Creating Luna - TaoTao ATM-50 build
Jul 24, 2017 17:51:54 GMT -5
dan50, spaz12, and 1 more like this
Post by drotedcc on Jul 24, 2017 17:51:54 GMT -5
Hey, made the jump into creating an account, sharing my build of Luna, my TaoTao atm-50
So I recently made the jump into the scoot world, after my buddy recommended me, and so far, its been great. I named her Luna, because I got her in black and silver, even though I repainting her, but still keeping the theme black and silver. So, because I'm new into the whole scoot scene, I browsed the builds, seeing what I can do. So to catch yall up to what I did, here are the upgrades I made so far.
After changing out all oil, and then putting in some premium gas, and a fuel injector to help keep the carb healthy, I did a test drive, and then started to upgrade her.
The first upgrade was a Bluefire alarm system. For the price and nice reviews, I snatched it up and installed it, and she runs like a smart car, no need for a key (Unless its for an emergency, or locking the wheel). She installed perfect on my second attempt, but yes, it was the second attempt, because I did a huge oversight, lets go over what I did wrong the first time around.
So when I went to install the alarm, I did a quick lookup on YouTube, and saw what wires go to what wires. I had no splicers at the time, and was this close to ordering them for this purpose. So I started jamming wires into the connecters where the wire I needed to pair where, like the lights, power, etc. It was an awful job, but the wires needed to go where that should. The Remote start kind of worked, but it only turned on the engine, nothing else, so it was worthless to use it other then warming it up. She ran fine, and I was about to order splicers the next day, to really connect the wires. When I was doing a search on wideband sensors (A future upgrade), I saw a lad show how he installed it. The moment he said "I like to get my power from this harness, which is for keyfobs and such", and the moment I saw that harness, I ran outside, knowing that I seen one in my scoot. There it was, like I knew it would be, sealed with a connector that looped it, ready for a keyfob. After an hour of removing my wires from connections, putting all the wires back the way it came, took off the wire harness from my alarm, throwing that into my spare wires drawer, and connecting the two, the alarm worked as intended.
Turns on the entire bike, and shuts off. It ran like a smart car. After putting a like on that video, the wires now look much cleaner once I take the lid off. So that's my first upgrade.
Lets go two days later, and my bike will not idle long, it would just die, no matter how much I tune the idle screw. So I decided to get an unlocked carb. I found one on amazon, that said to have upgraded jets, and came with a spare (a 90), and it had a plastic top. Hopefully the plastic top was not a mistake on my part. So it shipped, and after a day delay, I started to remove the old carb, and place on some cardboard. I then went to open the new unlocked carb, being ever so careful not to strip the rather cheap screws, and I looked at the jet. Due to the fact the carb did not come with the spare 90 jet, I rather not trust it. I swapped that jet with a 87, a spare I got from my step-brother, and put the carb back together, and installed it. I had no problems with it (yet), and was happy I got a unlocked carb, that I'm able to clean and such. The mixture screw was left how it was, and seeing the blue sharpie, it was turned to the basic config.
Old carb
The new carb installed
Same day, due to the fact the Jet is a little big, I decided to un-restrict the air a tad, just so I get more air. If the time comes, I'll unrestrict it some more.
Fast forward a day, and I received a blue racing CDI. I meant to buy the orange, but me being me, I went ahead and installed it. I was anticipating hard starts, but surprise surprise, it starts cold instantly. Tuned some stuff, and its working fine, however my idle is abit louder, due to the fact I let her idle abit higher, to negate problem I had of it not starting at all. (This had nothing to due with the cdi, tested both)
So lets fast forward to 2 days ago, where she sits in the garage, due to another oversight. After my test run with the CDI and new carb, about 1/4 a mile before getting home, I started to hear loud popping, it started to sound like a motorcycle. I instantly knew what could have happened. I checked the bolts that hold on the exhaust, and looking there, they where all loose, and I was missing one, it was the last one when looking over it going right to left. I tightened the remaining bolts, and the next day, my pops got one that was almost perfect, it was just waay to long, needed like a inch removed. I am still waiting on a new bolt, I really hope that it being so loose did not damage anything, hopefully the next time I ride her the popping is gone.
So what's my next upgrade? Well, its mostly cosmetic. I want to remove the ugly handlebar cover, and have the handle bars naked. So to do that, I would need a new headlight and cluster. I noticed my front lid had punch out holes, and in another build I saw, the sunny style scoot had a bracket that came from the pole that attached the Lid to the frame (That is another problem), and had two holes that was perfectly under the punchout holes. However, the TaoTao did not have it. Hopefully it's a part I can order (I have yet to find one), and if not, I have to find another place to mount a new headlight.
Where the punchout holes are
The second issue I had to address is the instrument cluster. I doubt it would work without the cover, so I need a new one. What I want is a new cluster that can mount to the handlebars, somehow. I don't currently have the tools to make a custom mount, so its going to be tricky. It has to have a RPM gauge, as well, and to make it more tricky to find a good one, It was to be a plug and play as possible to the taotao, or atleast easy to connect.
So for now, I'm drawing a blank when to comes to making the handlebars naked. So that upgrade may come later.
And my stance on BBK, I'm getting one that will give me more power, but not so much that it drastically decreases the life of it. (I heard a 47mm is a good place to start)
Lets move on to that problem I have with the pole.
So, I don't have the screw on the connects the frame to the lid. Why? Well, the pole is not straight, its is hard to put the screw in in the first place
I have absolutely no idea how I will fix that, to be honest.
And lets go over the final problem I have. The battery, died waay to fast. When it died the first time, I charged it with a trickle charger. Then a week past. When I installed the new carb, and went to start it up, the batt was dead again. So yeah, a new battery is on the list. Besides, they gave me a rather small battery, and that battery compartment can hold a much bigger battery.
Once I get my new bolt for the exhaust, I can do some more test rides. I cant wait to continue the project.
So I recently made the jump into the scoot world, after my buddy recommended me, and so far, its been great. I named her Luna, because I got her in black and silver, even though I repainting her, but still keeping the theme black and silver. So, because I'm new into the whole scoot scene, I browsed the builds, seeing what I can do. So to catch yall up to what I did, here are the upgrades I made so far.
After changing out all oil, and then putting in some premium gas, and a fuel injector to help keep the carb healthy, I did a test drive, and then started to upgrade her.
The first upgrade was a Bluefire alarm system. For the price and nice reviews, I snatched it up and installed it, and she runs like a smart car, no need for a key (Unless its for an emergency, or locking the wheel). She installed perfect on my second attempt, but yes, it was the second attempt, because I did a huge oversight, lets go over what I did wrong the first time around.
So when I went to install the alarm, I did a quick lookup on YouTube, and saw what wires go to what wires. I had no splicers at the time, and was this close to ordering them for this purpose. So I started jamming wires into the connecters where the wire I needed to pair where, like the lights, power, etc. It was an awful job, but the wires needed to go where that should. The Remote start kind of worked, but it only turned on the engine, nothing else, so it was worthless to use it other then warming it up. She ran fine, and I was about to order splicers the next day, to really connect the wires. When I was doing a search on wideband sensors (A future upgrade), I saw a lad show how he installed it. The moment he said "I like to get my power from this harness, which is for keyfobs and such", and the moment I saw that harness, I ran outside, knowing that I seen one in my scoot. There it was, like I knew it would be, sealed with a connector that looped it, ready for a keyfob. After an hour of removing my wires from connections, putting all the wires back the way it came, took off the wire harness from my alarm, throwing that into my spare wires drawer, and connecting the two, the alarm worked as intended.
Turns on the entire bike, and shuts off. It ran like a smart car. After putting a like on that video, the wires now look much cleaner once I take the lid off. So that's my first upgrade.Lets go two days later, and my bike will not idle long, it would just die, no matter how much I tune the idle screw. So I decided to get an unlocked carb. I found one on amazon, that said to have upgraded jets, and came with a spare (a 90), and it had a plastic top. Hopefully the plastic top was not a mistake on my part. So it shipped, and after a day delay, I started to remove the old carb, and place on some cardboard. I then went to open the new unlocked carb, being ever so careful not to strip the rather cheap screws, and I looked at the jet. Due to the fact the carb did not come with the spare 90 jet, I rather not trust it. I swapped that jet with a 87, a spare I got from my step-brother, and put the carb back together, and installed it. I had no problems with it (yet), and was happy I got a unlocked carb, that I'm able to clean and such. The mixture screw was left how it was, and seeing the blue sharpie, it was turned to the basic config.
Old carb
The new carb installed
Same day, due to the fact the Jet is a little big, I decided to un-restrict the air a tad, just so I get more air. If the time comes, I'll unrestrict it some more.
Fast forward a day, and I received a blue racing CDI. I meant to buy the orange, but me being me, I went ahead and installed it. I was anticipating hard starts, but surprise surprise, it starts cold instantly. Tuned some stuff, and its working fine, however my idle is abit louder, due to the fact I let her idle abit higher, to negate problem I had of it not starting at all. (This had nothing to due with the cdi, tested both)
So lets fast forward to 2 days ago, where she sits in the garage, due to another oversight. After my test run with the CDI and new carb, about 1/4 a mile before getting home, I started to hear loud popping, it started to sound like a motorcycle. I instantly knew what could have happened. I checked the bolts that hold on the exhaust, and looking there, they where all loose, and I was missing one, it was the last one when looking over it going right to left. I tightened the remaining bolts, and the next day, my pops got one that was almost perfect, it was just waay to long, needed like a inch removed. I am still waiting on a new bolt, I really hope that it being so loose did not damage anything, hopefully the next time I ride her the popping is gone.
So what's my next upgrade? Well, its mostly cosmetic. I want to remove the ugly handlebar cover, and have the handle bars naked. So to do that, I would need a new headlight and cluster. I noticed my front lid had punch out holes, and in another build I saw, the sunny style scoot had a bracket that came from the pole that attached the Lid to the frame (That is another problem), and had two holes that was perfectly under the punchout holes. However, the TaoTao did not have it. Hopefully it's a part I can order (I have yet to find one), and if not, I have to find another place to mount a new headlight.
Where the punchout holes are
The second issue I had to address is the instrument cluster. I doubt it would work without the cover, so I need a new one. What I want is a new cluster that can mount to the handlebars, somehow. I don't currently have the tools to make a custom mount, so its going to be tricky. It has to have a RPM gauge, as well, and to make it more tricky to find a good one, It was to be a plug and play as possible to the taotao, or atleast easy to connect.
So for now, I'm drawing a blank when to comes to making the handlebars naked. So that upgrade may come later.
And my stance on BBK, I'm getting one that will give me more power, but not so much that it drastically decreases the life of it. (I heard a 47mm is a good place to start)
Lets move on to that problem I have with the pole.
So, I don't have the screw on the connects the frame to the lid. Why? Well, the pole is not straight, its is hard to put the screw in in the first place
I have absolutely no idea how I will fix that, to be honest.
And lets go over the final problem I have. The battery, died waay to fast. When it died the first time, I charged it with a trickle charger. Then a week past. When I installed the new carb, and went to start it up, the batt was dead again. So yeah, a new battery is on the list. Besides, they gave me a rather small battery, and that battery compartment can hold a much bigger battery.
Once I get my new bolt for the exhaust, I can do some more test rides. I cant wait to continue the project.
and excellent first posts!
Welcome.
. Th front piece with the cutouts, instead of using the cutout to mount a nice bright light, use the hole that the large screw holding that piece goes through. That is solid to the frame and in a good spot for a driving light. My driving light is 12 LED, 12v, 10 watts and 3,800 lumens. It is very bright, but aimed correctly, no one flashes their bright at me.
