My friend was thinking of buying this Motobecane Mobylette from a guy down the street. Are these any good? I've never worked with a Motobecane before, but I noticed that you can get just about any part on the mopedjunkyard page, so that has got to be a plus....
rob
i like the way they look ... but everyone here seems to hate them w/ a passion. they are difficult to work on and fix. but when they run, they run great. just don't overpay for one.
A running Motobecane can be a wonderful thing. I
Yeah, I'd have to say that I'm really thrilled with mine when it is running well. Speedy with plenty of power. So, if it runs, I'd grab it.
Rob,
I resurected a couple of Model 7's and had no real problems getting them to run. If it is in good shape, is priced right and seems to have compression, go for it.
Ron
i love my motobecane. I prefer it over my tomos, becasue it is more comfortable, bigger, better brakes (even though the drums are smaller), A LOT better quality, you can easily ride two people, and it is VERY simple, and easy to work on. Im in the middle of restoring mine. have the whole thing torn apart. theres not much to it, but its all solid metal and quality parts. (no plastic parts here!)
is anyone else's motobecane very picky about the oil/gas mixture? unless i get mine EXACTLY right, it wont run very well.
no matter what i do mine won't run well. maybe a lot of small things are off. do you use special spark plugs, or is there any other "voodoo" magic you use to get yours to run. I'm convinced thats what it takes.
daveb
mine runs great, so long as the mix is right
Dave,
Get specific, maybe we can help.
Ron
Dave,
Get specific, maybe we can help.
Ron
i got my 79 moby last august and besides problems resulting from me not yet knowing how to maintain it (you have to grease the transmission and the pedal arm nipples or you'll have troubles) it's been great. it starts right away every time and has average acceleration and a bit above average speed i'd say (i get like 37 mph on a straightaway). luckily no work has been required on its inside though because it does look like a real bitch to work on. so i have to keep crossing my fingers there.
as for oil mix right now i'm running 6-8oz per gallon which is up from the regular 4oz i used to put in. but sometimes after it gets tired from hills or long rides it seems to slow down sometimes almost to a standstill so that's getting me worried. hmm i guess that could be translated as a problem. doh.
wish me luck
dave
-moped army-
I need to get some parts. I
Dave,
I don't know if you have the same air cleaner as my model 7, but it tends to spit fuel onto the filter foam at "high" speads, causing it to run rich and slow down.
Ron
Dave,
I had to ask....
By definition, one of your statements is wrong. Otherwise, the ped would have started.
You need to approach the problem again, with a clear mind and Fred's instructions.
Remember the mantra. It's only an engine, it's only an engine, it's only an engine...
Ron
i had that problem with a cosmo. the carb was clean, and it had spark, but it would not fire at all. turned out the timing was off
Somebody tell me how to dismantle the clutch. Is it just hold the square hole on the magneto and undo the nut in the middle of the clutch??
Somebody tell me how to dismantle the clutch. Is it just hold the square hole on the magneto and undo the nut in the middle of the clutch??>
hey, i am rebuilding my motobecane. i have a pretty good feel for it, the things i am kinda unfamiliar about are magneto condencer coil and timing, can any one explain how this works basically how to make shure the electrical system is working.
Justin,
The flywheel on the right side is attached with a single bolt in the middle. This bolt has a left hand thread. Use an impact wrench to take it off as it is difficult to hold the engine from turning. The flywheel then comes right off. Check the ignition capacitor with an ohm meter while you are in there. It is mounted on the magneto back plate, follow the wire from the points.
Ignition timing is 2 mm before tdc. You will have trouble seeing the points open with a vom unless you disconnect the wires from the ignition and magneto coils.
Ron
thanks Ron, i cleaned the carb last night, i put the block back on, i broke a lillte plastic peice that the motor mount bolt is supposed to go through :) oops, at least it is back to gether. i have not taken anything aprt below the engine. ok there are two round wheels on each side, on has the belt next to it ans a regular bolt holding it on. the other side has a square hole it fit my medium size sock wrench i guess that is the idea, is that the one that is revers thread??? i know this is a big question but what is the each side and how do the work?? lol are there any free pics of that section blown up, and as far as electrical if it goes spark plug, plastic cap thing, wire, the thingamagig???lol what is thingamagig? thingamagig look like a plastice box kinda, the wire that comes off is hard to tell if it is good , i know i am asking for a whole book here, but more info is apreciated :) :) thanks a million ohh yeah that carb, there is that fuel nipple on the top on the fare end, what is the little nipple looking thing that is above the float bowl?? is some thing supposed to go on there, i took apart last week and now i am wonder if i am forgetting something. i can't wait to get this thing going.!!!!! ohh yeah what are the typical carb adjustments i should start with?? ok i am finished blabbing now!!!:)
john you might not want to take my work for this but i found it easy to undo the bolt that holds the enging up to get the belt off, but i did break a peice putting it back on. i think the rest you said is right the is how it appears to work to me. wait for johns respoce though, lol i am a fool. but once i am finished i will be a fool no more. you migh not need to take the bolt out it could slide straingt outJohn wrote:
>
RON'S responce i mean!!!! damn me and my spelling and mistakes in general!!
CHRIST!!!!
OK Justin, I feel better now.
> ok there are two round wheels on each side, on has the belt
> next to it ans a regular bolt holding it on. the other side
> has a square hole it fit my medium size sock wrench i guess
> that is the idea, is that the one that is revers thread???
Yes, this is the magneto flywheel mount, but if you can, use an impact wrench as it is hard to stop the motor from turning. The other side is the clutch and requires a special puller.
> i know this is a big question but what is the each side and how
> do the work??
Unless you have a problem, you can leave the clutch alone. Under the mag. flywheel, the only thing you can do anything with is the points.
> lol are there any free pics of that section
> blown up,
Not that I am aware of except in the shop manual.
> and as far as electrical if it goes spark plug,
> plastic cap thing, wire, the thingamagig???lol what is
> thingamagig? thingamagig look like a plastice box kinda, the
> wire that comes off is hard to tell if it is good
That is the ignition coil.
> , i know i
> am asking for a whole book here, but more info is apreciated
> :) :) thanks a million ohh yeah that carb, there is that fuel
> nipple on the top on the fare end, what is the little nipple
> looking thing that is above the float bowl?? is some thing
> supposed to go on there, i took apart last week and now i am
> wonder if i am forgetting something. i can't wait to get
> this thing going.!!!!! ohh yeah what are the typical carb
> adjustments i should start with?? ok i am finished blabbing
> now!!!:)
I don't understand your description of the carb "nipples". Gas line is connected to the top of the float bowl, throttle and choke cables are connected through the top cap. There are no adjustments to this carb except idle speed so you can get it running, then adjust the idle so you can let go of the throttle.
Ron
ok this is the thing i was wondering about,, i am going to attach a pic i made if i can :) LMAO
My name is Beth and my husband and I saw a Moped for sale in someone's yard. I thought it was cute and have always wanted a moped sense my cool cousins from CT had one in the 70's. My husband got it for me for my Anniversary and it turn out it is a Motobecane Mobylett from the 70's (I think). Anyway just wondering what you can tell me about it. It runs great and looks good. He paid $175.00 for it, is that a good price?
Just wondering,
Beth
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