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Post by tominbmore on Jun 28, 2014 16:54:01 GMT -6
Happy to take more pics. I'll check air filter now. Thank you bashan!!
Bad ggasoline would make sense. The guy who sold it to me has put only 1900 miles on it in 7 years, took it out only once a month since 2012, clearly kept it in immaculate shape in all other respects and told me he put only excellent gasoline in it.
I promptly forgot that last part the night after I bought it when filling the tank up again (recall that the 70 mile ride home the night of the purchase was perfect and the scooter drove like a dream).
Then, hours after putting in the 87 or 89 gas, the above symptoms popped up.
I'm now dummy so I know you can't establish causation just bc one fact followed another fact.
But this is a good indication that quality of fuel is to blame as alleyoop suggests.
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Post by tominbmore on Jun 28, 2014 16:47:51 GMT -6
Awesome feedback guys. Here's some pics of whst seem to be the two lines running from the gas tank to the carb (I think)... I actually was able to see the engine underneath via the panel that comes off from inside the storage compartment. Here are a couple pics:  AND from left side of scooter, under seat...  Could you instruct me how to suck the vacuum line then drain gas from tank? By looking at the above pics? Thank you! |
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Post by tominbmore on Jun 28, 2014 13:20:22 GMT -6
Hi all,
I cracked the fuel cap as you guys suggested, enough to get a crack of air in but not actually taking cap off.
Did test ride around the block but after 5 mins the throttle wasn't getting juice to the engine and it died and scooter shut down as I slowed into a stop sign at the corner. Might check spark plug and air filter next. Very new to this and the manual I got is not very clear for total newbies. Any thoughts on where those two might be located on my TGB r50x?
Tx!
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Post by tominbmore on Jun 28, 2014 7:44:30 GMT -6
Thanks man. I will probably PM you today or tomorrow. I'll be working through service manuals and YouTube vids trying to solve the issue. Might need more knowledgeable input etc.
T.
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Post by tominbmore on Jun 27, 2014 8:47:48 GMT -6
jwhood32 Hey man! Yeah, that is a long ride... from a little east of frederick to baltimore city. 75 miles all up. It was an awesome ride in 144 East! But, my guess is that this long ride played some kind of a role in the scooter acting up. After all, the owner had been babying it the past 2-3 years, only taking it out of the garage once a month to keep it fresh. I'm going to spend this weekend reading service and parts manuals to learn all I need to know about the engine and transmission, and also how to check all the key parts, maybe clean or replace them. I would much rather get the satisfaction of learning how to diagnose this myself and DIY, instead of shelling put maybe $150 to some local shop!  Also, tx for the input on gasoline! I filled it up with regular unleaded, maybe that is the issue! Thanks for the offer of help. I just might rely on you considering you have two TGB's yourself! t.
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Post by tominbmore on Jun 26, 2014 8:54:10 GMT -6
Folks, Ima sound dumb, but how do I attach a pic / pics to this forum? I don't want to include a link/URL. I want to attach a pic, at alleyoop's request.
tx!
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Post by tominbmore on Jun 26, 2014 8:33:46 GMT -6
Bashan,
Thanks for the heads up on manuals, etc. I have an owner's manual, which helps with some things, but isn't very thorough or detailed in key areas -- like troubleshooting processes, etc.
I will def look at the general info on scooter engines and two-strokes etc.
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Post by tominbmore on Jun 25, 2014 15:55:06 GMT -6
Thanks very much, alleyoop! I will check the fuel tank as you request, when I get home in an hour or so. I had never thought that the scooter might have something called an EVAP system. I'll take pics and attach them later.
Thanks also for the link to the specs... I'll be buying a new spark plug just to be safe, and for all I know IK might need to replace an air filter.
t.
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Post by tominbmore on Jun 25, 2014 14:48:07 GMT -6
Hi all,
I bought a 2007 TGB r50x 50cc scooter last week. It had only 1900 miles on it, and was in pristine exterior condition. I rode it around for almost an hour for a test-run, and, based on that as well as the gut feeling of trustworthiness I got from the family selling it, I bought it for $600. I drove it home 70 miles to Baltimore, where I currently live. It rode like a beaut. He had removed the restricter, so I got 44 or so on the flats and 50-52 on downhills! No funny sounds or smells or smoke. No revving issues, no rust, no loose parts.
But despite this perfect looong drive, the next evening, with a full tank of unleaded and 3/4 tank of oil (separate of course), when I rode the scooter in town I started experiencing problems getting full gas to the engine... or so it seemed to me [Full disclosure: I know ZILCH about how even simple scooter engines work]. Suddenly it was hard to get the max speed above 30 or low 30s on flats, and it took a while to even get it there. The throttle was simply not generating the full thrust I had felt while on that 70-mile country road ride.
Also: When I idled, the rpm seemed to randomly fluctuate, seemingly for no reason. I assumed this was not common.
Also: It seemed, to my novice perception, that the scooter engine noise was a bit pinched and noisy as I drove and was stopped.
Finally: It actually started to shut down while i was riding. This happened once, then a second and third time. Each time there was a full tank of gas and almost-full engine oil. In each case I was able to start the engine up again, but after maybe 1000 feet it would cut off. It went like this: initially, a sharp reduction in fuel to the engine as I tried to twist the handlebar throttle; then a quick reduction in speed, then he lights on the dash and the engine itself would simply conk out.
I would LOVE any smart and detailed input you all could provide. I'm willing to try various things to see what is the matter. Someone elsewhere said I ought to start with the spark plug, then check the air filter to see if it is clean. That seems simple enough. But if it gets to things like fuel filter, "choke," cleaning or even removing the carb, etc, I confess I am WAY out of my depth.
I would like to (1) learn the basics of how the two-stroke scooter engine system works, and (2) see if there is some DIY way I can figure out what is wrong here, then fix it myself.
Thoughts? A catch-all website, book, video, etc, is one thing that could help (I seem to be getting random sites that attack only parts of my issue).
Very grateful in advance!
Edit: Let me also add that it is of course possible that the seller (who was an amazingly nice and decent man aling with his wife and teenage son) COULD have been hiding an internal and remitting issue. I can't tell.
But what is odd is that I rode 70+ miles home from his place to mine right after I bought it. and only THEN, the next evening, did the scooter start acting up. Maybe the problem is arriving now for the first time, and I am having seriously bad luck; maybe it is coming now, for the first time, specifically BECAUSE of this very long ride (the seller told me he has taken it out only once a month the past two years since his elder son went off to college). Maybe the problem was there before and the seller likely knew, and he rolled the dice that it would not show up either when I did the 45-minute pre-sale test ride or on the 70-plus mile ride home after money exchanged hands... I just dont know enough about engines or symptoms. But it sure is odd that it acted up and conked out only after I got back.
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