I just bought a made in China, diesel heater. Should I keep quiet?
UK
UK
My Eternal Project, or the Scooter That Refuses to Live. Any Ideas?
2
And the scooter is dead for a third time now...I’m running out of things to replace.
If you’ve not been following my CF Moto saga, here’s a recap:
First Revival
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Acquired in November from a fellow Gambler 500 team member. I replaced the battery, the carburetor, and learned the starter solenoid was installed backwards by a previous owner. It sat for roughly two years without running and I made a gamble that I can make the old fuel burn again. While I was successful in that, I made two critical errors:
1. I didn’t replace the fuel filter.
2. I rode it every day for a month, not really ever allowing it to get to running temperatures.
Despite that, the scooter was good for 75mph, impressive acceleration, and it all around it ran absolutely perfectly. I felt I had myself a good score and with actual fresh fuel I’d probably even break 80mph. I proceeded to daily it for a month, taking it everywhere.
Fixing my Original Mistake
I made sure I ran all the bad fuel out of the tank and made sure the tank wasn’t rusty. Then I filled it with good fuel.
I then replaced all the fuel lines, the fuel filter, and the carburetor. I then installed a pod filter. I also closed off the crankcase vent to the airbox. Instead, the crank vents out into the outside. The original problem with not being able to start after getting hot remained, but at least I was no longer fouling my air filter and carb with particulate matter (air filter material) and oil. Top speed was about 40. Figured I would get more speed from restricting the pod filter, but first I really wanted to address the problem with not being able to restart with a warm engine.
Take Three
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I decided to replace basically everything else I didn’t touch. I took the panels off and replaced the air filter so I can ditch the pod filter and go back to the factory setup (I still have the crank venting to the outside, though) and not have to jet the carb. Then I replaced any old vacuum lines that remained. All this work resulted in no change. It does cold starts well, but introduce any heat and it’s dead. The engine tries to fire, but it just won’t.
You can get it to start on starting fluid, and then it will go on to run like it’s misfiring and it’ll die as soon as you stop moving...then fail to start again.
Only thing I haven’t replaced is the spark plug (because the bloody thing has a spark plug that requires a bigger socket than the one I have for my smarts), but I fear it’ll be a waste of time.
Is there anything else I’m missing or do you think the spark plug will be my magic bullet?
This was supposed to be an easy project, but it certainly has taught me a lot about motorcycle/scooter repair! If the spark plug doesn’t fix it I’ll probably get rid of it. I’m just not sure how much I would be able to trust it at that point..And I'd hate to do that because when this thing was running well it was an awesome way to get around. 75mph top speed and everything.
For a TL;DR - here’s everything I replaced:
- Battery
- Fuel Lines
- Vacuum Lines
- Carburetor (built in electric choke)(2 times)
- Air Filter
- Fuel Filter
- Oil
- Fuel
Only thing I can think to replace now is little sparky..
If you’ve not been following my CF Moto saga, here’s a recap:
First Revival
Acquired in November from a fellow Gambler 500 team member. I replaced the battery, the carburetor, and learned the starter solenoid was installed backwards by a previous owner. It sat for roughly two years without running and I made a gamble that I can make the old fuel burn again. While I was successful in that, I made two critical errors:
1. I didn’t replace the fuel filter.
2. I rode it every day for a month, not really ever allowing it to get to running temperatures.
Despite that, the scooter was good for 75mph, impressive acceleration, and it all around it ran absolutely perfectly. I felt I had myself a good score and with actual fresh fuel I’d probably even break 80mph. I proceeded to daily it for a month, taking it everywhere.
Fixing my Original Mistake
I made sure I ran all the bad fuel out of the tank and made sure the tank wasn’t rusty. Then I filled it with good fuel.
I then replaced all the fuel lines, the fuel filter, and the carburetor. I then installed a pod filter. I also closed off the crankcase vent to the airbox. Instead, the crank vents out into the outside. The original problem with not being able to start after getting hot remained, but at least I was no longer fouling my air filter and carb with particulate matter (air filter material) and oil. Top speed was about 40. Figured I would get more speed from restricting the pod filter, but first I really wanted to address the problem with not being able to restart with a warm engine.
Take Three
I decided to replace basically everything else I didn’t touch. I took the panels off and replaced the air filter so I can ditch the pod filter and go back to the factory setup (I still have the crank venting to the outside, though) and not have to jet the carb. Then I replaced any old vacuum lines that remained. All this work resulted in no change. It does cold starts well, but introduce any heat and it’s dead. The engine tries to fire, but it just won’t.
You can get it to start on starting fluid, and then it will go on to run like it’s misfiring and it’ll die as soon as you stop moving...then fail to start again.
Only thing I haven’t replaced is the spark plug (because the bloody thing has a spark plug that requires a bigger socket than the one I have for my smarts), but I fear it’ll be a waste of time.
Is there anything else I’m missing or do you think the spark plug will be my magic bullet?
This was supposed to be an easy project, but it certainly has taught me a lot about motorcycle/scooter repair! If the spark plug doesn’t fix it I’ll probably get rid of it. I’m just not sure how much I would be able to trust it at that point..And I'd hate to do that because when this thing was running well it was an awesome way to get around. 75mph top speed and everything.
For a TL;DR - here’s everything I replaced:
- Battery
- Fuel Lines
- Vacuum Lines
- Carburetor (built in electric choke)(2 times)
- Air Filter
- Fuel Filter
- Oil
- Fuel
Only thing I can think to replace now is little sparky..
21 - 40 of 60 Posts
Alright, so I’m getting so close to just throwing in the towel on this thing.
Tonight I got myself some new tools to play with and attacked the scooter with them. First thing out was the plug. Well... this is the cleanest used plug I have ever seen. A quick wipe with a cloth had it looking like new.
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The scooter started, ran rough, quit, then didn’t start again for the rest of the night without starting fluid. Pulling the plug again revealed it to already have carbon deposits and even a splatter of oil.
Next, I moved onto the tank and to make sure it didn’t have vapor lock, I took the cap off and tried starting with a splash of starting fluid. It actually ran worse with the cap off.
Next, I checked the wires to the spark plug coil and the coil itself. The coil looks undamaged, as does its wires. However, it could still be shot. Took everything apart and put it back together, no change.
Finally, I decided to check its oil. Oil appears to be thinned with some fuel (possible flooded cylinder?) and has the consistency of something between oil and water. Ugh..
Tonight’s session didn’t get me anywhere closer and honestly it’s made me even more reluctant to buy a new CDI, coil, and plug.
Worst yet, I’m getting absolutely no bites on Facebook or Craigslist, so it looks like I’m either going to end up selling it for a massive loss or stick it through to the end.
Alrighty kids...you’re going to hear it from probably the biggest Chinese bike fan on here, but.. I wish I hadn't gotten this thing. lol
Tonight I got myself some new tools to play with and attacked the scooter with them. First thing out was the plug. Well... this is the cleanest used plug I have ever seen. A quick wipe with a cloth had it looking like new.
The scooter started, ran rough, quit, then didn’t start again for the rest of the night without starting fluid. Pulling the plug again revealed it to already have carbon deposits and even a splatter of oil.
Next, I moved onto the tank and to make sure it didn’t have vapor lock, I took the cap off and tried starting with a splash of starting fluid. It actually ran worse with the cap off.
Next, I checked the wires to the spark plug coil and the coil itself. The coil looks undamaged, as does its wires. However, it could still be shot. Took everything apart and put it back together, no change.
Finally, I decided to check its oil. Oil appears to be thinned with some fuel (possible flooded cylinder?) and has the consistency of something between oil and water. Ugh..
Tonight’s session didn’t get me anywhere closer and honestly it’s made me even more reluctant to buy a new CDI, coil, and plug.
Worst yet, I’m getting absolutely no bites on Facebook or Craigslist, so it looks like I’m either going to end up selling it for a massive loss or stick it through to the end.
Alrighty kids...you’re going to hear it from probably the biggest Chinese bike fan on here, but.. I wish I hadn't gotten this thing. lol
Since I'm not getting any offers (not even lowball ones lol) I'm basically going to stick it out since there's nothing else I can really do.
Next thing I'll be looking to do is test compression. Perhaps something much more catastrophic happened than I thought (causing the oil to thin). If that checks out, I'll replace the CDI box. Sooner or later I'll have replaced everything but the engine!
At least the parts for this thing are cheap and plentiful. A failing CDI would make sense given the scooter is running worse and worse despite my fixes.
Next thing I'll be looking to do is test compression. Perhaps something much more catastrophic happened than I thought (causing the oil to thin). If that checks out, I'll replace the CDI box. Sooner or later I'll have replaced everything but the engine!
At least the parts for this thing are cheap and plentiful. A failing CDI would make sense given the scooter is running worse and worse despite my fixes.
Truth be told, I set a limit for myself on this one. If my latest laundry list of checks (CDI, coil, completely new plug, compression, valve clearance, etc) doesn't pan out, I'm calling it game over. I sometimes have a problem with getting into a sunk cost fallacy, but not this time!
This is especially true since I already have a replacement scooter lined up that very much isn't Chinese.
This is especially true since I already have a replacement scooter lined up that very much isn't Chinese.
The scooter I want to replace the CF Moto with is this Honda Elite 125. I'm not a fan of the massive windscreen, but that's nothing a Dremel can't fix. Those knobbies will also have to go, but at $600 I can't complain. It has an awesome pop-up headlight, runs well, has a clean title, and is allegedly ready for the road. I want to bring it home, give it a nice wash, and enjoy a comfy ride around town.
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I'm still hoping to hold on to the CF Moto for the Gambler 500, but there's always a chance I won't get to see myself taking it through mud, water crossings, and some jumps. Either way, weeding out the Chinese scoots will bring me down to just two projects (one bike, one car), and that's something I'm actually excited about.
I'm still hoping to hold on to the CF Moto for the Gambler 500, but there's always a chance I won't get to see myself taking it through mud, water crossings, and some jumps.
Either way, weeding out the Chinese scoots will bring me down to just two projects (one bike, one car), and that's something I'm actually excited about.
I know you are!
Though to a degree you are inspiring me to keep looking for new fixes.I probably won't make much progress this weekend as I can't find the darned CDI box on this thing. The wires the coil plugs into lead to a bundle of more wires that disappear into an area hands clearly weren't meant to go. So, it's time for some sleuthing!
You have me laughing at an old memory, I was helping a friend ( 30+ years ago) work on his broken down Alfa-Romeo spyder and he told me that the problem was that I was cursing at it in English, it needed to be addressed in proper fluent Italian profanity or it would never work , he then gave me a demonstration
Ah, see...I've been cursing at it in German and Spanish all this time!
Took another look at it this morning since it's super bright and sunny outside. I've located where the CDI likely resides. It's either on top of the fuel tank or in the dashboard. The coil's wire disappears into a bundle that leads to the front. In fact, a whole slew of wires seem to go up front.
I've been thinking about this a lot, and I do remember something that sounded like electrical arcing in the dashboard a few days before the scooter died. I'm beginning to think that maybe the CDI is damaged and is getting worse and worse over time. So my next step from here is to take apart the dashboard and see if the CDI is chilling out in there.
Took another look at it this morning since it's super bright and sunny outside. I've located where the CDI likely resides. It's either on top of the fuel tank or in the dashboard. The coil's wire disappears into a bundle that leads to the front. In fact, a whole slew of wires seem to go up front.
I've been thinking about this a lot, and I do remember something that sounded like electrical arcing in the dashboard a few days before the scooter died. I'm beginning to think that maybe the CDI is damaged and is getting worse and worse over time. So my next step from here is to take apart the dashboard and see if the CDI is chilling out in there.
21 - 40 of 60 Posts
