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Post by JR on Mar 6, 2016 12:06:00 GMT -5
First of all yelloscoot your scooter is a copy of the famous Honda Reflex and if you put it side by side you would note that every body panel would interchange. Honda prided itself on putting enough screws/bolts on the scooter so it wouldn't rattle or break from vibrations going down the road and the plastics on the Reflex even though of better quality if you take note of all the pressure points of how the scooter is made needs plenty of support as far as fastening goes. The Chinese in the early years made plastics of poor quality and they were famous for coming apart due to lack of proper fastening, they have done better in recent years. I know it's a PITB to remove all the stuff to work on it but all the good quality PDI work you are doing will stop this in the long run. If you take note of Taiwan's Sym Citicom 300i www.alliancepowersports.com/models/citycom.htmlyou'll see a similar design and I can assure you they will have it bolted up very well. Now I'm going to also mention this the vertical engine 250 scooter that you have is a copy of the Reflex just as the horizontal one I have with the linhai and I know for a fact that the larger 120/70/13 tire on the front works on both scooters. But I do not know about the rear 140/60/13 on the vertical engine. Some scooters with the vertical 250 came with a 10" rear tire like on the Bali 250 which is a copy of the long ago Honda Foresight scooter. This scooter was limited to one tire size on the rear. If you take note right below the posting area here I have a section listed as Where do you need to go? In this section one can choose the Tires Size Calc and hit select and put the tire sizes in and get the exact OD and width measurements of a tire. This is the calculations of the 130/60/13 versus the 140/60/13: www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=130-60r13-140-60r13With my linhai I had about 3/4" clearance between the tire and the crankcase with the 130/60/13 tire and now with the 140/60/13 I have about 3/8" clearance. There is now issue with the width clearing the shocks et. The wider tire looks cool and grips the road very well and has a softer ride. So you will need to check the current clearance you have between the tire and the crankcase on the vertical engine to see if the larger tire will work. When I put the tire on I have to tie the shock up out of my way and let the air out of the tire to get it to clear when installing it then re-inflate it when bolted up. JR |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 7, 2016 0:51:00 GMT -5
Yelloscoot,
Wow, a whole LOTTA work getting Yin Yang's nose off... Just like my old 150, only maybe even worse! You WILL want to do EVERYTHING needed while the nose is off... You won't want to do that too often... LOL!
I think I have the mountings figured out. This afternoon I converted the old swan to LED. Pretty easy... Just pry the rotten old socket and filament bulb out, clean out the dirt and slip in a white LED. While the nose is off, I want to do some maintenance myself. Tighten all the bolts, check all radiator hoses, etc.
I hate having the scooter down, but normally this time of year is not much good for riding anyway... And I have plenty to do besides riding. I've let a lot of stuff slide to enjoy the great weather...
I guess I'll have to stash the nose SOMEWHERE until I get it finished... LOL!
Looks like cold and rain next week, so just think on spring!
Ride safe,
Leo
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Post by yelloscoot on Mar 8, 2016 21:21:15 GMT -5
Thanks JR . Yes, I may complain a little about more than a few screws, but the fact of the matter is that everything is held together quite well. While taking everything apart and labeling some Ziploc baggies for the screws, the replacement of the plastics went smoothly. All screws were accounted for and no screws left behind.  I kept the bags when I was finished and reused them again for the next time I pulled the plastics. I also added any additional notes to each bag if needed. That sped the process up considerably and still have everything back in place. I remove and replace all the screws and bolts by hand also to avoid over-tightening and breaking/stripping any threaded tabs. So far, everything is still in great shape, plastics wise. Although I did hear the Givi "pop" on one screw (MY BAD), but, nothing terrible.  The "rattle" I was looking for, I think is more of a vibration inside of the speedo behind the face-plate. It increases with the rpms, almost as if a harmonic vibration frequency, but quiets down as acceleration decreases to a steady speed. I took it all apart and siliconed the lens covers and everything I could find with a rattle.  I thought I had it licked but it's still there. I've thought about maybe a silicon spray or something that might reduce vibrations but not affect the gearing.  While in the front, I continued with the soldering, of the connectors. Most of it is done, all but, four connectors that are buried in tight with the main harness.  It was getting late and needed to wrap it up for the ride to work Monday morning. They have been siliconed closed across the clips, but, have not been soldered yet. I'm a little scared to go pulling on these because of how tight they are in there.  That Sym Citicom 300i is a good looking bike, and the price isn't too far out. Someday maybe.  I've seen this Tire Size Calculator before in the distant past. Now I have it bookmarked.  I hadn't thought about the clearance of the motor and tire.  I was always looking at the fender clearance. And wow, your clearance of 3/8" seems a little too close for comfort, but if it works...it works. Who am I to argue with numbers, they never lie.  As always... lot'sa good info. Thank you, Loren |
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Post by yelloscoot on Mar 8, 2016 22:05:13 GMT -5
Yelloscoot, Wow, a whole LOTTA work getting Yin Yang's nose off... Just like my old 150, only maybe even worse! You WILL want to do EVERYTHING needed while the nose is off... You won't want to do that too often... LOL! I think I have the mountings figured out. This afternoon I converted the old swan to LED. Pretty easy... Just pry the rotten old socket and filament bulb out, clean out the dirt and slip in a white LED. While the nose is off, I want to do some maintenance myself. Tighten all the bolts, check all radiator hoses, etc. I hate having the scooter down, but normally this time of year is not much good for riding anyway... And I have plenty to do besides riding. I've let a lot of stuff slide to enjoy the great weather... I guess I'll have to stash the nose SOMEWHERE until I get it finished... LOL! Looks like cold and rain next week, so just think on spring! Ride safe, Leo Yes, Leo, Yin and I have become quite close over the past couple weeks. And to celebrate, I ordered her a set of Touring Saddlebags today. I needed someplace to keep my rain cover today, so, I wrapped it up and crammed it into the "trunk". I just need more room to keep stuff with me on the bike. The nose will be coming off again soon enough though to finish wiring up the auxiliary fuse box and lights. And maybe soldering the last four "scary" connectors. It'll be interesting to see how you get the Swan mounted up. One pound doesn't sound like much, but.....  Although there's nothing that a little over-engineering can't fix. I'm sure you'll be posting pics soon. Hint, hint. Having Yin down since Friday with the nose off and then rain yesterday,... today, was the first time I've had a chance to ride. Luckily it rained during work and not before or after, so today's rides were pleasant. Hopefully you've had a chance to get something done with Minnie and still keep the Missus happy. I't seems to me the cat would like to hide inside the nose if it were sitting in the chair. Kind of a higher vantage point with a cover. Like a kid in his fort.  We still have a couple more days of rain ahead of us. Keep the wrenches turning and the spit polishing. You'll be back on the road soon. Good Night. Loren |
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Post by rockynv on Mar 8, 2016 22:20:57 GMT -5
I ended up changing the back from a 130/80-15 Scooter tire to a 130/  -15 Metric Cruiser Motorcycle tire which trued up the speedometer and the Dunlop 404 lasts a good 10,000 miles now. If you can find a sturdier motorcycle tire in a size that works you can get a more flat resistant and longer lasting tire without giving up performance wet or dry. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 9, 2016 22:58:31 GMT -5
Yelloscoot,
You'll love the added cargo-space of saddlebags! And they look good on these larger scoots! ESPECIALLY WHITE ONES!
Well, the cats DO like hiding under the scooter-nose... And, the missus thinks it's cute (so do I). So... I guess it can stay there until I get it back on. Right now, I have some major roof leaks to deal with in this old trailer-house but I'll have the lights set up pretty quick. At least I'm not missing much good riding weather!
HeHeHe... The old light-up goose does weigh a pound, and when attached to the plastic, will provide some nasty bumping on the road, so I'm making a good strong backing for it to spread the strain out over a larger area. Nobody but me (or somebody my age) would ever consider defacing their ride with this thing, BUT... It's an authentic relic, and sweet memory from my earliest driving history... I always loved them a half-century ago (along with the winged-naked-lady "sister ornament"). Boy, are THOSE hard to find!
The light-up hood ornaments (other than maybe the Pontiac car, or Indian bike ones) are just a tad tacky, low-class and gaudy, but in such a lovable, old-school way... I loved the one I had on my '49 Ford, transplanted it to a '50 Chevy and onto a '55 Chevy... And onto a Harley bagger front-fender.
Yeah, it's gonna look mighty crappy to riders under 65, and I need to make sure it won't crack Minnie's nose... Broken plastic underneath would look even crappier! And those mouse-noses are EXPENSIVE to replace...
This original could be the same one I had as a kid... Old folks just do these things... LOL!
Now, I gotta find some '40's reflectors, some leather fringe and some silver conchos for my saddlebags... The fishtail exhaust cries out for them... LOLOLOL!
Ride safe!
Leo
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Post by JR on Mar 10, 2016 1:24:36 GMT -5
I've never had a issue with the clearance yelloscoot and remember it increases as the tire wears so no danger at all. JR |
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Post by rockynv on Mar 10, 2016 5:17:19 GMT -5
I've never had a issue with the clearance yelloscoot and remember it increases as the tire wears so no danger at all. JR On some bikes the place with the clearance issue is not the most obvious and sometimes is the liner above the rear tire which can rub when going over bumps and dips in the road. I've seen some worn clear through especially when the pre-load on the rear springs was not set match the load on the bike. Too many set them too light to get a softer ride so with the slighty larger tire in the back it rubs just enough to wear through over time. |
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Post by JR on Mar 10, 2016 11:24:53 GMT -5
rockynv That's why I said they needed to thoroughly check the vertical engine for clearance. On the linhai there is about a 2" strip of the engine crankcase that could possibly hit the tire, other than that there is plenty of room between the fender, shocks and other things. Also the way the swing arm is made on the linhai keeps any possible rubbing of the tire while riding and with it's design the tire actually moves away from the crankcase when riding on bumpy uneven roads. JR
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 10, 2016 16:45:31 GMT -5
Clearance subject...
On my Kymco, I intended to use a 130/70/12 tire on the front, to correct the speedo (rather than the factory 120/70/12). However, the doggone front fender has only a fat quarter-inch clearance over the stock 120 tire. THAT is mighty TIGHT in my opinion, but I've never had anything lodge between the tire and fender. If that ever happens, I suspect the plastic fender will safely "explode" and depart the scooter before the wheel locks up.
Just "upping" the diameter from the 120 to 130 is a 10mm increase in sidewall height, and there just is NOT 10mm there to play with.
I regularly see custom choppers with less than 1/4" clearance between the rear tire and fender... So apparently little clearance is really needed... but I'd still prefer at least a half-inch just to be "comfortable".
Live and learn!
Leo
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Post by rockynv on Mar 11, 2016 5:16:55 GMT -5
Leo: JC Whitney used to have hundreds of ornaments however now they appear quite limited. Check out: hood-ornaments.com/ |
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Post by yelloscoot on Mar 11, 2016 21:22:17 GMT -5
oldchopperguy Well, they arrived today and I couldn't be happier. It took a while to find the best position to attach them, but, they're on and look great. Even though they feel quite secure, I'll look into strapping them to the frame tomorrow. The description in the listing says each bag has an 8" width, which, is one of the widest i found. Yin's rear-end is now 3 1/2 ft. (42" !!) wide. I feel like I'll need to add clearances lights and red flags for cars to see her big butt.   There's also rain covers for each bag that just slip right on. And my rain cover fits everything without a problem. All in all I'm very pleased. Leo, I also did an image search this evening for Honda Reflex Saddlebags and found this.  oldchopperguy I'm glad to hear you're not sleeping on the couch with Minnie's nose and the cats. I kinda figured a cats curiosity would get the best of them.  Any pics of the cats in the nose? Loren
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Post by yelloscoot on Mar 11, 2016 22:36:20 GMT -5
With my linhai I had about 3/4" clearance between the tire and the crankcase with the 130/60/13 tire and now with the 140/60/13 I have about 3/8" clearance. There is now issue with the width clearing the shocks et. The wider tire looks cool and grips the road very well and has a softer ride. So you will need to check the current clearance you have between the tire and the crankcase on the vertical engine to see if the larger tire will work. When I put the tire on I have to tie the shock up out of my way and let the air out of the tire to get it to clear when installing it then re-inflate it when bolted up. JR Thanks JR. I did a quick check on the tire clearance today after installing the saddlebags. The pavement was wet so I didn't lay down and look up in there, but by feeling with my hand, there may be up to 3" of clearance. I'll take a closer look tomorrow while I'm goofin with the bike all day. Hopefully I'm still a few thousand miles away from new tires, but, it's nice to know I have room to play with. Now it's just the clearance of the width for the splash guard, which, might have to be modified. I'll check into it more before new tires are needed. I'm now at my 1,000 mile mark. I don't think I'm hearing the valves ticking and the motor is starting up just fine even when it's cold outside. I've seen the video, I think you posted,(can't find it now) and that looks easy enough, though, dollartwentyfive said; I'm just wondering what might have gone wrong...? Could you post that link again and possibly shed some light on dollartwentyfives's issue? Thank you, Loren |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 12, 2016 2:00:18 GMT -5
Yelloscoot,
THOSE are great bags! You'll love 'em. No pix of the cats yet.
Please bear with me, we had a terrible loss today and our minds are occupied with everything other than scooters. My stepson whom I'm closer to than a natural-born son passed away. He was only 55, in athletic condition and just passed a major physical for his work with flying colors. Just this weekend we were talking over long-term plans for the future. He was estimating a job for his company and just passed away sitting in his truck.
We're still in major shock, and disbelief. He was a good role-model for any fellow to look up to, and leaves his sweet Wife and a marvelous Son. We were very close and he will be sorely missed.
None of us are promised tomorrow.
With that in mind, RIDE SAFE!
Sincerely,
Leo (sad, and comforting the missus) in Texas
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Post by JR on Mar 12, 2016 8:17:02 GMT -5
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I was always looking at the fender clearance. And wow, your clearance of 3/8" seems a little too close for comfort, but if it works...it works. Who am I to argue with numbers, they never lie. 
-15 Metric Cruiser Motorcycle tire which trued up the speedometer and the Dunlop 404 lasts a good 10,000 miles now. If you can find a sturdier motorcycle tire in a size that works you can get a more flat resistant and longer lasting tire without giving up performance wet or dry.
