I'm finally gonna do it

[thxcuz]

After years of asking stupid questions on the forums, 2 attempts at friction drives and a whole lot of back and forth with the missus, I think I'm ready for a 2 stroke engine kit.
I've been futzing about with a moped all winter and have begun to understand 2 stroke engines more. First I was going to get a 4 stroke kit because I was afraid that I'd be lost with a 2 stroke but now I feel confident enough to be able to figure out what's wrong when something doesn't work as it should.
But first a few more questions
1) who's your favorite dealer and why
2) what parts should I toss immediately and replace with a higher quality item
3) if anyone in the St. Louis area is reading this, what is the attitude from the powers that be? According to MO law anything over 50cc is a motorcycle. Do the police bug you about it?

thanks and I'll keep you posted on the build.

 

[Slogger]

I got a very nice engine from DAX. The chain tensioner was all messed up but usable. Can't vouch for other dealers because I only bought the one.

You'll like the china girl after you get it broken in. Make sure your chains, tensioner and sprockets are aligned and squared up and you won't have any chain problems.
Read the sticky thread about chain noises, five minutes with a dremel and you're good to go.

I wouldn't toss anything, try to keep your initial costs down. I didn't and my bike has cost me an arm and a leg.
I would recommend you be careful about your engine mounts. The rear mount is the boss, it needs to be clamped solidly to the seat tube without gaps or fudging the angle.
Then compensate for any gap on the front mount using a bracket that you can get from SBP. A solidly mounted engine is critical.
You can safely trash the spark lead and plug that comes with it, a good lead is a couple dollars. I like NGK spark plugs but everyone has their own preferences there.
Good luck, hope you get a good one.

 

[Kioshk]

Hear hear; Slogger!

Also, if you're ambitious, I recommend that you totally tear-down your engine and rebuild it. This'll give you valuable experience, and you can make sure it's reassembled properly yourself. You can also take the time to dremel your jug-ports and replace any iffy hardware. Some recommend replacing the crank bearings with higher quality SKFs; haven't had the need to do so myself yet, but when you have the engine in pieces, it makes replacement a breeze. I think the bearing that blows the most frequently is the gudgeon-pin's. I haven't had one go in ages, but when they do, the loose rollers that were once in the bearing will contaminate the crankcase, and will eventually damage your jug/rings when one makes its way into your combustion-chamber. And not to lay too much on ya too soon, but if you have the $ and time, replace the screws/bolts with their Allen equivalents; it makes it much easier to maintain in my opinion. One last thing: if you operate in a wet environment, make sure your magneto-case is good and waterproofed...ESPECIALLY the wire-hole. Consider PlastiDip for the coil too.

 

[Albula vulpes]

A friction kit is more reliable than a china girl.

 

[thxcuz]

Done that. I am looking for more speed and a better look.

 

[mapbike]

After years of asking stupid questions on the forums, 2 attempts at friction drives and a whole lot of back and forth with the missus, I think I'm ready for a 2 stroke engine kit.
I've been futzing about with a moped all winter and have begun to understand 2 stroke engines more. First I was going to get a 4 stroke kit because I was afraid that I'd be lost with a 2 stroke but now I feel confident enough to be able to figure out what's wrong when something doesn't work as it should.
But first a few more questions
1) who's your favorite dealer and why
2) what parts should I toss immediately and replace with a higher quality item
3) if anyone in the St. Louis area is reading this, what is the attitude from the powers that be? According to MO law anything over 50cc is a motorcycle. Do the police bug you about it?

thanks and I'll keep you posted on the build.

I have bought several engines from thatsdax and parts several other vendors here, many have basically the same parts but when it comes to the engines I prefer the engine Duane at thatsdax sells, Duane answers his phone and does his best to help his customers work through any issues they may be having.

In my opinion good customer service after the sale has a lot of value and he does his best to make sure his engines are good ones.

The overall best running and smoothest running engines I have had so far have been the engines I bought from thatsdax.

Neil (motorbicycleracing) also has good engines as far as I know.

 

[allen standley]

1) who's your favorite dealer and why

I will back up Map bikes opinions with my own. The home Depot type supplier of kits although cheaper (not by much) is completely hit or miss. I did the bkebrrys and kngs and the gsbkes with good success and BAD! and as Map said it all boiled down to customer service. I am buying bullet proof bottoms and engines off Duane @ thats dax. just purchased a new 66 from Jake at "JAKE'S" and that too -although not run yet looks Very Good nice n clean concerning the cast and cut. Point is I can call and talk to these guys. Always helpful and genuinely concerned about the quality of their products. I feel these guys have held these motors in their hands and say to themselves "This is gonna make somebody a nice running bike". Buy from good quality people willing to put you first. Not gonna get that from volume retailer. Others have purchased from single sellers to the left and right of our forum posts with happy reports. Do yourself a favor spend another 30 or 40 bucks if you can. Otherwise you will spend that same money in correction.

 

[thxcuz]

how are Dax's kits different? Does he replace some of parts and makes sure there aren't debris in the cylinder? I'd gladly spend a few bucks now to save me a few bucks down the road.

 

[bluegoatwoods]

I'll go a bit against the grain here and say that I don't think it's all that important who you buy from. Not to denigrate the serious vendors who want to be helpful and supply a quality product. I've bought from thatsdax, for instance, and I certainly do respect Duane. He's a good guy.

But the reason that I think you don't need to rely on your supplier is that I think you must do it alone. To be a successful happy time rider you must be a successful happy time mechanic. But here's the best part; it's not hard at all!

Start by being a decent bicycle mechanic. You've attempted two friction drives? You're probably already there. For anyone who's reading who isn't yet good at this; don't worry. It's pretty easy.

Then build your bike and spend a bit of time riding it gently and close to home. What you're doing here is getting a feel for your bike. What sort of treatment it responds well to and what sort of treatment it doesn't.

Then make use of the wonderful treasure trove of information to be found right here at mbc.com. For instance, when the day comes that your engine just won't start you might type "magneto troubleshoot" into the "search" box. In no time at all, you'll be able to verify if your electrical system is working properly. If it's not, then you'll know just which component has gone bad. You won't have to spend time and money trying, say, a new CDI only to find out that that doesn't fix your trouble.

Buying from just anyone, you might occasionally get a lemon. But who cares? You've got $150 worth of spare parts right there. Just buy another kit. At least, that's how I handle that. I'm on engine #4 right now. If #5 turns out bad, then those parts will be just fine with me and I'll buy engine #6. (This is a bit inaccurate. I've already bought engines 5 & 6. 5 will go on my wife's bike soon. 6 is our spare. But you see what I'm getting at. They're cheap enough that having a spare on hand is affordable. And being prepared to buy another at a moment's notice is no big thing.)

These engines and kits, for that matter, are so inexpensive that I see no point in tearing into them. I certainly do respect those who do tear them down and rebuild them. And I do find the idea interesting. But I just don't see the time and effort paying off. I've got higher priorities. (Maybe when I'm retired.) If an engine dies, I'll get a new one.

As far as hardware is concerned, it's true; the hardware that comes in these kits is mostly very bad. But most of it can be lived with for a while. Even though it's annoying. But there is one set of bolts that I'd replace right from the start. Those bolts that hold the chain tensioner to the chainstay. The ones that come with the kit just won't do at all. Trying to use them is inviting damage to the drive train. I'd throw them away and replace with good grade 8s.

Looking around I see quite a few aftermarket upgrade parts that look pretty tempting. But I also see costs multiplying a great deal. I can build a very good bike for $400 or so. I wonder if doubling my cost will get me a bike that's double in performance. Or durability. Or overall 'value'. I have doubts.

Go cheap!

To make it work, you need to know what you're doing. But you need to know what you're doing with one of these bikes anyway.

 

[mapbike]

only thing Ill say to sorta go against bluegoatwoods grain here is that I have bought several other kits and engines and hands down the engines you get from dax are better balanced and already have good quality fasteners installed, they have better quality bearings than some of the other engines and I never have dou ted for a moment that I would get a good engine the first time, other like Allen mentioned are more of a crap shoot, but I know Duane makes it a poi t to send out a good product and yes that adds value and of mind along with knowing if by chance there is an issue it will be handled respectfully and cfairly be Duane.

Yes being a good china girl mechanic is key to long term success, but initially it awfully nice to be confident that you're getting a good product right out of the box that will not need any mechicing other than proper installation.

No disrespect intended to bluegoatwoods here at all, just adding to the conversation with more of why I highly recommend thatsdax or Jakes as Allen has stated.

I haven't bought an engine from Jake so I cant testify to what he sells, but I have bought some other parts from him and had several email conversations with him and I think he's and upstanding fella and he has always done just what he said he would and even sent me a couple of free parts just being a nice guy so that says a lot to me about Jake.

Buy what you think is best for you, but I dont half heartedly recommend anyone and I full heartedlyrecommend dax engines because I run them and have found them to be the best balanced of all others I've had.

 

[bluegoatwoods]

"No disrespect intended to bluegoatwoods here at all, just adding to the conversation with more of why I highly recommend thatsdax or Jakes as Allen has stated." --Mapbike.

No offense taken, mapbike.

For that matter, you make a compelling argument. The kit you described above does sound kinda sweet.

 

[allen standley]

Not for use but I like'm so much I'm gonna print it and put it on sail bike.

 

[mapbike]

Not for use but I like'm so much I'm gonna print it and put it on sail bike.

Thats a good one...... woop woop.....!!!

Pretty ladies and motorsport of all kinds have always ki da gone hand and hand and its tasteful and not over anny lines in my opinion.

 

[thxcuz]

I think I'll spend the extra dough and go with Dax. Any harm in getting the 50cc model? "80" would be illegal in mo. But I don't think the police care. We have bigger problems in St. Louis than a middle age guy on a motorized bike

 

[allen standley]

go to auto zone and buy a plastic 4 and 9 n stick them on one of your covers or a sticker with 49 on it. I use these on all my bkes. Can be found where pin striping and lock guards are at most auto parts stores war mart probably.

 

[allen standley]

here they look like this on magneto cover.
http://motorbicycling.com/picture.php?albumid=655&pictureid=7706

 

[mapbike]

I think I'll spend the extra dough and go with Dax. Any harm in getting the 50cc model? "80" would be illegal in mo. But I don't think the police care. We have bigger problems in St. Louis than a middle age guy on a motorized bike

go 66cc in my opinion, and just use a cover that says 48cc or stickers like Allen suggested, they will never know the difference and you'll enjoy the extra grunt you'll see from the 66cc engine compared to what you'll have with a 49cc.
Either will get you rolling of course, but the 66cc engine is gonna serve you better in the power department.

"No replacement for Displacement"

Im not gonna say dax has the only good engines to be had, but I will say that from my personal experience you wont be going wrong with what he sells or with doing business with him.

 

[bluegoatwoods]

Not for use but I like'm so much I'm gonna print it and put it on sail bike.

WOW!!!

What a great, great sticker!

It's a good thing she's not in blue jeans and T-shirt. I doubt if I could resist the temptation to put her up, framed, on my wall.

But then I'd get in trouble. I don't quite think my wife would appreciate it as much as I do.

One of these days I'm gonna put up something like this.

I might just get away with the argument that this is no mere girly pic. It's artistic and classy.

And while we're at it, feast your eyes on this.

 

[allen standley]

She just beautiful. Love it blue. See- I would like to surround myself with posters like that.
I'm doing my cave over this year and will opt a 1/4 space dedicated to bikes and bike stuff. Posters incl.
I wonder what Duane would say about it. I sent him a j-peg no reply yet he too busy keeping us all happy I suppose. The cartoon pic was lifted off internet so copyright rules do apply. I simply could not resist her (bottom).

 

[Davezilla]

Not for use but I like'm so much I'm gonna print it and put it on sail bike.

Very nice indeed... nothing wrong with that and it fits perfectly.
I wouldn't mind sticking something like that on my clutch cover..

Maybe print a few that say 49cc for the guys who live in States where they're limited to 49cc to throw off Johnny law.
Man Im glad we don't have that cc limit here in Texas... last time I talked to the DPS auditor who comes by my shop he told me just keep the bikes under 125cc and leave the pedals functional is all I have to do to stay legal... I could just imagine adding a 125cc DeNardis engine into a bicycle frame what that would feel like... if I could do it without ripping out the spokes...lol