Things WERE going so nice......  By  rockinez (Read 712 times)

I read that informative post earlier. Great info, and I will most likely buy one of those CDI units.

I will put the racing CDI tomorrow before I start troubleshooting. If it starts, the original CDI was the problem. If not I start standard troubleshooting 101.

Regardless I will buy one of the non-advanced CDI mentioned in the link.

My buddy told me he had the same problem. He changed out the CDI, coil, wire with one of the new racing kits.

He got kickback he didn't like - changed back to the original CDI - got one day out of it before the scoot stopped scooting. He put the racing unit back in and it ran. 

He had nothing to back it up, but his belief was the new coil had something to do with the failure of the original CDI..... me I dono.

I spent most of my motorcycle life on English and Japanese machines, with occasional forced exposure to Harley Davidsons at my dad's shop. (I was slave labor there during high school and for a couple of years after). Those machines make sense. China scoots, not so much, but that is the fun part..... figuring out something you have never seen before.

Rockinez,

I rode my Chinese 150 for 7 years, and the CDI was one of THE most cantankerous and irritating parts! LOL! The original did as you mention... Run fine for a while, then just die. Later, maybe it would run, maybe not.

I replaced it with one of the "red" ones off eBay the first year, and all was fine for 4 years. Then, I gave the scoot a thorough cleaning at the local spray-wash. I did that many times in the past, with no problems. I always left the engine running during a wash, just to be safe, but THIS time, the day being HOT, I shut it off. After washing, it was completely DEAD. After pushing it 3 miles home, I got another CDI, this time a "blue" one off eBay. Started right up and ran fine until I traded the scooter on a used Kymco 250 a year later.

The only reason I traded to a 250 was the old 150 simply would not safely keep up with increased traffic speeds since my little town has made major changes in the local roads. Whomever bought my old 150 did get THE most DE-BUGGED, pampered, upgraded and trouble-free Chinese scoot on the planet! But, after a thousand miles on the well-worn '07 Kymco (which had 14K miles on her clock when I bought her) I can honestly say there IS a world of difference in build-quality between Chinese Mainland, and Taiwanese built scooters. Most every part of the Kymco is much, MUCH heavier-duty, and after 7 years and 14K miles, every original factory part is still working perfectly... AND "water-resistant"... LOL! The old gal is as reliable as an old Japanese car.

The battery stays up, the tires stay up, there are "no squeaks, leaks or rattles" she doesn't use a drop of oil or water, and she fires on the first push of the starter button, even after sitting a month below freezing, and it handles like a nimble 150 in town, and still runs 70mph on the freeway...  It's like the family car, on 2 wheels.  I tend to LIKE that!

Even though my Chinese 150 gave me all the grief "things Chinese" tend to do, it was expected, and I dealt with each issue as it came along and I must say for the money, Chinese scoots are a fantastic bargain. But many factory parts are pretty "iffy" and are best replaced, and the CDI seems to be one of THE most problematical of the batch...  Apparently, the CDI is a weak-link in these scoots. And even though they appear "bullet-proof" and all sealed up with epoxy, they definitely are NOT waterproof! Nope... Not waterproof!

I'd even go so far as to recommend keeping a spare aftermarket CDI wrapped in something to protect it from vibration and moisture ON the scooter. Under the seat, or in the glove-box.  Then, if it "quits" on you, you can change out the CDI in minutes away from home. It might save you some money and frustration!

Ride safe!

Leo in Texas