MOPED FAQ:

2. Do I have to use a gas and oil mix for my moped?
Oil mixing on the models not equipped with oil injection, and oil recommendations on those with high performance parts added. Most brands of mopeds that you have to mix the gas with oil,the ratio is 50 to 1 50 parts gasoline to 1 part oil. Some manufacturers call for 2-1/2 ounces per gallon, some call for 3 ounces per gallon. Well, 2-1/2 (2.66 ounces is actual)is a little shy and 3 is a little heavy,but some manufacturers call for extra oil for a good reason, usually due to rpm's(revolutions per minute) being higher on their engines than others. Also when using big bore kits, with larger carburators,and performance exhausts, extra oil needs to be added for this same reason (more strain and higher rpm's). I could go into a lot of theory here but this is the bulk of our answer for this, and engines w/performance parts should be using more like 32 to 1 ratio in these cases,but when it comes right down to it,the manufacturers requirements need to be followed,unless changes have been made. Also, quality oil needs to be used. If you are mixing your oil and gas,the best thing you can do is carry a small measure container with you for when you're out on the road (available at most motorcycle/moped dealers or at a boat shop)so you can mix the correct amount while filling up, or get a 5 gallon can at home mixed and ready so you don't have to do it as often,being sure to shake well before pouring in, if it has set for a while.If you aren't using this gas often enough(every 30 -45 days before refilling) it's a very good idea to keep some fuel stabilizer in it so it doesn't go stale and loose octane and gum up fuel components later (available at most discount stores,Wal-Mart,K-mart,Motorcycle shops or Boat Shops). After break-in we recommend a quality synethetic oil such as Amsoil. It produces much less smoke while running and can change the ratio up to 100 to 1(same rules apply to this oil as previously discussed concerning performance parts, you still need a little extra).
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3. Does my engine have any other oil in it?
Most mopeds have a crankcase oil in them, however, as with most things,there are exceptions. Most Hero-Majestics don't, many older Batavus's don't,some Trac's don't,and so on.If you don't know, please ask before you ruin your engine over something as little as some oil.Type of oil can't be covered well here due to many manufacturers differences in requirements,so check your manual or with a reputable dealer that will take the time to know what you have,so he can answer your question correctly.This oil, like most transmission styles of oil has no filtration so it needs to be changed at least once a year.More often if it's a higher than average use moped,twice a year if so.
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4. My moped has quit pulling away from a stop like it used to?
This depends on brand once again, If its a belt driven model (a belt between the pedals and the transfer shaft) it could merely be the belt itself needs replacing. If not belt equipped or the belt isn't worn badly then its the clutch,either the shoes,hub rubber,bearings,or lack of oil in the crankcase(if so equipped) as with many things on mopeds,you have several types of clutches out there,dry,and wet(inside a sealed engine cover) the dry ones usually wear out quicker than the wet ones(properly maintained and not constantly overloaded) these parts are still available for many models,even most that are out of production,through us and many different sources.
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5. Can I ride two people on my moped?
While some states require that a moped is legally only allowed to be a one rider bike, many mopeds are capable of hauling two reasonable weighted people, as this law isn't national, please check to see what your state laws are govering the use of mopeds in this instance.In some states this law only pertains to under 16 year old users,after that then the manufacturers max. weight requirements on the moped itself.
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6. Do I have to wear a helmet while riding my moped?
It depends on your state's(or wherever you are using the unit at) laws. We recommend helmets ourselves to everyone, as If I didn't wear one I wouldn't be here today (bad motorcycle accident in 1971) I know it seems a shame as you are typically only running 25-35 mph but you'd be surprised what can happen at even those speeds not to mention how fast what might hit you is going.

7. I've heard that proper tire air pressure can help save even more fuel. Is this true?
Tire air pressure,besides saving fuel,keeping the correct tire pressure is very important to tire wear, giving the best protection against bending a rim,and loosening spokes,or creating a flat tire by overheating by being overloaded,or running too low pressure in the tires,In short,it steers better, runs faster,tires last longer, if you just take the time to check frequently. If you dont have a manual with the specification,follow the specs. on the tire itself.
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8. I keep having to tighten the bolts on various parts,why?
Mopeds vibrate, thats all there is to it,some much worse than others, the only help for this is to use either nylon locking nuts,or shakeproof washers(toothed washers,internal or external) or some form of loctite thread locker, use caution with loctite and only use the color you need for what you are doing with it, some colors are made to be removeable(blue) some colors are made not to be readily removable(red) and can create problems with disassembly,or simply stop you from being able to take it back apart without destroying the part itself.
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9. Should I be using better fuel in my moped?
This is more of a personal preference,or an opinion,than a recommendation, except if you are running a modified engine, or have a engine with high compression,we say yes, use a grade better than regular in these cases.
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10. Can I make my moped go faster?
This is a rough question, yes, most mopeds can be modified to go faster, many brands have aftermarket or factory parts available through us or their local dealer that can bring the speed up, however for the 16 and younger users this is considered illegal in most states, after 16 years old I personally don't know of any laws that would stop you from changing things unless your state has a requirenment stating that a moped has a max. size of 49 cc's,(many states do)in that case you simply have to license as a motorcycle instead of a moped. Therefore you can get more use out of a moped after you reach 16 or whatever age your state allows to get a drivers licence.Then you should be allowed to ride two also, providing the manufacturers weight limit is kept in mind.
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11. My moped has lost fire (quit sparking)?
This is a good one, there are many places to look for this,particuliarly on a european or some other mopeds. First thing to check is the tailight bulb,sounds strange you say? Believe it or not the tailight bulb itself is used to complete a ground circuit that lets the ignition fire on most european mopeds. So start with the bulb,(because it goes through so much variable voltage and vibration)looking for a broken filament in the bulb(make sure you replace with the correct voltage and wattage capability(always keep this in mind when replacing any bulb on any moped, as simply putting the wrong bulbs can create a new problem (in a turn signal it can make them quit blinking,but still come on), then move to the tailight wiring (the easiest way to check this is to ground the wire coming off the magneto that goes to the tailight (for example, on a Sachs moped its usually a blue w/a black tracer),remove from the terminal block and ground out to the engine case then turn over again and check) this test will eliminate the tailight wiring and the bulb so that you know whether the problem is either in the tailight assembly(if it now sparks or fires) or the magneto and related parts(if it still doesn't fire), next stop is the kill switch or ignition switch,remove the wire going to it that it grounds out the ignition to kill it with, and try for spark again,if you still don't have spark,next is to look at the points and condenser(under the flywheel, we sell the tool used to remove these flywheels correctly ofr many brands) checking the point contact surface and gap (most mopeds use a gap between .015-.018) and replace the condensor,(some of these are soldered on, be careful not to build too much solder on these as it can short to the flywheel after reassembly!, remember the crankshaft moves back and forth some while running too.Also check the condition of the flywheel key and its groove in the flywheel, if thats good, look for bad or internally broken(under the insulation) or grounded out wiring coming out of the magneto or going up to the kill switch, a dead coil or coil wire,or spark plug. Also as a last point,(something that happened to me recently, not related to spark but a good thing to check while you have the flywheel off),is to look at the flywheel hub (many are welded and therefore not usually a problem) to see if it has moved from its original position (mostly on those that have a crimped (or pinched)hub)and also inspect the crankshaft seal while there and look for oil seepage and replace as needed(the clutch side is usually the seal that goes bad, but you might as well check this while you're here). I had an Indian 4 stroke moped recently, that was slow on timing and it took me a while to notice that the flywheel had shifted from its original position on the hub.This is not the only problems there can be but this covers the most common ones.
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12. Where I can learn about the moped laws in my state?
If you live in the United States, the best place to find out about your local state laws is by checking with your local transportation department. We have a list of links to their websites, which can be found by clicking here. You may also want to keep in mind that some local county and city laws may also apply.
For those living outside of the United States, we suggest that you check with your local law divisions, particulary the transportation departments.
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