new B... with questions - of course

kern t h i s · Post by **kern t h i s** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:03 pm

Greetings!

I have just purchased a "new to me"
2005 black (not the smartest color choice
in the texas heat) stella with 2800 miles on it...

I am new to both shifting and stella quirks.
My other scooter, a two-stroke 50cc yamaha vino,
is easy to drive (very slowww!) and trouble free.

My questions are:
Best methodology for downshifting, particularly when
coming to a sudden stop or when slowing down and
then accelerating again?

On the condition side of it. - Is it normal to have some small
quarter sized oil spots (directly under rear brake cable, and two
other spots in that gear box vicinity) in a 24 hour period?
Or is it due the fact that I am a new stella driver putting a lot of
strain on the engine?

Thanks so much in advance for your help and advice!

lmyers · Post by **lmyers** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:48 am

She's marking her territory.

As far as down shifting goes, you don't really down shift like you would on a motorcycle or in a car. Hold in your clutch while you work your way down through the gears while braking. That way, if your light changes, someone gets out of your way, you have to get out of someone's way or you die and have to pop the clutch to start it because your battery is toast

you're in the right gear.

kern t h i s · Post by **kern t h i s** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:08 am

Thanks for the heads up! Is there anyway
to wean her from marking her territory each day?
The floor of my shed would certainly appreciate it...

Is this anything that I should be concerned about,
or are these "mini oil slicks" a normal part of the
reality of owning one of these? How often should I be
checking oil in the gear box?

Thanks again,
-r

lmyers · Post by **lmyers** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:22 am

You got me there. I change my gear oil every thousand or so miles (over kill, I know) so never worry about the little bit of spotting after every ride. alienmeatsack is my go-to guy, I'll rattle his cage and ask him to post his opinion.

PeterC · Post by **PeterC** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:52 pm

My Stella (and also P200E) also mark their territory. To keep my scooter garage's tile floor clean, I use a disposable foil pie pan under the offending area.

kern t h i s · Post by **kern t h i s** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:28 pm

Thanks so much... it's is good to know that is a fairly common stella trait...

alienmeatsack · Post by **alienmeatsack** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:44 pm

Like lmeyers says, you don't downshift like a car, you shift down with the clutch in. The reason for this is that your Stella has an autolube system, and when you are not on the throttle, it's not mixing much oil into the gas... if you are down shifting, you are putting straight on the motor without much oil to lubricate it. And this can lead to a seize. Seize = bad.

The best thing to do is to pull the clutch in and use your brakes to slow down. When you get below each gears speed area, down shift, right before you stop you should be able, while almost stopped, to slip it into first. This way, as said above, you are ready to go if the light changes or you need to get out of the way of someone who is an idiot. The gear range varies based on your Stella, if its warmed up, how its jetted, etc. Just think in reverse from where in the speed you shift from one to the next and do that in reverse minus a few MPH.

The oil drip is normal. It's not your gearbox, if it was you'd have a leak and that is bad. It's the oil/gas mix that is not getting burned off that collects in the airbox slowly leaking out thru the hole the mix screw is accessed from. If your airbox has the stock plug, it will not allow much to leak out, but if it doesn't (many remove it as it's a pain in the ass), all the excess fuel/oil mix that is sputtered into the airbox from throttling will come out, drop down the back of your motor and onto the ground.

It's perfectly normal. If it seems excessive, it's possible you are running a bit rich.

Just get yourself a piece of cardboard and lay it under to catch the drips and you will be fine.

And congrats on the Stella!

kern t h i s · Post by **kern t h i s** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:33 pm

Thanks all! This should be a pretty interesting experience.
I just wish now that 100+ heat would go away so that I don't feel
like I am riding my scooter around in a large convection oven...

alienmeatsack · Post by **alienmeatsack** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:48 pm

It's not so bad when you are moving, but at traffic lights, ouch!

If I am not wearing thick soled shoes I can feel my foot cooking!

lmyers · Post by **lmyers** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:50 pm

Sacha's boots melted Sunday. It is just that hot.

KCScooterDude · Post by **KCScooterDude** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:40 pm

kern t h i s wrote:Thanks for the heads up! Is there anyway
to wean her from marking her territory each day?
The floor of my shed would certainly appreciate it...

Is this anything that I should be concerned about,
or are these "mini oil slicks" a normal part of the
reality of owning one of these? How often should I be
checking oil in the gear box?

Thanks again,
-r

I suggest pre-treating area with kitty litter. Your shed will smell pine fresh, a nice benefit. I've got little piles of kitty litter all over the garage, just make sure not to slip on it. You would also be surprised at how well kitty litter sucks up old oil stains. They also make tiles that interlock and clean up easily. Six or eight of them would make a nice parking space for your Stella. It also says - don't park the lawnmower here, etc., to others.

Christy · Post by **Christy** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:49 pm

welcome! There are several stella owners on the DFWScooterists.com site who might be able to help you with the oil issues. Real nice people there (just like here).