Ran well, now no power

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GregValiant

Member
Apr 20, 2020
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Venice, Florida
It's a Micargi. Same kind of crap though. Also a BikeBerry purchase. I hate to keep complaining about BikeBerry since they are a sponsor here, but...sometimes the truth hurts.
I bought a 3d printer in December. I've made numerous parts for the bike. Lately I've been making repair pieces for the stuff that has broken. There are a lot of repair pieces now.
I fixed the broken throttle handle last night and took the bike for a quick spin this morning with the newly drilled 65 jet in it. No love. It would only run halfway decent with the choke at about 1/3 closed. It's supposed to rain here in sunny Florida for the rest of the day so no more testing until tomorrow.
 

Tom from Rubicon

Well-Known Member
Apr 4, 2016
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Yeah Greg, my BikeBerry experience pretty much parallels yours except I choose the 49cc Huasheng engine as I never had much use for 2strokes.
My Huffy-Davidson is waiting for wheel upgrades.
The coaster brake is well known for breaking and locking at what ever speed you are unlucky enough to have it happen. I'm same age as you and I don't bounce so good anymore.
Tom
 

GregValiant

Member
Apr 20, 2020
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Venice, Florida
That's one of the reasons I quit playing hockey.
I visited the local bicycle shop. For $120 they'll put a front hub in that will take a disc and replace the spokes with real ones. The front brake is the important thing to me. The pedal chain has fallen off 3 or 4 times and there's no brakes when that happens. I think there is a piece missing on the rear axle. It's the anti-rotate lock washer with the catspaw on the back side. When I pedal to get up to speed the right side of the axle shifts forward and the chain comes off. I have a star washer under there now but I think i'll need to pick up the right part. The rear hub is a nice Shimano 3-speed. Brake pads are available and pretty easy to install.
I saw a thread here where someone commented that they were afraid to ride there bike more than 2 miles. I'm getting there. My last ride was one short block.
 
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Greg58

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May 1, 2011
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Greg once you get all the bugs worked out it will be a lot of fun, nine years ago I was searching for answers for some of the same problems that you have had when I found forum.
 
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GregValiant

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Apr 20, 2020
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I've been listening to you Greg, and I took a look at the seal behind the magneto. Yep, it was blown out. I beat it back in and glued it in place. I let it sit for an hour.
Unfortunately here's the rest of the story...took it for a ride with the stock airbox and stock 70 jet. Still a total dog. It ran really well when I first put it together. Heck, it ran well the day before it didn't run well. I mean it was fine when I put it to bed. When I got on it the next day, terrible. Top end was 28 in the beginning and now it's 20 with a tailwind.
I did a ground up restoration/customization on a 74 Vespa that had been sitting for 25 years in a shed. Must have been 30 mice living in it. I cleaned everything out and it fired up. Ended up with a new carburetor because the oil injection pump went out but that didn't have anyting to do with the way it ran.
Thinking back to that backfire, I wonder if you're right about a broken ring too. I'm not opposed to tearing it down, but it's annoying that I should have to.
 
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Greg58

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May 1, 2011
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It’s not bad to take the cylinder off, you don’t even need a ring compressor to put it back on, I squeeze the rings with my fingers and slide the cylinder back over them. The cylinder has a taper so that helps. If you damage the base gasket there’s a template sticky in the instructions section so you can trace and cut out your own.
 
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GregValiant

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Apr 20, 2020
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Venice, Florida
First I think I'll call my buddies at BikeBerry on Monday. It should be an interesting conversation. The engine probably has under 20 hours on it. This gives me one day to get my thoughts and ammunition together.
 
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Greg58

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May 1, 2011
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Greg do you see and oil evidence around the head gasket area? If so that could be the problem. I know you don’t want to pull it apart but trueing the head is not hard and improves sealing.
 
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GregValiant

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Apr 20, 2020
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I did see some oil at the head/jug area. It wasn't much and there hasn't been any lately. Head bolts are snug.
I ordered a jet kit off Amazon. It includes another NT carburetor and it should be here this afternoon. I'll throw it on and see what happens.
 

GregValiant

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Apr 20, 2020
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Venice, Florida
The NT carb and jet kit showed up. I took it for a 4 mile jaunt up to Home Depot (yes, I wore my mask). On the way there it got to 16 then 18 and finally 20mph. It got better as it warmed up. On the return trip it got up to 25 (but I think there was a tail wind). Anyway since this is a 2 stroke and fuel has access to the bottom end and since the POS petcock doesn't really shut off - could a bunch of fuel have collected in the crankcase and now it's clearing out?
 
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MEASURE TWICE

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Jul 13, 2010
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The NT carb and jet kit showed up. I took it for a 4 mile jaunt up to Home Depot (yes, I wore my mask). On the way there it got to 16 then 18 and finally 20mph. It got better as it warmed up. On the return trip it got up to 25 (but I think there was a tail wind). Anyway since this is a 2 stroke and fuel has access to the bottom end and since the POS petcock doesn't really shut off - could a bunch of fuel have collected in the crankcase and now it's clearing out?
I use this metal valve I mounted on the frame and also use a clear fuel filter. Fuel filters 2ea was all I wanted. Hey for the price I decided the package deal. The package with the filter has those sometimes very useful spring clamps. At times some types of hose will bunch up with the worm gear type clamp and leak, but I use worm gear drive clamps on this thick hose. The plastic fuel valve I keep around but really don't trust. Used on a mower though.

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