Ummm…help?

[JerryHawk250]

That don't look good.

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

That don't look good.

I wasn't very happy about it.

[cheesy]

Had some luck this morning with the old starter armature. I found the short causing the problem and got it fixed, so I can make this work. I ordered some GOOD wire varnish/sealer that should be here tomorrow.

It really sucks that a $20 part is causing all these headaches.

[cheesy]

Well, poop. Seat number two doesn't fit, either. It's starting to look like this thing may not be a Tao Tao after all, but a Kazuma 110 Falcon. I looked at the Kazuma seat and about choked at the price. I was able to look at the underside of the that seat and there ain't no way that will fit without some mods.

The rear fenders are Falcon, and I believe the webbing is, too.


The front part of the body says Falcon but that front booger bar has the Tao Tao logo on it. Falcon body on a Tao Tao frame?


Right now, the seat is the hold up. I'm seriously considering just making my own seat. Have the foam and the plywood, just need the upholstery.

The varnish is drying on the starter armature, so that will be done tomorrow. I was hoping to have this all done by Wednesday so my grand daughters could play with it but their dad got the beer virus, so they aren't coming now.

[cheesy]

Here's the arm after varnishing and before cleaning.

This is also before I retested the POS and ended up chucking it out the door because it had shorted again. 4th and 25, time to punt. I ordered another starter from a different vendor.

I did an end run with the seat as I am 0 for 2 on that.


I had a cafe racer seat I was going to use on The Diesel Project but opted not to. So, I welded a couple of tabs on the frame and bolted it in place.


The funky pink box is a mock up for a future tool box. It ain't staying.

[JerryHawk250]

That seat looks nice and comfy.

[buzz]

Looks good to me, have to do with what works. Hard to tell what parts were the cheapest,and think that is what the cheaper builders do. Even John deer garden tractors suck now. Just a shame its all about how to make the most money,will never buy another John deer ever.

[cheesy]

Woo hoo! Finally got a good starter. I opened it up to check and the potting was perfect.

I spent about 30 minutes riding it around the neighborhood and making adjustments. Also setting the throttle limit so Eli doesn't make a spectacle of himself. Yet.

There is some wear in the front end that I'll need to deal with in the near future. I'm getting death wobble as I near top end. Looks like the upper ball joints may be nearing near the end of their life.

[cheesy]

I would also like to add that American Science and Surplus(ASS)had a 10' hunk o' 420 chain, NIB, for eighteen bucks, so the Taozuma has a new chain, too.

[cheesy]

I finally got Eli to try it today. He was apprehensive at first, aka, Scared Sh!tless of it. I spent a bit o’ time cajoling him onto it. He insisted I limit the throttle more than I already had without even sitting on it. I went through the motions of doing just that (sometimes it’s too easy to BS the young ones), then he was fine with it. He rode it for about 20 minutes, then was having DTs from Minecraft withdrawal and went back in the house.

[cheesy]

This little turd is turning out to be about the $250 I've spent lately. Starts right up and sets at a nice idle right away. Everything works like it should though I have disable all the nanny stuff. Eli can't get enough of it.