anything I ever bought online came with the infamous "Break-in" oil. The legends said that not only are the engines test started in China but also that they still use leaded fuel. It makes a vigorous varnish when it dries out. Actually, I didn't open the drain to check if there were oil, but there couldn't have been much in there. I added most of a quart to reach the full condition. Now, I'm wondering if I should be worried. |
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Post by nehmo on Dec 10, 2017 9:54:38 GMT -6
The scooter came without any oil in the crankcase. Are you saying the Chinese test these engines without oil?
We bought the scooter from Scooter Madness. I was in an email conversation with someone there, but they stopped replying. The previous messages only covered (simple) issues I had already thought of.
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Post by nehmo on Dec 5, 2017 13:53:52 GMT -6
Did you ever go to the house in Phoenix? (Our credit card bill gives an LA address.) What happened? We also have problems with the company (which could be one person), and have gotten no satisfaction. I'll write about in detail scooterdoc.proboards.com/thread/13639/start-atm50-starts-starter-fluid later , but, basically, we have a scooter that won't start. Scooter Madness won't return phone calls nor emails. |
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Post by nehmo on Oct 29, 2017 18:12:16 GMT -6
I had another ATM50 that ran and eventually didn't. It would start on starting fluid but die quickly. I posted scooterdoc.proboards.com/thread/13120/gas-start-50cc-taotao and I planned to work on it. It still is sitting, and my wife just bought another. The new one looks fine. However, it seems to have the same condition as the previous one. Right out of the box, the new bike won't start (with gas). It gets spark, and I can start it momentarily by spraying starter fluid. It also is getting gas at the hose going to the carburetor. So, it seems the only possibility is clogged jets, but this is a new bike. Is the next step to take off the carburetor and examine the jet? Opinions, please? |
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Post by nehmo on Sept 30, 2016 7:47:51 GMT -6
When I suck on the hose going to the fuel valve, as I said, the valve seems to open because gas flows through the tube that delivers fuel to the carburetor. And by sucking on that line, I can tell that the line, itself, is without any leaks. It's like sucking a closed line, which is what it is.
I'll change the vacuum line anyway because you seem to suspect it.
And I'll try only using the vacuum only produced by cranking to activate the fuel valve.
But I'm beginning to suspect the carburetor is the problem.
Fuel is getting to the carburetor but not in the fuel-air mixture going to the intake manifold.
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Post by nehmo on Sept 29, 2016 19:17:44 GMT -6
TaoTao ATM-50-A1 with 50cc engine I can start it using starter fluid, but then it dies after a few seconds. If I detach the gas hose at the carburetor, and if I use my lungs to such on the tube going to the gas valve, gas will come out of the tube that is supposed to be attached to the carburetor. IOW, the gas valve seems to be working, and the carburetor is getting gas properly. The engine will start when I squirt starter fluid into the intake manifold tube, but then it dies shortly (apparently, after it finishes the bit of starter fluid). What's the next troubleshooting step?  |
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