[ms fowler]

I am new to the world of mopeds. My main use will be getting from my campsite to the flea market for the Fall AACA meet at Hershey---then I walk miles and miles in the flea market before returning to the camper.

Anyway, I picked up a broken Sachs Sundancer. I am getting it sorted out, but I need help understanding the clutch/ decompressor cable. If I understand it right, the purpose is to connect the engine to the drive chain in order to start the engine. The centrifugal clutch needs the mechanical cable because the engine rpm (0) is too low for it to engage automatically. Is that right?

How do I hook up the decompression valve to that same cable? It appears there is some sort of clip, but the one on my bike was FUBAR.

I have no spark but the points look good. I am assuming a bad condenser, but I have to pull the flywheel to get to it and change it. I need the flywheel puller to remove the flywheel.

Anything else I need to do/ inspect?

 

[VALurker]

Yes, there are some moped people here. As far as specific help for your situation, Moped Army or another Moped Forum may be a better choice for asking for help. I like Moped Army, but a lot of people get turned off by it because it is dominated by youngsters and oldsters who thing they're still youngsters (lots of four letter words used), but there is a wealth of knowledge there and people willing to help. There is another moped forum, but I cannot remember its name, a google/bing/yahoo search should turn it up, thought. I d/l'd a couple of shop manuals from that other forum of a couple of 'peds that are close to mine.

FYI, I have a '78 FreeSpirit Moped that my cousin gave me 15+ years ago that I am going to attempt to restore this coming year. It does not have decomp, but the same kind of clutch engagement that your describe. In short, your understanding is correct. You peddle the moped up to a decent speed, then engage the clutch to start the engine. If you have a center stand, you just have to get the rear tire up to a decent speed before pulling the clutch lever. Essentially, the clutch is a centrifigal clutch, gun the engine the clutch will engage and move the 'ped. When trying to start the 'ped, there is nothing to engage the clutch, without the clutch engagement mechanism. If you think of it as a brake drum, when trying to start the 'ped, you are turning the outside drum part, you need the clutch engaging mechanism to move the brake shoes to engage the outer drum and cause the entire assembly to turn the crankshaft and start the engine. After the engine's started, weights on the brake shoes cause the shoes to move out and engage the drum as the rpm's increase. Since mine does not have decomp, I cannot help you with where that hooks into the cable or if it has a separate cable. I can say that decomp is a good thing. When my ped is having trouble starting, I wear myself out trying to start it.

Good luck,
Paul

 

[ms fowler]

Thanks for the prompt rely.
I have found a moped forum, Moped Riders Association, but my posts have not generated much interest. Looks like its not real active.

I have written to 1977 mopeds, ( a vendor) and have gotten some replies form him, so things are looking up.
I am not in any real hurry, except that its all torn apart in my shed, and if I leave it like that, parts will simply disappear. I want to start to get it back together, even if its unfinished.
My bike must have set outside for some years as the drive chain is rusted beyond fixing. The pedal to engine chain is useable--at least enough to get it running. Chain is cheap enough once I know I can make it run.
These are relatively complex vehicles--I am surprised. Low on power, but lots of parts. 4 cables ( speedo, front brake, rear brake, clutch/decompressor) , 2 chains, 2 brake light switches, several electrical connectors, pedal assembles, drum brakes.

 

[VALurker]

Try Moped Army, then. They are real active. MRA is the other forum that I could not remember and that it is not active is probably why I have not gone there for Moped info.

Paul

 

[rockford]

I've been riding mopeds since the eighties. Right now I've got a Chinese Moped that I can't even pronounce the name of'. It's a four stroke model and works fine for me. I used to run Yamahas, but the dealers have all but disappeared. I even had one with a sidecar, my grandaughter grew up riding in that thing.

 

[PeoriaMurph]

No mopeds, per se... but I have some Honda Spree scooters in the workshop

 

[ms fowler]

MopedArmy is great, and VERY active. They have a moped wiki that is a great resource for anyone on mopeds, and links to manuals for almost every moped every made, almost.

 

[Casey D. Rohr]

hi im not much of moped guy but i own a suzuki fa 50 moped i blew the motor and i am rebuilding it right now

 

[Dodgeboy49]

I used to run a 1st gen Tomos Bullet while in college- Moped Army was a great resource. I also seem to remember a place in Maryland, I think it was just called Moped Junkyard (might try a Google search) that was very helpful.

The Tomos was a different animal to start. Theoretically, you would pedal forward to get moving, then pedal backward to start the engine. In practice, it had to be up on the center stand and I had to crank the pedals by hand as fast as possible to get it to start. It might have helped if I had known how to swear in Yugoslavian...

 

[GearHeadTom]

I got an old Gitane moped, got it for free and took it out for a few rides, but it died on me once and I never got it going again... even after checking every single part on the motor and replacing some. My girlfriend has Puch Maxi that I got running for her last summer, and I think I drove it more than her haha
I'm on Moped Army, and there's a few helpfull guys over there.