Happy Times Longevity?

Tressie

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3:21 PM
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Apr 5, 2013
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32
Location
Perth, West Aus
With 200km on my new 48cc Happy Times, it just keeps getting better and better. Okay, mad idea, but what about a 900km adventure ride? Could I expect a new HT to got that far at @~30km/h without needing anything more than roadside maintenance? How long do these things actually last if treated fairly well, and what do they need to keep them from grinding to an early standstill? M. :sick:
 
hmmmm....wellll....... I've had a couple of happy times last somewhere in the 900 kilometer range. And that's with me not making any special effort to make them last, since I regard them as disposable engines.

And I know that others around here have gotten much more than 900 km lifespans out of theirs.

But almost all of us have done this without going much more than, say, 10 miles or 16 kilometers from home. The sudden death of our engines wouldn't be a big problem.

But the chances of one of these engines making a 900 kilometer straight shot would probably be fairly low. And engine death would be quite a problem.

But there is one thing you could consider doing..............

Get another, brand new, engine and kit and pack it up with your luggage and other gear. Then if your engine (or other parts for that matter) gives up the ghost, you just slap on your spare and head for home.

Even if you never reached your actual destination, you'd have ended up doing something that was worth doing.
 
Thanks BGW. I liked your comment about my proposed journey being 'doing something worthwhile, even if not successful'.

Yes, I guess I could carry a spare HT motor, and just do a quickie roadside change should disaster strike. I'm kind of hooked now though, and I'm thinking that my next motor should be a GX35 or some other 4-stroke, as opposed to another HT. Got my eye on a Honda copy kit that would be interesting to hear opinions of: http://www.ebay.com/itm/38CC-GAS-MO...k-/321166150972?ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

Hmm...might have a go at the 900km return journey up the Western Australian coast as soon as the nights come up a bit from their present freezing point minimums. If I end up seizing or breaking the HT along the way, then it's never more than about a 50km pedal to the coach home. If the bike breaks, then I'll chuck it in the bush somewhere, hitch out, and pick it up the next time I go past in the car. No biggie either way, least not if I get it done with before the hot summer weather.

Nah, found a thread with a few more shortish experiences with HT engines, and am starting to think I should keep the 2-stroke for local stuff. It might be wiser to go 4-stroke, I'm thinking, before venturing much further afield (?).

T.
 
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seems doable assuming a stop every hour or so to check that things are staying tight & adjusted
 
Hi crassius,

Haha, you mean me or the bike? I just did my first 2-hour ride the other day. The bike sang faultlessly, but I needed my bolts checking at the end. Nice, quiet 4-stroke wouldn't hurt.

T. :)
 
i used to do the marathon rides. at one point, 60km in a day just for work. they add up quick at 5 days a week!

longest single ride nonstop has been about 400 odd kilometres with a 5L tank. bum hurt a bit. still had fuel left. thats a full loop from sydney to singleton via the putty and back down the freeway...

this is WOT, 50:1 mix, and running a tuned pipe. which seem to make for longer lasting engines ive noticed. theres definitely no problems with carbon deposits at the flange when the ports are matched properly!

but, to do 900km or more? i would carry a spare engine. few extra kilo but makes for peace of mind :)


but then again, the engines themselves are usually bulletproof, its just the auxillaries that fail. things like throttle grips, crank seals, cheap chains and carburettors... yes, ive had a carbie snap in half! sure i may have bored it out a lil bit too far but that doesnt change the fact that i hard a carb snap in half!
 
In my case (using 25:1 oil/fuel ratio and a Jaguar CDI) i get 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) out of a piston, rings and cylinder and 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) out of a (crowded needle roller bearing) bottom end.
 
Heat seems to be the enemy of engines, big, small, 2 cycle, 4 cycle, frequent cooling off periods would reduce failures, the engines are one thing, the bikes another. How are the roads ? Crappy pavement would pound bikes to a pulp, smooth pavement would be low stress on cycle.
 
Frequent cooling off periods, WTH? Engine can run non-stop for weeks as long as it isn't overheated. Keep it in its normal operating temp range and there is no need for cooling off periods. I've done 8 hour rides without stopping my engine once or letting it "cool off".

Stopping every 5 minutes to check bolts is stupid and unecessary. LOCTITE it.

I wouldn't hesitate to take my HT cross country and would not carry a spare engine but would carry spare chain, plugs, CDI/Magneto, and throttle cable.
 
Frequent cooling off periods, WTH? Engine can run non-stop for weeks as long as it isn't overheated. Keep it in its normal operating temp range and there is no need for cooling off periods. I've done 8 hour rides without stopping my engine once or letting it "cool off".

Stopping every 5 minutes to check bolts is stupid and unecessary. LOCTITE it.

I wouldn't hesitate to take my HT cross country and would not carry a spare engine but would carry spare chain, plugs, CDI/Magneto, and throttle cable.


I agree............I agree...........I agree...........I agree............I agree...........I agree...........I agree...........I agree...........I agree...........I agree.
 
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