Need advice on engine swap. 50 to 150. By chroniktheory (Read 646 times)

[chroniktheory]

Hey, I'm replacing the engine on my 2013 TaoTao 50A1.

Now I've already put a "100cc" BBK, performance cdi, NGK sparkplug, upgraded rectifier, upgraded starter motor, light weight variator case, aftermarket carb, and 6 gram rollers. Now here's where it gets tricky. A good friend of mine gave me an engine he had (an older 80cc gy6) which is what i decided to put the BBK on since I figured it would be less starting strain on the crank. Now I'm VERY new to the scooter game but I've been working on small engines and motorcycles for several happy years now so I was confident. Everything went beautifully (other than dropping a wrist-pin clip in my old block [damnit!]), got her buttoned up and started right away. Unfortunatly I noticed an overheating problem and it had a slight knocking. I wasn't running lean and the knocking puzzled me so I took it for a test drive to work out some kinks. It ran great and I was surprised at the performance increase at only half throttle. When I pulled back into the driveway after a short fiver and the engine was EXTREMELY hot and the knocking was more noticeable. After a closer inscpection I came to the conclusion of bad roller-bearings on the crank (hey it was an old engine I put it on).

Now I decided to just go ahead and buy a 150cc engine. After some quick glances and zero research I've purchased what seems to be a pretty nice quality engine that came with carb, rectifier, coil, cdi, starter post, and a spark plug, which I need none of other than the carb (it's nice to have spares though). I've run into a huge problem though. The engine does not fit! After researching this (which apparently is a not-too-uncommon problem) I've come to the conclusion that I can buy and engine hanger for a 150cc and mount such to my frame. Sounds good but I want to hear it from the pros. So any experience on the subject, links, pictures, videos, or just some good ole' fashioned jaw flapping on the subject would be MUCH appreciated.

Thanks so much!

[alleyoop]

Here you go they have Conversion kits for that:
Alleyoop

monstergy6.com/ruckus_motor%20_mounts.htm

[chroniktheory]

Props to the guys at Monster GY6 but that's just not what I'm looking for. Plus it costs an arm and BOTH legs for those kits. Even just their "slip-on" bracket by itself is expensive. What I really want is experience or just some good advice. I have a good idea of what I'm going to do but I'm not in any rush as I've replaced the crank in my current engine.

Thanks.

[alleyoop]

HAHAHAHA, good experience and good advice what you think your going to get a way cheap(NOT). If you are a welder and have the equipment then you WOULD be able to do it yourself. Maybe you can find a good welder in your area to build you one, but he would have to have the scoot there and that also will not be cheap. But once you get the motor mounted then your next problem is the rear wheel and shocks.

Your looking for an easy out and there isn't one. Some have done it even slapped a 150-cc in a 50c TRIKE, but one guy was a welder and had the equipment.

You would be better off just getting a 150 for what it is going to cost you to convert a 50 to 150. You can pick up a used 150 for 500 or less. Even a new one for around 700.
Alleyoop

[chroniktheory]

Yeah cheap isn't what I'm going for but I'm not paying that much money just for a side/personal use project (now if it's for the '71 Triumph I'm building I don't even want to go into the price of those parts). And buying a new one takes all the fun out of building the old one. I want something different and unique. I would post pictures to show my scoot but it's all torn apart right now as I'm in the middle of an instrument panel delete. In response to the last post, I am a welder and have an arc, TIG, and MIG welder. I have ordered the mounting bracket and it looks like all I need is some square tubing to fab some brackets to weld to my frame. Now that I have the mount in my hands it's starting to come together in my mind a whole lot better.

Now you say I have to replace my shock? Is my factory shock not heavy duty enough for my engine as I've mocked up the engine on the scooter and it lines up fine. Also you mentioned tires. I have some dual-sport kendas laying around on rim ready to go but alas, the front tired CANNOT fit in my forks. The rear will go but I'll have to fab another mud-shield and I've already bobbed my scooter minus the mud-shield. Your advice is greatly valued. I'm really enjoying reading some of the posts I see on here. I'm not much of a poster myself; more of just a lurker.

Thanks.

[46u]

What size and model Triumph do you have? I have a 1971 T100C I have been totally restoring for years. I have the bottom end done, head ready to put together, just about everything powder coated and a LOT of new parts.
Jeff

[chroniktheory]

I'm sorry I didn't see your reply earlier.

It is a 1971 T100R Daytona. Stock 490cc twin. It's still nowhere close to done. It's been chopped down and what I plan to put on (the parts I currently have) is a HD Road King gas tank,  retro-fit jockey shifter (fabbed out of box tubing xD), BMX style handle-bars (because why not?), 3.5' Paughco springers, and for good measure I'm welding the head of a shovel to the frame as a head cover (boy I'm building it for always said he wanted a shovelhead). The way it was set up was for belt drive but I'm thinking of converting to chain driven with open primary. I've stretched the frame six inches so people over 5' tall can ride it comfortably (those darn British!) and it rakes out to 8'3" with tires. As it sits now it's barebones frame as I still have SO much polishing to do as it will have a naked finish. No paint. Only patina. The idiots I bought the bike from put so much putty on the frame/body it literally took me weeks to grind it all off (I usually only have a few hours a week to work on my various projects) and find bare metal again. Still lots of work to to do on the frame and the transmission but I'm setting a goal of June of next year to have it done.

Thanks.

p.s. Sounds like you've got a nice machine there and I'd love to see pictures