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Post by payneib on Mar 12, 2013 17:19:55 GMT -5
Valve heights: distance between the top of the valve stem and the "tappet" on the rocker. Too small a gap and the Vvs are open too much, losing compression. Too much and it effectively suffocates the engine. (But seeing as you can do carb cleans etc, I'm sure I'm teaching you to suck eggs)
I'd check that first, and then maybe the CDI. That could have been affected by the water ingress. And would affect spark rate etc. Did you spray your electricals with anything when you first got? A PTFE based anti-corrosion spray works wonders.
I'm kind of starting to guess now, so hopefully some one else will jump in to.
Ian
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Post by payneib on Mar 12, 2013 10:36:50 GMT -5
It could be your Vv heights need checking: mine slipped at around 1500km. You say "totally stock" in the OP. Does that include spark plug? Mine felt like a totally different machine with a new spark, as the Chinese ones are rubbish.
Sorry I can't help more,
Ian
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Post by payneib on Mar 12, 2013 8:28:37 GMT -5
That's a good idea, but I like to check the filter, and as I'm opening one up anyway......
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Post by payneib on Mar 12, 2013 5:56:20 GMT -5
Does it ever make much difference if you only use one? I just pull the filter one out and drain through there, then flush through with clean oil before filling up. They look fairly level, I wouldn't be leaving much old oil behind would I, if any?
Ian
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Post by payneib on Mar 12, 2013 5:52:47 GMT -5
Good luck with that. If half the skin missing on your hands and arms won't teach you anything, no well meaning, factually correct rhetoric ever will. Ian |
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Post by payneib on Mar 11, 2013 17:04:55 GMT -5
Everyday commuter here. Came home through blizzards tonight, took it easy on snow covered roads this morning. Fortunately the gritters were out during the day so I didn't have to cope with both!
Ian
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Post by payneib on Mar 10, 2013 16:11:05 GMT -5
I definitely think thieves should have their hands smashed up before going to prison. It'd be much harder for them to do it again with permanently crippled fingers.
Ian
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Post by payneib on Mar 10, 2013 15:55:38 GMT -5
I'll remember that next time I've got a headlight in each mirror, and need to slow down for a corner..........
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Post by payneib on Mar 10, 2013 10:57:23 GMT -5
Should be a capitol crime if you ask me!
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Post by payneib on Mar 10, 2013 10:22:12 GMT -5
When mine arrived I nipped into the local mechanic to see whether or not he'd be happy to work on it. He said "yes" to Chinese scooters, but "no" to one particular brand of Chinese scooters (can't remember which) as he'd had major problems with them before, working on them for the council "wheels2work" scheme. To the tune of, doing a service, putting the bike back into the council container, then the bike being a non-runner by morning.
Some mechanics have just had bad experiences with certain bikes, and it generally gets blamed on them. You may be able to convince him to work for you, if you can get him to believe you're going to look after it. I'm sure he'll get fed up being blamed for a bad job, if the problem is the owner. Which is where all the "Chinese scooters are a " comments stem from.
Maybe try another mechanic, and dazzle him by asking all the right questions.
Ian
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Post by payneib on Mar 10, 2013 9:02:35 GMT -5
I just wish more of them would go around me then following me very close to my bumper. Maybe like a bus i should get a "i stop at all Rail Road crossings" tag. Had to go across a rr faster than i liked and still got the angry honk. This is a massive one for me! My CBT instructor told us that on a road where you can go the limit, stay in the middle of the lane. For roads where you're too slow (on a 50cc generally), or if some one is coming up faster behind, ride slightly into the side. So on my 125, I should be in the middle of the lane, unless some one is speeding, or I'm going up hill, and just move over slightly to give everyone more space for overtaking. I don't do that anymore. Now I just stay in the middle. I've found that if I move over, the people who do overtake, don't bother to pull out, and practically force me off the road. Those that don't overtake just get closer and closer and closer to my number plate. Not a comfortable way to ride at 60mph, while you're dodging drain covers, pot holes and road kill. Now I only move over in fairly specific situations: if a car has been behind me for a while, keeping a properly safe distance, and the road is clear ahead, then I'll move over for them, and even give a wave as they go by. Ian |
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Post by payneib on Mar 10, 2013 2:30:17 GMT -5
It does kind of sound like the disgusting Chinese oil I pulled from my engine sump the day I got it............but with 7k on it.
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Post by payneib on Mar 9, 2013 15:52:13 GMT -5
Go careful mate. You won't know there's an ice patch until you're back wheel is trying to catch up with your front wheel, sideways, and you need to replace a brake lever and a mirror.
And that's a best case scenario, crawling along at 10-15mph in the snow.
Looks good though mate,
Ian
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Post by payneib on Mar 9, 2013 15:37:17 GMT -5
A little thin gauge wire through your filler cap vent hole should reveal either some gunk, or a proper blockage.
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Post by payneib on Mar 9, 2013 14:25:39 GMT -5
To be honest, if I checked it as often as I SHOULD check it, I'd probably have to stop half way to, and home from, work, as well as when I set off.
Now I'm out of the initial service period (just!) I check the lights as I get on, and a quick chance at the tyres as I get it out every morning (I'm down there unlocking the chain, I might as well).
It gets a scrub down after every shift rotation (so four days riding-360miles), which includes taking the seat bucket out and re-coating the electricals with GT85. It gets an oil change and tyre pressure check every 1000Km (my service schedule is in Km), which is about a shift rotation and a half.
I'm planning on a frame check, for rust spots (just a quick eye ball, then dremal and rust proof paint anything suspect) every couple of months or so. I gave it a once over when I had the bucket out yesterday and the frame itself looks quite good after a month of road salt and manure. The stands however.......
Probably not in line with anything official, but my mileage is so high that all the big checks are done by my mechanic at the service intervals so often, I don't bother getting stuck in any more than that.
Ian
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