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Post by rockinez on Mar 8, 2014 13:45:49 GMT -5
My buddy has a Roketta 150cc that is remarkably similar to my Tank 150cc (Identical, except for the decals we both removed, and color).
He watched me dink around with my Tank getting it ready for the season. Cleaning the carb, adjusting the valves, checking fuel and vacuum lines, tighten everything still attached, and replacing those things that are not. He took an entirely different approach. Instead of pulling and cleaning out his carb, testing his lines, etc. he is just replacing the carb, fuel and vacuum lines. He found his exact carb on eBay for $23, and the hoses, t's and clamps locally for $12. He bought a new OEM CDI, coil w/plug wire and NEC spark plug for another $9. He has $44 invested in parts on order.
I had about 4 days of afternoon fun getting mine back into shape. I also found a faulty ground, and replaced some Chinese cheese metal bolts with higher quality stuff. I enjoy the work and consider it fun.
My Type A buddy has no time for that. He checked his valves, and now believes he will have his Roketta up and running in less than 2 hours of parts swapping.
I have to admit that the parts, especially the carb are so inexpensive that it is an interesting approach.
We are both engineers, but from different disciplines. Let us see if the mechanical engineer's approach, or the systems engineer's approach turns out to be the best.
I think I win already, as I had about 16 hours of "wrench therapy". This relaxes me during the parts where I am not yelling at stuck bolts :-)
Which way do you lean? Fix 'er up again, or replace everything 'cus its cheap? |
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Post by millsc on Mar 8, 2014 17:59:21 GMT -5
If your carb is unsealed and everything thing worked great before it sat for the winter no need to buy new parts.
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Post by spandi on Mar 8, 2014 18:48:06 GMT -5
I think you'll find that though it takes longer, there is no substitute for carefully going over the scooter and making sure it's set up well.
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Post by JerryScript on Mar 8, 2014 22:50:37 GMT -5
Parts swapping is another term for laziness. If you have the money to burn, it's your choice.
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Post by korn858 on Mar 9, 2014 12:10:00 GMT -5
Why not just take off the carb and hoses, and store them inside. Then put them back on when weather permits?
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Post by jjoshua20213 on Mar 9, 2014 12:57:09 GMT -5
Why not just take off the carb and hoses, and store them inside. Then put them back on when weather permits? I don't think its the cold alone that gums them up. Its the sitting part too. So either way it would have to be cleaned. Granit it would be wayy easier to remove, clean and store before it gets gummed up. Then when needed replace and go |
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Post by jjoshua20213 on Mar 9, 2014 13:00:19 GMT -5
I'm not gunna lie i'm lazy. I'de just replace the parts. And save the spare parts for "just in case" or if someone needs them its quick money.
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Post by rockinez on Mar 9, 2014 13:26:05 GMT -5
Something in me does not want to replace a good carb if the old one can be cleaned.
I did understand his point. Last year he knew he was going to need a gasket next time he pulled the carb apart. $10 for a gasket. His auto choke failed the multimeter test, another $9. I understand why he spent $23 on a new one. The fuel and vacuum lines I am having a harder time with. If you empty the gas tank and drain the carb when putting it up, you can just flush the fuel lines when you replace the fuel filter. If the CDI worked when you parked it, there is an excellent chance it will work in the Spring. Coil and wire replacement, same as the CDI. They probably work after 4 months in the garage.
Personally I am going for the therapeutic approach. China Scoot mechanics are relaxing, and fun if undertaken with the correct attitude. Being in a hurry is not the proper attitude.
Slowly taking things apart, cleaning and reassembly gives you a closer connection with the mechanical side of the scoot.
It is not all "get on and ride" as my buddy says.
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Post by urbanmadness on Mar 10, 2014 10:36:05 GMT -5
sometimes it's cheaper to replace then clean the carb... Espically if it is a sealed unit or has more problems then just being plugged. As for the vacuum lines, if replaced during initial PDI, they should hold up for a couple of years. CDI and coil... buy a spare and keep them on the bike if your worried about it. Change the stock plug boot tho... I change them when I do the bikes first valve adjustment as the stock ones like to come loose, replace with a quality unit. Then, ride it like you stole it...  I actually don't worry about storage as my scoots run year round but then I have good weather most of the year where I'm from. |
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Post by dakotafig on Mar 10, 2014 10:50:09 GMT -5
On the other side of this, you never know what you will get in a replacement carb. There is always a possibility of something not being right, some wacky jet etc. You could always just start and ride it once every couple of weeks and then no need for the "deep cleaning". Just break out the VERY heavy jacket.  |
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Post by rockynv on Mar 10, 2014 12:40:19 GMT -5
Some OEM carbs are jetted quite uniquely with unmarked jets and the CVT needle setting may be quite different. You can while away many hours trying to get a replacement carb going when a little Startron at end of season and some Lucas fuel treatment at the start of the next will be all you need to be trouble free.
Properly fueled and stored you should rarely have to dismantle acarb unless something is actualy broken or worn out.
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Post by rockinez on Mar 12, 2014 1:25:50 GMT -5
Bottom line, the Mechanical Engineer won, and I lost.
I ended up replacing almost as many parts as he did, but spent several hours trying to repair before deciding to replace.
He was indeed up and running in two hours, if you count the time it took to drink a beer.
I am not promoting parts changing over mechanics, but in certain situations you already know what issues you may encounter. If $50 worth of parts and two hours work produces a dependable scoot, so be it. The carb is a "black hole time suck" after 6 years of service and storage cycles. It cost $23 to replace with a better carb. I would have put $23 in the cuss jar if I had one.
Those posts indicating you never know brand, or what jets you will get are correct, but should consider contacting the seller by email and ask. I found out I had several choices not listed on eBay, but I just had to ask. There are many sellers on eBay. The guy that sold 45,000+ GY6 carbs and associated parts did know what he was talking about, and was happy to share info.
China scoots are a bit different. Parts are cheap, almost disposable cheap. |
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Post by carpespasm on Mar 15, 2014 12:31:26 GMT -5
+1 from me on the carb replacement over repair. Having had a string of new-to-me china bikes and scooters, it's far easier to find a correct new carb than to do anything more complex than clean the jet and bowl. Same goes for intake boots and air boxes. The rubber used in them combined with ethanol-laced fuel just does bad things over time, and while it's possible to nurse them back to health, and an annual replacement seems a bit excessive, every couple years paying a C-note to replace the entire intake system and know it's in like-new shape is cheap insurance, and if you're replacing working parts, you always have a spare to troubleshoot with. Never had much of an issue with electrical parts, but they're so cheap I'm probably gonna pick up a spare CDI, coil, and plug some time.
I much prefer wrenching to buying, but it's just so damn cheap to replace parts on these things, it's just not worth banging your head against the wall vs slapping on a new part sometimes.
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Post by bvance554 on Mar 17, 2014 23:11:13 GMT -5
I've never touched my carb in the three years I've owned it. I add a little Sta-Bil before I put it away for the winter and thats it. I must be immune to all of the ethanol problems that everyone else seems to experience.
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Post by rockinez on Mar 18, 2014 14:17:59 GMT -5
The Sta-Bil is the trick. Next time I think I am going to park it for even a week, I am adding Sat-Bil.
$7 for Sta-Bil can save you a couple of hours worth of work, and $6 for carb cleaner.
I don't want another seasonal refresh like I had this year. I made a lot of trouble for myself by not paying attention.
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