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Post by runningslow on Oct 26, 2011 6:32:21 GMT -6
Note to self: Stay the hell out of Florida. It rains all the time, it's too hot to ride or work on scooters when it isnt raining, everything is 60 miles away, and the atmosphere sucks the life out GY6 engines and rots electrics like a Zombie plague. The people seem nice, though. That's why so many people retire here, but only for the winter. That's why the snowbirds go back north in the summer.  That's why we have cities with names like Frostproof, Winter Haven, Winter Garden, Winter Springs, Winter Park, Christmas... and so on. I've always said that Florida has 4 seasons, just not the same 4 as everyone else. We have Hot, Hotter, Hotter than Hell, and Christmas. ;D This is the time of year that tricks me into staying! It honestly reminds me of a Michigan summer. EDIT: Oh, and my first motor went about 10,000 miles before it lost a crank bearing. (Probably my fault.) My second motor is still going strong with I believe about 3,000 miles, then I cracked the head (I know that was my fault). Now, I have a zombie motor with my new motor and the old head. Just need to button up a few things and hopefully we'll be back in business! Sorry! I didn't mean to thread jack! That's it I promise!  |
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Post by runningslow on Oct 25, 2011 19:39:49 GMT -6
I've mostly been putting off the repairs due to the weather. Too hot and muggy, plus since this is not my primary transport I can do without. ;-) Now that the weather is breaking, I'm going to get back out there and get her up to par and hopefully ride much more.
When I bought her, I was using her daily (I actually sold my car) and commuted about 10 miles to work on side streets. I have since moved, the commute is 30 miles by scooter in stop and go traffic (~60-75 minutes), or 25 miles in my truck on highways (~30 minutes). In the summer heat and humidity, I lean towards the truck.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 25, 2011 13:55:05 GMT -6
Runningslow that sucks. Scooters are like men/women, once they kill your trust and leave u stranded its hard to regain that trust  I never take mine too far. No more joy riding far from home up the island. Excellent way to put it. In that context, my Matrix is the mistress (I am married afterall) I just can't seem to get rid of. When everything is going well, the relationship is so happy and carefree. However, once she crosses me, she gets parked in the garage until I come crawling back to fix her. LOL I've taken this scooter on some long trips. The first major trip was when I had ridden from Kissimmee out to Cocoa Beach with a scooter club, probably about 100-120 miles round trip. The longest major one was trouble free, when I rode from Kissimmee to St. Pete Beach and back over a weekend. Round trip was about 240 miles. However, the next long trip I tried to take ended in disaster when the belt blew and I was in the middle of no where on my way out to the coast. None of my friends with trucks could come to my rescue, so I actually had the scooter towed, thanks to the road side assistance from my cell phone provider. Ever since then, I've trusted this scooter only as far as I could push her and I've kept to the local area. |
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Post by runningslow on Oct 25, 2011 11:32:09 GMT -6
Perhaps I was using the wrong technique, but I've broken the kick-start on both of my GY6 motors. Now, I usually will just pray that I don't get stranded with a dead battery, which has happened on more than one occasion. |
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Post by runningslow on Oct 22, 2011 6:00:23 GMT -6
That's the route I'm planning to go. I've talked to a few fitting suppliers, one of them had recommend using a union with the 12x1.25 thread on one end, then use a barb with a female thread. I'm going to try running without first. I've actually already installed a pair of plugs into the holes in the crankcase. Looks like it'll cost me about $40 to get all the fittings I need.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 21, 2011 13:05:09 GMT -6
running slow... those snorkel tubes are a problem... they split. On my scooter I just ran a length of vacuum cleaner hose, it is high quality vinyl with wire running in it... also you need to put a bracket on the front of the carb, or you will start to flex and crack the intake elbow when the throttle pulls... Yeah, I'm not entirely sure I'll stick with that setup. Until I get the bike running, I may revert to the original airbox. And as far as my checklist goes... I think the Ranger is getting more attention this weekend. ***WARNING*** Non-Scooter related tangent below: I'm probably going to head over to a junkyard in the morning to find a pair of lower mileage Ranger front coil springs and a pair of Explorer leaf springs. My Ranger has the infamous "Ranger Lean" and I want to try and fix that, while I'm installing the new shocks. The "Ranger Lean," for those that don't know, is a common problem with older Rangers that the drivers side springs begin to sag, supposedly due to the gas tank, driver and battery all being on that side. Since this truck has somewhere in the neighborhood of 240K miles, it qualifies as "older." |
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Post by runningslow on Oct 20, 2011 13:05:45 GMT -6
might just be a small problem or 2. I noticed they can not sell in some states as well as texas which by the way is where the company that has this ad is located!. also is a sunl from pictures which is probably the bottom of the barrel scooter. might be a good parts bike too. Yup... not caving to temptation today. |
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Post by runningslow on Oct 20, 2011 13:02:15 GMT -6
*** Just to play around with the seldom used list function. *** Checklist for my weekend: - Double check timing
- Install new battery
- Reinstall old exhaust (as a temporary fix)
- Try starting!!
- Install catch can
- Begin body work...
Then, for the hell of it: - Dissect the short case motor that I have sitting around to satisfy my own curiousity.
- Report back with my results, if I think anybody would care.
Also, not scooter related: - Install new front shocks in my Ranger.
Perhaps not in that order. |
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Post by runningslow on Oct 20, 2011 12:51:41 GMT -6
Hopefully, I'll be able to resume progress again, soon!
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Post by runningslow on Oct 20, 2011 12:44:40 GMT -6
I thought you did that a while ago? Nope. I was close, though. There was one I was looking at on Craigslist, but didn't have the cash on hand to pull the trigger. I have been keeping my eyes open for another one. There's still just one pony in the stable... which still needs some TLC. I haven't been able to give the Matrix the attention its been needing. Though, now that the weather has broken... all bets are off! |
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Post by runningslow on Oct 20, 2011 10:36:49 GMT -6
I've wanted to find an old beater Helix and just strip the body off and build a rat bike. My only complaint is that tiny 10" back wheel.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 20, 2011 7:54:12 GMT -6
Tempting....
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Post by runningslow on Oct 20, 2011 6:21:31 GMT -6
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Post by runningslow on Oct 19, 2011 8:28:06 GMT -6
You have convinced me, runningslow. That is the next on the list to acquire, for my 150. Great! Let me know if you have trouble! I should be able to provide you with some more details from my install. |
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Post by runningslow on Oct 19, 2011 6:47:11 GMT -6
the guides and guide plate are fine, there are these tiny weeny little plastic things that go in these 3 notches, not really what they are for, 1 broke and it seems to be running just as well as it ever did. Those are the bits I'm talking about. They're a bushing that prevents the metal-to-metal contact and allows everything to move smoothly. If one of them is broken and missing, the others will be soon to follow. Once they're all gone, you get that metal to metal contact and carnage soon follows. In my picture, you should be able to see that the guides are broken off and what's left of the stub is bent slightly. |
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That's why we have cities with names like Frostproof, Winter Haven, Winter Garden, Winter Springs, Winter Park, Christmas... and so on.
I never take mine too far. No more joy riding far from home up the island. 
