BGF Hongdu/Solex

[matthurd]

the fact they offer no warranty of any type is kind of discouraging :/

 

[cannonball2]

Yep, you get what you get. So far so good with me. Guess we will have to hear from the rest.

 

[RusticoRay]

Buyer beware
The project started out well a friend had two solex frames for me. I had to purchase a coaster brake wheel 24" to replace the missing 19" (yikes) wheel. Should be here today. Never worked on anything that had so many 9 mm bolts.

a. expidited I figured 2 or 3 days, no 8 days no big deal.
1. Flywheel cover lg. crack
2. Pullup lever severly bent
3. Throttle linkage bent
4. Flywheel BENT 10 degrees or so
5. Return hose kinked
6. Bulb rolling around in housing
7. kink in chinese copper fuel line

I haven't tried to run it yet more to follow. I will upload some pics after I resize them. Im still pushing forward with the project.

 

[camlifter]

have you tried bgf for a replacement, i would think they would back up there sales if it was damaged. the packing on mine wasn't to good either but nothing was damaged.

will be starting on mine real soon, found and old 26" cruiser with tins, havent checked the numbers yet it looks pre war, 1940's something. working on fixing it up before i mount the motor.

 

[cannonball2]

Yeah the packing or lack there of is poor. I beleive the damage probably happened in the original shipping from China. Both mine were double boxed. The first one had a decent size ding in the tank. The outer box had no damage in the tank area but the inner did. Not to say it could not have happened on its way to you. The original boxes were not opened on mine indicating they were probably never inspected by the end seller. The packing in the original box looked like shop trash, what ever was laying around handy.

 

[RusticoRay]

Chinese soccer ball.

 

[RusticoRay]

More 2nd half soccer damage

 

[cannonball2]

Wow, you got a decal on the tank! Bummer about the cover, probably save it with a careful application of JB Weld and very light glass cloth. The rest isnt too bad. If you cant straighten the fuel line or fab a new one, cut the kink out and link it with the proper size fuel line. I stripped and repainted my handle when I got it, paint was falling off. Neither flywheel runs very true at the perimeter, bit I am thinking its the quality of the casting(irregular edge) Yours may be bent however, see if you can see how true the shaft is running. My runner is very smooth, so i feel the flywheel is actually true, or it turns so few rpms it doesnt matter! All in all its not too bad. I imagine these were thrown around like basket balls at some point.

 

[scotto-]

Man I'm suprised all the fins weren't snapped off on the cylinder......that's brutal. That'd be enuf to get me bent outta shape, honestly.

 

[cannonball2]

BTW is the 24" wheel going to fit in the Velo frame? If you have an issue I can hook you up with some one who has a few Velo used wheels if needed.

 

[cannonball2]

Wanna see brutal you ought to see what happens to R/C aircraft and helis at the hands of the shippers, aint pretty!

 

[RusticoRay]

As long as it fires up I can deal with all the cosmetic stuff. I tried a 26" wheel it had about 3/4" clearance so 24" should workout.

 

[mopedjay]

i just went on ebay and clicked buy it now and it said seller is not accepting your bid wtf

 

[cannonball2]

I tried the buy now and dang near bought another! Have you had a dispute with BGF before? maybe he blocked you. Also if youre not in a big hurry, offer $10 less, thats what I got the last one for.

 

[Colony Five]

mine is on hold until i go to town to get hardware. i bought another mountain bike from craigslist that does not have a telescopic fork because the included hardware wouldn't fit my bike that did, but it won't fit the other one either. i try to avoid town as much as possible, so it will have to wait until i have another reason to go. i spent yesterday prepping the craigslist bike. i didn't like the pastel purple it was so i wire wheeled the frame and painted it desert camo with krylon ultra flat rattlecans. it was a rush job because i was anxious to get to the motor part, but it didn't turn out bad at all. however, i kept scratching the new paint fiddling around with the solex mounting clamps, trying to get them to fit. they should, but i will need much longer bolts. i wonder if the chinese ones can even be trusted to hold the engine on anyway.

RusticoRay-sorry to read about yours arriving damaged. that was my main concern with placing an order with BGF. i know the auction states no warranty or exchange, and i wonder if that includes items damaged in shipping. i don't know why they aren't shipped insured in case of that. i may order another one at some point if i like my first one, so it remains a concern. i also notice you got one of the 'huajia' marked ones.

it was stated in the thread that velosolex parts should fit these, but the price of these parts from the velosolex website is prohibitive compared to the cost of a complete china unit. i wonder if there is a source for chinese parts?

 

[cannonball2]

They are trying to upscale the BlacknRoll. Have seen vids of them being riden in NYC as a classy retro get about. I think thats why the higher than realistic prices. If you search the web there are cheaper prices. There are plenty of used parts if you scrounge also. Its so basic that most of the gaskets are easily made. The expendable parts such as gaskets and maintence items are not too bad. Steves scooters in NJ sell parts. The major parts are $$$ but the aforementioned ones are reasonable. I had to replace the clamps bolts right off, kit ones are too short. I used the stock bolts to hold the engine to the clamp bars, should be fine. Throw the lock washers away, they have no spring and actually open up if tightened real tight, 1/4" work just fine.

 

[matthurd]

have you tried bgf for a replacement, i would think they would back up there sales if it was damaged. the packing on mine wasn't to good either but nothing was damaged.

will be starting on mine real soon, found and old 26" cruiser with tins, havent checked the numbers yet it looks pre war, 1940's something. working on fixing it up before i mount the motor.

there ad says no returns no warranties etc, it was one of those buy at your own risk type things, i'm glad i wasn't feeling lucky and didn't but it anyways, cause i think i'd have regretted it now.

guess i'll just put a crimp in her throttle line so she can't go quite WOT after i break it in for her.

 

[RusticoRay]

I found more damage
Golfball size dent on the bottom of gas tank
Cover for aircleaner/fuel filter is cracked on both sides, that being said the dam thing fired up first go at it. It was 20 degress here yesterday so a couple of passes down my street was enough for MopedJay and I. Thanks Jay for your help getting it ready as specialy the throttle front brake combo. Still got to put a cable adjuster on it to idle it down a bit.
Can anyone translate chinese? It does have a keyed flywheel and potential for better lighting.

 

[RusticoRay]

I'm thinking of having a tuperware party to make sure I can get the right size ha ha.
The 24" coaster brake bicycle wheel and tire fit well for 42.00 it will do.

 

[cannonball2]

That small brass tab sticking out of the back of the engine cover is for a tail light.