Da RUNNING Moped Man May 10, 2008

Well, it’s running! I road around the “hood” today, making noise and blowing blue smoke, but I was riding. Finally figured out that I needed a more restrictive air filter.

We posted some “before” pictures on flick’r, the “after” pictures will be coming as i complete the work. I plan to fully restore the ‘ped to original condition. It will be kinda cool to take it to a carshow in the bed of the Shelby, then unload it and ride it around as I look at the other cars, or I could enter it in the motorcycle class at the car shows.

Mom took pictures with her new camera and tomorrow I will get her to take one of me riding, or better yet, I will get a picture of her riding it.

Now all that’s left undecided is a name for it. Adam and Noah put your thinking caps on and help me.

Da Moped Woman May 7, 2008

A few days ago, I mentioned to the “Ol’ Fart Breakfast Boys” that I was looking for a couple of mopeds.  Evelyn and I thought it would be fun to “ped” around on our camping trips.  Tom said there were 2 or 3 at the lot, but none were running.

Well that did it, I had to get one and try to make it run.   I picked a rusty blue 1980 Honda Express.  As soon as John and I unloaded it from the truck and propped it up in the carport, Granny Grumps swung her leg across it and proclaimed “This one is mine”.

So for the last few days I have been studying on the internet and working on moped from time to time.   The carburetor was clogged, the gas tank was dirty and rusty inside, the fuel petcock was clogged, and the wiring was a mess.  I soaked the carb in cleaner overnight, drained the gas tank then filled it half full of rocks and water and shook it for what seemed like an hour.   The petcock was another problem, it wouldn’t come clean and fuel refused to flow through it.  A drill bit solved the problem, I drilled the orifice out and installed another shutoff valve and filer between it and the carburetor.  The wiring is fixed just enough to allow me to crank on it.  I got all that working and couldn’t get any spark.

I spent all day yesterday trying to figure out the problem, then it hit me.  I was getting continuity through the points (yes it is so old that it has breaker points instead of a CDI) when they were closed or open.  There was some corrosion between the fiber insulators that caused the points to short out.   Believe it or not, the Honda shop had a set of points in stock, so $13.78 later I was headed home with the points in my pocket.

After I installed the new points I sprayed started fluid in the carburetor and cranked away.  It would not start.  I was lost, but John thought the muffler might be clogged and suggested taking it off.  After taking the muffler off I tried again and YIP PEE it started right up!  I didn’t run it long because I am concerned that the oil injector system isn’t working right.  That’s my job for tomorrow.

So now I guess my next job will be taking it apart and painting it.  Got to make it right for Granny Grumps.  I will post pictures in the next day or two.

Oh yea, I am going back to Tom’s lot and get another one sometime in the near future.

The Ears Have It May 1, 2008

One of the many advanages to having my hearing aids is that I can now sit on the back porch and hear the birds.  Usually it is a soothing sound and stays in the back ground level.  Some times as just a few minutes ago it reminds me that life is going on around me on many levels.  The gentle chirp, chirp, changed dramatically and became a screeching fluttering concert.  I looked out at the Magnolia trees and could see birds flying around franticly.  As I watched the wide wing span of a hawk or eagle could be seen ascending into flight evidently carrying a small bird.  It gradually quieted down and resume its normal tone.  There is probably a mother robin or something counting her chicks and mourning.  Life can be cruel.