Compression test

[Ruffus]

Hi fellow Like 200i riders,
did a compression test today just to see how the readings are on a motor with close to 48.000 km on the clock.
Well, it says 8,7 bar which is appr. 130 psi. The scoot is running smoothly and end speed is 105 km/h according to its tacho. Might be 100 or 95 in reality.
But even with Mrs. Ruffus seated on and we both weight ca. 140 kgs (together) it accelerates quick and hillup is not a prob.
I do not know what the original compression rate on a new motor is, but after ten years seems tp be not too bad.
Greetings from Italy, Ruffus

[Stig / Major Tom]

Pretty darn good!....(what did you get on the #2 cylinder?

Your mileage and performance makes me smile.
Other than a 14Ah YUASA, some 14g DrP's and an NGK Iridium - my LIKE drive-train is stock.
It does get plenty of oil changes. Usually @800>900 miles....at less than a Qt - it's cheap.

Stig

[Ruffus]

Stig@
..l did a really thorough search in this area behind all this plastic covers, could not find any other cylinder in there
Yes, l changed to BRISK  Iridium sparkplug too.
I think it has a steadier idle and a little bit quicker warmup phase. Could be wishful thinking or imagination from my side too. Placebos work not only in medicine.
Since its only 0.8 ltrs of motor oil l will change it also more often, lets say every 1000 to 1500 kms 'cause it's revving pretty high on one cylinder.
Last.change l didn't see any residue in this mesh filter. Thinking of putting a small magnet in there to see whether some steel shavings will be caught.
Happy scootering to all of you, Ruffus

[Stig / Major Tom]

According to Cyclepedia service manual .....with a threaded in compression tester - reading should be 11.8 kg/cm2 ± 2 (168 psi ± 28)

Stig

[monkeybongos]

Like the magnet idea.  Curious whether you place it in the screen or on the inside of the plug.
I have a Gold Plug in the Rebel, it works well collecting metal particles.  Gotta believe that
keeps the oil and engine cleaner.  Would have one in the scoot, but they don't make a plug that fits.

[Ruffus]

Stig@ thank you for this data, it was a threaded tester so l'm already on the weaker side of compression ratio. OK, will not change anything for now until performance goes down or some strange noise comes up.
Monkeybongos@, l still have to find out the direction the oil is pumped. From up down or vice versa. In case up to down l would put simply a flat magnet into the mesh. The other way round the magnet would have to rest on the plug, kept by the coil. Let's see.
Happy riding, Ruffus

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig@ thank you for this data, it was a threaded tester so l'm already on the weaker side of compression ratio. OK, will not change anything for now until performance goes down or some strange noise comes up.
Monkeybongos@, l still have to find out the direction the oil is pumped. From up down or vice versa. In case up to down l would put simply a flat magnet into the mesh. The other way round the magnet would have to rest on the plug, kept by the coil. Let's see.
Happy riding, Ruffus

Well, the good news is that your LIKE is still running strong enough for you!
With reduced compression a question comes to mind: are you experiencing any oil loss between your oil changes?
One more question....Is Kymco a popular scooter brand in Italy, and which Kymco model do Italians seem to prefer?
And.....You're in Italy - but did not choose a Piaggio product?!

Stig

[Ruffus]

Stig@,
I own this scooter now for one and a half month, did one oilchange and was not aware of how much old oil came out. But l'm sure the dipstick showed enough all the time. Will be more vigilant from now. Also no blue smoke and typical oil-burn smell.
Did a quick check of 100 Kymco scooters in an italian sale platform (subito) and it came out, at least right now, that
19 Like models of all ccm
32 People models
49 Agility models were on sale.
This was just a snapshot to see which model is most popular.
And yes, you see a lot of Kymcos here in Italy.
My choice of Kymco contra a Piaggio model was first the price.
Second availabilty and price again of used spareparts.
Apropos spareparts. Got me a motorwrecked Like 125. (see pics)
But l will open a new thread with this story.
Happy and safe scootering, Ruffus

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig@,
I own this scooter now for one and a half month, did one oilchange and was not aware of how much old oil came out. But l'm sure the dipstick showed enough all the time. Will be more vigilant from now. Also no blue smoke and typical oil-burn smell.
Did a quick check of 100 Kymco scooters in an italian sale platform (subito) and it came out, at least right now, that
19 Like models of all ccm
32 People models
49 Agility models were on sale.
This was just a snapshot to see which model is most popular.
And yes, you see a lot of Kymcos here in Italy.
My choice of Kymco contra a Piaggio model was first the price.
Second availabilty and price again of used spareparts.
Apropos spareparts. Got me a motorwrecked Like 125. (see pics)
But l will open a new thread with this story.
Happy and safe scootering, Ruffus

Ouch!

And thanks for the Kymco/Italy report - interesting!

Stig

[Ruffus]

Monkeybongos@
Concerning magnet within oil plug. Since l got a motorwrecked 125  Like in my hands l dismantled the wrecked motor. Saw there the oil flowing direction.
Its down from oil pump trough the mesh circulated back to lubricate.
So l put a small magnet beneath the spring ( see pics)
where it cannot escape and do any harm.ln my opinion mesh and spring should be slightly magnetic too and collect iron particles.
We will see next oil change what l got.
Happy scootering Ruffus

[Stig / Major Tom]

Interesting Ruffus, 
Curious to see what you 'catch' with the magnet.
I haven't seen any metal in my screen in several years.
My little "not-Italian" engine continued to purr along at dawn this morning. ....
And even though my Piaggio Liberty meets the European "4" regs for noise, I'm convinced that these 10yr old Like200i's are quieter.
Stig

[scooterfan]

Monkeybongos@
Concerning magnet within oil plug. Since l got a motorwrecked 125  Like in my hands l dismantled the wrecked motor. Saw there the oil flowing direction.
Its down from oil pump trough the mesh circulated back to lubricate.

I am more than convinced oil flow is actually the other way round - from the oil sump, through the mesh, sucked in by the oil pump and circulated to different parts of the engine.
That’s how all oil pumps work.

[monkeybongos]

Which ever way the oil flows, that magnet looks secure.  I'll be doing the same next oil change.
Gold Plug in the Rebel collects a ball of particles, don't know if they're small enough to go through the screen in the scoot.

[Ruffus]

Update like promised, my Like's mesh oilfilter with a magnet implantet.
Having done ~800km since last oil change l thought it might be time to check what's been caught at the magnet and within this small mesh filter.
Not really something to mention, no hard particles on the magnet and nothing in its mesh.
Also changed to ENI sint-i 5W40 motoroil because of leftover from car's oilchange. Let's see how it does.

[monkeybongos]

Experienced similar result from 1st oil change after putting magnet in place.
Disappointed at first, then decided it was better there were no particles to collect.