1. Introduction
2. Scooter Start Up
Procedure
A. Use a Professional Mechanic
B. Scooter Assembly
C. Required Tools
D. Uncrating your Scooter
E. Installing the
F. Fuel and Oil
G. Starting your Scooter
H. Making Adjustments Before Riding
3. Consumable Items
A. Spark Plugs
B. Oil and Lubricants
1. Motor Oil
2. Transmission Oil
3. 2 Stroke Oil
4. Brake and Throttle Cables
5. Wheel and Steering Neck Bearings
4. Troubleshooting
5. Winter Operation
6. Storing your
Scooter
7. Recommended Tools for your Scooter
8. 2-Stroke Carburetor Adjustment
9. Warranty
10. Contact Us
You have purchased a new motor scooter, which is not a toy.
These scooters are made in
SCOOTER START UP
PROCEDURE
Use a Professional
Mechanic
Please have a professional motorcycle technician prep your
scooter.
We highly recommend paying $50-$75 to have a professional mechanic assemble
your new scooter to be sure it runs 100% perfectly.
The number one reason to use a professional mechanic is
because the carburetor may require some adjustment to get your scooter running
perfect. This is best done by a professional. The reason your carburetor many
need adjusting is simple:
1. Your altitude
above sea level may be different than the manufacturers
2. Your scooter has
been sitting in a ship for a few weeks, then customs, and our warehouse
3. After the engine
is broken in, the idle will need to be set properly
The carburetor adjustment information is located at the end of this manual, before the warranty. Please read it carefully if your scooter needs the adjustment.
Do not void your warranty by not breaking in your scooter
correctly.
Scooter Assembly
Print this and give it to you professional to use as the
step-by-step instructions
Before starting, please read our disclaimer page, it contains important
information about the operation and ownership of your new scooter. The
following instructions assume that you have some mechanical abilities and
general motorcycle knowledge. These are just general instructions; you should
have a motorcycle shop do the set-up. Most motorcycle or lawn mover repair
centers will be able to help you for a small fee. The average is $50. Be
careful moving around the crate, it weighs 205 pounds, so get some help!
Tools and Supplies
Needed
Claw hammer
10mm wrench
Wire cutters
Eye protection
Gloves
Long sleeve shirt
Razor knife
2 pints of 2 cycle oil (for 2 stroke engines only)
1.5 gallons of unleaded fuel, 90 octane or better.
300ml clean container to hold oil
Small funnel
Flat head and Phillips screw drivers
Some friends to help and the thing between you rears!
Uncrating your Scooter
Wear gloves and eye pro
S
Euro Turbo JL50QT-15
Re
Spor
If
Inside
Impor
Be sure
We do not guarantee the shipment; the shipping company is
responsible for shipping your scooter without damages.
Once you are sure the crate is in perfect condition, use the
following steps to uncrate your scooter:
1. We have found the
easiest way to uncrate the scooter is:
A. Remove the cardboard box from around
the woo
This is the crate without cardboard around it
B. Remove all the angle support boards
with a claw hammer. Be careful with the nails and pick them up as you go.
C. Cut the three wires holding the
scooter in place. There are two on the luggage rack and one on the left handle
bar grip.
D. Clip the tie wrap on the left hand
brake. (this is holding the rear brake in the lock
position)
E. Remove two 10mm nuts on the board
holding the footrest in place.
F. Remove the foot brace or move it
aside. Be careful not to scratch the scooter with the
wires or bolts.
G. Remove the center support boards with
a claw hammer.
H. Remove the top and sides with a claw
hammer.
I. You should be able to remove the
scooter. Get some help, its heavy!
2. Remove everything from under the
seat.
Ins
Turbo owners, be sure to read the
special Turbo
Be careful not to touch the battery chemicals. Use gloves, wear a long sleeve shirt and wear eye protection.
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A. Remove the battery
and electrolyte from the box.
B. Remove the red tape from the battery.
C. Carefully remove the black plastic
top on the electrolyte and save the top. (it will be
used to seal the battery later)
D. Flip the bottles of electrolyte over
and sit each bottle over the top of the battery hole. Now push down on the
bottles and the battery will break the aluminum foil. Use a razor knife to make
air holes in the bottles.
E. Let the fluid completely drain into
the battery.
F. Use the black lid to seal the
battery.
G. Allow the battery to sit for 30
minutes before charging it with a 0.7 amp charger for 5 hours.
H. The battery wil
J. Place the battery and replace the
cover. If screws are used to hold the cover in place, they are in a plastic bag
that was under the seat.
K. Dispose of the empty fluid bottle
properly.
Turbo
In the section above,
point G is very critical for Turbo owners.
G. Allow the battery to sit for 30 minutes before charging it with a 0.7 amp charger for 5 hours.
This step is especially important for Turbo owners. If you cannot find a .7 amp charger, you can use a .5 amp charger, like this one:
Search for part number 06ZX4471T. It sells for $13.
Once your battery is charged, install it per the manual instructions. Then, instead of kick starting your Turbo, use the electric starter. It may take a couple of minutes to get it to start, so wait 30 seconds to 1 minute between tries. Once you get it to start the first time, it should start easier on subsequent starts.
It is extremely
important that you do not use the kick starter.
The reason we are making this change is because we have had several
customers break the housing that the kick starter comes through. This happene
Fuel and Oil
A. For 2 cycle scooters, remove the
black oil cap under the seat (or on the right side of the Retro 21) an
B. Fill up the gas tank with unleade
C. The transfer case/gear box on the
lower left takes 300 ml for 10W-30 for 2-stroke and 100 ml of 10W-30 oil for the
Turbo model. Do not over fill this or you will void the warranty! The scooters
are shipped with oil, but the oil may have leaked during shipping. To be sure
you have enough oil, drain it into a clean container and refill. Make sure you
have at least the required amount of oil; a little more is fine. In most cases,
we have found more oil than this, so just fill it back up with what it had. If
you need to add oil, use 10W-30 motor oil and do not over fill.
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Chain Transmission |
CVT Transmission |
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The filler hole is marked "E" in the picture
below. The drain plug is marked "F". The screw marked "G"
is the safety filler screw. Remove this screw while re-filling the oil and you
will be sure not to trash your clutch. The oil will simply drain out of this
hole before getting too high and touching the clutch.
D. In your first tank
of gas, put 5 fluid ounces of 2 stroke oil in the gas tank. Reduce this amount by one ounce each
subsequent fill up. Use 4 ounces on the
secon
HOT TIP - We have seen Euro, Retro
and Sport scooters with kinked oil lines going into the oil injector. STOP and make sure your scooter is
getting oil properly. You should see smoke coming out of the tail pipe. If you
do not, please have a professional check your oil pump and make sure the line
coming from the tank to the pump is not kinked. Not doing this could ruin a
piston and you'll be without your scooter while you have someone repair it. So
it's easier to check this an
Warning: Never start a motor vehicle
in an enclosed area. Always allow for plenty of ventilation. The fumes could be
harmful or even cause death.
Starting your
Scooter
A. Be sure the battery has been charged and installed.
C. The Turbo has an
electric choke, so you don’t have to choke it yourself.
D. Holding in the rear brake, push in the
electric starter button, which is on the right side.
E. Do no
F. I
Problems S
The firs
The fuel shu
No
Solu
Pu
Remember, you are
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I
Making Adjus
A. Check the tire pressure. You should
run 36 psi (cold) in the front and rear.
B. Check the movement of everything.
Also check all of the bolts to be sure they are tight. You should check the
bolts after a few hundred miles of use to be sure they have not worked lose.
C. Adjust the brakes if needed. Make
sure the brakes work before riding.
D. Test the lights and turn signals.
E. Read the manual if included. The
manual gives you good advice on riding and maintaining your scooter, including
your break-in procedure and periods. Also familiarize yourself with the
controls before riding.
F. Some carburetors require adjusting.
This is best done by someone with smal
G. Take it easy for the first few
hundred miles. Statistics show that most accidents happen within the first few
hundred miles. So take it easy! We also recommend you take a class on motor
scooter riding. This might save your life!
H. Loaning your scooter to a friend may
sound like a great idea, but many accidents happen this way, so think before
you loan.
CONSUMABLE ITEMS
Spark Plugs
The following is a list of commonly available spark plugs
that will work. Please bear in mind that most of this information comes from
cross references provided by a variety of manufacturers, and you may find one
brand works better than another for your particular scooter. Personally, I
prefer the NGK plugs simply because I know them better than the rest.
These spark plugs will work for the Euro, Retro, Sport and Turbo models:
NGK - BP6HS, BPR6HS
ND - W22FPR-U
AC - R42CFS
Champion - QL82YC
ACCEL - 453
Some general notes on spark plugs:
The Geely scooter works best with a Projected tip sparkplug (usually designated
by a "P" in the number, ie: BP6HS). The center electrode in this type
of plug sticks out of the bottom slightly. You can use a standard plug (like a
B6HS), but the shorter electrode has the same effect as retarding the timing
slightly, and the scooter may not run as well as it does with the projected
type. Do NOT try to run a plug that is projected more than a millimeter or two
or it might connect with the piston! Compare the new plug to the old one, and
if you have any doubts about the tip length after installing a new sparkplug,
turn the engine over slowly by hand to make sure it spins easily.
The "R" in most numbers usually stands for "Resistor" type
plugs, as in CR7HS. The scooter generally doesn’t care if you run an
"R" type plug or not, but your neighbors might! The main purpose of
"R" type plugs is to reduce radio and TV interference. If you’re
getting complaints about your scooter causing noise on nearby radios and other
electronic devices, you might want to run with "R" type plugs.
Spark Plugs come in different heat ranges as indicated by the actual number in
the ID. With Japanese plugs, the heat range goes UP as the number goes DOWN.
For example, an NGK BPR5HS is the same plug as an NGK BPR6HS except that it
operates at a higher temperature. Likewise, an NGK BPR7HS operates at a cooler
temperature.
With American spark plugs, the numbers are reversed. A Champion RZ7 is a cooler
plug than an RZ8, and an RZ9 would be the hotter one.
With European plugs, there is no easy way to tell, so you’d best stick to the
manufacturer’s cross reference for the plug you want.
Why worry about heat ranges? In all likelihood, you won’t have to. It depends mostly on the type of riding you do, and the quality of fuel (and oil in the case of 2 strokes) you use. If you make a lot of short trips where the engine does not get up to operating temperature for very long, the plug may become "carbon fouled" after a while with a buildup of thick, sooty black stuff on the electrode. The scooter may run poorly, misfire, or may not start easily because carbon, being conductive, will draw the spark away from the gap without igniting the fuel in the cylinder. A new plug will cure the problem, but you might consider going one heat range "hotter" so the new plug has a chance to burn off the carbon build up before it becomes a problem again.
If you make a lot of long trips where the engine stays at operating temperature
for a long time, you might notice the plug develops a light gray or white
colored buildup, and the electrode may look overheated. You might try a new
plug that’s one heat range "cooler".
If you find your old sparkplug has a nice tan to chocolate brown color, stick
with the same type. That’s about as good as it can get.
OILS AND
LUBRICANTS
Motor Oil
People have asked us a lot of questions about motor oil for
their vehicles, and we have narrowed it down to one simple answer. Here’s
everything the modern consumer needs to know about motor oil:
Buy the best oil you can afford, and
change it regularly. Change your oil after the first
300km, then every 1000km thereafter.
That’s it! Of course there’s a lot *more* to oil than that. There are tons of
research papers on the subject, but in the end, the only thing your Geely scooter
cares about the oil in its crankcase is that it’s clean, fresh, and there’s
enough of it.
Choose a seasonable grade of oil, 10w30 in colder weather and 20w40 in warmer
weather, and make sure it’s API Rating is SF or better. You find the API Rating
inside the little circle on the back of the container. The current API rating
on most motor oils is SL, which is more than adequate for Geely 4 stroke
Scooters.
Transmission Oil
On all Geely 2 strokes with the exception of the Turbo because of its CVT drive, use 300ml to 450ml of seasonal grade motor oil. Using more than that can make a mess of the centrifugal clutch. You just need enough to keep the drive chain and gears wet. In this case, the cheaper stuff is probably better since you want to avoid synthetic oils with friction modifiers that can also have an adverse effect on the clutch.
On the Turbo, the final drive gets
100ml of a seasonal grade of motor oil. Since the CVT (Constant Velocity
Transmission) is a dry belt drive, you only need enough oil to lubricate the
rear wheel bearings.
The 4 stroke scooters also have a type of CVT called a Variable Sheave
which does not require lubrication like the chain in the 2 stroke
transmissions. These also require very little oil, about 100ml. Fill them until
oil runs back out of the filler bolt hole, and let it drip out until it stops.
Note that the filler hole is located in such a way that you can’t overfill it,
unless you stand the scooter vertically on its front wheel!
2 Stroke Oil
Please don’t be afraid to spend some money here! Buy the
best quality oil you can afford.
I get complaints from 2 stroke owners about too much smoke, oil fouled spark plugs, and black oily discharge from the tailpipe. What I usually find in their oil tank is a dark green or blue "Premix" type of 2 stroke oil that is better suited for chainsaws and leaf blowers. This type of oil is generally petroleum based, and is supposed to be mixed with gasoline in the fuel tank. Although the scooters usually run fine with it, it tends to be smoky, dirty, and smells nasty.
A much better choice for the oil injected Geely 2 stroke motors is a synthetic
or semi-synthetic blend of "injector" oil, which is vegetable based
rather than petroleum based. These oils are virtually smoke free, very low in
residual carbon content, have superior lubricating qualities, and actually
smell rather pleasant. They’re also a lot friendlier to the environment.
These 2 Stroke Injector Oils can be found at most Motorcycle and Marine shops. They are more expensive than the Petroleum Premix oils, but remember that a gallon will probably last you a year, and they are definitely worth the expense in making your 2 stroke scooter more pleasant to ride. The quantity of oil you will use depends on how you ride. Just top-off the oil tank to within ½" of the neck of the tank – DO NOT OVERFILL!
Do not use pre-mix
oil. Premix oil tends to deteriorate
the rubber components in an oil injector system causing them to leak. There are
a number of different brands of 2 stroke oil on the market, and some of them
can be used either as "Premix" oil or "Injector" oil. Just
make sure that the oil you use is suitable for use in Oil Injected Motors. This
information should be on the container, but if you have any doubts, ask the
sales person where you purchase your 2 stroke oil.
A good brand that we recommend is Amsoil. A gallon costs $19.20 on their website.
You can see their product info here:
http://www.amsoil.com/products/aio.html
Brake and Throttle Cables
Once a year or so, disconnect the cables from their control
levers or twist grip, and dribble a few drops of household oil, such as 3 in 1
or WD-40, into the cable. A "funnel" made of aluminum foil taped
around the cable housing end will make this job a little less messy. Add a
touch of grease to the little "barrel" shaped end as you re-install
it, and your cables will last a very long time.
Wheel and Steering Neck Bearings
Normally, these won’t need much attention as long as they
are not loose or "sloppy", although they should be inspected from
time to time. With the front wheel off the ground, push and pull on the
handlebars to feel any "clicking" that indicates wear is present or
adjustment is necessary in the steering neck bearings. Likewise, grab the front
wheel and push-pull sideways to feel for the same "clicking". If you
suspect adjustment or replacement is necessary, it would be wise to take the
scooter to a shop with the necessary tools to do the job correctly.
The rear wheel does not have bearings in it, but it is a
good idea to smear a dab of grease on the axle splines once a year, or every
time the rear wheel is removed from the scooter. Use care to keep the grease
off of the brake shoes!
TROUBLESHOOTING
Q: My scooter makes a
loud noise, and then stalls when I'm riding it.
A: You're flooding the engine out. Read the manual and break it in before
doing full throttle runs. After the scooter has been properly broken in, you
can accelerate to the speed you wish to ride, then back off of the throttle to
maintain the speed. If you hold the throttle wide-open, it will flood the
engine and stall the scooter which may cause damage.
Q: My scooter will
barely run.
A1: Sounds like a carb adjustment is needed. Carb
Adjustment range
A2: Sparkplug Gap - Geely recommends a gap of 0.6 to 0.8mm. I found most plugs
gapped at 0.3 to 0.5mm. The wider gap provides a larger, more reliable spark,
and is less prone to fouling.
We've received several calls on this problem, mostly with
the QT 50 2 stroke scooters. The Typical symptoms are:
"The scooter ran fine when I first got it, then it started stalling when I
opened the throttle past halfway or so. Now it won't start at all. What's
wrong?".
We have found that on some of the Wabron Carburetors supplied to Geely, the
midrange Jet Needle is set too rich. What happens is that the extra fuel
collects in the engine case, and eventually the mixture becomes so rich that it
immediately fouls the spark plug. If you have run into this problem, we suggest
you try the following:
1. Refer to the Tech article on Two Stroke Carburetor Adjustment Part II, The
Midrange.
2. Unscrew the top from the carburetor tower to remove the Slide and Jet Needle
assembly.
3. Remove the Slide from the throttle cable, and gently push the Jet Needle out
of the slide. Don't lose the Throttle return spring, or the spring clip that
holds the Jet Needle in place!
4. Verify that the "C" clip on the Jet Needle is in the CENTER (3rd)
position. This is where it belongs on a new Geely. If it is there already, and
you still have the same running problems, try moving the clip up to the 2nd
position from the "head" of the needle, but no further! It's better
to run a little too rich than too lean.
5. Re-assemble the throttle slide assembly onto the throttle cable, but do not
install it into the carburetor yet.
6. Remove the spark plug, clean it, check the gap, and set it aside for now.
7. With the ignition switch in the OFF position, spin the motor over with the
kick starter for a few minutes. Do not use the electric starter as that will
only kill your battery, and generate sparks from the ignition coil - something
you DON'T want around gasoline fumes! When you get tired, leave the scooter sit
for awhile. Repeat this procedure about three or four times. The point in doing
this is to pump out the excess fuel vapors in the crankcase.
8. Reinstall the sparkplug and verify that you have spark. Reinstall the
throttle slide assembly into the carburetor.
9. With the scooter on the center stand, try to start it. Open the throttle
slightly at first, then try less throttle. A small amount of choke may be
necessary, and it may take several attempts.
10. When the scooter starts, it will smoke heavily. This will reduce to normal
after it is ridden a few miles.
NOTE to Dealers and others who have a new QT 50 2 stroke scooter: It would be a
good idea to verify the Jet Needle clip is in the CENTER position before
starting it for the first time.
Q: My scooter is
leaking fuel.
A1: It's important that you don't operate your scooter if it leaks fuel or
oil. Have a professional work on it if you are not familiar with smal
Checking for fuel leaks is simple. Just find the wet area and fix the problem. (1.) Make sure the lines are connected to the carburetor. See the picture below with the letter "D"; this is the fuel line connection to the carburetor. (2.) Check all of the lines from the fuel tank to the carburetor and make sure they are tight. (3.) A common problem is fuel leaking from the clear over flow line. This is caused by one of two things. (a.) the choke is stuck; replace the carburetor with a new unit. (b.) The screw at the bottom of the bowl is not tight. See the picture below and tighten the screw marked "A".
The fuel leak mentioned above is in reference to the VENT
connector on the vacuum operate
Another problem may be the block off screw used on some
carbs. Replace that screw with a better plug.
Q: My front headlamp
does not get bright until I ride the scooter, is that a problem?
A: No, the headlight works off of the engines energy. So as you drive
faster it will get brighter. The tail light, brake and turn signals work off of
the battery.
Q: My kick starter
has no resistance.
A: You need to pull the back brake handle. The brake cable has a hook that
latches on to the chain and allows you to crank the engine with your foot.
Q: My starter won't
work.
A1: Be sure you have two (2) positive wires connected to the battery and
one (1) negative wire. The positive wires are covered in black, but are red
underneath. Just pull back the black casing to see the red wires.
A2: You need to pull the back brake handle when trying to
start the scooter.
A3: Dead Battery - Once a maintenance free battery has been
"wet down", it needs to sit with the caps off for an hour to develop
a surface charge before being hooked up to a battery charger. We were surprised
to see several batteries we first thought were ruined come back and charge
reliably after a few hours on a YUASA 1.5 amp 5 stage charger / maintainer.
These "automatic" chargers cost about $35, and are a worthwhile
investment, but an ordinary 2 amp charger would work if the battery is
disconnected and tested every half hour until it reads a charge of 13.0 to 13.4
VDC. It's a little extra work, but the benefit is a battery that will last
years rather than weeks.
Q: When I push the
electric starter button, the starter will not turn off. It continues to run after I stop pushing the
button.
A: Call our parts department at 301-743-3842. You need a new starter relay.
Q: My Kick Starter doesn't work even when I
squeeze in the rear brake lever. I think the gears are stripped.
Not likely! The gears in the kick starter are pretty beefy and will survive a lot
of abuse. What is more likely is that the Kick Starter Lock-out mechanism is
out of adjustment, especially if you've adjusted the rear brake. If you're
familiar with adjusting the rear brake, this one will be pretty easy.
On the rear brake cable below the drive case, there is a rod with a small fork
on the end bent at 90 degrees. The small fork slips over the cable, and is held
in place by two 8mm nuts, one in front, one in the rear. There
is a return spring that pushes the rod toward the back of the scooter. This rod
moves with the brake cable, and disengages the kick starter lockout when the
rear brake is applied.
Push the return spring out of the way and loosen these nuts.
Turn them towards the front of the scooter until they move the forked rod about
1/4 inch further onto the cable, and retighten them. Now,
give your kick starter another try. If it still doesn't work, try adjusting
them another 1/8 inch or so. It may take a few tries, but this adjustment will
probably fix your kick starter problem.
WINTER OPERATION
The small 2 stroke engine in your scooter can be difficult to start as
the weather gets colder. When
temperatures consistently are 50 degrees F. or below, if you still plan on
riding your scooter, there are 3 things that must be in place, or you will have
difficulty getting your scooter to start.
1. Strong
2. Synthetic Gear and
Injection Oil –When the temperatures get below 50 degrees, it is important to
switch to synthetic injection oil, if you are not already using one. Synthetics flow freely at subzero
temperatures, pouring easily at -40 or -50 degrees F. where ordinary oils turn
to molasses. This makes for easier cold starts and
provides faster upper valve train lubrication during the first critical moments
when most engine wear occurs. We highly
recommend using Amsoil injection oil.
http://www.amsoil.com/products/aio.html
For your gear box, be sure to switch to a synthetic 5W-30,
or whatever is recommended in your car at your altitude and climate.
3. Carburetor - Very
Important - The idle must be set properly in order to start your
scooter. If the idle is set too high, it
dramatically reduces the effect of the choke.
It is better to run your scooter a little rich during winter
operation. The winter idle mix may have
to be as much as a full turn richer than the summer setting. Be sure to make the adjustment back when the
temperatures get warmer. Refer to the Carburetor
adjustment section for step by step instructions on doing the adjustment.
Finally, you need to avoid condensation. Condensation is the
water vapor that builds up from temperature changes inside your engine. Going from cold to hot water vapor and
petroleum base oils = metal corroding acid. When you start your scooter in
colder weather, take it for a minimum of 10 minutes, if you have the time. In doing so, you will get the oil warmed up
to a minimum of 180-degree F. At 180
degrees F. water vapor will burn off and acid will not build up in your oil to attack
your bearings.
With these tips, you should have a much better success rate
at getting your scooter started in colder weather.
STORING YOUR
SCOOTER
Not everyone is lucky enough to live in an area where the riding season lasts
all year long. When the weather turns too cold to
ride, or if you won’t be riding your Geely for a period lasting longer than 30
days for any reason, there are a few things you need to do to make sure it’s
ready to go riding when you are. Simply starting the scooter and letting it run
for a few minutes every few days during storage actually does more harm than
good. Here’s how to do it right, and it will only take you about an hour.
First, wash the scooter from top to bottom. This isn’t an absolute necessity,
but it will save you the trouble of doing it in spring when you’ll more likely
be in the mood to go riding than cleaning. It will also decrease the chance
that potentially corrosive road contaminants will damage the scooter.
Next, you want to fill the tank with gasoline to reduce the air space inside to
an absolute minimum. This will decrease the chance for water to condense inside
the tank during the storage period, contaminating the fuel and possibly causing
the tank to begin rusting from the inside out. Add a FUEL STABILIZER to the
tank before you fill it if you expect to be storing the scooter for longer than
30 days. STA-BIL is the name of one brand, but there are others. You can find
them at most hardware or Automotive stores.
Do the same with the injector oil tank if you have a 2 stroke model by filling
it completely with 2 stroke oil. Adding a stabilizer is not necessary for the
oil as it already has stabilizers blended into it.
On the subject of storing gasoline, there are a few good rules to follow:
- ALWAYS use a proper storage container approve
- Store the container AWAY from ignition sources, sparks, and open flames.
Explosive vapors can leak out of the most tightly sealed containers. That
includes the fuel tank on your scooter.
- ADD Fuel Stabilizer if you are going to be storing the gasoline for longer
than 30 days.
Now, you want to take the scooter for a nice, long ride to make sure the
stabilizer treated gasoline has worked its way throughout the fuel system.
About 15 to 20 minutes ought to do it. Putter on back home, and park the
scooter on its center-stand wherever you intend to store it.
Even with the fuel stabilizer added to the fuel, the gasoline in the float bowl
of the carburetor wil
For the 2 Stroke
Carburerator
Locate the carburetor under the rear fender mounted to the
front of the engine. From the right side of the scooter, you will see two black
hoses going into the carburetor. The lower black hose is the fuel line. Pull
the fuel line from the carburetor, and quickly plug it with a wooden golf tee,
making sure it doesn’t leak. That will prevent the carburetor from re-filling
with gasoline in the event that the fuel valve develops a slow leak.
From the left side of the scooter, you will find a clear tube attached to the
bottom of the carburetor. There will also be a brass screw on the same fitting
with the hose. An access hole in the swing-arm allows you to get to this screw
with a long, thin straight screwdriver. Place a clean glass container under the
clear drain hose, and open the screw a few turns counterclockwise. Gasoline
will drain from the float-bowl, through the tube, and into the glass container.
Let it run until it stops, then close the drain screw. If the gas is clear and
uncontaminated, pour it back into the gas tank. If you see a lot of crud or water
in the bottom of the glass, you might want to check the fuel filter.
The
I generally get two to three years service out of even the cheapest,
no-name lead-acid batteries as long as I take care of them. The Geely comes
with a Maintenance Free battery located under the panel in the storage
compartment. “Maintenance Free”, however, does not mean the battery will last
forever if you ignore it. Lead-Acid batteries do not like to sit unused for
long periods of time. If the battery is not kept actively charged, a
deteriorating process called “sulfation” occurs which will greatly shorten its
useful life.
ALWAYS disconnect the negative (-) terminal first, and the positive (+)
terminal second to prevent sparks. Remove the battery from its compartment and
wipe it down with a solution of Baking Soda and water to neutralize any acid
that may have seeped out of it, then wipe it down a second time with clear
water. If you have a battery with individual cell caps, check the electrolyte
levels and top them up to the full mark with distilled water ONLY! Tap water is
full of ions that wreak havoc on the electro-chemical process that happens
inside, and more acid only upsets the chemical balance. Wear gloves and eye
protection when doing this, and don’t touch anything else until you’ve finished
the job and washed up!
Hook the battery up to a 12 volt Charger/Maintainer for the duration of the
storage period. These are small, 1 amp chargers that look like an AC adapter
that plugs into the wall. You can find them at most Automotive Stores, and they
usually cost about $20. DON’T use a larger automotive type charger! Even the 2
amp chargers can overcharge the tiny Geely battery and damage it beyond use.
Prepping the scooter for a long winter’s nap is also a good time to clean the
air filter, change the engine oil in the 4 stroke model, and the transmission
oil in both the 2 and 4 stroke models. Your Geely Owner’s Manual has
instructions on how to do this. Remember, anything you do to the scooter now
you won’t have to do in the Spring.
Make a final check of everything you’ve done so far. Top-up the fluids, and
cover the scooter with a piece of plastic sheet or a tarp. Now, you’re ready to
get busy waiting for Springtime!
To pull your scooter out of storage is a lot easier and only takes a few
minutes. Hook up the fuel line to the carburetor, and re-install the battery.
Remember to install the battery exactly the reverse of removing it. Connect the
positive (+) wire FIRST, then hook up the negative wire (-) to prevent sparks.
Get the scooter started and you’re ready to go for another riding season!
…And, yes, it’s OK to laugh at your friends who simply parked their scooters
last fall, and are now spending hours cleaning their carburetors, cursing their
dead batteries, and pumping on their kick starters…
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
FOR YOUR SCOOTER
The Geely scooter comes with its own tool kit. It’s
good to have on hand, but if you plan to do your own maintenance, you’re going
to need more.
It’s important to buy good, quality tools. You don’t have to spend a small
fortune to get good tools, but the 80-piece socket set for $6.95 is definitely
not the bargain it seems when you start stripping bolts and damaging parts.
Most automotive stores have good quality ready-made kits that have almost
everything you will need.
Here is a list of tools you will find useful (which is by no
means comprehensive – you can never have too many tools!). I have listed them
by category, along with an approximate cost range for all the tools in that
category. Shop around for bargains on GOOD tools.
SCREWDRIVERS: Approximate cost: $10 to $25
-One #2 Phillips driver
-One #3 Phillips driver
-One ¼" straight thin screwdriver, about 8" long
-One 3/8" straight screwdriver 6" long
-One ½" straight screwdriver 6" to 8" long
Note: for most purposes, a "6 in one" type screwdriver will be
sufficient.
-One "Impact Driver" with a variety of bits. Very useful for
loosening those stubborn drive case screws.
WRENCHES: Approximate cost: $15 to $40
-A set of "Combination Wrenches" sized from 8mm to 19mm. These are
the ones that have the open-end on one side with the box-end on the other.
-One 8" adjustable wrench
SOCKET SET: Approximate cost: $15 to $40
-One 3/8" drive ratchet wrench
-A collection of sockets to fit the above, sized from 8mm to 19mm
-A spark plug socket. I like the ones with a Hex-Drive so you can use it with a
combination wrench as well as the ratchet wrench. You will need a 13/16"
socket for 2 stroke spark plugs, and/or a 5/8" socket for 4 stroke spark
plugs.
-A 24mm socket, 6 sided, for the rear axle nut on 2 stroke and 4 stroke
scooters. For the FX 16, you can use a 19mm combination wrench.
-A 2" extension and a 6" extension for the 3/8" drive ratchet
wrench. You will be happy if you bought the "wobble" type.
Note: A 1/4" drive socket set similar to the 3/8" drive set above is
useful, but not absolutely necessary. Likewise, a half-inch drive Ratchet set
would be nice to have if you have the money for it.
ALLEN WRENCH SET: Approximate cost: $5 to $12
-Usually sized from 3mm to 8mm, but for the most part you will only need the
5mm size.
PLIERS: Approximate cost: $20 to $45
-6" Slip-Jaw
-6" Needle nose
-6" Diagonal Cutters
-6" or 8" Vise-Grip type
-A Chain Wrench is useful for holding onto parts that spin while you try to
loosen them, like clutches and magnetos.
-A pair of tweezers
HAMMERS: Approximate cost: $%10 to $25
-A 16 ounce Ball Pean Hammer
-A 1 ½ lb. Dead Blow Hammer
MEASURING TOOLS: Approximate cost: $10 to $15
-A 500ml Plastic Measuring Cup
-A Spark Plug Gapping tool
-A tire gauge reading in both PSI and KPa
ELECTRICAL TOOLS: Approximate cost listed for each tool
-A VOM (Volts/Ohm Meter) with a 10 amp setting - $15 to $50
-A soldering iron with solder and flux - $10 to $15
-A pair of Wire Crimpers and terminal kit - $8 to $12
-A Continuity Tester, the wireless ones work great! - $3 to $15
-A set of jumper leads (Radio Shack has them) - $2 to $5
-A paperclip – You will be amazed at how useful it is! - FREE!
-A 1.5amp Battery Charger/Maintainer - $25 to $40
MISCELLANEOUS:
-A small Funnel - $1 to $2
-A set of Files - $10 to $15
-A 1/8" Punch - $3 to $5
-A ½" chisel - $3 to $5
-A Tire Pump - $10 to $20
-A wire brush - $3 to $5
-Golf Tees for plugging hoses - $1 to $3 for a whole bag of them
-A set of Tire Irons, available at most Motorcycle Shops, and MUCH better than
changing tires with a screwdriver. - $15 to $25 for the set of two
-A KNOWN-GOOD sparkplug - $2 to $4
-A 1" wide paint scraper - $2 to $4
-A GOOD Tool Box to keep everything in - $20 to $40
ADVANCED TOOLS (Optional):
-A Compression Tester, with a hose that screws into the spark plug hole - $20
to $30
-An Inductive Tachometer - $35 to $50
-An Inductive Timing Light - $25 to $35
-Mechanic’s Stethoscope - $10 to $15
-A Mitey Vac ™ vacuum pump with gauge - $30 to $65 depending on the set
-A set of Dial or Vernier Calipers for fine measurements - $15 to $50
Take care of your tools! Keep them clean and organized. There's nothing more
frustrating than spending ten minutes digging around for a tool you need to do
a two minute job!
2 STROKE CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT
Part 1, The Idle
Mixture
It is no surprise that the Idle Mixture on a brand new Geely Scooter may need to be adjusted when you receive it. The carburetor is adjusted at the factory where the atmospheric conditions could be quite different than they are in your area. Fortunately, it isn’t a difficult process for anyone with a small degree of Mechanical Aptitude. An Inductive Lead Tachometer would be a nice tool to have on hand for this, but all you really need is a screwdriver and a good set of ears.
Begin by familiarizing yourself with the scooter carburetor
by looking at it. It’s located under the right rear fender in front of the rear
wheel, attached to the engine. On the side of the carburetor, you will find two
brass screws. The screw located farthest from the engine (on the left as you
look at it) is the Air/Fuel Mixture screw. Turning this screw Clockwise RICHENS
the mixture with more fuel/less air, turning it Counter Clockwise LEANS the
mixture with less fuel/more air. The screw closer to the engine at the base of
the “tower” is the Idle Speed Screw. Turning this screw Clockwise INCREASES the
Idle Speed, turning it Counter Clockwise DECREASES the Idle Speed. Memorize
their positions, but don’t do anything to them yet. Just identify them so
you’ll know what to do later.
The next step is to warm up the scooter by riding it around
for about ten minutes. When the engine is warmed up, park it on the center stand
in a well ventilated area, and leave the engine running at idle.
With a screwdriver, give the MIXTURE SCREW a quarter turn in whichever
direction INCREASES the engine idle speed.
IF turning the screw in either direction causes the Idle Speed to DECREASE,
that’s it! Set the screw back to it’s original position, and you’re done
already. Move on to the IDLE SPEED adjustment. IF turning the mixture screw in
one direction or the other causes the idle speed to INCREASE, continue turning
the screw in that direction another QUARTER TURN , and listen carefully to the
engine spee
When you tinker with the MIXTURE SCREW, be sure that you do not set it too
lean. This is how you it should be
set. Gently turn the mixture screw in
until it stops, then back it out 1 1/2
to 1 3/4 turns and adjust the idle speed screw for the lowest, smooth idle,
and they should be close enough. Be sure
that you back the mixture screw out. If
you run your scooter with the maximum air mixture, your scooter will run too
lean, and you will “cold seize” your scooter.
The pistons will be seized to the cylinder, and this is, of course, not
covered under warranty.
To summarize the process:
1. Warm up the engine.
2. Adjust the MIXTURE screw either way for the fastest idle speed, (Remember to
err on the RICH side by giving the mixture screw 1/8th turn clockwise from fastest
idle).
3. Adjust the IDLE screw for a normal sounding idle
It’s almost like tuning a radio, first for the strongest signal, then adjusting
the volume to a comfortable listening level.
A few things to keep in mind while you’re working on the idle mixture settings:
- The Oil Pump is driven by the rear wheel. Every few minutes when the engine
is running at idle, rev the motor up a bit to spin the rear wheel for a few
seconds. That will keep the engine lubricated during the process, and one
reason to do it with the scooter sitting on it’s centerstand.
- If you’ve already been tweaking on the adjustment settings, and have no idea
where the were originally, turn the mixture screw clockwise until it just stops
(- DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN IT! -), then back it out counter clockwise 1 ½ turns as a
starting point for the procedure. Start the engine, and set the idle speed
screw for a “normal” low idle, and begin the adjustment procedure from step 1.
- If the warmed up Scooter refuses to idle, or stalls frequently while idling
and this procedure doesn’t fix the problem, check for a dirty air filter,
blocked exhaust, or disconnected vacuum lines to the carburetor. On an older
scooter with high mileage, you may need to have the carburetor and/or exhaust
system cleaned, or have the engine teste
- Setting the Idle Mixture really doesn’t change the mixture at other throttle
settings. From about ¼ to Full Throttle, the mixture is controlled by jets
within the carburetor. Under normal circumstances you won’t need to bother with
them, but if you’re interested, 2 Stroke Carburetor Adjustment Part II will get
into the Mid-Range adjustments.
Part II, The Jet Needle
* Caution: this is more difficult than Part I. This is
offered as reference, we do not support working on your own scooter. You should
have a qualified technician work on your scooter. However, we know many of you
want to know how things work, so we will continue to provide this valuable
information to our customers.
OK, so you’ve adjusted the Idle Mixture on your 2 stroke Geely as described in
Part I, and it runs a lot smoother when you first start taking off down the
road. The only problem is that now you’ve noticed that when you get to about ¾
throttle or so, the scooter seems to lag, and maybe even seems to run slower as
you open it up to Wide Open Throttle (WOT). You might suspect that the Fuel
Mixture still has something to do with it, and you might be right, but don’t go
back to tweaking on the mixture screw. As stated in Part I, the mixture screw
only affects the fuel mixture from idle to about ¼ throttle. Beyond that, it
has very little effect on the way your Geely runs in the Midrange. Fortunately,
this is not a particularly difficult adjustment to make either, and the only
tool you will need is a pair of Needle Nose pliers.
First, crawl back under the right rear fender, and take another look at the
carburetor. You already know about the Idle adjustment screws, now take a close
look at the “Tower” above the Idle Speed Screw (the one on the left). You can
see where the throttle cable goes into the top of the tower, and the top looks
like it can unscrew like a bottle cap, doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it
does! Don’t go playing with it yet.
Start the scooter, and take it for a ride. When the engine
is all warmed up, come to a stop at a place where you can make a long,
straight, level run, and slowly begin to accelerate. Gradually, open the
throttle to the point where the engine feels like it’s beginning to lag. Hold
the throttle steady at that position, and gradually push open the choke lever.
The scooter usually will do one of two things. It wil
Once you’re sure of that, putt back home, shut the engine
off, and get ready to do a little work on your machine. With the scooter on the
center stand, reach up under the right rear fender and unscrew the top of the
Under the CAP, you should see a spring squeezed into the cylinder shaped SLIDE, with the JET NEEDLE sticking out the bottom. First, let’s take a good look at the SLIDE. Notice how the bottom has an ANGLE cut halfway across it. This ANGLE faces the INTAKE side in the Carburetor. It helps the air mix with the fuel while the SLIDE acts like a throttle valve. There is also a NOTCH near the bottom and on one side of the slide. This NOTCH is where the IDLE SPEED screw (not the mixture screw) fits, and does its job of holding the slide up just a little so the scooter can idle.
On the other side of the SLIDE, there is a GROOVE that runs the entire length of it. The GROOVE has two purposes. First, it allows the throttle cable to be removed from the slide, and second, inside the “Tower” there is a pin that runs in the GROOVE as the SLIDE runs up and down inside it. That keeps the SLIDE from twisting and turning as it does it’s job. It’s VERY IMPORTANT to remember all this for when you’re ready to put it all back together! Removing the SLIDE from the cable is easier if you hold the SLIDE ASSEMBLY in your left hand while you twist the throttle grip with your right hand. The SLIDE will compress the spring. Hold it together with your fingers as you twist the throttle grip back, and the end of the cable should poke out the bottom of the SLIDE. Lift the end of the cable up out of the groove, and let the spring push the slide off the cable. Hold onto it! You don’t want it shooting off to God knows where.
Now, you should be holding the SLIDE / JET NEEDLE assembly
in your hand. Look inside the slide, and you will see a hairpin type spring
holding the JET NEEDLE in the bottom of the slide. Reach in there with your
NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS to squeeze it gently and pull it out. Be careful, these
things love to jump and hide too. Once the JET NEEDLE retaining spring has been
removed, you can push the JET NEEDLE out of the SLIDE.
Take a good look at the JET NEEDLE. You can see it looks pretty much
like,…well, a needle. Tapered to a point on one end, and the “head” has five little
grooves with the world’s tiniest “E” clip in the middle one. This is the
“standard” position for the “E” clip, and you adjust the midrange mixture by
moving the “E” clip into a different position.
Hold the JET NEEDLE in front of you point down, and imagine
how it moves up and down inside the carburetor with the SLIDE. The pointed end
fits into a hole in the carburetor called the NEEDLE JET. Since the NEEDLE JET
remains stationary, the taper of the JET NEEDLE allows more or less fuel to mix
with the incoming air depending on the thickness of the taper that remains in
the NEEDLE JET. Moving the JET NEEDLE up lets MORE fuel into the airstream.
Moving it down lets LESS fuel into the mix. You change the midrange air / fuel
ratio by making the JET NEEDLE move higher or lower in relation to the SLIDE.
All you need to know is which way to move it.
Remember your test ride when you turned on the choke lever? That temporarily added
more fuel to the mix. If your scooter ran BETTER, then the midrange mix is
lean, and you need to move the “E” clip one notch down toward the pointed end.
If your scooter ran WORSE, then the midrange mix is rich, and you need to move
the “E” clip up one notch toward the “head” end. Decide now which groove you’re
going to put it in, but don’t move it more than one notch at a time or you
might adjust it too much. The easiest way to remove the “E” clip is to lay the
JET NEEDLE on a hard, flat surface with the opening of the “E” clip down. Cover
it with your hand or a cloth in case the little clip decides to make a leap for
freedom, and press the JET NEEDLE partly out the opening. If the clip doesn’t
pop off, grab it tightly with your needle nose pliers and carefully pull it off
the rest of the way, (if you do lose it, you can get another at most Hardware
stores). Using the same hard, flat surface method, press the “E” clip back onto
the NEEDLE JET in it’s new position, making certain that it’s completely snapped
into place in it’s new groove. Drop the JET NEEDLE back into the SLIDE, and
replace the hairpin type JET NEEDLE retaining spring with your pliers, pushing
it all the way to the bottom of the SLIDE. Make sure the JET NEEDLE stays in
place when you’re done. Now comes the hardest part. You have to put the SLIDE
SPRING onto the throttle cable where it sticks out under the Tower Cap, and
squeeze it past the little ball on the end of the cable as far as you can.
Don’t get frustrated, I swear it can be done with some practice. Fit the little
bal
Gently, put the SLIDE / JET NEEDLE assembly back into the “Tower” of the
carburetor. DO NOT FORCE IT! It will practically fall inside when you have it
lined up right. Remember to keep it properly oriented as described before.
Jiggle, twist, up / down, play with it until it slips inside the Tower all the
way to the bottom, and screw the cap back on. If you have to push the cap down
to compress the spring more than a millimeter or two, it isn’t right. Pull it
out and try again. Once you have the Carburetor back together, take another
test ride, (You may want to re adjust the IDLE mixture per Part I of this
series). Hopefully, your scooter will accelerate much more smoothly than
before. If not, then go back to the beginning and try the “Choke” test again to
determine if the “E” clip needs to be moved yet another groove up or down. When
in doubt, leave it in the center JET NEEDLE groove as that’s the standard
position set by the factory, and be happy you saved yourself the $40 a bike
shop would have charged you to do the same thing!