Retro fixup-1988 Honda Nifty 50

[Storm]

Morning Chaps and Chapesses

I have recently inherited a 1988 Honda Nifty 50 from my father in law, who got it from his brother-who probably got it from some bloke in a pub
Its been kept under cover and is in reasonable nick for a 20 year old scoot.
Now the bad news- it doesnt go! According to father in laws brother who talked to a mate who is a paid up mechanic and he reckons the starter motor is kaput.
Thus, I have questions:
1) Where would I find bits-at a reasonable price mind you-this is a budget bike?
2) Are there any good sites for this sort of project?-ie model specific-google turned up a couple, but they are all overseas ones and I'd like to know from you afficionado's which are worth the time to join etc
3) Any good info on general restoration/mechanical fixin' type stuff
4) Any easy to do mods to make it perform to the best of its ability-or beyond(fully realising this is a 50cc engine here, there'll be no "woohoo, I cracked 300km/h" thread in a couple months

Thanks in advance for the words of wisdom

[UberRhys]

According to father in laws brother who talked to a mate who is a paid up mechanic and he reckons the starter motor is kaput.

Does it have a kick start, why not just use that?

[Storm]

Apparently not fitted/doesnt work. (I forgot to mention that I dont currently have said scoot in my possesion as I am waiting for the next time father in law brings his van north)

[retro asian]

I'm just a Noob, but here's my 2c:

ALL new scooter parts I've found so far are dirt cheap (compared to car parts).

Scootling have a good online shop: www.scootling.co.nz
They might know which parts can fit yours...


Or else try a wrecker?

[vinnieh]

Hey Storm,

The best resource I have found (besides KiwiBiker!) is the Honda Spree forums:

--> Link to the forums <--

It's a forum like this one dedicated just to Sprees (which is the american name for a Nifty Fifty. It also has a guide about how to install a kick start on your NQ50!)

Do you have any pics of your scooter?

Cheers,

Vinnie

[vinnieh]

Oh yeah one more thing - I took my NQ50 into a specialist scooter repair shop to get fixed. $70 later, they told me to throw the thing into the skip because it was basically a heap of crap

A couple of hours and 2 greasy hands later, I had it running... so I suggest having a play around yourself, check connectors etc. There's heaps of wiring that can get disconnected on those little bikes. The spree forums I mentioned before have wiring diagrams and you can also download the original users manuals etc

Good luck man

[Storm]

Cheers Vinnie, I've already found that one and it looks like they'll be my bible
Photos will be up as soon as I can take possession of said scoot. Like you said, I'll definitly be diving into the clean up/full microscopic eyeball check of the whole shebang before paying for professional assitance

[Sellout]

AFAIK the NQ50 didn't come with a factory kick-start until about 1990.

There are plenty of places around that stock 2nd hand parts, I have a couple of boxes and am currently re-building 3 1986-ish NQ50's, so for something specific let me know.

The Spree forum is definitely a "bible" site as far as repairs go, that forum has a lot of rubbish tips, but the entire service manual in fairly decent quality pdf has saved me a couple of times. The wiring harness is a piece o' cake, and there really isn't much that can go wrong with these bikes!

In so far as paying for repair work???!!!! DON"T! That's the beauty of these scootahs, they can all be done with a very minimal knowledge of mechanics and a very basic toolkit as well. Solid old engines that don't need computers... great to learn on! And there are a lot of resources on the web that you can draw on when/ if you get stuck.

I'll have a look for a starter tonight (I have to see if I can find a cylinder & piston for Vinnie as well!) Have fun!!

[Sellout]

Scootling have a good online shop: www.scootling.co.nz

I've had a look here, the parts aren't all that cheap, and they are parts for the new Chinese 4stroke scooters... not much use for a good old fashioned 2T scooter!

[scootnz]

Trademe: I went to Motorbikes, Parts and Accessories, and typed "Nifty" in the search box, and found a couple of listings of Nifty 50 parts. Save the search and you'll get an email whenever some parts pop up for sale.

[vinnieh]

Yeah most of them are sold by some wanker called jawajoe, he's a rip off. He tried to sell me an auto choke for $80 bucks when he was selling it as part of a carburettor for $150. He also told me to fuck off when I asked to see pics of a cylinder he was selling. He's a nutcase.

[retro asian]

I've had a look here, the parts aren't all that cheap, and they are parts for the new Chinese 4stroke scooters... not much use for a good old fashioned 2T scooter!

????

Mine is 2T, they have lots of parts there for me....

[Sellout]

Mmmkay, may have to take a 2nd look...

[Storm]

Might have to look around for a cooling shroud- one of the guys on the spree forums saw some of the pics and mentioned I should have one

[Storm]

Have got all the individual components working but having trouble getting it to fire- cylinder is getting flooded, despite restricting fuel flow.
Any scooter gurus able to help