|
Post by stevec on May 6, 2015 18:39:04 GMT -5
i was out riding today and the scooter was running great. good power, running smooth no issues at all. i heard a metallic sound and the engine went dead. there is no compression at all, it just spins when i engage starter. i am thinking that a valve probably went through the piston. i don't know why it would because there is no exhaust leak. the muffler is small with hardly any baffles but that shouldn't have hurt it. there is no oil leaks and the engine is full of oil. it is not pushing oil out like it did when the rings went.
the scooter is parked at a friend's house near where it died. it is for sale, parts or repair for $500, there is more than that in good parts. i won't be taking the engine apart to see what went wrong.
|
|
|
Post by 90GTVert on May 7, 2015 6:51:51 GMT -5
Sorry to here it Steve. I was hoping this was going to turn out to be a great scoot for you.
|
|
|
Post by humanshield on May 7, 2015 8:10:07 GMT -5
Man, sorry to hear this. I know it's disappointing.
At least pull the valve cover and see if a rocker arm broke. Could be a hole in the piston but that's not so hard to fix. If that's what it is, a jetting change would prevent it from happening again.
If a valve hit the piston, were you are at especially high rpm's when it happened? If not, that would be unlikely unless a valve retainer let go. If you were at high RPM's....then that's probably what happened.
I think you're assuming the worst?
|
|
|
Post by stevec on May 7, 2015 13:51:46 GMT -5
i'll pull the valve cover and check. i had a #135 jet and it was burning perfect not lean. the RPMs when it quit were at around 6500. it was instant, i heard it running and then dead silence.
|
|
|
Post by stevec on May 7, 2015 15:51:00 GMT -5
i cannot explain what happened, i have no idea what could have caused this to happen engine is full of oil, it was running great like it is supposed to when this occurred. i was no where near red line and there were no odd noises coming from the engine. it smashed the spark plug and i am betting the valves are probably bent a little.
|
|
|
Post by humanshield on May 7, 2015 16:10:20 GMT -5
Well, that is not minor damage unfortunately.
Looks like the piston failed to me, at a glance. Only other thing could have been the wrist pin clip came out and jammed.
I have been hearing of others having piston failures.
Do you know the specifics on that piston? Looks like us scooter builders are going to have to start being more selective on the pistons we buy.
Can you post a pic of the TOP of the piston?
|
|
|
Post by stevec on May 7, 2015 16:29:09 GMT -5
i don't have a pic of the top, the scooter is one town over. i made sure the circlips were in the grooves all the way around. it is a Hoca piston i got from joshcloseouts on ebay. it actually bent the end of the rod.
|
|
|
Post by niz76 on May 7, 2015 16:36:16 GMT -5
Total bummer stevec. I know you made the effort to use high quality parts. Was hoping to hear all about that stroker 190 ripping it up!
|
|
|
Post by stevec on May 7, 2015 16:43:45 GMT -5
i just sent joshcloseouts a message with pics asking him if he is sure it is an authentic HOCA and not a chinese knockoff. it didn't come in a box with a brand name on it so that was a red flag and i should have investigated before putting the piston in. it was $33 which seems cheap for taiwan and that too was a red flag. the TAIDA piston is $99 you have to be very careful when it comes to internal engine components. do research and verify each part is authentic before using it. i was just happy to have a new piston so i could ride again and i didn't follow my own advice.
|
|
|
Post by humanshield on May 7, 2015 16:45:34 GMT -5
I thnik you've pretty much answered your own question.
Plus...Josh "Closeouts". Probably piston failure.
We'e all done it. Dont beat yourself up.
Learn and move on.
|
|
|
Post by niz76 on May 7, 2015 16:46:06 GMT -5
Read quite a lot of negative comments here and on ebay feedback itself about Joshscloseouts...
|
|
|
Post by stevec on May 7, 2015 16:52:39 GMT -5
i learned a valuable lesson not to buy from ebay in general for scooter parts. only buy from the places that know scooters and sell quality parts. i am not going to be fixing it, too much work, have to pull apart engine to get scraps of metal out and if i can't straighten the connecting rod i would need another crank. it is a great looking scooter with a lot of good parts, i can sell it for $500 or just take off all of the good parts and junk the rest which would be a shame.
|
|
|
Post by stevec on May 8, 2015 7:33:57 GMT -5
here is the reply from joshcloseouts on ebay
Sorry but that is not parts problem. Yes we are a real Hoca dealer you can call them direct but they want help. Same piston we have won 3 world championships with and planing on wining a few more at the spring nationals.
- joshscloseouts
|
|
|
Post by 90GTVert on May 8, 2015 8:26:43 GMT -5
if i can't straighten the connecting rod i would need another crank. You can't just bend a rod and then bend it back and go on about your riding unfortunately. It looks like pretty much the engine is scrap metal now other than the cases and such.
|
|
|
Post by stevec on May 8, 2015 8:42:59 GMT -5
there is some damage to the engine case near where the oil pump is. the whole thing is junk, it is not worth investing more money into it.
|
|