MOPED ARMY

Did you clean out the exhaust? I had an old moped that would run great for just a little while and then it would die. Come to find out that the exhaust was clogged just enough to create back pressure that would kill the engine. Try taking the tail pipe/baffle section of the exhaust off the Puch and see if it runs any different.

One other thing that had me scratching my head was that I had a kink in the fuel line once that wasn't really noticable. The moped would run about as long as it took to drain the float bowl and then quit. If you're using clear fuel line this can sometimes be the problem. It looked to me like the fuel was moving through the line and it was, but not at the speed needed to keep the carb. supplied. Your problem doesn't sound like this because you said your engine bogs and then dies, but it's another idea.

Brian

My Puch did this... I replaced the float in the carb and it did fine, but I don't think that is your problem... you have gas coming out of the carb?

Okay,You get the 20 if you keep posting that good Batavus info,`ya know? (:)

My guess is the coil or the condensor because I've been told that is the symptoms of it. It's just a shot in the dark, however.

when i first got it, it didnt really run at all. then when i got it running, it did something close to the same thing it is doing now. it did run at one point for a couple of days. it ran very nicely, but then it started doing this weird thing when it got to top speed. it would kind of bog down a little and lose power, and then rev back up, just alternating back and forth for about a second or two each. it just kind of progressed to the point where it would just bog down and die.

when i cleaned out the muffler, i took it off and that's when i checked the exhaust port. the muffler was very dirty, so i scraped off big chunks of carbon gook with a butter knife and a wire brush, then i sprayed it with oven cleaner a few times over the course of a day and just let it sit for a while. it did a pretty good job of cleaning it out.... but maybe i should try the campfire thing??

also, when i check the spark plug, it is pretty black, but it is wet after it starts up, so i'm pretty sure it it getting some fuel. as far as running rich/lean, i've tried putting the idle screw and carb needle in every possible position and it didn't have any effect on the bogging down. maybe it is cursed?

keep the tips coming, guys. i really appreciate all the help!

==chris

ps* miguel, do you know anyone in kalamazoo (or anywhere) that IS a puch expert? would you or another kalamazooan actually be willing to come take a look at it?? thanks!

yeah but wouldnt a fuel filter (which i have) take care of that??

==chris

yeah good point, maybe youre right. thanks lester!

==chris

yeah, i have tried messing with the position of the float, and i checked earlier this afternoon to see if it was in the right position. when i checked it, it was tipping up a little, so i bent it back to normal. but that still didnt fix it. i think you might be onto something though with the idea that fuel is being restricted and just trickling in somewhere, then getting used up and stalling it out....but where???!?

thanks!!

==chris

I would put in a new float... how old is it? It seems that after a while, they lose their bouancy (sp?) as they age. I had the same exact problem... replaced the float and float needle and it works great now...

Not sure if this helps or not...

Let me know if that helps...

if you can't figure out what it is ... start from scratch and work every angle. it'll take a while ... but less than a piecemeal approach.

first, drain all the fluids. empty the gas tank and the crankcase. check them out. are they dirty? if trans fluid looks ok, fill the crankcase up again w/ type-F transmission fluid. then check your gastank. is it rusty? someone posted some ideas on how to clean a gas tank. a free spirit is nice because the tank is removable. makes it easier to clean.

then take apart the carburetor. if possible, get it soaked and soaked in carb cleaner. go over every single little bity part one by one. check it all. even if you've done it before. lots of carb cleaner and compressed air. reassemble it. check your manifold.

take of the head. is it dirty? do you need a new gasket? what do the pistons/rings look like? make sure there isn't gunk on the head of the piston. clean it if necessary. check it all. you may even want to dismount the engine and clean it on the inside if possible. reassemble it all.

get a new spark plug (bosch platinum). check all the wiring. check the timing. put the bike together ... see if you have spark. if you do, then start mixing some new gas. check your petcock for flow.

god willing, your bike should run. for details on all these proceedures, go to fred's guide ("how to fix your moped") in the resources/articles section of this site. good luck!

Chris,

As I understand your problem, your prd starts, runs a short distance then "bogs" and dies.

Try the following:

If it will start back up and do the same thing if you wait a minute or two, and,

if blipping the choke as it bogs improves the running momentarily, and,

if you turn off the gas before starting it up and the symptoms are about the same except maybe it quits a little sooner,

you have gas flow problems. Try this and report back, I need the money : )

Ron