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Post by seamus26 on Mar 29, 2018 11:18:00 GMT -5
So, if this is a bad thing then it's totally not my fault. If it's cool, then it was completely intentional and you can all be jealous. The local Chinese scooter dealer that I bought my first ride from got ahold of me last week to come look at a bike. He said it was an old Stella that he took in from a kid who was moving and just wanted to get rid of it. He thought it might make a nice parts bike for my '79 P200E. Well, the first thing that I noticed is that it had been painted Ford engine block blue with a brush and a roller. Yeah ... not a deal breaker for parts, though. The next thing I noticed is that it wouldn't start. Yeah ... maybe a deal breaker. It wasn't stuck, though. We pulled the shroud off and the NEXT thing I see is a 4T engine. Just out of curiosity, we opened the carb and juiced it a little. It fired right up. It actually sounded good. Until it stopped, of course. So, here I am looking at a bike and ... wait ... the odometer says 670. Literally less than 700 miles on the bike. He showed me the title. The kid was the original owner. I have the 2012 title from the dealer where it was purchased new with the kid's name on it. I told Jason that even with low miles I couldn't justify buying a bike with crap paint and very few parts that I can actually use. I have plenty of projects. I asked him how much he had into it. He said he gave the kid $200 for it and I could have it for $250. So now I can't not buy it. I brought the carb home Saturday and pulled it apart. I even did some polishing on the intake tube. It was an awful casting. I figured it couldn't hurt. Yesterday I put the carb back on and she fired right up. I rode it around the parking lot and the cables felt good. Even the neutral light works. I put insurance on it today and hopefully a plate is today or tomorrow. So now I have a four stroke Stella in the herd. I have all kinds of curiosities now. What kind of mileage will I get compared to my Chinese 150 with the CVT? How fast will the Genuine 150 with four gears push me? Will I like it so much that I decide not to resell it and turn a profit (the plan as it stands)?  I brought it home yesterady, did very limited tweaking and rode it around the block. When I hit 4th I looked down and the speedo said 60. Everything feels smooth and tight, as it should. It’s essentially a new bike. I have a lot of things to consider now. We own 4.5 scooters. I have to insure and tag four of them. I’m really afraid I’m going to like this one. |
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Post by wheelbender6 on Mar 29, 2018 18:32:23 GMT -5
Well done. No shifting required with a 4t Stella. Good steel body panels.
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Post by pistonguy on Mar 30, 2018 6:02:50 GMT -5
Very nice!!
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Post by ricardoguitars on Mar 30, 2018 8:14:33 GMT -5
If you don't plan to do highways on a scooter, that one can be your last and only scooter, no need for more, you can pass that one to your grandchildren.
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Post by seamus26 on Mar 30, 2018 17:19:46 GMT -5
Thanks, everyone. One thing to mention, it is a shifty like my P200E. Four gears, and they all seem smooth. The problem I'm having right now is that I can't seem to get it to idle without the choke completely closed. It's almost as if there's an air leak somewhere, but I can't see anywhere that it could. I pulled the carb apart and cleaned everything. I even polished the intake tube a little. It's like one of the worst castings I've ever seen. The thing that concerned me was what came out of the carb. It was yellow. I mean, like this :  Mind you, this bike is six years old with just about 650 miles on the odometer. I don't know how long that gas has been in the tank. I was thinking of draining the tank, but if I don't have to I won't. It runs, just not well. I checked the plug, and they have a Denso iridium in there. Good stuff, so I left it alone. I changed the oil today and it's possible that it had never been changed before . Ugly stuff. Any ideas on the idle? |
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Post by ricardoguitars on Mar 30, 2018 17:23:39 GMT -5
Thanks, everyone. One thing to mention, it is a shifty like my P200E. Four gears, and they all seem smooth. The problem I'm having right now is that I can't seem to get it to idle without the choke completely closed. It's almost as if there's an air leak somewhere, but I can't see anywhere that it could. I pulled the carb apart and cleaned everything. I even polished the intake tube a little. It's like one of the worst castings I've ever seen. The thing that concerned me was what came out of the carb. It was yellow. I mean, like this : Mind you, this bike is six years old with just about 650 miles on the odometer. I don't know how long that gas has been in the tank. I was thinking of draining the tank, but if I don't have to I won't. It runs, just not well. I checked the plug, and they have a Denso iridium in there. Good stuff, so I left it alone. I changed the oil today and it's possible that it had never been changed before . Ugly stuff. Any ideas on the idle? Take out the carb and clean it thoroughly, carbs don't like to sit for extended periods of time. |
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Post by seamus26 on Mar 30, 2018 18:38:20 GMT -5
Take out the carb and clean it thoroughly, carbs don't like to sit for extended periods of time. Yeah, thanks. Did that. I even took the jets into the lab and ran gage pins through the holes to make sure everything was clear. The float moves freely as does the choke plate. Of course, if the gas is bad ...  |
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Post by cyborg55 on Mar 31, 2018 20:47:11 GMT -5
Pull tank drain the goo out of it,, refill with premium and 3oz of sea foam and call it a deal ,, oh and change the fuel filter,, I have one,,, got a 2year leftover in the crate for $2375,,,, a major bargain,,, they retailed out the door for $5000+ here in California,,, I’ve see 70 mph on a slightly down hill grade ( almost flat),,, and a week ago I went on a 120+ round trip ride and filled up just before I got home,,, .968 gallons,,, you can expect 100+ mpg,, it’s gotten a bad rap from some early crank bearing failures in the 2t,,, but mines been a solid performer for over 5000 miles,,,if it were mine I’d keep it
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Post by seamus26 on Apr 4, 2018 14:14:14 GMT -5
Thanks for that. Still not sure what to cull from the herd.
I drove it about 10 miles last weekend. I know it's running lean, but it hit 50 without much problem. I hear a little bit of popping through the exhaust, so I'm (hopefully) going to adjust the valves tonight.
Everything feels nice and tight, just like a new bike should. I can see keeping it just for peace of mind. Every time I get on my P, it seems like I worry that something is going to fail. Not that it ever has ... it's never left me stranded, but it's almost 40 years old.
I'll keep everyone posted.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 6, 2018 0:05:30 GMT -5
What a classic! Have a bone on the Old Chopper guy!
I've never seen a Stella 4-stroke with clutch and gears. Very unusual, and very neat! That old gas MUST be bad... EEEEWWW! Do take Cyborg55's advice and clean the tank and fill with fresh gas and Seafoam. Good gas might cure most of the problems. That bike warrants a fresh paint-job and a good old total all over "freshening". It should even be fast enough once running right to use for most any riding you need it for. I'd say it's a keeper!
Do keep us posted...Ride safe!Leo in Texas PS: I just can't help thinking how sweet a "rat-scoot" it would make! So few miles, manual tranny... Old-school Italian looks... Painted satin-black, a little tasteful checkerboard trim, whitewalls, red wheels... Woo-HOO! Be still my beating heart... Oh, and a nice, wide-open exhaust for that sassy pop-n'-cackle backing down through the gears... with just enough minor back-pressure to run well... Welcome to "back to the fifties"!
Here are a few pix just for concept ideas... One similar to yours in flat black there too... SHARP!
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Post by seamus26 on Apr 6, 2018 12:56:40 GMT -5
Yeah, I really like the "Blackjack" look. The problem is, if I want old school, I just have to fire up my '79 P200E. She is sooooo pretty.  I already have the work into her. Oh, and to keep everyone up to date, I drained the rest of the gas out of the tank and pulled the carb again yesterday. I also bought a new fuel filter just because. I figure if I get the (potentially) bad gas out of there it eliminates one variable. A side question to throw out there, in case anyone knows, I have two inlets on the backside of the carb; one up topside and one on the float bowl. I had assumed they were vacuum, but from my reading I may be wrong. It looks as though they might both just be overflow outlets. Anyone have any input on that? |
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Post by seamus26 on Apr 6, 2018 19:37:02 GMT -5
Well, that did the trick. Carb internals cleaned one more time, gas replaced with fresh premium and a dose of Sea Foam and a new fuel filter. Now she purrs like a kitten.
I took her around the block just for a listen, but riding in blowing snow at 29 degrees is not my idea of a fun ride. Hopefully we get a clear patch this weekend and I can take her out and open her up a little.
Thanks for listening everyone. Safe riding!
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Post by pistonguy on Apr 6, 2018 19:48:29 GMT -5
Yeah, I really like the "Blackjack" look. The problem is, if I want old school, I just have to fire up my '79 P200E. She is sooooo pretty. I already have the work into her. Oh, and to keep everyone up to date, I drained the rest of the gas out of the tank and pulled the carb again yesterday. I also bought a new fuel filter just because. I figure if I get the (potentially) bad gas out of there it eliminates one variable. A side question to throw out there, in case anyone knows, I have two inlets on the backside of the carb; one up topside and one on the float bowl. I had assumed they were vacuum, but from my reading I may be wrong. It looks as though they might both just be overflow outlets. Anyone have any input on that? Thats as good as it gets right there. Great cheap fun!! |
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Post by seamus26 on Apr 9, 2018 11:51:34 GMT -5
So, anyway ... yesterday was the first day that I had any real decent riding weather since the last tweak. I took the Stella out for a short ride just to mess with the idle and to open her up a bit. Everything feels really good, except I need to adjust the clutch a little. (this is important) On my way back, I was turning right onto 28th Street from Division and I got behind a guy I recognized. He drives a really nice mid '90s Corvette. I'm not a big fan of the style, but it's a really pretty dark green with a tan top. It's a pretty car. So, we turned the corner and I couldn't keep up because ... well ... Corvette/scooter. Things are just sometimes that way. At the next intersection I decided to make the left turn so I could pull up beside him. I couldn't get his attention before the light turned green. Traffic begins to move and I pull the clutch to put it in 1st and ... no clutch. Sometimes cables break. The clutch is usually the first to go. So, traffic is moving, I have the flashing yellow turn light, so I know I have 30 seconds for a plan B. Plan B on a scooter usually involves a leisurely stroll pushing said scooter. So, the hill on my street is unavoidable, and usually not a problem until you quadruple your weight. I got my day's worth of cardio in and made it home to find that the cable hadn't actually broken, but rather the adjustment at the end had slipped. So, just an adjustment. It's one of these stupid things :  I hate them. I had some daylight left, so I decided to get the Vespa out. I haven't ridden it in quite a while. It reminded me what a great bike it is. So, looking at the three bikes I ride side by side, I think I've decided to get the Stella up and running and sell it. I'll get more cash for it than the ZNEN, and the thing is, I really like the ZNEN. If I want wheelies and smashing gears and the smell of oil I have the Vespa. And it's the real deal. The Stella just looks like one. (I'm not a real doctor, but I play one on tv.) The ZNEN is comfortable, twist and go and just easy to ride. If I sell it, I give that up. I have two good bikes I ride for different reasons. I'm going to keep it that way. And I have no emotional attachment to the Stella. I won't miss it. The ZNEN was our first bike, my wife and I both tested on it, it's been camping with us and I have over 6000 (mostly) good miles on it. And I know the bike. There's a lot to be said for that. |
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