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Post by runningslow on Oct 21, 2010 20:11:11 GMT -6
Time to vent... eh, nevermind, I'll keep it to myself....
Just know that I'm 99% sure I'm going to have naked handlebars in the near future.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 21, 2010 9:49:19 GMT -6
What? It's blue? Now Luke, you know that you can get at least a 5 mph improvement with a couple a spray cans of red. Don't be discouraged. I think blue is real cool. Says the man who rides a yellow scoot! ;) Blue is the fast color! Must be since mine is blue, too! (Although most people say its purple, but UM said it was BLUE! )
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Post by runningslow on Oct 21, 2010 9:46:21 GMT -6
Danggggggggg The King is a year older! Jim He didn't get older, we just all got a year younger! ;D
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Post by runningslow on Oct 21, 2010 8:39:45 GMT -6
wow, you really did a number on that! I thought you spilled on glossy plastic. The meguires won't help you there and it leaves a wax glaze so you'd have to remove that if you were gonna paint. I'd just scrub it real good and then paint it like u were talking about in the first place. I couldn't believe how fast it was reacting! I was SOOOO pissed. (Still am) I got it on the painted parts, too. But, I managed to clean that up with (apparently) no lasting ill effects. Plastic/Vinyl paint is going to be my first plan of attack. If that doesn't work, or look the way I want it to, I'm not sure what I'll do, yet. I haven't decided between naked bars or just replacing the plastic.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 21, 2010 6:37:04 GMT -6
Try Mirror Glaze Plastic Cleaner (not polish). It works wonders, it's not supposed to be abrasive, but it does noticeably remove material. That's what you want, tho, since that brake fluid damaged the finish. I'm very picky about what products I apply to my plastics, especially black finished ones. Mirror Glaze is good stuff. I think I'm going to try that first! I've tried scrubbing at the marks, and they don't really seem to come off, but if I take my fingernail, I can scrap a little away... so if that stuff will remove some material, it just might work. And if it doesn't, I should at least have a nice clean surface to try painting. Is this the stuff you're talking about? meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+M1708Sorry, the about the quality, but here are some pics of the damage in question:
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Post by runningslow on Oct 20, 2010 11:10:42 GMT -6
You mentioned a few things that may be contributing: battery, valves, jets and choke.
If you're still using the original chinese battery, then it may be time to replace it (or wait until spring, unless you plan to ride in the winter). But, keeping it trickle charged before each start should still give you enough to crank over IMHO.
Hard starting and poor idling are definitely symptoms of the valve needed to be adjusted. I've never done a 250, but the valves were pretty easy on my 150. I was intimidated to do it, but it went pretty smoothly.
You'll need to pull the carb and physically clean the jets if they're plugged. Run a small wire through them, like from a twisty tie. Fuel system cleaner in the gas tank won't do anything for you if you already have a problem. Their effectiveness can be debated to begin with, but for them to even work, the cleaner has to run through the system and if you can't get it running, then it won't be flowing in the system.
If you don't have a choke, trying to start on a cold Michigan morning could be very problematic. Enough said.
BTW, what part of the Wolverine State do you hale from? I've been living in Florida ever since I came down here for college, but I spent the first 18 years of my life in and around Ludington.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 19, 2010 7:13:40 GMT -6
damn dude, remeind me to never go to Vegas with you, at least not to gamble. can you find replacement plactic on partsforscooters.com or another site? Not for my scoot.... at least not there. The styling of the Matrix II is unique, at least in the US, so I can't use alot of generic body parts. There is one place that I've found that is selling OEM UM parts... some of them are extremely overpriced (like over $700 for the gauge cluster), while others are reasonable. Actually, that piece isn't bad... only $18. I've never ordered from them, but I may have to give it a shot. Anyone ever hear of or do business with: www.alpha-sports.com/?
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Post by runningslow on Oct 18, 2010 14:14:32 GMT -6
They are different plastics...the black plastic on all scooters is Polyethylene and gas or brake fluid has no immediate effect on it... Good to know! However, the bleached plastic in question is also some of the black plastic though. It would appear to be the same stuff... I'll take a picture when I get home.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 18, 2010 14:09:24 GMT -6
I have a very strong suspicion. My neighbor gets annoyed whenever I (or any other female in his vicinity) gets any kind of transportation. That's one (but not the only) reason he just lost his wife and son. Yes, I did check the kill switch! That happened to me the first day. I haven't forgotten in two days (although I'm sure I will again-- it's much too easy a mistake to make). It does try. It just doesn't succeed. If you're seriously suspecting malicious behavior, you may want to go over the entire scooter, especially any place within easy access and check for loose or disconnected wiring. I guess the two main things to check are to see if the carb is getting fuel and check to see if you have a good spark. You can check to see if fuel is getting to the carb by removing the fuel inlet hose on the carb and trying to start the scoot. If gas comes out of that line, then the fuel petcock is working and the carb should be getting gas. Put the hose back one. You can check for spark by removing the spark plug (or use a second plug if you have one) and putting in the plug boot. While holding it by boot, touch the threaded part of the plug to the valve cover and try starting the scoot. Hopefully you'll see a nice blue spark and hear a zapping sound. After that... I'm out ideas for the moment.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 18, 2010 13:47:05 GMT -6
I had a great time all day yesterday, doing right turns, then left turns, then going and getting ice, then refusing to come in until it was getting really dark. When I went to start my scooter today, the gas was gone. My house mate was sweet enough to go get gas for me and I gassed her up. She won't start. I pulled her over a large piece of cardboard to check for leaks. I waited 15 minutes. No leaks. Still won't start. I have a feeling that I shouldn't have left her outside last night. Any advice? I'm feeling very down at the moment. I want to go out! Hmm.... are you saying that someone siphoned your gas? Will it crank and not start? You may want to check something as simple as the kill switch. We've all been fooled by that (at least) once. After that, I'll leave it to the more experience diagnosticians...
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Post by runningslow on Oct 18, 2010 10:42:56 GMT -6
The strangest part... the brake fluid got on other pieces of the black plastic and it didn't leave a mark on them?? Only on the handlebar plastic. I'm wondering if it was just a slightly different plastic composition??
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Post by runningslow on Oct 18, 2010 10:25:16 GMT -6
Sorry to hear about your boo-boo Josh. I have a feeling that you will have a problem refinishing the plastic after being hit with the brake fluid. I don't think it can be cleaned enough for paint to stick to it. Yeah, we'll see. I think I'm going to try the paint first, then I'll look into going naked. Maybe I could make a custom housing for my gauges out of fiberglass?
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Post by runningslow on Oct 18, 2010 6:49:35 GMT -6
Ok... I am PISSED (at myself) I had been so careful about getting brake fluid on the plastics... but I did something stupid when I was removing the front brake pads. I had left the cover off the master cylinder reservoir, so when I compressed the pistons, brake fluid went flying all over the black plastics. I tried to wash it off immediately, but it was too late. The fluid appeared to actually BLEACH the plastic. I have these horrible white streaks all through the handlebar plastic! I don't have any pics at the moment, but I'll take some later. I guess I have a couple options.... I can try painting it with some vinyl/plastic paint, or I could go with naked handlebars. The only problem I see with naked bars is that I really like my gauge cluster. I'd have to work out a way to keep them, or learn to live without them.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 17, 2010 16:50:21 GMT -6
This valve leans the fuel when you de-accelerate the engine... Mine was not drilled all the way through. It is worth checking cause it could result in using more fuel or backfiring in some cases... Thanks, I'll check that out.
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Post by runningslow on Oct 16, 2010 20:14:48 GMT -6
So, today I adjusted the valves. Easier than I expected to be. I also got my new braided brake hose installed. I'll have to spend some more time bleeding it, because I got way too much air in the line. Anyone have a trick for bleeding brakes? I bled the front brakes, too, and I've deemed that I need to replace the front brake pads, too. So, I've got those on order and I'll be waiting to ride again until they come.
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