Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Motobecane Pulley
The Panda Express got fired up yesterday and made an awful ratchet noise when you would let off the throttle. Motobecane and self-fulfilling prophecy guru Ian T was able to diagnose it quickly. The pedal switch on this bike is normally rivited on, but this one was bolted in. Apparently, someone had damaged it and then had it repaired. Sadly, the teeth were barely making contact. 
Since everyone knows that pedal mode on a Moby is better off served by removing the drive belt anyway, we decided the best course of action was to relocate the arm for maximum contact and weld. 
Tada!
Since everyone knows that pedal mode on a Moby is better off served by removing the drive belt anyway, we decided the best course of action was to relocate the arm for maximum contact and weld. 
Tada!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Motobecane Motor Mount Replacement
The Beautiful Panda 50v I picked up the other day has been getting some attention recently. I cleaned the chrome with steel wool, and I'm going to try and take off the red overspray on the tank with some carb cleaner. As far as mechanically, the motor was seized up big time, and the mounts were shot. Luckily, since I've had a moped addiction for several years now, I just happened to have a ported and rebuilt stock-ish Motobecane motor waiting in the wings for just such an occasion. My new mounts arrived the other day, and then after some pestering, I was able to borrow the factory tool for removing and pressing the mounts. Had I not been able to get access to it, the correct size socket and bolts can substitute. 
Here is the stock mount, which didn't hold up too well to the elements and time. 
And here is a picture of the mount removed next to its new counterpart, and the wonderful tool in the background. The new motor is bolted up and all it needs is a spark plug, a belt and some gasoline, and then it's time to ride the Panda Express to happy town!
Here is the stock mount, which didn't hold up too well to the elements and time. 
And here is a picture of the mount removed next to its new counterpart, and the wonderful tool in the background. The new motor is bolted up and all it needs is a spark plug, a belt and some gasoline, and then it's time to ride the Panda Express to happy town!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
50cc TCCD Racey
I've got quite a bit to blog, so I'm going to spread it out! This is my 50cc TCCD "Racey" kit. 
I've used a 50cc TCCD kit before, and I really enjoyed it. With a 14bing and a Boss exhaust and normal-ish gearing, I was able to hit 40mph on a Maxi, which was a lot of fun. I really enjoy a moped where you can go as fast as that tiny little piston will push you, always. I've got some 50+mph bikes, and they accelerate to rip your arms off, but something is fun about going wide open and not worrying about blowing up your bike or getting a speeding ticket. Anyway, so here is the port shot of my Racey kit. My first impression is that it reminds me an awful lot of my old Parma 50cc kit, of which I was never able to coax that much speed from. Although with the Parma, the exhaust port was very small, and the ring pin ran very close, so I was never brave enough to open it up. 
This one has a very large exhaust port, and the ring rides the groove that splits the boost port in the top of the cylinder. Here is a shot of the case with the gasket snug on it, you can see the transfers open up a bit wider, but not too crazy. 
I didn't take a clear picture, but the cylinder skirt is very similar to the low torque puch aluminum cylinders, with open side transfers skirts instead of closed ones like a high torque. I'll bet this cylinder will really wrap out the RPMs if a fellow put a man sized pipe on it, like a Homoet or Motomatic. I'm going to try it out for starters with a Bullet exhaust, because I think the Bullet is really designed for high rpm better than the Boss, and I'll also try out a Proma Circuit pipe on the same bike.
On another note, I would like to see some standardized comparisons and put together a nice little ranking sheet, of running different pipes on the same stock and kitted setups, taking time to correctly jet each one as we change the pipes, and measure top speed and acceleration to 30mph, something I think people might find very useful.
I've used a 50cc TCCD kit before, and I really enjoyed it. With a 14bing and a Boss exhaust and normal-ish gearing, I was able to hit 40mph on a Maxi, which was a lot of fun. I really enjoy a moped where you can go as fast as that tiny little piston will push you, always. I've got some 50+mph bikes, and they accelerate to rip your arms off, but something is fun about going wide open and not worrying about blowing up your bike or getting a speeding ticket. Anyway, so here is the port shot of my Racey kit. My first impression is that it reminds me an awful lot of my old Parma 50cc kit, of which I was never able to coax that much speed from. Although with the Parma, the exhaust port was very small, and the ring pin ran very close, so I was never brave enough to open it up. 
This one has a very large exhaust port, and the ring rides the groove that splits the boost port in the top of the cylinder. Here is a shot of the case with the gasket snug on it, you can see the transfers open up a bit wider, but not too crazy. 
I didn't take a clear picture, but the cylinder skirt is very similar to the low torque puch aluminum cylinders, with open side transfers skirts instead of closed ones like a high torque. I'll bet this cylinder will really wrap out the RPMs if a fellow put a man sized pipe on it, like a Homoet or Motomatic. I'm going to try it out for starters with a Bullet exhaust, because I think the Bullet is really designed for high rpm better than the Boss, and I'll also try out a Proma Circuit pipe on the same bike.On another note, I would like to see some standardized comparisons and put together a nice little ranking sheet, of running different pipes on the same stock and kitted setups, taking time to correctly jet each one as we change the pipes, and measure top speed and acceleration to 30mph, something I think people might find very useful.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
What's New?
I did a little bit of stitching recently. Here is the before,
and here is the after. 
It really isn't very hard to recover a seat. The most tedious part is perhaps the ripping (or un-sewing) of the thread that holds the original cover together. Then you just lay the pieces out on new vinyl, trace it, and sew it together. I borrowed Mrs. Rocketman's sewing machine and did the deed in less than 3 hours all together. It isn't perfect, but looks 3.5x better.
and here is the after. 
It really isn't very hard to recover a seat. The most tedious part is perhaps the ripping (or un-sewing) of the thread that holds the original cover together. Then you just lay the pieces out on new vinyl, trace it, and sew it together. I borrowed Mrs. Rocketman's sewing machine and did the deed in less than 3 hours all together. It isn't perfect, but looks 3.5x better.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wild Kingdom
I find creatures in my back yard enjoying my mopeds pretty frequently. Here is our little squirrel friend enjoy some nuts on the wheel of the hobbit trike.
In this photo, you can see a wild "Nerdspeed" in it's natural habitat. Nerdspeeds are attracted to shiny objects, and will grasp them with both paws as they admire their newly won prize.
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Results are in!
Ol' Mister Knarpsworth and I have had a Magnum Metra80 speed title contest the last 4 months or so, ever since I got my brown delight ever so motivated. The title has been handed back and forth a few times already, but always because the other persons Magnum Metra80 wasn't running. Well, tonight when I pulled up to moped monday, there it was! So it was time for a race. We set out a track that was by estimate, right around 1/4 mile. The specs on the bikes are as follows.
Magnum MKII
ZA50
Metra80 Largeport
19mm Dellorto
Homoet 8p
18 x 40 gearing
Big Red XK Magnum
E50
Metra80 Largeport
21mm Dellorto
MotoMatic N8P
16 x 45 gearing
After several very close races and a few rematches, our bitter rivalry was finally laid to rest and everyone now knows the truth that I've know this whole time. I have the fastest Brown Magnum Metra80 in all of Seattle.
Friday, September 11, 2009
No, those muscles aren't photoshopped...
Thanks very much to Mr. Rocketman for the pictures. He is way better at taking photos than he is at updating his blog, at any rate.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Moped Tank Rust Removal
Long time blog readers will recall my previous bloggery about using acid to clean out a rusted tank. I'm back at it again today, because even though I enjoy having an Astro Diamler gas tank strapped to the back of my Maxi Sport, it just doesn't seem to fit the look I'm going for. I rode up to Crown Hill hardware to get what I needed.
I put the hose on the spigot, and it threaded on, but I put the clamp on anyway (safety first!) and then tie the other end up higher than the filler nozzle.
Next, I just poured the acid in a funnel into the tank (don't want to dribble and ruin my paint!) and watched as the level rises every so gently up the tube. I'm just letting the acid bake away at that rust for about 1/2 an hour, and then I'll go put the tube back into the jug the acid came from, let it drain, and viola, a less rusty tank!
Rinse it out a few times, chase it with alcohol, and keep it full of good old premix. Tank treated for less than $12, and I can re-use the acid on the next poor moped that comes my way.
- Gallon of Muriatic Acid
- 2 ft 3/8" inner diameter vinyl tubing
- hose clamp
I put the hose on the spigot, and it threaded on, but I put the clamp on anyway (safety first!) and then tie the other end up higher than the filler nozzle.
Next, I just poured the acid in a funnel into the tank (don't want to dribble and ruin my paint!) and watched as the level rises every so gently up the tube. I'm just letting the acid bake away at that rust for about 1/2 an hour, and then I'll go put the tube back into the jug the acid came from, let it drain, and viola, a less rusty tank!
Rinse it out a few times, chase it with alcohol, and keep it full of good old premix. Tank treated for less than $12, and I can re-use the acid on the next poor moped that comes my way.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Stripped Stud Removal
I wanted to use an old stock cylinder I had, and when I pulled it out of my box today I found a stripped stud stuck firmly in place in the exhaust. I tried threading a nut on, and it was too far gone to hold any threads. The vice grips wouldn't hang on tight enough, although I did only try needle nose, and usually the regular version lock a bit more securely. So I pulled out my welder, pushed the nut on as far as it would go, and just ran a nice little bead inside the nut, welding it to the stud, then out it turned. It feels good to have a welder in my arsenal again.
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