Changing Spark Plug on TaoTao CY50-B - Hints

[bbold]

Just spent 2 hours changing the spark plug on my Tao Tao CY50-B (with the help of Rolling Wrench Denver on YouTube and through personal messages with them.) Basically, most scooters allow you to open up the access panel inside the seat bucket to access spark plugs/idle/etc. The idle screw is right there on this model, so that's fine, but the spark plug is so far down to the right it warrants you disassembling the whole bucket of the seat to access it. Unfortunately, on my model (and a few select others out there) you have to take apart pretty much the entire body panels of the scooter to even remove the seat bucket assembly so you can then access that spark plug area! Phew!! With the help of Rolling Wrench, we determined the best method would be to just access the spark plug from the bottom (directly underneath) of the scooter. While this is a difficult task, since you can barely fit a few fingers up there to reach it all, using a 5/8 Spark Plug Socket ($6 at Pep Boys, etc) you can guide it with your hand, push it over the spark plug, and then attach the socket wrench to finish the job of removal. Look at their YouTube videos that pertain to TaoTao Spark Plugs. (Rolling Wrench Denver on YouTube and on their website.) Very helpful info. In the video they suggest just removing the bucket assembly, but you can't on my model without a few crazy hours of painstaking work! (and you risk the plastic breaking, too.) After 1.5 hours and 7 tries, I finally was able to seat the new NGK spark plug (replaced the old cheap brand-less useless Chinese one) and my bike runs alot better, esp after a Winter idle adjustment. The tough part was actually not losing the spark plug once you insert it into the hole, it feels like it could easily drop down and get lost, so it's essential to use your center stand on your scooter to do this, and use a steady hand (I had a flashlight in my mouth, too, because it's so dark up n there.) Another tough part was making sure the piece that goes OVER the spark plug is seated properly, on my model, it goes at an angle, and that angle must be perfect for your scooter to start. Just wanted to give my 2 cents since I had to figure this out with their help, but I wanted to pass it along to those of you who are new like me and have no clue.

[prodigit]

1- put a light on the bucket seat access door (leaves mouth open for other things, like catch falling sparkplugs and the likes).
2- I have a 'special' spark plug 'socket' for a socket wrench. The socket wrench fits nicely in my scoot. Just tighten the plug by hand (or with the socket on it), and do the final part with the socket wrench.
I haven't been able to do it from the bottom, because of comfort, but if for some reason my hand passes by the frame, I'd be able to fit a socket wrench upward in the housing.

[bbold]

Yeah, that's the kind of socket that I bought from Pep Boys, a spark plug 5/8 socket. It's perfect. But going in from underneath, it was still a tight squeeze. I did exactly that, I guided the socket in with my hand and loosened or tightened it as much as I could, then used the wrench on top of that from the bottom to finish the job. I really had no other choice but going in from underneath, I didn't have the luxury of an easy bucket removal, so ppl with my model scooter need to do it this way (or they will have to pretty much disassemble their entire body panels on their scooter, which could take quite a while and those plastics are very very easy to break!) They really need to make these spark plugs easier to access on new scooters.

[prodigit]

On the Tao ATM50-A1, I can remove the bucket seat. It's a pretty good concept, because the seat needs to be opened with the key, before I can remove the bucket.
If it gets too easy to work on your scooter, it's also very easy for someone to sabotage one.
For that reason I don't like a Zuma.
So easy to just pull a wire out of the engine, or damage a hose...

[bbold]

Mine has to be opened, too. Plus a million other things in order to get to the goodies underneath. Unless someone has my scooter for several hours and has a shop light and an assortment of tools, no one's touchin' my engine. lol. I also keep my scooter parked fairly close to me when I'm sleeping, and I have a gun nearby and very handy.

[prodigit]

Nov 12, 2012 13:56:18 GMT -5 bbold said:

Mine has to be opened, too. Plus a million other things in order to get to the goodies underneath. Unless someone has my scooter for several hours and has a shop light and an assortment of tools, no one's touchin' my engine. lol. I also keep my scooter parked fairly close to me when I'm sleeping, and I have a gun nearby and very handy.

So, does the scoot go on the left or on the right side of the bed?
:disco: :laugh:

[bbold]

LMAO!! Uhm, its actually in a screened off porch that has a locked door and i also put a wheel lock on it. NO ONE is gettin' mah scooter! hehe (I won't even let my cat in there, because he still has his claws and God knows what he'd do with the seat cover.)

[veejay]

Glad you are progressing bbold ... nice job on the spark plug. On the CY50-A, it seems easier to get at. I was going to change it yesterday and I went to Autozone for a NGK CR7 HSA plug which was recommended by Matt on his YouTube video. Autozone didn't have any, nor did it have a cross reference for any Tao Tao in its database. Which plug did you use?

Also, after the new plug was in was there any noticeable difference in performance, idling, stopping, starting etc. etc. Thanks.

[bbold]

VJ.. I ordered mine thru Pep Boys (online) it was only like $2.50! They ship it to the store or the store just pulls it from inventory. I had to call Pep Boys 2 days later bcuz they hadn't even called me, turns out the part was sitting right there in a previous day's mail pile. lol. So much for organizational skills on their part. But it was cheap and yes, it made every bit the difference in performance! Make sure you select the part number on their website (yeah, you got the right part # for the plug, just type that numeric 4 digit # into the PB website and the part number will come up.) Just make sure the spark plug cap is properly placed over it, that was the hard part for me, it took a few tries (and an hour of sweat and cursing) to get it all done on mine. lol. Better luck on yours. (Oh, and get a spark plug socket 5/8ths!) Pep Boys sells those, too. Let us know how it goes, and good luck!