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Post by dannytroy on Sept 20, 2016 21:47:21 GMT -6
They were very accommodating, and just told me to send it back for a replacement. They really didn't ask any questions about how I use it. It's a three year warranty, so I guess they felt at only two months they wouldn't give me a hard time. My charging circuit seems to be ok, and is at least 13 volts when underway.
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Clinician
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Post by dannytroy on Sept 20, 2016 7:44:31 GMT -6
Yes, after I posted I did a Google search and found the solenoid is the likely suspect. I took off the inner cowling to get to the solenoid and I might have tapped it enough to get it working again. I thought I'd attempt to disassemble it to see if anything is binding, and of course I broke one of the wires on the coil. Cheap enough to just put a new solenoid in. To hold me over while I wait for the delivery I made a temporary solenoid, using a relay I had on hand for an electric bike.
It works fine. Now I just have to get Delfran to honor their lithium battery warranty.
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Post by dannytroy on Sept 19, 2016 18:23:38 GMT -6
The bike was sitting unused about a week or so. Ran great when I last used it. Tonight I hopped on, turned the ignition key on, engaged the starter and within a few seconds I lost all electrical power. I checked the battery (a 3 month old Delfran Battery Tender lithium) and it read 5 volts! I put a standard gel cell in (the original battery) and when I touched the battery cable to the terminal, it would engage the starter motor. This is without the ignition on. I fiddled with the starter button, thinking somehow it went bad, but that didn't correct it. Any ideas???
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Post by dannytroy on Jul 23, 2016 21:27:48 GMT -6
Spark plug life in these small engines Is not great and you will do well to change them fairly often. Sounds like you have things under control. That vent pluggin up is a lot more common than people realize. Funny story, way back in the late 60's I bought a 1964 Honda Dream (305cc 2-cylinder). Because it ran so poorly the seller let it go super cheap. I took one look at the exhaust and had a feeling the owner never had it running on two cylinders. One pipe was heat tarnished and the other looked like new. I put new plugs and the thing ran like new. I wound up selling it and bought a 4 cylinder 750 (first year out) and the person who bought the Dream took it to the Woodstock festival and got good service out of it. As far as the gas tank vent clogging, it looks like that was the cause of all my problems. I did get the new lithium battery and was shocked at it's small size. It must weigh 1/4 of the gel cell weight, and half the size. IMO well worth the extra money.
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Post by dannytroy on Jul 21, 2016 21:57:49 GMT -6
a drill bit, a small one 1/8 would do just fine. Sounds good. I had it out today with the cap loosened and it was fine. I'll drill that hole and keep my fingers crossed. Funny it didn't happen until I had 800 miles on it. I went ahead and ordered a Lithium Iron battery from Amazon (Battery Tender brand), just in case the battery is on it's way out. Not a bad year, if the only money spent on the scoot, was for a battery and spark plug (which I probably didn't even need!)
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Post by dannytroy on Jul 19, 2016 20:14:15 GMT -6
I thought I had it figured out, when I remembered I had the same situation on my last scooter, a Jonway 250. It turned out to be a bad spark plug on that bike. I had taken the stock plug out when I bought it, and replaced it with an expensive Bosch Platinum+ plug. The Bosch went bad in no time. Put an NGK in and all was well. This bike had an NGK already, but I replaced it today with a new plug. I took it for a long ride and thought it was fine. When I was almost home, it did the same thing. This time I loosened the gas cap, and it started right up. I'll take it for a long ride again tomorrow with the loosened cap and see if it craps out again.
What is the recommended fix if it is the cap? Drill a vent hole, or replace with a new cap?
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Post by dannytroy on Jul 18, 2016 21:34:54 GMT -6
Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't think about the gas cap, but that's a possibility. I only have about 800 miles on it, so it's not like it's seen a lot of use, but I suppose things can happen regardless of the mileage. I'll probably not mess with the battery and might just replace it with something really good (lithium?).
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Post by dannytroy on Jul 18, 2016 19:55:22 GMT -6
It happened for the first time last week. I was on a local highway. Hopped on one exit and got off at the next, traveling about 50 - 55mph, trying to keep up with traffic. As I exited the engine died. Pulled over to the side of the road and after some coaxing it restarted. I attributed it to pushing the scooter a little too hard on the highway, and thought hopefully it wouldn't happen again. Tonight, while traveling on a local road, at about 40 mph, it happened again. This time it wouldn't restart, and I seemed to quickly drain the battery down to where it wouldn't even turn over. Luckily, I have one of those little lithium booster packs stored under the seat. After hooking it up, it quickly started and ran ok. I was half way home when it did the same thing, while traveling about a constant 45 mph. Once again, I killed the battery very quickly while trying to start it, and used the booster pack again. It started and I took it easy going home, and it was again ok. Question: could this be a battery going bad? This is not the original battery and is supposed to be a better battery than what it came with. I have a digital voltmeter on my bike, so I always know what the voltage is, and it appears to fluctuate between 12 and 14 volts, depending on the speed. Could the rectifier, after heating up, give intermittent voltage and sometimes not enough to run the engine? It's been warm around here, but I've ridden in weather this warm in the past with no problems. Any ideas?
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Post by dannytroy on Oct 3, 2015 21:25:12 GMT -6
So far I haven't had a problem. I do keep the front DRLs turned off, so that's a little savings there. The tail/stop is already LED, from the factory, so that isn't a problem. I carry a spare battery, just in case it won't start. I don't trust the kick starter to work when you really need it to work. So far I'm still loving this bike. My only complaint is that I wish the seat was more comfortable. Even after rebuilding with gel, it's still only "fair".
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Post by dannytroy on Aug 31, 2015 19:09:23 GMT -6
I would start by just putting in a new spark plug. I had a similar problem on my last scooter, a YY250T. Drove me crazy, since it was intermittent, and it was a top of the line plug. Wound up replacing a rectifier and some other goodies, before realizing it was the plug.
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Post by dannytroy on Aug 26, 2015 13:54:19 GMT -6
Jerry, I sent you a PM describing my bulb fixture mod., adding a second adjustable bolt to the high beam fixture. I didn't take a photo of the mod before putting the shell back on, but if you want to see it I can take the top piece off and take photo from above. I was able to tune the high beam exactly where I want it. No longer blaring into the eyes of oncoming traffic.
BTW, just took a rather long ride from Westchester County, where I live, to NYC. I found that the ride was much less fatiguing that the same ride I took with my YY250T. That said, I would still like to make my seat a little more comfortable. The roads in this area pretty much suck, due to winter damage. The new padding I added to the seat is better than stock, but not perfect.
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Post by dannytroy on Aug 5, 2015 7:41:10 GMT -6
Thanks for all the help guys. Call me lazy, but I'll probably just disconnect the two front parking lights the next time I have the front shell off, and call it a day.
Jerry, yes the scoot does get some compliments. When down in Key West this past winter I had a few people asking about it. They are used to seeing the 10" wheel scoots, especially since there are tons of 50cc scooters on the streets down there. With the saddlebags, it looks like a hybrid scooter/motorcycle.
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Post by dannytroy on Aug 4, 2015 7:45:37 GMT -6
Glavey, you were right on the money! I just checked voltage at the battery while idling. It showed 11.94v, while the voltmeter installed on the panel showed 10.3. Quite a difference. Looks like I didn't have a problem after all. My wires might burn up, but I at least won't get stuck with a dead battery!!!
Jerry, it's an easy mod. Remove the two screws holding the switch case together (the rear, with the mirror, should remain on the handlebars) and use an Xacto knife to cut the plastic tab. I forgot which of the two tabs I cut. I likely cut the easier of the two to get to. Works like a charm. BTW, still enjoying the hell out of this bike. The aching back (and neck) is doing much better with the 16" wheels. Hope your still enjoying yours too.
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Post by dannytroy on Aug 3, 2015 22:18:39 GMT -6
You said that the voltage is lower than 12 volts with both lights on; is that the battery voltage or the voltage at the headlight? Also, is that at idle or while moving? I have a 50cc scooter and I can run a 55w headlight, led taillights, and a somewhat power-hungry oil pump and still get 14+ volts at the battery while moving. I would imagine that your 150cc would have at least the same output from the stator if not more. Good question. I never thought to check the voltage at the battery. I installed a digital voltmeter on a flat spot above the storage glovebox, and took that feed from any wire I could find that had 12v when the key was turned on. I don't know how much this will vary from voltage at the battery, but I'll check on that tomorrow. When both headlights are on the voltage goes down to around 11 - 11.5 volts, when idling. When cruising, I believe it goes up to maybe a little over 12v. Normally, with one light on it's up near 13v, or maybe higher.
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Post by dannytroy on Aug 3, 2015 10:02:09 GMT -6
I would look to use heaver wire from the stator to the regulator. Then from the regulator to the battery and ground. John Thanks John. I'll look into that. I didn't check any wires to see if they are getting hot, which would not be a good thing. Maybe I'll use the infrared thermometer on the wires, with one light on and then with both on.
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