TaoTao ATA-250D Mods & Q&A

[anhoard]

I will be working on the install of the shift indicator lights today. Pics to follow. Below are the links to where I got everything. I will be using heat shrink on all the wiring connections to protect from moisture.


Red Indicator Light (Reverse):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o02_s00

Blue Indicator Light (Neutral):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o02_s00

Green Indicator Lights x4 (Forward Gears):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o03_s00

ABS Plastic Sheets (for back cover to protect from mud & grime):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00

[anhoard]

Originally Posted by Speckred17

anhoard,

Great idea on the lights. I am going to steal that one since my kids keep stalling theirs out thinking they are first when they are in 3rd or 4th. Where did you get the lights from? Do you have a link?

On the plastic you are molding, are you going to drill holes for the wiring or keep all the wiring inside the plastic and route it out the side? I look forward to seeing the end result.

The box is just going to be a cover to protect the back side of the lights. The wiring will be wrapped in a protective cover and routed to the transmission harness for the main connection. The pics I will post hopefully will show better then I can explain.

[anhoard]

Okay... I drilled the holes and mounted the LED Lights. I cut out the Box design from the ABS Plastic sheet. Used the Heat Gun and molded the plastic into a nice little box that will be mounted under the front fender to protect the back side of the LED Lights from mud and crap being thrown up from the tire.

I did not get done with the wiring, but I connected them all to power just to see how bright they will be. From left to right: Red (R), Blue (N), Green (1, 2, 3, 4). The Neutral Blue light looks Greenish White in the pic, but it is a nice bright Blue when lit up by itself!!

I am really pleased with how they are looking!!

[Speckred17]

WOW anhoard. I may be doing this on all 4 of mine. Looks great. Thank you for the pictures.

1 question: I see you have all the ground wires together. Where are you planning on putting the ground wire?

[anhoard]

Originally Posted by Speckred17

WOW anhoard. I may be doing this on all 4 of mine. Looks great. Thank you for the pictures.

1 question: I see you have all the ground wires together. Where are you planning on putting the ground wire?

The ground wires will be bundled and a single wire ran to the ground in the wiring harness. There will be 6 "hot" wires and 1 ground in the bundle to the harness. Will post pics of the completed bundle when its done.

[anhoard]

Alright... Lights are installed, wired and working great!!

Link to quick video of me hand shifting through the gears to make sure they all work right:


***SPECIAL NOTE: The wires from the harness are NEGATIVE. The secondary wire from the stock shift lights (BLACK) is actually POSITIVE. The lights will be wired in reverse. I blew the fuse by the rear left wheel the first time because I hooked them up "the right way". So remember that if you perform this mod. Damn Chinese!!!

I wrapped the new wires in loom and taped and zip tied it all. Also, I am going to add 2 more "box" mounting screws under the shift lights to hold the protective box secure.

[2LZ]

Slick set up! Turned out very clean!

[anhoard]

Originally Posted by anhoard

Here is a list of modifications and revamps that I am contemplating:

Already done: Front Hitch!

1. New front sprocket and chain
2. New headlights and tail lights
3. Rework my custom rear deck (pics will be up today to explain)
4. Rear tow hitch
5. Gear select indicator, possibly with speedo (R/N/1/2/3/4; currently it only has a red light for R and a green light for N)
6. Move air intake tube and filter to the inside of the under seat storage (better splash protection, i am not snorkeling a 2WD Chinese atv!!)
7. Upgraded suspension all around
8. Rear wheel spacers (2" each side)
9. New exhaust (at least, the muffler!)
10. Whatever else I decide to do!!!

1 is done, 2 is half done, 3 is done, 4 is done, 5 is done, 8 is done!!

[Speckred17]

Thanks again anhoard. I have my stuff on order from Amazon but won't get here till Monday

Really looks great. Guess I'll change the oil in em all this weekend instead of hooking up the gear indicators. I will be adding the ammo cans like 2lz did to the back of my Rhino this weekend though for lockable (barely) storage of tools and tow straps, etc.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Speckred17

Thanks again anhoard. I have my stuff on order from Amazon but won't get here till Monday

Really looks great. Guess I'll change the oil in em all this weekend instead of hooking up the gear indicators. I will be adding the ammo cans like 2lz did to the back of my Rhino this weekend though for lockable (barely) storage of tools and tow straps, etc.

Going to be finishing up my reverse lights this weekend when the switch arrives Saturday. Now I'll be able to blind people from both directions! I'll attach pics in my thread. Also, heading to HFT today at lunch to get another ammo can, just in case I back into something in the future. Have another 4.99 Super Coupon! WOO HOO!

[anhoard]

Wow it feels like it's been forever since I posted but I have been busy for the last two weeks. I wanted to give everybody an update that I have begun my air intake relocation project on the ATA. It's not going to be a snorkel per se but I am relocating the air filter into the under seat storage on the wheeler for better splash protection when going through little creeks and mud puddles. I had had a small incident where I crossed the creek a little too fast and it stalled the wheeler and I was scared that it was because water got into the air intake so I am relocating the intake. Pictures will be up soon as well as a parts list.

I am interested to hear how everyone else's projects are going so please feel free to reply and post pictures. Let's see what the mods are looking like!

[2LZ]

Hey! Welcome back! That's a good idea doing the protected air intake. I'll be curious to see how that works out. I'm on top of a ridge and water runs downhill so it's not really an issue for me....but any cool mod is worth considering! ;-)

I just finished my reverse lights. Worked out nice!
http://www.chinariders.net/showthrea...t=15117&page=9

[anhoard]

Hey there everyone! Sorry for the delay...Went to Vegas for a week!!!

So here are the details for my air intake relocation project on the ATA-250D.

So, the problem: The original air intake was a black plastic downturned tube that takes air in from the bottom. This is an issue when attempting to cross even small mud puddles and creeks.

I didnt want to make a full on snorkel, because lets face it, I am not taking a 2WD Chinese wheeler in deep water and mud. I did want to relocate the air intake in a way to protect it from "splash" from puddles and creek crossings.

The solution: Under the seat of the ATA-250D is a storage area. This area is directly behind the carb intake. The stock downturned air filter/intake goes right under this storage area. My solution; extend the intake into this storage area, thereby giving it more splash protection. (PIC 1)

As you can see, the space is just behind and above the carb and intake.

The next step is to get supplies. PIC 2 & 3 are pics of a rubber reducer (1.5 to 1.25 inch) and a 1.25 inch PVC 45-degree elbow. The outside diameter of the Elbow goes inside the large end of the reducer as shown in the pic.

PIC 4 is the original air filter/intake thingy.

Continued in next post.....

[anhoard]

The next part that you will need is an air filter. Here is a link to the filter that I used. The Air Filter MUST have a big enough opening to fit around the PVC elbow. The K&N RU-2580 Universal Rubber Air Filter fits perfectly.

Here is the link to it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/RU-2580-Univer...ywords=ru-2580

The next step is to drill a hole for the extension PIC 5. Make sure to cover the carb so you dont get plastic bits inside it. Clean up the cut with a razor knife so its smooth.

Now, take the little metal nipple out of the stock intake tube, drill a hole in the elbow (on the right lower side) and insert the nipple for the transmission hose PIC 6.

Now on the rubber reducer that connects to the carb, you will need to cut 3 notches to fit around parts of the carb so that the rubber will fit nice and tight and be able to clamp on to the carb intake. PIC 7

PIC 8 shows the rubber securely mounted and clamped to the carb, you can also see where the transmission hose connects to the nipple on the elbow.

[anhoard]

PIC 9 shows where you should be at now...

The last step is to install the new air filter onto the PVC elbow that is poking through into the storage space PIC 10

Seat Level View PIC shows that the filter doesn't extend up past the seat lip on the plastics. The seat fits right back in its spot, nice and secure and does not interfere with the filter. There is still room in the storage area for small items.

I plan on installing a little 12v plug (similar to PIC 11 [stole from 2LZ - http://www.chinariders.net/member.php?u=26199]) as soon as my new AGM battery gets here!

New AGM (Gell) battery for the ATA-250D:
https://www.batterystuff.com/powersp...ies/sYT9A.html