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Post by SylvreKat on Jun 18, 2016 13:46:04 GMT -5
When last we visited our intrepid heroine, she was wondering whether or not to chance driving Peej to ScooterWorld since his battery was kinky. My best friend had the most excellent suggestion--I drove around our little fenced-in neighborhood. That way if the battery croaked I only had a very short ways to push (and lots of neighbors to help!). I had zero issues. So this morn I drove on over to ScooterWorld, also with zero issues. Austin the mechanic did a full inspection, brake fluid, coolant, etc; changed out my perfectly clean oil and filter (sad, that--makes me wonder if I *really* need to get fresh each year even if I've barely driven); filled and examined my tires (1 lb low on front, back fine, rubber is soft and pliable with no dryness at all and very sharp tread). Gas tank had no water. Took Peej back outside and adjusted the idle (said it was a bit low, probably what was causing the hesitation I mentioned noticing on my way there). And the battery tested fine. Showed it could and was holding 12amps (I think--or maybe volts?). Was at 87% charge and  % good health. Said my battery is absolutely fine still. His opinion--the Battery Tender Jr has gone bad. So yes, I bought a new one from them. I asked if their prices are fairly comparable with, say, WalMart's. Mike the owner said yes (true--WalMart in-store is only $5 cheaper). I bought from them since they're super nice. Plus one of the guys worked so very hard to get my sidebags to fit and my seat to latch, if y'alles remember that epic tale! Left for home, and noticed sitting at the first red light that MY MIRRORS NO LONGER SHAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness Austin is a freakin' genius! I suppose it was adjusting the idle that did this? Whatever, the mirrors have never not shook at idle unless I held in both brakes. This is amazing! I'm thrilled!! Screw the battery and tune up and everything else, MY MIRRORS DON'T SHAKE ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, gushing over. Peej of course went just fine coming home, zero issues again. Parked in the front (since I'll have to drive the car Mon due to a meeting on the metro's east side after work) and plugged in the new BTJ. Steady red light. Checked again after lunch--steady green light. Checked just now an hour 45 later, still steady green. And not nearly as hot to the touch as the old one was when I pulled it from the outlet. I did think of y'alles while paying the $75 for the tune-up. On the other hand, I am now fully comfortable and confident in my scoot's health for the rest of this year's driving season. Plus I didn't have to buy a new battery, just a new Tender! >'Kat |
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Peej update
by: SylvreKat - Jun 18, 2016 14:00:49 GMT -5
Post by SylvreKat on Jun 18, 2016 14:00:49 GMT -5
Oh, and I did remember to ask--the battery is a YTX12-BS.
Austin said coming from the Piggy dealer, it almost definitely is a Yuasa brand as that's OEM.
He couldn't check for certain without removing it, which there was no reason to go through that hassle. Both he and owner Mike were rather impressed that it's still strong and good going on its 8th--sorry, its 9th year now.
Guess what brand I'm gonna always recommend? Even if it costs more upfront, compare NINE years to the two years that I believe someone on the forum had as the next-longest-lasting battery.
>'Kat
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Peej update
by: spandi - Jun 19, 2016 10:44:17 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by spandi on Jun 19, 2016 10:44:17 GMT -5
Kat, good to have a high quality battery, even better to have a high quality service department to keep you and Peej covered.
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Peej update
by: JerryScript - Jun 19, 2016 11:24:51 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by JerryScript on Jun 19, 2016 11:24:51 GMT -5
Glad to hear you are enjoying your sweet peej! The feeling of a good running two wheeler under you is something we all understand here, but find hard to explain to those who don't.
Ride safe, and enjoy, I know you always do!
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Peej update
by: flyangler - Jun 19, 2016 16:04:59 GMT -5
Post by flyangler on Jun 19, 2016 16:04:59 GMT -5
Congrats on the good tuneup news, now you just gotta get out there and pile the miles on that puppy.  |
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Post by rockynv on Jun 20, 2016 4:12:02 GMT -5
Good news it always nice to hear.
Changing the oil before it turns acidic is best practice and will better ensure that you get the 50,000+ miles you should from that engine. Once you start an engine after the oil has been changed the clock is ticking on acid build up which can literally eat into the bearing surfaces and corrode the oil pump rendering it useless.
You invested in a long life bike that should see you through many years of riding if you keep up with the maintenance and don't skimp on the frequency of the oil/filter changes and quality of the oil. Did they do the prescribed gear oil change too or just the engine oil?
Do not forget that the coolant and brake fluid needs to be changed every two years also.
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Peej update
by: SylvreKat - Jun 20, 2016 7:09:57 GMT -5
Post by SylvreKat on Jun 20, 2016 7:09:57 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! rocky, I specifically asked about the coolant and brake fluid. Told they're fine. I think they changed out everything fluid last year. Which is what I would do if I were a mechanic and had a low-mileage 10yo bike brought in for the first time by a nonmechanic, 'cause no telling what has or has not been done. Sadly, now that I'm all set to drive, our temps are predicted to hit the high 90s all week. SIGH! It's a vast conspiracy to keep me from driving my scoot!  Wouldn't be so bad if the route wasn't all stop lights every couple blocks. SIGH!!!>'Kat |
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Peej update
by: oldchopperguy - Jun 20, 2016 21:24:41 GMT -5
Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 20, 2016 21:24:41 GMT -5
Kat,
Sounds like you're good to go for the season! It's great to have a dealer you can trust... I have the same situation here with MOXIE SCOOTERS. Great to deal with, and a tech from Italy who is a mechanical guru... I'm just TOO old, too stiff to pull my own wheels, etc. I think I can still creak and groan my way onto the driveway to pull the variator/belt setup and stick in a new set of sliders but that's about the limit of my old bones these days... LOL! 
Don't shun the  -degree weather... Once you get moving, it's all good... Heck, I've lost 10 pounds in the last month riding in  -degree H-U-M-I-D tropical weather (not all that common here).Good that you got your mirror-shaking cured. Probably just the tad faster idle did the trick. And YES, these scoots DO shake a bit more at idle with both brakes applied. The brakes lock the suspended parts to the frame, and engine/drive-train and transfer more engine vibration that way. However, modern scooters, even the Chinese 150's are EXTREMELY smooth for single-cylinder bikes. I'm used to single-thumpers from England like the old BSA 440cc Victor, and Ducati 250... My FIRST bike was a Brit HOREX 500 single and IT would rattle your teeth at ANY rpm... Even though our single-cylinder scoots shake a little at idle, they usually smooth right out as soon as they get underway. A genuine pleasure compared to the oldies. I'd go so far as to say our new scoots are much smoother than the old-school twins from Harley, Indian, Triumph, Norton, BSA and Royal Enfield. Those bikes were a LOT of fun, but good grief did they SHAKE! My BSA Hornet 650, at high rpm, would turn the mirrors and gauges into a total unusable blur. That was considered NORMAL...
Of course, I also had a 1985 4-cylinder Buick that did the same... LOL!How times have changed!Get out there and get some sun and sweat on Peej... She's liquid-cooled, she can take it! Ride safe,Leo
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Peej update
by: SylvreKat - Jun 20, 2016 23:02:40 GMT -5
Post by SylvreKat on Jun 20, 2016 23:02:40 GMT -5
Don't shun the -degree weather... Once you get moving, it's all good... ... Get out there and get some sun and sweat on Peej... She's liquid-cooled, she can take it! Ride safe,Leo Coming home Sat, I only hit red on maybe half of the stoplights, and Peej's fan kicked in at least twice. While I know HE can take it, I'm not sure I can. See, that's the problem, Leo. If I hit the lights wrong, then there's a lot more sitting waiting than there is moving going. Plus Weds is supposed to be 100°!  That's too hot, even moving and liquid-cooled!! But maybe Thurs? Supposed to be a cool wave of maybe °. At least that's what the weatherman said this morn  .... >'Kat |
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Peej update
by: JerryScript - Jun 21, 2016 1:07:22 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by JerryScript on Jun 21, 2016 1:07:22 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! rocky, I specifically asked about the coolant and brake fluid. Told they're fine. I think they changed out everything fluid last year. Which is what I would do if I were a mechanic and had a low-mileage 10yo bike brought in for the first time by a nonmechanic, 'cause no telling what has or has not been done. Sadly, now that I'm all set to drive, our temps are predicted to hit the high 90s all week. SIGH! It's a vast conspiracy to keep me from driving my scoot! Wouldn't be so bad if the route wasn't all stop lights every couple blocks. SIGH!!!>'Kat I'm writing this at 11:00 pm, and it's still 100+ here in Vegas. Low temp last night was , I had to throw another blanket on! The ride means constant breeze, so get on your peej and ride! |
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Peej update
by: Jarlaxle - Jun 21, 2016 17:56:11 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Jarlaxle on Jun 21, 2016 17:56:11 GMT -5
When my uncle's Yamaha Triple needed a battery, he refused to pay what MC batteries cost. He went to Walmart...and bought a garden tractor battery! More power and half the cost.
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Peej update
by: oldchopperguy - Jun 21, 2016 22:08:34 GMT -5
Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 21, 2016 22:08:34 GMT -5
Kat,
Sorry about calling Peej a "she"... All this gender stuff is confusing... LOL! My chopper, "Old Blue" was definitely a big old "boy-bike" but "Minnie Mouse" is surely a demure little girly-scooter... But I love her like a mousey little daughter.
Anyway, I do understand this hot weather and our own nasty selves having trouble with it. Minnie's fan runs a LOT. At long red-lights, I just shut her down until green. Sometimes it IS good to just use the cage and luxuriate in that ice-cold AC... My old Honda car actually has a "cabin air filter"... Cheesh, I suppose most newer cars have them, but it's new to the Old Chopper Guy...
Makes the whole car smell fresh... Mighty sweet when my crew of feral cats wee-wee and deposit their "signs" down the windshield, into the "fresh air intake"... EEEEEWWWWWWWWWW! Even on a hot day, I can hit the old AC and PRESTO... After a short blast of eye-watering ammonia and "eau de kitty" comes that daisy-fresh ice-cold air! A few of the homeless felines live on Minnie's floor when she's parked under the tarp; especially during the winter. I adore all those old cats and they love me, but they ARE "dirty"... LOL!Riding in -degrees isn't usually too bad, BUT... Lately it's been 96-99 with high humidity. THAT is like riding with a hot, wet towel around your face. Ride safe!Leo
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Peej update
by: SylvreKat - Jun 25, 2016 12:53:47 GMT -5
Post by SylvreKat on Jun 25, 2016 12:53:47 GMT -5
Hey Leo, no problem. Isn't it funny how we can tell what gender our vehicles are?
Taury was very definitely a guy car. He went abnormally out of the way to protect me. As in, he'd sometimes swerve on his own, and my glance in the rearview would reveal a HUGE pothole I hadn't seen. He kept me safe in him. Yes, I still love that old wagon.
Peej wasn't so obvious, but whenever I would call him "her" it just felt weird and odd and not right.
Before Taury was the Lil' Lynx. She was VERY much a beetch of a female car. And sweet on our mechanic's brother, 'cause after we sold her to him she ran like a dream.
Newish car, I'm refusing to identify gender. Keep it an it and hopefully not fall in love with it.
And I could tell your Minnie was a girly-scoot from your very first post about her. She just radiated "girl-bike" off the screen.
>'Kat
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Peej update
by: SylvreKat - Jun 25, 2016 12:57:24 GMT -5
Post by SylvreKat on Jun 25, 2016 12:57:24 GMT -5
Drove Peej on errands this morn. Went great. Still no mirror vibrations. I'M JUST SO SO FREAKIN' EXCITED ABOUT THAT!!!!!
Bit hot though. Only 87° (supposedly) but also humid. I was rather sticky taking off my gear. Eww.
Meanwhile, I found out that although Hy-Vee has crapanol-free Premium, they also have single-nozzle pumps. So not truly crap-free, is it. Filled up anyways. Stopped at AutoZone and got a new bottle of Star-enzyme. Now I'm all set to drive to work...after this week, because I have stuff every single day right after work. Sigh.
>'Kat
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Post by JerryScript on Jun 26, 2016 13:35:11 GMT -5
Here's a little tip for riding in extreme heat: put your helmet in the freezer for 20-30 minutes before going on your ride.
Not only will it keep your head cooler for short rides, freezing will help kill the bacteria that makes your helmet smelly!
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% good health. Said my battery is absolutely fine still. His opinion--the Battery Tender Jr has gone bad.
-degree weather... Once you get moving, it's all good... Heck, I've lost 10 pounds in the last month riding in 
-degree H-U-M-I-D tropical weather (not all that common here).
