OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[SteveAndBelle]

Hi.

Just took delivery of a 2nd hand cheap crappy Chinese quad (what seems to be a Lei 'Typhoon' with ZongShen 250cc 4-Stroke Air-Cooled engine) but after using it happily for about 45 minutes while riding slowly getting my riding skills & confidence up I hit a problem. Just before I decided to stop 'playing' for the day I decided to rip it up the driveway with fairly high revs and do some fast gear changes. I was great fun ... however when I changed back down to slow to a stop the engine snuffed it. I tried restarting it a few times and it kicked over OK but konked out again seconds after, no matter what position the throttle was in. I then looked down and noticed fuel pouring out of the carby overflow pipe (?) and out a strange hole on the side.

Here's a shot of what seems to be an 'overflow pipe' (but I really have no idea): http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/Carby-Overflowpipe.jpg

... and here's the strange hole on the side: http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/Carby-Holeonside.jpg

Note: I had already removed the fuel line from the tank before I took this shot. It goes in the top. Also, the choke has been removed by the previous owner but it looks like the bracket screwed into the standoffs just below where the arrow is pointing.

So, does anyone have any ideas as to what may have happened to my carby ? Did something attach to the strange hole on the side where fuel is gushing out from or is that just my imagination making things up ?! I didn't study the carby beforehand so I just don't know and what's the point of the overflow pipe at the bottom of the carby ? I know a little bit about engines but this pipe is a first for me. I also noticed it leak a little bit when I filled the fuel tank up (to the brim).

I have another problem too, the starter motor spins when the start button is pressed (obviously only when in neutral) however it doesn't engage so I have to roll-start the quad each time. Battery is fine, starter motor sounds fine, everything is OK but it doesn't seem to be spinning the engine. I'd love to get it working and from what I've already heard this seems to be a common problem with these quads. I started taking the side cover off (crank case I think) but couldn't figure out how to undo the nut under the small chrome cover. This large nut is obviously connected to crank because it turns the engine over when turned. I'm not sure if it's left or right thread or if there's any easy way to stop the engine turning while trying to undo it. Hmmm, I know a little bit about engines but ovbiously not enough ;)

Any ideas how to fix this problem or just undo the large nut under that cover ?

Any help fpr a newbie like me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks !

Steve.
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Part-time Taswegian

[Dino]

Hi Steve. Welcome to the forum.

Re. your bike problems, a real good start is a workshop manual for it. You've a better clue as to what is supposed to do what with a manual. Maybe you can download one off the web.

I'd suggest that you take the carby off, and buy a replacement one complete with choke. It will probably be cheaper and easieir in the long run, and that would help your cold starting in your southern climates.

The starter motor has probably just got a bit of binding in the form of grit or rust on the shaft stopping it coming out and engaging. Either that or the pinion gear on the end of it is loose. Either way, it'll need to come out.

You can try leaving the bike in top gear to help undo that nut. A rattle gun does wonders. But perhaps get the manual and the carby sorted first.
I hope it this helps and wish you well with your travels.
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Remember. We elect politicians, but we have to deal with bureaucracy.
Notice that crazy in the bureaucrats.

[feralkid]

Welcome to the site and quads.
I've got the atomic version of the same bike as yours aswell as a 110 chinese bike. The fuel overflowing is most likely because a bit of stuff is stuck under the needle in the carby so it isn't seating properly and just keeps letting fuel in, or the float levels are out because the metal bit holding the float on has bent, but that only usually happens when you roll the bike and it is sitting on its back for a while. (I've done it a few times)
I'm not sure about the hole on the side though. If I remember I'll have a look on mine tomorow for you.
My 250 is doing the same sort of thing with the starter motor too, it all looks ok in the starter motor but isn't turning the piston, haven't tried tow starting it though. Haven't had time to muck around with it though, been too busy with school and my race bike. Need the old chinga going again though to get around.
If you have any other questions just ask me, I'm happy to answer and it is easier with someone having the same bike that has had most of the same problems.
Feralkid
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"If in doubt go flat out"
"Nothing worth having is easy to get"

[SteveAndBelle]

Thanks for the tips & advice guys and with your help I think I've found the problem !

While taking Dinos advice by hunting around for a direct replacement carby I found this: http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/NewCarby.jpg
Note the small brass 'tickler' on the side just above the screw for the choke bracket. This is exactly where the fuel is gushing out of my carby and because mine has no brass bit I assume mine must've popped out when I jolted the quad while gunning it up the driveway at full throttle or while I was quickly shifting down to a stop. Wish I took photos of it all before I used it ;)

I have also had advice from a car-azy dirt bike friend of mine that reflects Feralkids too. There may well be a bit of gunk caught in the carby somewhere or the needle &/or rubber seals have screwed up and could also be causing the problem.

The same friend told me to get a Mikuni carby as they're much better quality BUT he also told me that I'd have to spend a lot of time tuning it and possibly even fiddling around with jets etc. too. I'd love to tinker like this however the quad is in a rural part of Tasmania so I don't have instant access to the stuff I'll need and that could be problematic. I'm thinking of getting another cheapie Chinese replacement as per the link above but may also get a suitable Mikuni so when I have the time I can play with it :)

Well, I'm 7 weeks off being back down in Tassie so I'll order these parts and fit them early August when I'm back down there.

Thanks for the help and I look forward to updating this call once she's back up and running. Feel free to add to this thread if you have anything else to say.

Seeyuz.
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Part-time Taswegian

[crx450r]

i've seen mikuni carbs for those chinese bike for sale on ebay
just search pit bikes there only about 65 dollars

[SteveAndBelle]

Yeah, I've seen them on eBay too but the cost isn't the problem.

My crazy dirt biker friend scared me off the Mikunis because they'll need a fair bit of tuning & fiddling to get 'just right' and as I'm in the middle of nowhere in Tassie that could be problematic as I can't just duck down to the local bike shop to get different jets etc. if required.

Thanks for heads up TRX435 but I think I'll just stick to another cheapie Chinese crappy carby and then experiment with the Mikunis later on.
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Part-time Taswegian

[doorslammer]

usually chinese crap is a copy of somthing japanese.
if you can find what you carby is a copy off then you will probably be able to swap all the jets in or get genuine ones.