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Post by SylvreKat on May 8, 2015 7:40:25 GMT -5
I need to get Peej spring-tuned (although of course this week has been rain every day). However, my last mech has closed. I'm beginning to think it's maybe me?
So my options are
1) drive maybe 20 miles to Martin City to the licensed Piggy dealership. It's pretty much a straight-shot drive, but pretty heavy-trafficky and does I believe turn into a highway for a few miles.
2) drive about 15 miles to ScooterWorld, the private scoot shop. It's also trafficky roads, although there's more side streets available. Except I seem to recall when I talked to them a couple years back (before finding the motorcycle shop a mile away) that they don't work very fast. I think an oil change was slated for at least a week?
3) go to one of the two motorcycle shops still here in town that's listed on Google, that nobody I know knows anything about, and hope I pick a good one not a rip-off.
4) let my car mech do the oil change, 'cause really how different can it be than changing any & all models of cars' oil?
Number 5 (do it myself) is not an option, because I really AM the Blonde Non-Mechanic.
So what's anyone's advice here, please?
>'Kat
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Post by flyangler on May 8, 2015 8:00:24 GMT -5
Kat, you need to pick up an oil filter for that oil change, if you haven't had the plug changed you may need to do that, you can get all of this stuff from AF1 Racing in Houston they will have it in stock. Dan.
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Post by SylvreKat on May 8, 2015 8:06:00 GMT -5
Here's the sites for the two shops. Both have a few rave reviews (but the cynic in me always questions where there's this few--did buddies post them?)
HawgShack Cycles--https://plus.google.com/+HawgshackCyclesOlathe/about?hl=en
Smithers Custome--http://smitherscustoms.com
There's also Rawhide Harley, but my Harley friend despises the place and drives to the other side of the KC metro even if he only needs a can of oil. And the kid at the Indian dealership (who won't touch my scoot 'cause they have no mech who's Piggy-certified and the liability is too high if something should happen to go south), he worked there for a bit and left.
>'Kat
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Post by SylvreKat on May 8, 2015 8:09:43 GMT -5
fly', I quite honestly have zero idea what's ever been done to my scoot. I mean, they did always tell me "changed the oil, cleared out the old gas, checked over everything else it's all good." But beyond that would've been Greek hieroglyphics to me, ha. Oh, and Custom did test my battery last year since it's original, showed viable and holding a strong charge and still very good.
So I'm figuring whatever shop I end up going to, they're the ones who need to pick up that oil filter. And the oil.
>'Kat
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Post by ramblinman on May 8, 2015 8:59:29 GMT -5
oil change is the easiest thing you can do on these scoots but if you're really not comfortable with a wrench then i would call and find out if you can make an appointment.
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Post by JerryScript on May 8, 2015 11:37:00 GMT -5
Honestly Kat, on oil change is very easy and takes 10 minutes tops. I just taught my nephew how to do it, my sister had been forcing him to take it to the shop while under warranty. I showed him how easy it is, and he looked at me and said "I could have been doing this all along and saved money!"
I would bet a paycheck you have a neighbor who would do it for some homemade brownies, I would if I lived near you.
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Post by rockynv on May 8, 2015 12:48:37 GMT -5
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Post by rdhood on May 8, 2015 14:41:56 GMT -5
Its not, but it is still not all that hard. I have done some incredibly complex things going off of nothing more than you tube videos like this. If they can make a 10 minute video on how to do it, you can do it. And it will cost you next to nothing. In fact, it could save you a heck of a lot of time. Your 10 minutes vs. taking it to a shop, waiting while it is done, and getting on your way.
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Post by ricardoguitars on May 8, 2015 15:06:26 GMT -5
Another idea: get a lender/rented trailer, hook it to your car, put Peej on it and take it to the Piaggio dealership  If your car doesn't have a trailer hitch, put one on it, you never know when you will need to give Peej a car raid  |
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Post by scooter on May 8, 2015 15:14:07 GMT -5
Its not, but it is still not all that hard. I have done some incredibly complex things going off of nothing more than you tube videos like this. If they can make a 10 minute video on how to do it, you can do it. And it will cost you next to nothing. In fact, it could save you a heck of a lot of time. Your 10 minutes vs. taking it to a shop, waiting while it is done, and getting on your way. It's nice to know what's going on with your scooter. You bond with it by taking care of it, and when you get comfortable working on it, you have confidence in it. Not only that but you won't pay for parts and service you didn't need. I did a scooter for a guy and I was sure the battery was ruined and the carb was bad. I sent off for those parts. To my surprise the battery came back to life and his problem was bad gas and gunk in the tank. I only charged him for the labor and I ate the parts. Do you think most shops would do that? I doubt it. They'd probably tell you that you needed those parts AND charge you for the tank cleaning. At least that's been my experience with auto shops. They charge you to poke around until they figure out what was really wrong. |
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Post by scooter on May 8, 2015 15:19:37 GMT -5
If you don't want to do it yourself, and I'm sure you could, I'd take it to a scooter shop. I don't know about Piggys, but if they are anything like a gy6, an auto mechanic might strip your bolts. These GY6's metals are so soft. I use one hand to tighten most scooter bolts now. I do the oil plug with both hands but I still don't torque on it too much.
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Post by ramblinman on May 8, 2015 16:13:15 GMT -5
If you don't want to do it yourself, and I'm sure you could, I'd take it to a scooter shop. I don't know about Piggys, but if they are anything like a gy6, an auto mechanic might strip your bolts. These GY6's metals are so soft. I use one hand to tighten most scooter bolts now. I do the oil plug with both hands but I still don't torque on it too much. yep, i'd rather it fall off than strip the threads. i use thread locker on the gear oil bolts. the spring on the oil plug puts enough tension on the threads that i'm not too concerned of it rattling loose. |
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Post by SylvreKat on May 8, 2015 22:48:21 GMT -5
Okay, bless you wrenchers for thinking anyone can do something as simple as an oil change. A big scrunchy-faced kissy to y'alles! |‹*
However, I have no tools. As in nothing for mechanicking. And little money to go buy a bunch (paying for the unplanned newish car, you know). And I really have zero knowledge nor skills with mechanicking. I was honest-to-God thrilled beyond wagging that I found the oil dipstick. Yes, that's how sad I am.
The main thing though, there is absolutely no way I can look over everything else and determine that everything's still good for this year, or this or that needs replacing. Oh, sure, if it's all shredded or something obvious, that I can figure. But what if it's a bit dry? Or has thinned? Or whatever it is that might be bad, in a minor way that a real mech would notice upon checking but that I won't know isn't normal.
That's the main point of spring tuneup. Not just the oil change, but the reassurance that everything is up to snuff.
Which has sort of decided me against my car mech. I'm sure they can do the oil change, and without stripping the bolts. They've never once screwed up my old Taurus. But--they won't be too much better than me checking everything else.
So we're down to options 1, 2, or 3.
And still driving to any of them. While I would dearly love to have a hitch and trailer, ricardo, there's that pesky money issue again. Plus I'm not sure how much pull new car has. The Taurus, he hauled almost an entire rank of flute pipes from my church's pipe organ--all but the very longest ones, which were more than 6'. But then he had the 3.8L V6 and was built to haul. The Focus hatchwagon, I dunno.
>'Kat
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Post by rockynv on May 9, 2015 0:39:43 GMT -5
The Piaggio tend to be a bit messy if you do not have a front wheel chock to hold the bike upright as the center stand gets in the way when its down. Metal castings are pretty high quality too compared to the GY6 and when well taken care of are machines that can be handed down to your kids or grandchildren. Its not uncommon to see them with 60,000 + miles on them when well maintained.
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Post by SylvreKat on May 9, 2015 9:13:39 GMT -5
Say, first time I saw "motorcycle chock" on Craig's List, I thought someone had typo'ed "choke". Finally figured out when I saw other ads periodically, there really is something called a chock. And I'm not just chock full o' it! >'Kat |
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