ben
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Post by ben on Jun 19, 2011 17:08:03 GMT
Tank spanner???
oh how I wish someone had told me that there was such a thing called a tank spanner before the 2 hour fiddle session. :-(
I'm gonna get me one of them.
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ben
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Post by ben on Jun 16, 2011 22:24:33 GMT
If you do go down the fast flow fuel tap route here's a few pointers.
Get a second person to help. Then take the tank off and drain it. Then get a long 1/2" square drive extension bar. Stick it in the tank and wedge it against the nut whilst your helper twists the tap off from the bottom. This will snap the breather pipe. Then you'll find the filler hole is too small to get the nut out so you'll need to bend this out then shake the nut til you can grab it and work it out. Same with the broken breather pipe.
On the new one. Cut the breather down by about 2 inches or so (just above the bend) then feed the new nut into the tank and guide it above the hole with your extension bar. Feed the new tap in. Wedge the nut. Tighten and then bend the filler hole back til you can close the cap.
It's very fiddly and tests your patience ( unless you know a welder who can cut the top off the tank then weld it back on).
But the results are worth it.
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ben
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Post by ben on Jun 16, 2011 22:05:34 GMT
Hi. I've got a 1983 50 special and had similar problems. Here's a few ideas that I had to get around.
Is it stalling when you're flat out? If so chances are that the carb is being starved of fuel due to the big bore kit. I rode around a little slower til I fitted a fast flow fuel tap (which is a right royal pain to fit but did the trick).
When mine stalled I too wouldn't be able to kick it over til it was cool. I got round that by giving it a minute or so then bumping it ( just stick it in third release the clutch and run). I've got a 74 main jet on mine with a 125 kit on it. And I'm considering up jetting that so you may want to think about that.
But the easiest way to find out if it's being starved of fuel is to run it slower for a couple of trips and see if it doesn't cut out. Say around 30 to 35.
Next on my list is a 4 speed box to get the extra speed without revving it to death.
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ben
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Post by ben on Jun 10, 2011 22:22:27 GMT
I'd agree with Colin and Jack. You ain't really gonna make much more power with just an exhaust. And tuning up is tricky to get right. Over adjust one thing and it screws up another.
Saying that. A good stainless pipe will look better and last longer than the mild steel crap that comes as standard. There are performance pipes that can fit straight on with no need for jetting. But best to check with the experts first. Sip scooters are usually quite good as they usually tell you what you need to change for each exhaust and if it needs jetting they'll tell you what to jet to.
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ben
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Posts: 13
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Post by ben on Jun 5, 2011 21:12:33 GMT
Hi Lucia,
Cheers. Good to see this place is still going strong.
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ben
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Post by ben on Jun 5, 2011 12:35:08 GMT
I meant fiddly not diddly (pesky predictive text)
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ben
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Posts: 13
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Post by ben on Jun 5, 2011 12:33:22 GMT
Sorry just reread the bit about your wet plug. That's deffo a sign it's running rich. You need to adlust the air mix screw on the carb. Do it slight turns at a time ( bout 1/8th of a turn). Then keep taking it out for a good run and check the plug each time til it's dry and light greyish in colour. Be careful not to over adjust tho. I did it recently and it can be a bit diddly to get it right ( at least with my lowly mechanical knowledge it was). I went too lean then back to too rich a couple if times til I got it right. It should help with the tickover too.
The ideal colour I was told to look for was grey to golden brown but I was also told too light and it's running lean so I wasnt sure of scales of golden so left it when it was consistently grey. ( just to be safe)
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ben
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Posts: 13
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Post by ben on Jun 5, 2011 12:18:53 GMT
Cheers. I'm so glad I went for a geared one. I'm loving it. I've had it for about a year but only on the road for the last few weeks. My only regret is not getting my arse into gear and getting it on the road sooner.
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ben
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Post by ben on Jun 4, 2011 10:12:35 GMT
From what I've seen around the web it is just a case of changing the exhaust and re- jetting. And maybe a new air filter.
Don't know how that would affect future MOTs though once the cat has been bypassed. Are newer scooters tested more strictly for emissions same as with cars? If so you're bypassing the very thing that was put in to make it comply with the emission regs. So will be worth keeping what you take off to put back on when it goes in for MOT in the future.
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ben
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Post by ben on Jun 3, 2011 19:34:26 GMT
you could try to adjust the idling screw on the carb.
Get it up to temp first & then small adjustments & wait til it settles at the new tickover speed before adjusting again - it's a case of turning very slightly til the revs are up to where it ticks over nicely without sounding like it's going to cut out.
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ben
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Posts: 13
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Post by ben on Jun 3, 2011 18:33:54 GMT
Hi all I'm Ben. I was a member of this forum a few years back. but sort of dropped off the radar a bit. I had an LX 50, which ended up looking quite nice & had a Malossi kit on it so it was quite rapid for a 50. Til some to$$er knocked me over his car as he ploughed into the back of me whilst I was waiting to turn.. I'm back on 2 wheels again now & I've gone geared. I got a 1983 50 special with a 135 kit on it. I'm still tinkering & doing it up but also using as my daily travel too so it's slow going on the tinkering front at the mo.. Attachments:
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ben
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Hi All
Aug 7, 2006 10:55:40 GMT
Post by ben on Aug 7, 2006 10:55:40 GMT
Hi Everyone,
Just thought I'd introduce myself. Came across this site by accident & thought it looked pretty cool.
I have an LX 50 2 stroke. I put some chrome bits on her & she's looking lovely.
I would have gone for the 125 but I've been on L plates for about 6 years now & it was getting embarrassing keeping on turning up for a CBT renewal each time so thought I'd get a 50 until I get my arse into gear & pass my full test.
I'll email some pics for the readers scooters section..
Cheers.
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ben
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Posts: 13
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LX
Jan 23, 2007 17:05:15 GMT
Post by ben on Jan 23, 2007 17:05:15 GMT
Thanks. It's been dealt with very quickly - I got a call from his insurance today making an offer which I accepted & they've sent payment.. So only took a week. I have got a personal injury claim in which will take longer so no upgrade to a brand new LXV for me yet then... However - I'm now able to go out & buy a new scoot so may go for a geared one this time.. Seen a nice looking PK50 with a 110 kit on ebay & some nice PX125's & T5's in scooter trader if I pull my finger out & re do my CBT...
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ben
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Posts: 13
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LX
Jan 19, 2007 12:14:22 GMT
Post by ben on Jan 19, 2007 12:14:22 GMT
Nothing that won't mend thanks. Broken wrist & some nice bruises and a stiff neck.
By far the worst injury is to my image - I'm now riding on a bright orange yamaha neos plastic hire bike.....
Truly, truly awful..
It's starting to affect me already & I'm getting a hankering towards wearing a burberry baseball cap with tracky bottoms & a hoody.... innit tho!
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ben
2nd Class Ticket
Posts: 13
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LX
Jan 18, 2007 14:22:40 GMT
Post by ben on Jan 18, 2007 14:22:40 GMT
They're nice - easy to ride & quite zippy in traffic due to them being small - but you're not cramped on them at all. Very well thought out design. They do a 150 version for the American market but 125 is the largest they do for the UK. They've just brought unveiled the Vespa S at the motorbike show which is very cool looking (again 125 for the UK). It's basically an LX but very cool looking. Pic & description of it is here: www.myvespa.com/index.php?subject_id=24&PHPSESSID=d52d39948d4fa1243359c88ef28d0847I had the LX 50 up until tuesday when a car decided not to notice me waiting to turn right in the middle of the road so just drove straight through me. I got a hire bike from the insurance company & my little vespa was on the back of the van - it looked pretty dead :-(
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ben
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Post by ben on Aug 7, 2006 14:32:59 GMT
Hi Darrin,
That's right - it won't harm your engine. I'm no mechanic, but from what I know/have been told by people that do know. Older engines weren't quite as accurately built as with todays modern engines using better technology. So they'd sometimes have gaps around the pistons/bore. A mineral oil will find these gaps & leave deposits which will seal them.
But as you say most modern engines are filled from the dealer using fully synthetic oils which is a better quality oil anyway.
Cheers. Ben.
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ben
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Post by ben on Aug 7, 2006 11:57:29 GMT
Hi,
I can't help with the top speed I'm afraid.
Re the running in. Yes running in an engine should really be done using a mineral oil which helps to seal any possible areas of leakage with the mineral deposits left behind.
However if you're using a synthetic oil, you shouldn't downgrade. A good rule of thumb is always go up the scale not down. Your engine, especially one that is running in will develop tolerances based on the oil used so going down to semi synth or mineral could do more harm than good.
If you're experiencing no leaks from the engine using synth oil then it should be ok.
Cheers. Ben.
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ben
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Post by ben on Sept 29, 2006 10:41:08 GMT
oops, sorry. Forgot to add that every exhaust you click on they'll tell you whether you need to rejet, change rollers etc. or if you can keep the same engine set up. They also give some tips on their recommended set up too.
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ben
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Posts: 13
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Post by ben on Sept 29, 2006 10:38:34 GMT
If you have a look at Sip-scootershop. You can pick UK from the country option which will put the site into english, convert the price to £ & put in the correct postage. Then go on the products tab & it'll give a series of drop down menus. Pick scooter 50-90cc / vespa / LX 50 2T then pick "all" on the next & another dropdown box will appear where you can choose exhausts. They've got 3 pages of compatible exhausts ranging from £44 to £200.
Although part of my commute is on dual carriageways & I'm now beginning to have had enough of cars that think they have more right to be on the road and it's ok to sit on my back wheel. So I'm tempted to redo my CBT & get the LX125 or the GT125.
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ben
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Posts: 13
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Post by ben on Aug 7, 2006 11:16:09 GMT
Hi, No you're right the only restrictors are the small washer by the variator and that little pipe which sticks out from the exhaust. there's nothing else in the exhaust to take out. I also semi derestricted mine by taking the washer out. It shows about 40-45 on the clock now so I'd imagine in reality that's around 40. I plan on getting a different exhaust from www.sip-scootershop.com so that I don't have to cut the pipe off & re weld. That way when I come to sell it I can easily restrict it to give someone the option of having it restricted or not. Hopefully with the new exhaust I should acheive a genuine 45-50mph which is fast enough for my daily commute. Cheers. Ben.
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