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Post by sc00tinal0ng on Apr 13, 2013 7:15:04 GMT -5
Concerning the belt, I've noticed that the stock belt was considerably more flexible, than the 'Bando' belt I got, which feels more like rubber + Kevlar belt, than the rubber + cloth belt, like the stock one feels like. Love the numbers, helps me to know what to expect. Question concerning the tires, you said you got ~5k miles out of them, You think the rear and front tires are interchangeable? If around 4k miles, I could swap the tires, that would be awesome, but I just don't know... The rims and tire sizes are identical, just perhaps the connector piece for the ODO/speedo might differ... Checked the voltage regulator ? Electrical parts wear out just like mechanical ones do . Tested the stator ? Prodigit- Yeah, I have a Bando belt that I haven't put on yet and it does have s more flexible feel to it. The tire in the front is original from when I bought it new and honestly looks to be good condition even with the miles I've put on it. When it came time to replace the rear tire I just took it off of my parts scooter (Baja ATM-50 style) and it was originally on a front rim. So to answer your question, yes they are interchangeable. The only reason I had to replace the rear is due to a hole in the sidewall near the bead. Skuttadawg- My goal is to change out the voltage regulator, stator, cdi, and the rectifier with name brand parts and then seal them in the spray on rubber to keep the weather from killing them. Hopefully with doing that, checking all connections, upgrading my fuel line and vacuum hoses again with a high-end hose that is clear/brightly colored (to see fuel flow and to easily distinguish the fuel lines from vacuum lines at a quick glance), new plug, and tightening all bolts she should be purring and extremely reliable. It's still amazing to me how good the compression is with as often as I ride it and also never touching the valves. |
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Post by sc00tinal0ng on Apr 12, 2013 18:58:15 GMT -5
Can I just take a moment to say, "ATM, hahaha". Sometimes you get lucky on Chinese 4 stroke 50s, sometimes you really really don't. Its like Russian roulette but with your wallet. Personally I wouldn't sweat it too much about the electrical thing. Thing is why I (and most professional scooter shops) wont work on the 4 stroke Chinese 50s is because its way too easy to break stuff while trying to diagnose/fix something else. Oh the plastic shattered trying to get it off, oh that tapped hole in the frame just stripped out trying to put it back together, etc. etc. My advice is if it isn't really truly broke, don't fix it, because there is a good chance you will muck something else up trying to fix it. Those Chinese have dirty minds.. I usually do the work myself (unless it throws a rod or something internal comes apart) so shattering a plastic cover or stripping a screw means duct tape and wood screws if necessary. As long as it is mechanically sound I'm happy. I'm looking forward to pulling the panels off and checking out all the electrical components this weekend! If anyone wants to see pictures from day 1 to 12k mileage it's quite funny. |
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Post by sc00tinal0ng on Apr 12, 2013 18:33:31 GMT -5
Nope, I work 2 jobs 7days a week and it gets me to the store, the lake, family's houses in the surrounding towns, and It's went from southern Indiana to the western part of Indiana at least 3 times now without a single hiccup. I'm using my "crash money" to get my license ironed out.. lost it for life and now I'm throwing money at my attorney and she is working magic. ;D
Oh, keep in mind its also sits outside in the weather since the day I bought it without ANY protection from sun, snow, rain, ice, etc etc... My Kymco Super 8 4t ($2800.00) couldn't even hang with it on reliability (sounds crazy I know). I had someone offer me $100.00 for it today because it is looking like a real turd and I laughed and told the guy I wouldn't sell it for the cost I paid for it brand new (500.00). I know the thing inside and out and it is a great scooter. Plus looking like a jalopy tends to keep the thieves away as well!
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Post by sc00tinal0ng on Apr 12, 2013 15:38:55 GMT -5
Nope, I was in the turn lane and the lane to go straight had a line of cars stopped. I guess someone waved a girl out to cross traffic as I was scooting along at about 20-25mph and I hit the front drivers side of her car and was launched into oncoming traffic. It was ruff until I just recently (after over a year) received my check from her insurance company.. that was a shocker.  |
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Post by sc00tinal0ng on Apr 12, 2013 15:02:50 GMT -5
I guess I need to pull the panels off and go over it with a fine tooth comb.. I just thought it was odd that two scooters 2011 TaoTao ATM-50 I bought new, and a 2012 TaoTao ATM-50 that I bought with around 1800k on it BOTH had the same issues when I rode them in heavy down pours (very cold as well, below freezing).. The one I bought used was abused by the kid I bought it off of from craigslist, but for 200 bucks, clean panels, and ran good I couldn't go wrong.. The one I bought new (2011) has had a few minor issues.. CDI at 200miles (yes just 200), but the nice thing about a chinese scooter is the replacement cdi was just over $10.00. I give it religous oil changes with the same brand oil every 500-700miles, its never seen ANYTHING below 92 octane (why get anything less when it might be .20 difference and its only one gallon!) I had a few cosmetic parts rattle off and a rear tire needed replaced, belt finally snapped at around 10k.. but heres the kicker. Around the time I had 5k on it I was hit by a car and it was totaled (via insurance company), but I bought it back from the salvage yard where they towed it and paid an outragous 250.00 in storage to get it out BUT I knew it had a lot of life left in it and it was fixable considering this body style is a dime a dozen. I found misc parts and painted it satin black and my 2nd cdi just went out at 12k so I bought another one $13.00 at a local shop and going to throw a new NGK plug in it. It was running right at 48mph (per police radar and a harley davidson), but now after a different clutch that I swapped out during the belt change it only does around 43mph now. I don't think the cdi has anything to do with the turnsignals/horn/electric start so on the next warm day I will rip it apart and see what I find. Oh, and yesterday I bought a new (213miles on odometer) TaoTao Zuma CLONE A.K.A. "bws" and it has a ton of zuma parts swapped over on it so I'm excited to see how it holds up as well!  Below is a video of my review of my still running TaoTao 50 prior to the accident (I literally got nailed by the car minutes after the video). Enjoy! |
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Post by sc00tinal0ng on Apr 12, 2013 7:55:19 GMT -5
I live south of Indy in Bloomington and I can't imagine riding a scooter downtown.. East washington isn't a safe place to begin with! Bloomington is like a scooter city down here, cops are cool with them and they are literally everywhere!
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Post by sc00tinal0ng on Apr 12, 2013 7:30:02 GMT -5
So I've had 2 ATM-50 TaoTao Scooters and overall I really can't complain about how well they held up, BUT one issue I'm stumped on is both scooters had the same issue when riding in the rain.. After riding, then parking them the next day they acted like the battery wasn't hooked up. The headlights/taillights/dash lights all come on but work only when it is running. The turn signals don't blink, I have to do them manually, and the electric start also quit. Its almost as if something from the battery fried from getting wet but what? I first bought a new battery, then checked all fuses, made sure all wires were snug and good clean connections.. What's crazy is both scooters have the same issue after being ridden in the rain and I really could careless about manually operating the signals, but kick starting can be a real pain sometimes.. Any suggestions?  Also: I bought my TaoTao new (2011) and ride it every day sun/snow/rain/hail doesn't matter.. it's a real champ and now climbing to 12k miles and still great compression and no internal work needed EVER. |
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