(PT.10) Re-Jetting the Carb and Upgrading the Exhaust on the most HATED scooter on the internet

Video Checkpoints:
1:21 - Removing the carburetor
2:34 - Removing the non-serviceable or "tamperproof" screws on the carburetor
6:38 - Swapping the main jet
7:50 - Introduction to the new performance exhaust
11:25 - Removing the stock exhaust
13:55 - Installing the new performance exhaust
17:05 - First start-up with new exhaust
18:13 - Inspecting the spark plug to check the tune
19:52 - Reaction to the upgrades
21:54 - Exhaust gasket has failed
23:34 - Adjusting the carburetor's mixture screw (bleed screw)
29:00 - Replacing the blown headlamp (headlight) bulb
32:38 - Final thoughts on the carburetor re-jet and performance exhaust

In my experience working as a technician in independent motorcycle shops I worked on everything from CVO Harley Davidsons to Honda CT90s. But there was one bike that always stood out with exceptionally poor quality. The Tao Tao 50cc GY6 (139QMB) scooter. And now I'm going to put this scooter to the test and find out if they really are little money pits, or if the issues with the bike are a result of the people who buy these kinds of scooters.

So I purchased a Tao Tao "Pony" ATM 50 and my plan is to make it my main means of transportation for 6 months. Yes from June 1st to January 1st this little scooter is going to be my daily driver. I'll be logging all of the miles, issues and expenses of keeping this scooter running in a log. Doing this will allow me to present a true cost of ownership at the end of this experiment.

The Tao Tao Pony 50 is based on the generic GY6 139QMB platform. They were sold under many different "Brand" names like Wolf, Bintelli, Fly, Rocketa, MotoBravo, Italica, and Dongfang just to name a few. You may be riding one and not even know it!

My scooter has been running lean since it was delivered. This is not unusual for a 50cc GY6 scooter. They are typically jetted extremely lean. This might be because it helps them pass the strict emissions regulations for the United States or to purposefully slow them down in order to meet the "Moped" regulations here in the US. Either way my scooter was running so lean I didn't expect the engine to last long. So I ordered a cheap jet kit off amazon (to stay in the spirit of the experiment with one of the cheapest scooters of all time).

There are a few reasons I did not just re-weld the bracket when I got to work or when I got home. The biggest one is I'm not sure what I would have to "charge" for that repair on my service sheet. In addition to that, most shops wouldn't repair something so cheaply made with such a high likelihood that it will fail again. But the main reason I didn't weld the bracket back on was my ethos of repair. If something fails, it's an opportunity to replace it with something that will better serve the machine. Rather than spending $70-100 getting the same unreliable part back on the tao tao I'd rather spend $40 on a lighter exhaust with better brackets that will be less likely to break in the future.

The exhaust and jet kit did make a pretty significant improvement in the performance of my scooter, but at the expense of the fabulous fuel mileage I was experiencing.

The parts I've used in this experiment are so far are:
Bel-Ray 10w40: https://amzn.to/3d623vR
Bel-Ray 80/90 Hypoid gear oil: https://amzn.to/2N3yFft
NGK CR7HSA spark plug: https://scooter911.com/shop/ngk-cr7hs...
Brake line: https://www.scooterworks.com/Blue-Lin...
Performance Exhaust: https://amzn.to/2GfzQs4
Carburetor Jet Kit: https://amzn.to/32UtBTu
Drive Belt: https://amzn.to/3hC3rt2
Headlamp bulb: https://amzn.to/37huSVn

I make my adjustments to the mixture screw using this Digi Synch Manometer/Synchronizer: https://amzn.to/37B81nl

Follow my experiment in real time! Here is a link to my Tao Tao log/Health Report!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

If you want to keep up with this project between videos be sure to follow me on social media!

Instagram:   / garretseesi.  .
Twitter: @SeesingGarret
Facebook: facebook.com/garretseesingofficial
#TaoTao #Gy6 #Scooter