OP
@megnez avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
1979 p200e
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1201
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
 
Molto Verboso
@megnez avatar
1979 p200e
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1201
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
UTC quote
So, in the year I've owned my P200, I've done little to really understand it. I've replaced gaskets in the carb and cleaned it a few times, replaced the fuel line, changed bulbs, etc.

Its not running well right now, unfortunately.

So I need to suck it up, stop procrastinating, and get in there. The problem: I have no freaking clue what I'm doing. If I knew what the hell was happening I could figure out how to fix it. Diagnosis is my problem.

So maybe y'all could help me out?

--------------------------------------

Here's the deal:

1 - Runs rough

It vibrates a lot, and just feels rough. I can no longer get up to 35mph in 3rd like I use to be able to do. Its sluggish.

2 - It's taking more effort to get it started.

It takes 4-5 kicks... then I have to give it stupid amounts of throttle to get it going. When I do this, it hesitates about a second before the RPMs get up to where it should. Does that make sense?

3 - Oil leak?

There's grimy oil residue on the floorboard. This is a recent occurrence.

4 - Low top speed

Can't get it over about 50. Even then, I feel uncomfortable because I know its struggling.

5 - increased smoke

Its been smoking more recently then it has before.

---------------------------------

I'd like to get it to the point where I could take it on long trips. That's not going to happen right now.

I have very little time right now. I won't be able to touch it until next week, but that gives me time to order parts if need be.

Thanks everyone.
@rover_eric avatar
UTC

Moderator
1965 Vespa SS180, 1963 Lambretta LI150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6980
Location: Detroit, Michigan
 
Moderator
@rover_eric avatar
1965 Vespa SS180, 1963 Lambretta LI150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6980
Location: Detroit, Michigan
UTC quote
You should go up to the auto parts store or Sears and buy a compression tester.

Get the bike warmed up, then put it on ( they screw into the spark plug hole ) kick it a handful of times, and see what your compression is.


Also, i'd clean out your carb for good measure.


The oil residue on your floorboards is likely your oil tank leaking oil ( often around the site glass, but could be where the hose hooks up on the bottom of the oil tank ). It drips down and leaks through the welds and gaps in your paint on the floorboards.
OP
@megnez avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
1979 p200e
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1201
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
 
Molto Verboso
@megnez avatar
1979 p200e
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1201
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
UTC quote
Rover Eric wrote:
You should go up to the auto parts store or Sears and buy a compression tester.

Get the bike warmed up, then put it on ( they screw into the spark plug hole ) kick it a handful of times, and see what your compression is.


Also, i'd clean out your carb for good measure.


The oil residue on your floorboards is likely your oil tank leaking oil ( often around the site glass, but could be where the hose hooks up on the bottom of the oil tank ). It drips down and leaks through the welds and gaps in your paint on the floorboards.
Sweet. This is exactly what I need.

Alright, I'll try it out.

Is it possible I screwed something up when I was changing the fuel line to cause the oil leak?
@chad avatar
UTC

Olivia Newton-John
p200, vbb, gt200, px150, vnb
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4494
Location: chippewa falls, wisconsin
 
Olivia Newton-John
@chad avatar
p200, vbb, gt200, px150, vnb
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4494
Location: chippewa falls, wisconsin
UTC quote
megnez wrote:
Rover Eric wrote:
You should go up to the auto parts store or Sears and buy a compression tester.

Get the bike warmed up, then put it on ( they screw into the spark plug hole ) kick it a handful of times, and see what your compression is.


Also, i'd clean out your carb for good measure.


The oil residue on your floorboards is likely your oil tank leaking oil ( often around the site glass, but could be where the hose hooks up on the bottom of the oil tank ). It drips down and leaks through the welds and gaps in your paint on the floorboards.
Sweet. This is exactly what I need.

Alright, I'll try it out.

Is it possible I screwed something up when I was changing the fuel line to cause the oil leak?
you could have loosened the banjo clip on the bottom of the tank by accident. i've done it. what eric said is more common though, even a hairline crack by the sight glass will make it leak. maybe you cracked it when you slid the tank back in. sucky thing is that in order to tell, you have to pull it again.
OP
@megnez avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
1979 p200e
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1201
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
 
Molto Verboso
@megnez avatar
1979 p200e
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1201
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
UTC quote
chad wrote:
you could have loosened the banjo clip on the bottom of the tank by accident. i've done it. what eric said is more common though, even a hairline crack by the sight glass will make it leak. maybe you cracked it when you slid the tank back in. sucky thing is that in order to tell, you have to pull it again.
If it were coming straight from the tank wouldn't it be cleaner oil? Or perhaps its exhaust grime getting into it after its on the floorboard?

I guess I'll find out.
UTC

Hooked
Too damn many
Joined: UTC
Posts: 297
Location: Seattle, WA
 
Hooked
Too damn many
Joined: UTC
Posts: 297
Location: Seattle, WA
UTC quote
Start with the easy stuff first: Clean and adjust the carb, install a new (correctly gapped) plug, and fresh gas if you can. Then you can assess whether you have a more serious problem.
@gaseous_clay avatar
UTC

Addicted
1978 P200E, 1963 GS 160
Joined: UTC
Posts: 663
Location: Decatur, GA
 
Addicted
@gaseous_clay avatar
1978 P200E, 1963 GS 160
Joined: UTC
Posts: 663
Location: Decatur, GA
UTC quote
Team Leisure wrote:
install a new (correctly gapped) plug.
+1

NGK B7ES
@hojo1690 avatar
UTC

Addicted
1980 P200e, 1956 ACMA, 1979 P200e, 1974 Ciao
Joined: UTC
Posts: 766
Location: Ithaca, NY
 
Addicted
@hojo1690 avatar
1980 P200e, 1956 ACMA, 1979 P200e, 1974 Ciao
Joined: UTC
Posts: 766
Location: Ithaca, NY
UTC quote
If it's grimy oil, I'm wondering if you have an exhaust leak or your cylinder head is loose. Either could cause some exhaust to come out near the right rear cowl. A compression test is definitely a good idea. You might also look where the exhaust is clamped on to assure it's not showing a leak.

Mike
OP
@megnez avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
1979 p200e
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1201
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
 
Molto Verboso
@megnez avatar
1979 p200e
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1201
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
UTC quote
hojo1690 wrote:
If it's grimy oil, I'm wondering if you have an exhaust leak or your cylinder head is loose. Either could cause some exhaust to come out near the right rear cowl. A compression test is definitely a good idea. You might also look where the exhaust is clamped on to assure it's not showing a leak.

Mike
Its on both sides.
UTC

Hooked
79 vespa p200 & 03 vespa et4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 183
Location: eunice,La.
 
Hooked
79 vespa p200 & 03 vespa et4
Joined: UTC
Posts: 183
Location: eunice,La.
UTC quote
alright time to get serious
meg, when checking compression be sure to hold throttle fully open when kicking several times , if you don't open throttle you will get a lower reading. the gummy oil on floorboard sounds like head leak you had sometime back & could also be exhaust leak at cylinder conection. good luck. ps. htat oil will damage the rubber on floor runners quick clean very often until repaired.
@steveinsac avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2007 GT200 1979 P200E 1980 P200E 2011 Triumph America
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1268
Location: Sacramento
 
Molto Verboso
@steveinsac avatar
2007 GT200 1979 P200E 1980 P200E 2011 Triumph America
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1268
Location: Sacramento
UTC quote
Meg, I had the same problem (common) oil on the floorboards. I looks dirty because of the dark color and dirt and dust that mixes with it. If it's not the site glass check your hose. That's where mine was leaking from the clamp cutting into it. Another common problem is the tanks will crack and leak. Once you've determined where the leak is from the oil will still seep from underneath the floor rails for a while. It seems to follow them to the front end of the floorboard. Just keep wiping away and eventually it will stop.
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