Motor Scooter Maintenance

GENERAL INFORMATION

Below you will find some general information about maintaining your motor scooter. The specifics can vary by model so be sure to check your owner's manual for specifics. Your motor scooter should be serviced in accordance with the required maintenance period. We also recommend that before servicing you clean the vehicle.


            KEY FOR THIS TABLE

• [X] Inspect, clean, adjust, lubricate or replace
• [C] Clean
• [R] Replace

Oils and Lubricants

Motor Oil (for use in the engine's crank case)

We recommend you buy ONLY high quality motor oil and change it regularly. Change the oil after the first 100 miles then every 300 or so miles thereafter. Engine oil is relatively inexpensive and it takes only a few minutes to do the job right. Buying a new engine is not so inexpensive.

Make sure you choose a season appropriate grade of oil. In colder weather, use 10W30. In warmer weather such as what we find here in Florida, 20W40 works well. Also, make sure its API Rating is SF or better. The API Rating is inside the little circle on the back of the container.


Transmission Oil

Since the amount of transmission oil varies by model, refer to our Operation Manual for information on specific scooter models.


2-stroke Oil (2 stroke motor scooters only)

Once your motor scooter is out of the break-in period (usually the first 500 or so miles) we recommend you purchase only the highest quality 2-stroke oil. The best choice for the oil injected 2-stroke scooters we sell 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 and have superior lubricating qualities. They are also a 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 a gallon will probably last a year and definitely worth the expense in our view. Of course, how much 2-stroke oil your scooter will use depends on how much the motor scooter is driven.

*Important Note for New Motor Scooters During Break In Period*

For a brand new motor scooter, the fresh cylinder wall needs medium to high engine loading to get the piston rings to seat properly for good compression. During the break-in period we recommend you use a high quality, low viscosity oil (such as Valvoline 30 weight) for the first 500 miles. Do not use synthetic oils, as they can be too slippery. If synthetics are used during initial break-in, the rings will glaze over, voiding your warranty.

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. Some of them can be used either as "Premix" oil or "Injector" oil. Just make sure that the oil is suitable for use in oil-injected scooter motors. This information should be on the container.


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 the cables will last a 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 occasionally. 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, hold the front wheel and push-pull sideways to feel for the same "clicking." If adjustment or replacement is necessary, it would be wise to take the scooter to a professional 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!

Remember . . . like any mechanical device, the better the care you provide your motor scooter, the less trouble you'll have and it will last longer too.