Post by serenade on Dec 19, 2013 17:22:48 GMT -5
Hello to you all. I would like some advice on how to go about solving a very confusing series of problems with my 139QMB GY6 scooter. I am very wrench handy and purchased this scooter fully well knowing I'd be working on it.
It is a 50cc TaoTao ATM50-A1, 2012 model, just as in the title. My problem began when the temperatures dropped and it got cold. I purchased this scooter because I am *VERY* poor, and can't under any circumstances afford a car (like most of my generation), so I intended to drive it during winter as it rarely snows.
I have owned this scooter over six months, and have over 1500 km on it. I have performed all the suggested, required, and scheduled maintenance with the exception of a valve adjustment (which would require I invest in even more tools). Oil is correct, fuel is the right octane, gear oil changed, spark plug changed, carburetor changed, and so forth.
On the temperature dropping, around 30-40 F and below, the scooter would become impossible to start. After researching this issue, the majority opinion appeared to be that I needed to adjust the carburetor. Furthermore, it would die when stopped after running (stop signs), thus requiring I change the carburetor. Problem #1: The carburetor is "tamper proof", so I purchased a new carburetor as a replacement that I could adjust, as I lacked the tools to "fix" the "tamper proof" screw. Other opinions also said to change the spark plug. Alright. So I changed both. The scooter ran perfectly fine after I had adjusted the air/fuel screw, and then over time developed a sequence of problems:
1. It would not idle unless I played with the throttle until the engine warmed up. I figured, okay, it's cold. Scooters suck in the cold. I'd deal with it.
2. It began to get slower when climbing hills. To fix this I adjusted the screw more carefully and it seemed fine. The screw was at approximately 3 1/2 360 degree turns to run ideally in cold weather.
3. It began to SERIOUSLY DIE at open throttle even once warmed up. It would die on hills. It would die at open throttle. It would die if I sneezed facing the wrong way.
4. Finally, no matter what adjustment the idle and air/fuel mixture screw is set to, the scooter will not stay running more than 30 seconds without playing with the throttle. Throttle open, it will run, and then slowly die unless I play with it more. Played with "enough", sometimes over five minutes, and it will THEN "run" until you try to ride it. Fully open the throttle when it's sitting there, and it will keep going, but open it while riding it and it would die.
5. No power. I could hold it in place with my legs at any air/fuel adjustment.
These problems progressed over the period of a month. I have inspected the carburetor, fuel lines, changed the battery, also checked the spark plug. The spark plug, quite bizarrely, suggests that my initial air/fuel mixture was perfect (comparing it to pictures I've seen). However, I also located similar problems to the dying when throttle open/climbing hills to supposedly need a needle adjustment (more on that later) in the carburetor.
So I am now at my wits end. I will either have to bite the bullet, and buy all the necessary tools for a valve adjustment, or this is a far more serious problem than what I could find on the internet.
Please do give me recommendations. I attempted to disassemble EITHER carburetor for cleaning/adjustment of the fuel needle (which I found on another forum to be related), only to find the screws held down with the might needed to lift Odin's Hammer. I broke one philips bit (IN HALF), and upon trying another realized the screws were bending before the threading let loose. It's obvious that neither carburetor can be disassembled without potentially ruining the screws, which greatly aggravates me.
I think I've described each problem in detail and given the required specifications of my scooter, as well as the work I've done or attempted to do so far (and not done). Has anyone had this exact problem? I am poor, and just need it fixed, and am willing to do anything even if I repeat my steps a few dozen times. If I have missed anything, please let me know, especially if you need more detail.
It is a 50cc TaoTao ATM50-A1, 2012 model, just as in the title. My problem began when the temperatures dropped and it got cold. I purchased this scooter because I am *VERY* poor, and can't under any circumstances afford a car (like most of my generation), so I intended to drive it during winter as it rarely snows.
I have owned this scooter over six months, and have over 1500 km on it. I have performed all the suggested, required, and scheduled maintenance with the exception of a valve adjustment (which would require I invest in even more tools). Oil is correct, fuel is the right octane, gear oil changed, spark plug changed, carburetor changed, and so forth.
On the temperature dropping, around 30-40 F and below, the scooter would become impossible to start. After researching this issue, the majority opinion appeared to be that I needed to adjust the carburetor. Furthermore, it would die when stopped after running (stop signs), thus requiring I change the carburetor. Problem #1: The carburetor is "tamper proof", so I purchased a new carburetor as a replacement that I could adjust, as I lacked the tools to "fix" the "tamper proof" screw. Other opinions also said to change the spark plug. Alright. So I changed both. The scooter ran perfectly fine after I had adjusted the air/fuel screw, and then over time developed a sequence of problems:
1. It would not idle unless I played with the throttle until the engine warmed up. I figured, okay, it's cold. Scooters suck in the cold. I'd deal with it.
2. It began to get slower when climbing hills. To fix this I adjusted the screw more carefully and it seemed fine. The screw was at approximately 3 1/2 360 degree turns to run ideally in cold weather.
3. It began to SERIOUSLY DIE at open throttle even once warmed up. It would die on hills. It would die at open throttle. It would die if I sneezed facing the wrong way.
4. Finally, no matter what adjustment the idle and air/fuel mixture screw is set to, the scooter will not stay running more than 30 seconds without playing with the throttle. Throttle open, it will run, and then slowly die unless I play with it more. Played with "enough", sometimes over five minutes, and it will THEN "run" until you try to ride it. Fully open the throttle when it's sitting there, and it will keep going, but open it while riding it and it would die.
5. No power. I could hold it in place with my legs at any air/fuel adjustment.
These problems progressed over the period of a month. I have inspected the carburetor, fuel lines, changed the battery, also checked the spark plug. The spark plug, quite bizarrely, suggests that my initial air/fuel mixture was perfect (comparing it to pictures I've seen). However, I also located similar problems to the dying when throttle open/climbing hills to supposedly need a needle adjustment (more on that later) in the carburetor.
So I am now at my wits end. I will either have to bite the bullet, and buy all the necessary tools for a valve adjustment, or this is a far more serious problem than what I could find on the internet.
Please do give me recommendations. I attempted to disassemble EITHER carburetor for cleaning/adjustment of the fuel needle (which I found on another forum to be related), only to find the screws held down with the might needed to lift Odin's Hammer. I broke one philips bit (IN HALF), and upon trying another realized the screws were bending before the threading let loose. It's obvious that neither carburetor can be disassembled without potentially ruining the screws, which greatly aggravates me.
I think I've described each problem in detail and given the required specifications of my scooter, as well as the work I've done or attempted to do so far (and not done). Has anyone had this exact problem? I am poor, and just need it fixed, and am willing to do anything even if I repeat my steps a few dozen times. If I have missed anything, please let me know, especially if you need more detail.
..BAD TO THE BONE..
