Puch Second Run: Post Disaster

One step backward, two steps forward.  After the epic meltdown of my Powerdynamo stator coil, I installed a new one I ordered from TreatsHq (it came in less than a week).  I re-timed it and tuned the carb a little more.  Still need to continue tuning cause there still some dead spots in the powerband.  But its getting there:

Puch ZA50 Clutch Rebuild Part 2: Second Gear

My second gear clutch was surprisingly in great shape compared to my first gear clutch.  The clutch shoe lining were all intact and not cracked.  I previously lightened the shoes without taking them apart by drilling numerous holes via a drill press.  (Note:  Optimal location to lighten the clutch shoes is along the outer edge as shown below because it has the most "metal mass" that can be removed.  Also, you want to take out the most "metal mass" toward "that side" of the linkage hole pivot point to optimize the "lightening" effect on the clutch.   The outer edge of the pivot point has the most mass that produces the centrifugal force which the clutch shoes needs to generate to overcome the  centripetal force created by the clutch spring.  When this happens the clutch will engage.  Less mass on the shoes means you need more angular velocity to generate the centrifugal force.   Hence, the clutch shoes will engage at a higher RPM giving you that longer "stall".  Anyway, enough physics!!)  As I did with the first gear clutch, I banged out the linkages:

All blown up!!

Puch ZA50 Clutch Rebuild Part 1: First Gear

I was forced to rebuild my clutches after a total destruction of my first gear clutch shoes by my Gilardoni kit.

Puch ZA50 Clutch Installation Tool

Getting springs on a Puch ZA50 stock clutch isn't a walk in the park.  Many of us shy away from cutting or reinstalling new springs onto our clutches because of the difficulty and hassle to get them on.  But by doing either spring modification, it can greatly benefit a ZA50 motor's performance.  For a long time, I've been thinking of a way to easily reinstall springs onto these clutches.  I've been looking for a better way ever since I ruined the elasticity of my first springs by installing them with a bunch of screwdrivers.  In the past, we used a D-sized MagLite flashlights or a worn down skateboard wheel to get them on. But these methods usually meant more than one pair of hands to do it.  I've even saw someone use their bare hands to get them on.  Ouch!!  I just don't have that kind of hands!!  With a design in mind I had for years, I finally decided to try to make life easier for all us ZA50 modders:

Get The Lead Out!

Videos to get the modding juices flowing!!...GET TUNING!!

Island Built Scooters

A few videos I recently saw from Guam and the 808 State that got me excited about scooters again!!  The first set is a Yamaha JOG.  The second one is a SMC Rexy.  And, the third one is a Honda Dio (?).  Unfortunately, the second one is a four-stroker but it still represent.

Moto Champu Zasshi

Living in Japan, I have the luxury of accessing the many scooter magazines (zasshi) this moter-bike crazed country has to offer.  Scooter or moped magazines are a rarity back in the States especially Hawaii.  One of my favorite magazines here is "Moto Champu".  Moto Champu (or Moto Champ) features a lot of bikes like the Honda Monkey, Dio ZX, and Yamaha Jog ZR.  The content is all in Japanese but it's worth buying for the pictures alone.

I can read this.  It's the Kanji for book.

Curtis (Got Rigid?) Rigid Maxi

A short clip of the famous Rigid Maxi in action:

Curtis (Got Rigid?) Rigid Maxi from gza710 on Vimeo.

Puch Swap Meet

In 2009, as I was cleaning out my garage, I decided to unload some extra Puch parts I had lying around.  So I posted an ad on Craigslist to see if there were any demand for these parts.  It was also a good excuse to find out if there were other "Puch Heads" still left on the island.  I knew a few people that still had their mopeds.  Curtis (aka GotRigid?*) still had his mopeds but was on indefinite hiatus from the scene.  I knew Gene (aka geners b*) recently bought my friend's rigid Maxi and Brian (aka butnut*) was working on his first Maxi customization.  Other than them, I felt like I was the only one keeping the Puch scene alive.  I was wrong.  I got a flood of inquires for the parts from people all over the island.  This got me excited to find out that there were still some Puch tuners out there.  So I figured, if there was such a high demand for these parts, why not get all of us together and we can have a Puch swap meet.  I posted a message to bring your parts and bikes on the various moped forums.  And the rest is history: (*Moped Army user names)

A Brief History Of Hawaii's Moped Scene

This is a brief history of Hawaii's moped scene told through my personal recollections, experiences, and stories throughout the years.  This post's perspective is bias towards Puch mopeds because that was the model I grew up with.

Back in the early 80's, Puch mopeds ruled the streets of Hawaii.  Puch riders used a lot of ingenuity to make their mopeds fast.  They would modify them by boring, porting, polishing, cutting, d-restricting, and re-gearing stock parts to gain as much speed out of them.  At least 50mph with just 49cc magnum bore cylinder with L-ring piston setup.  If they were running big bore kits, the only ones available were the 65cc Zeta or the 70cc Autista.  (Check out some pics from GotRigid?'s site of a Puch cruise back then.)  The Puch moped's closest competition was the Tracs, Tomos, and the Honda Express*.  (*A popular choice among neighborhood paperboys who for some reason always had the fastest bikes!!).