Slow Pocket Bike, only going 5km/h :(

[Joshmcmillan]

Hello,

When I first got my pocket bike, it was going about 2km/h, then I changed the throttle adjustment a little bit and it went around 10km/h. Then, I changed it more, broke the cap, got a new one, put it on, and only rode the bike for about 1 minute because it was raining. I go out today, it all seems OK for about 30 seconds then my power cuts back to only going 5km/h or so. At one stage it picked up again for a few seconds, but that's it.

What could possibly be the problem? I've tried it at different throttle adjustments. Could the clutch possibly be doing this?

Thanks.

 

[jr dragster T]

When you apply more throttle does it bog. Sputter ,quit?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Clean carb? What are the RPMs doing? Pull out the slide and throttle it, check for proper movement.

 

[Joshmcmillan]

I think I'll leave cleaning the carb till last, as I'm not very mechanical and I have no carb cleaner and I hear it's pretty expensive. Do I need it? When I rev it fully, it just sounds like it's going up a hill or something, it's hard for it to move. Kind of like I'm too heavy for it, but I know I'm not because of the occasional time that it runs properly. Plus the guy I got it from weighs more then me.

It doesn't really splutter, but sounds kind of like if you put a normal bike in 5th gear and try to start off, except this is like that for it's max speed. Someone it could be the "reeds", is that possible?

 

[SpyGuy]

Well, for that matter, it could be that the clutch is slipping, too. Didn't you ask this over at pocketbikeplanet.com? When you rev it up, does it feel like it wants to pull away from you, or just sits there? Does the rear wheel turn with no load on it: i.e., raised up in the air?

Cleaning the carburetor is pretty easy on these bikes. I would suggest taking pictures of "before you touch it" and during teardown, so you'll have a visual reference of how everything should look and how it went together. After a while, you won't need the pictures anymore, because you will be fooling with the carb for a while to get it set up right, which means probably taking it apart and putting it back together several times. It happens ...

 

[Joshmcmillan]

How can I tell if it is the clutch slipping? Yes I did post my problem at pocketbikeplanet.com, I really want it fixed. When I'm not sitting on it, yes it does feel like it wants to pull away, and yes the rear wheel turns when it's raised up in the air.

*EDIT* Should the engine and clutch housing be way to hot to touch after being on for 2-3 minutes?

 

[thatcobaltguy]

How can I tell if it is the clutch slipping? Yes I did post my problem at pocketbikeplanet.com, I really want it fixed. When I'm not sitting on it, yes it does feel like it wants to pull away, and yes the rear wheel turns when it's raised up in the air.

*EDIT* Should the engine and clutch housing be way to hot to touch after being on for 2-3 minutes?[/QUOTe

Yeah thats normal.

 

[BradenM]

Not really normal unless you have excessive clutch slip. After 2-3 minutes of operation, the clutch should be at a touchable temperature, unless you are purposely driving slowly. If the bike feels like it wants to pull away at idle, your idle is set to high.

 

[Joshmcmillan]

Nar I meant when you revved it lol

Does that mean I definitely have clutch slip? The clutch housing is way way to hut to touch after 2 minutes.

 

[BradenM]

If your revving it, and not allowing it to move, then your causing the clutch to slip, which means friction. Friction creates heat.

 

[Joshmcmillan]

Oh, when I rev it it's either on the stand, or I let it move forward a bit when I do rev.

 

[BradenM]

It's got me beat, let me think about it for a while and I'll get back to you. What are the clutch shoes like?

 

[Joshmcmillan]

It's got me beat, let me think about it for a while and I'll get back to you. What are the clutch shoes like?

Clutch shoes?

 

[SpyGuy]

Your clutch is underneath your bell housing, where the pinion is on the motor. (In other words, take off the housing where the little gear is on the motor, and there's your clutch.) If the shoes are worn out, or oily, that would cause the clutch to slip.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

If you take off the chain does it run normally(besides not moving)?

 

[Joshmcmillan]

If you take off the chain does it run normally(besides not moving)?

I'd assume it would, it seems to run normally when I'm not on it.

 

[Joshmcmillan]

Here's some pictures. What do you all think?

 

[BradenM]

Time for new clutch shoes. When the motor revs, what RPM do you think your motor is turning at WOT?

 

[Joshmcmillan]

It sounds full RPM when on stand. But when I'm on it, it seems like it's struggling (like I said before, how it seems like it's in top gear). I don't know what they rev up to at max, so I couldn't give a number guess. But definitely sounds like it's revving a LOT less then when it has no weight on it. It's almost exactly like as if I'm to heavy for it, except I know I'm not because of the times it does go fast.

 

[BradenM]

Time new clutch shoes, and if it were me, I'd tear down the motor, complete overhaul, and start again. I really don't know.