rach
Regular
Posts: 10
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Post by rach on Oct 1, 2006 12:57:49 GMT
Hi, Am totally clueless mechanically, but would appreciate any pointers so I can get the bike checked out. I have a new Baotian BT50QT-9 which starts up fine, but has a habit of cutting out when I'm half way through a trip. On every occasion, it's been shortly after coming to a stop for lights/junction etc. It idles perfectly ok for a while then cuts out and won't restart. It does it even if I try to keep the revs high as I slow down and stop. Is there anything obvious I can mess with myself before taking it to a garage? Many thanks. Rach
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Post by Macrofeet on Oct 1, 2006 16:33:32 GMT
without more details it is hard to say but the main cause of the engine cutting out is when the idle screw is not tight enough on this picture it is the top gold looking brass screw next to the rubber throttle cable/wire not marked with an arrow tighten this about 1 turn
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rach
Regular
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Post by rach on Oct 1, 2006 16:39:22 GMT
Thanks for the reply. The first time this happened I rang the supplier and they told me to do that. It seemed ok for a day or 2 then did the same again. This time tightening the screw didn't work, but after a rest (cool down?) it started up again. It's now doing it regularly and it's driving me nuts as it keeps making me late for work (not to mention knackering me having to push it all the time!)
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Post by Macrofeet on Oct 1, 2006 16:39:46 GMT
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Post by Macrofeet on Oct 1, 2006 16:45:04 GMT
if its over heating it could be your engine is running to lean and your mixture screw needs setting to 2 1/2 turns out from tight
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rach
Regular
Posts: 10
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Post by rach on Oct 2, 2006 10:17:51 GMT
Sorry for being so thick - how do I access the area depicted in the diagram? I can't identify it as yet (zero mechanical knowledge). Have had a play with it this morning. When it's idling the revs go up and down of their own accord for quite some time. You can hear when it's thinking about cutting out, and if I touch the throttle at all at that point it cuts out instantly. Could you also tell me what is generally the best setting for the idle screw from tight? I've fiddled with it so much now, I've no idea what the original setting was. Thanks loads.
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Post by Scootin on Oct 2, 2006 13:34:01 GMT
Be sure not to turn the screw the arrow is pointing to. That is the carb drain screw.
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rach
Regular
Posts: 10
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Post by rach on Oct 2, 2006 14:23:55 GMT
HEELP!!!! The bike won't start at all now (possibly the idle screw is wrongly positioned as I've had to adjust it so much). Still can't locate the area I'm after for the fuel/air mix I have tried 2 local garages for help but neither will touch it with a barge pole saying that Baotion's are worse than rubbish. Have contacted the supplier who have totally washed their hands of it saying it was alright when it left them and it's not their problem!! Desperately need a bike for work and am going to have to buy another unless I can do something! Please help - even if it's just to let me know of someone who'll agree to look at it in the Lincoln area.
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Post by jialing on Oct 2, 2006 15:57:56 GMT
I dont know if this will help but most carburettors have 2 ways of controlling 1. engine idle speed and 2. the air fuel mixture. The idle control can be identified by having a large spring near it which is also the throttle. The air mixture governs the amount of petrol beng released into the carburettor when the engine is running. most bilkes have a setting of this screw about 2 and a half turns out from when you screw this in as far as it will go. Do not use force on this screw, by doing so you could damage the needle sharp point on the end of it as it is only unually made of brass. Therefore use your sence of feel and turn it to the right slowly until you feel a resistence. When you feel that you know you have screwed it in as far as it will go. Look where the -- is on the screw. Slowly turn this 2 and a half turns to the left in other words you are opening up the air mixture control. If you go too far or open it up too much your mixture will be too rich. in other words you are burning too much petrol indicated by a black deposit on your spark plug. If the mixture is too lean the plug will show up as various shades of brown. look at your spark plug to help you decide if your bike is running lean or rich by the colour of your plug. If more people with the skills and knowledge used the chat room more often problems like this could be discussed live. I cant help you because i live in the London area sorry but I hope this helps you.
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rach
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Post by rach on Oct 2, 2006 16:21:48 GMT
Thanks to all who've replied. I don't think I've got any options other than to try to sell it not working, despite the fact it's brand new. My mechanical knowledge is so non existent I don't even know what the spark plug looks like, never mind find it! Same applies to finding the screw for the air/fuel mixture.Despite the diagram I can't find the area on the bike I'm supposed to be looking in! I can't believe that these bikes have such a bad reputation that even bike dealerships won't help
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Post by jialing on Oct 2, 2006 16:24:12 GMT
Rach, looking at that photo in the 2nd post, the idle screw can be seen at the top left hand corner. Dont ask me where the air misture control is co's I dont know on your bike but maybe someone else might be able to point you in the direction of it, using the photo as a guide.
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Post by jialing on Oct 2, 2006 17:41:02 GMT
Rach, the dealer who sold you the bike initially has a moral obligation to look after you if you bought the bike new. You have certain rights and this person is trying to evade his moral obligations such as honouring a guarantee if you got one. Simar had similar problems with his... try to locate his post it might give you a few clues. Dont give up too soon, I know what its like to have a bike and not be able to use it especially after laying out your hard earned blood sweat and tears for it. Surely there are courses available for moped or scooter maintenence offered somewhere in your area. It might be worth considering doing one if your going to be involved with scoots. Dont give up so soon, someone ,must be able to help you even if you ask someone who has a similar bike near you. There must be someone on here who lives near Lincoln maybe they can help. But you really ought to contact the people who sold it to you you tell them you will contact Watchdog, consumer affairs and trading standards if they dont look after you and sort your bike out. You might also mention that your a member of the chinese scooter club and if you name them in the forum they wont be getting any business from anyone who reads your report. I know what its like when you have never seen an engine before. You just need someone who can give you a bit of guidence. We all have to learn one day.. dont give up just yet. I wish you luck.
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Post by hodgeyboy on Oct 2, 2006 18:07:25 GMT
WHOA WHOA, Hang on there Rach!
Let's not be hasty. There is no reason between the lot of us that we can't turn this around for you. Believe me, this really is the best possible place you could be for getting a solution.
Yes, it is a shame about the suppliers reaction but let us know who they are and we'll steer clear of them. In terms of other garages, just ignore it - they are precisely the reason that this forum exists! I think at LEAST 80% of the other members here have that reaction from everyone from the DVLA downwards... garages, insurers, other riders.
Without their ignorant-last century attitude none of us would be here, and as we've all seen - we just hit 1,000 members - GO US!
It's just ignorance. Yes these scoots ain't never gonna win a land speed record but their value is in a class of it's own.
Now I'm maybe two months ahead of you in terms of knowledge, I struggle, too and came here with zero mechanical knowledge and have a little more now...which is a great thing about these scoots, because they WILL need some minor attention and other garages will NOT be interested, we're all forced by circumstance to gradually increase our knowledge - that's how I see it.
Imagine if you'd bought an Aprilla or Vespa (shocking dealer reputation) or a Speedfight ( just like a clitoris - every c**t's got one...sorry moderators couldn't help it) They MAY run without a second glance under the panels for 18 months but when something happens...and something always happens, you wouldn't know what was up and may even get mugged by your local mechanic. This way we all learn as we go.
It really is unreal the amount of times we see a post "New Scooter-Won't start! - Help" posting here, it's just par for the course so please stick with it. Mine wouldn't start either, but a change of the spark plug and the turn of a screw and I was away. It took me three weeks and is a saga in itself but the point is you can get there. I'd just moved to Spain and had no one to call on to help me out - just had the forum and You've got to try it one thing at a time.
Now, the picture has been taken looking down through the seat 'bucket' Just lift up your seat and unscrew the panel - make sure that you've plenty of light and you should see exactly the same.
So come on Forum, lets pull this one out of the bag for Rach.
Other wise we can celebrate the 1,000 member mark by dropping back down to 999 'cause Rach has sold her scoot for peanuts and paid through the nose for a Honda ( or is it a Lifan?...that's another story for you Rach, and a great one to through back at any Honda mechanics who turned his nose up at you!)
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rach
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Post by rach on Oct 2, 2006 19:10:16 GMT
;DThis place makes me smile even if I can't ride my scoot! Just to clarify - I know where the idle screw is cos that's the first thing I was told to do. It seemed to work initially, but then the problem set in again. I've been messing with the idle screw today and that's probably why it won't start at all now - I've lost track of how many turns up/down etc and it's probably wrong now. How many turns from tight should it be? It's the mixture screw I can't find. That diagram is in a later post, but I can't track it down on the bike. (Not that it matters now as I can't start it to see if it helps!
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Post by Simar on Oct 2, 2006 19:14:01 GMT
Remove the 4 nuts and possibly the screw This is what you see when you lift the seat off, although this is my 125cc, your one will be similar. Turn the idle screw to the right to increase the idle revs and opposite direction to decrease. Look down the left hand side of the engine compartment and you should see the carburetor. You might need to remove a side panel as its a bit tight to see very well. When you find the Carburetor turn the screw gently to right to tighten but don't overtighten it, then turn the screw to the left about 2.5 turns.
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Post by hodgeyboy on Oct 2, 2006 19:27:11 GMT
Ok, I was advised to put the scoot up on the center stand and turn the screw tight all the way in and try starting it.
assuming that it does start (let's hope so) it'll rev the balls off the engine.
Gradually turn the screw out and you'll hear the revs start to slow down. Try the rear brake a little to stop the rear wheel and then release. If the wheel starts moving again you'll need to continue to turn the screw out. Keep repeating the process untill you reach the point just where a 1/4 turn or so of the idle screw will start the wheel turning.
You want the wheel to be stationary on starting so that a small turn of the throttle will start the wheel turning.
assuning we've got this far, leave the engine running for 4 or 5 minutes, may be even go for a ride because you want to leave the engine running long enough for the auto choke to stop. So, after a few minutes with the enh=gine still running and back up on the center stand, adjust the screw again if necessary.
If any others of you can add anything or see something a little inaccurate now's the point to jump in!
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Post by jialing on Oct 2, 2006 20:49:42 GMT
thank god for pictures, its no use me putting pics of my carb or engine on here, mines a dinosaur in comparrison to the 4 strokes they make today.
Just because these bikes are made in china it doesn't mean they are not as good as any other scooter made anywhere else.
The problem is there are too many back yard dealers flogging them on ebay just like back yard mechanics were selling cars before laws were bought in to control their businesses.
Although there are laws around to help prevent this sort of thing occuring its only when people start making a stink and going to the right people that people sit up and listen.
A special thanks goes out to simar and hodgeyboy for coming to the rescue Kharma's for both of you. This is what the forums all about helping one another out.
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rach
Regular
Posts: 10
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Post by rach on Oct 2, 2006 21:10:38 GMT
Thanks a million for your patience. I'll try to get to the mixture screw tomorrow. Funny thing is, I've been out tonight and it's sparked up first time although the revs were extremely high so I'd obviously got the idle screw fairly tight. What this seems to show though, is that it failing to restart is nothing to do with engine warmth, as I tried it no end of times before the final success when the engine was well rested. Does this help in a diagnosis?
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