Greetings from Thailand!

[ThaiTorque]

Hey guys. Although I'm living in Thailand, I am from the UK originally. New to the forum but have been watching the 90GTvert YouTube videos for a hell of a long time now. Definitely some of the more informative and educational content available on YouTube. This is also the first real forum I've ever joined in the 20ish years of using the internet so please excuse me if I suck.

I've finally decided to join as I'm getting into the more complex stages of building my scooter. For example, I recently installed a 48mm TWH cylinder and piston kit and realised how much material needs to be removed to get the cylinder and case matched up properly. As you can see from the photo I've attached, there is a lot to remove.

So, I guess my first question will be about how to properly remove that much material from the case? Is there a particular angle of attack?

Anyways, I look forward to getting to know you all and seeing what kind of builds are on here.

Thanks!

[ThaiGyro]

Very interesting! You might find this a bit strange, but I am an American, also living in Thailand. We split time between Rangsit, Pathumthani...Lat Krabang, (near Suvarnabhumi Airport) and our orchard property in Chanthaburi. I just arrived home from Hanoi, not ten minutes ago.

I have a Gyro with a similar setup to the older Dio's. Many other half baked and frozen projects.

Where are you?

That rod looks like it's from a small block Chevy!

[ThaiTorque]

Hey man. That's awesome that you're also in Thailand. I guess it's a small world out there and even smaller that I'm living quite close to Lat Krabang just over in Bang Phli. I've only been here about 7 months but also am very interested in starting a Gyro project once I got this Dio finished. Seems it's quite hard to find a decent Gyro that isn't completely wrecked for a good price. Plenty about for the 20k+ price but I'm holding out for something nice for around the 8k price bracket.

Oh, and the rod on this build is just a stock AF27 Dio rod. It will all be getting changed up soon though as I plan to do a mini stroker build.

How's life treating you in Thailand? Have you been here long?

[ThaiGyro]

Hey ThaiTorque...you are correct. The Thai love Gyro's, thus the crazy price. I think I paid 15K, 5 years ago for a running POS. Now a torn apart, but planned upgrade. Some parts not built yet, some hard to manufacture, like the diff.

Bang Phli is in Samut Prakan, so you must be South of BKK, or a bit West....or super rich and working at Lakewood or Thana City Country Clubs? Haha...I am a recovered golf-a-holic.

I know of a few places that have parts, a few that have clunkers and one that restores...actually ships Gyro's from Japan. The Thai Gyro cemetery.

I have a tiny network here of parts, but most people are fun and resourceful, if not helpful. One friend, a banker, wants (me) to put together a Gyro touring group to terrorize Thailand. (Think tour bus with Gyro's in the basement, craziness above) The idea is to help each other make some great running and good looking tri-pod Honda's, then fund quarterly trips to fun locations or events. Show off our excessive power and handling.

OK...maybe just show off our more powerful wives, girlfriends, partners, with some Honda scoot eye candy. The fun and food and collection of farang/Thai/whoever would be great!

I have been here near 5 years. My personal health care plan. Could no longer afford to donate to the US cause, so I sought quality and value not available in the States.  We love super phet food. (Spicy-hot). My partner is from Krabi Province in the south. Phet, Phet!

She is the Global QC Manager for a huge lens manufacturer, thus gone quite often.  Play time!

I can offer to show you Thailand and it's like, from my perspective. We have traveled everywhere! I must warn you though...I am a serious Premier League follower and a KOP-ite. I do stop for Liverpool matches, and most other EFL game.

[ThaiTorque]

Thai people certainly do love Gyros. When I used to live in Nonthaburi there were lots of the locals riding round on them and this is how I was introduced to them. There was a time when I was on the verge of buying one but found a Dio for sale around the corner and ended up buying that for 6000baht. 50k later, I have what you saw in the picture. lol... And to think I was funny about paying 15k for a build Gyro at the time. I guess I just got carried away building the Dio and never really kept track of what got spent on it.

I'm living near the big temples in Bang Phli. Me and the wifey split between here and her parents place in Nonthaburi but spend more time here because she is working in Lat Krabang. And, unfortunately not super rich by any means. Just living the broke foreigner lifestyle.

As for events, I'm attending as many scooter drag events as possible at the Bangkok Drag Avenue. This is where you can see 7sec 2 strokes running and where, eventually, I hope to end up too.

Your event idea sounds great. would be mad to see a good collection of gyros together but as you know, 50cc's are so limited to where they can ride. I did think about planning a ride only on Soi roads down to the closest beach but needs some planning.

Anyways, we should get together some time and talk 2 strokes. It would be cool to meet another foreigner who is in to bikes. I have a lot of contacts who are doing some really powerful builds but the language barrier is always a massive problem.

[oldgeek]

Oct 8, 2019 23:31:43 GMT -5 ThaiTorque said:

Hey guys. Although I'm living in Thailand, I am from the UK originally. New to the forum but have been watching the 90GTvert YouTube videos for a hell of a long time now. Definitely some of the more informative and educational content available on YouTube. This is also the first real forum I've ever joined in the 20ish years of using the internet so please excuse me if I suck.

I've finally decided to join as I'm getting into the more complex stages of building my scooter. For example, I recently installed a 48mm TWH cylinder and piston kit and realised how much material needs to be removed to get the cylinder and case matched up properly. As you can see from the photo I've attached, there is a lot to remove.

So, I guess my first question will be about how to properly remove that much material from the case? Is there a particular angle of attack?

Anyways, I look forward to getting to know you all and seeing what kind of builds are on here.

Thanks!

That's a sweet looking Dio you got there, nice work! As far as fitting the 48mm cylinder, some people just slap it on without matching the boost port. Whatever you do plan carefully, if you do match the boost port to the 48mm then decide to try a different cylinder, you may find the boost port is smaller. For instance the the Polini Corsa cylinder has a much smaller boost port than the 48mm TWH.

I am sure you are in good hands over there, ThaiGyro will show you the way.

[ThaiTorque]

Thanks for the input oldgeek. The only issue I find with finding another cylinder is that being in Thailand, we don't have access to the corsa kit. I could order from europe or america but the cost is crazy for the kit alone, then adding the shipping and import duty it would be $250 minimum at a guess. The TWH cylinders all circle the $50 mark and even something like a Jiso 55mm cylinder and crank would still be less than the Corsa kit on it's own.

On top of that, as much as I'll probably regret it in the long run, I kind of want to stay away from the Corsa as it's such a common build (there's probably a reason for that) and go with something a bit different. Also with this being my first scooter build, I kind of don't want to wreck expensive stuff first time round and practice on cheaper bits and bobs then once I'm hitting 130kph+ on THW bits, then move onto more expensive parts and see how far it can be pushed.

Admittedly the scooter did seem to run ok with the case not port matched to the cylinder but when changing the regular paper gasket out for a metal one to see if it would make any improvements, I noticed the massive difference.

I think your suggestion of seeing how different cylinders match up before cutting so much out is a good idea in case it makes the case unusable with any other parts afterwards. It all depends on what's available round here. Thankfully I live about 10 minutes from a huge scooter parts shop which mainly deals with Dio and Jog parts so got a lot to choose from.

[oldgeek]

Oct 9, 2019 7:28:25 GMT -5 ThaiTorque said:

Thanks for the input oldgeek. The only issue I find with finding another cylinder is that being in Thailand, we don't have access to the corsa kit. I could order from europe or america but the cost is crazy for the kit alone, then adding the shipping and import duty it would be $250 minimum at a guess. The TWH cylinders all circle the $50 mark and even something like a Jiso 55mm cylinder and crank would still be less than the Corsa kit on it's own.

On top of that, as much as I'll probably regret it in the long run, I kind of want to stay away from the Corsa as it's such a common build (there's probably a reason for that) and go with something a bit different. Also with this being my first scooter build, I kind of don't want to wreck expensive stuff first time round and practice on cheaper bits and bobs then once I'm hitting 130kph+ on THW bits, then move onto more expensive parts and see how far it can be pushed.

Admittedly the scooter did seem to run ok with the case not port matched to the cylinder but when changing the regular paper gasket out for a metal one to see if it would make any improvements, I noticed the massive difference.

I think your suggestion of seeing how different cylinders match up before cutting so much out is a good idea in case it makes the case unusable with any other parts afterwards. It all depends on what's available round here. Thankfully I live about 10 minutes from a huge scooter parts shop which mainly deals with Dio and Jog parts so got a lot to choose from.

IMO You ain't missing a thing by not having a Corsa. What I wouldn't give to have cheap access to the Dio parts you have over there!

[ThaiGyro]

Hey! I missed some of these. oldgeek has a great point, match the ports! You cannot believe the gains! We should connect up. Have Dremel, will travel. I can show you some tricks to play with.

WE are what is called "anal-retentive" on race engines. We look at every component like it was for F1. IN a race motor, for example...we balance the crank and the piston and the assembly...at every step. If a piston is poorly cast, we correct or toss it.

For the street? Run it until it blows!!

[birdman]

Super nice dio! Can't wait to see what some more non corsa guys are doing!

[ThaiGyro]

For your knowledge, what thaitorque is referring to about parts availability:

Thailand is a great place, but full of technology and pride. Thus, many, many imported parts have customs taxes that would kill your budget.

You can order anything, but OUCH! 30 or 40% tax? Now, if you setup shop here, and make a dope deal...different story, maybe. Grace the palms.