Recent Posts  By   (Read times)

Nothing wrong with checking the valves.. EVER. Besides checking hoses and the carb, it's one of the first things I check if my scooter isn't running properly. That's after the brain farts of checking the kill switch.. or checking the coil to make sure it's on the spark plug. Lol.

You'll know if you need a valve adjustment, your scoot won't run right. Period.

If you check the gaps as periodically as scootnwinn suggested (props to anyone that does--nothing wrong with preventive maintenance), then you'll probably never ever have to worry about it. Not sure, a lot can happen between oil changes I suppose?

There really is no exact time that you may need to adjust the valves--- each scoot does vary. I've had an engine that seemed to need it every 3 months, then another engine needed it once over a period of approximately a year.

One thing is for sure, IMO, and that is to always check, and even double check, after a rebuild (BBK..etc) or if/when you ever get a new engine---before starting.

I like to ride mine as much as I can in the winter. I just don't like my scoot to sit.

Once it gets below freezing, the 10 mile trip to work gets pretty cold-- plus my face shield gets iced up from my breath. So I, unless absolutely necessary, refrain from it as best I can. Really the coldest parts of my body are my hands, neck, and face--- after the fact, from that long of a trip. My hands have been numb several times--and having to take my bulky glove off to pump gas doesn't help.

Here in northern Indiana, the winters can be brutal at times. We do get lake effect snow where I'm at, even being a few counties away from Lake Michigan.

I'm fortunate enough to have a garage with a space heater in it-- that helps. There is really only maybe a 2-3 week period (temperature wise) to where it can be "unbearable" to scoot, or just not worth it. I mean, I'm able to ride at least enough to keep the battery charged, overall throught the winter.

I try to stay off the roads when they are still snowy (plows can't keep up, or aren't out yet), when it's icy, and when the snow is on the road, packed down like 'Kat said.

As long as I feel that I'm not a hazard to myself or anyone else on the road, and the temperature is bearable, I'm good to go.

Usually the symptoms for a valve adjustment are: hard starting and lack of power. Sometimes after it finally starts, the power is just not there as before, and may even die out down the road(probably) like Alley said--- at a stop sign or light. Usually less uphill power, slower acceleration.

The symptoms gradually get worse. Usually it starts off as a hard start or three. Then for a bit it's hard starting(usually when the engine is cold or shut off for a bit) and lack of power. Then, finally, you'll be lucky if it even starts, lol

I also think there may either be:

A) 2 different back-plates, with different sized grooves where the v-guides fit into, or B) 2 different sized v-guides. Both being black, and not being sold as better quality---as stock replacement for the 139qmb variator.

I could barely get the back plate on last time, after installing new v-guides. They just would not fit all the way into the grooves like they have in the past.

Those 3 V-shaped variator plate guides scare me. Those things are such junk.