Stella 2t Postmortem (update)

"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay) 09/24/2018 at 23:58 • Filed to: Two Wheels Bad, Decay's Beaters

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Was riding home on the Stella Friday and it suddenly started running a bit off. About a half mile down the road from there it seized up completely resulting in a pretty sketchy rear wheel lockup at around 50mph. I was able to clutch in quickly and keep the bike upright, but nothing I could do on the side of the road would get the motor to turn over.

I got it home and tore in a little bit

Fully cooled down everything was still completely locked up.

The head has a bunch of debris damage around the squish band

The piston has similar damage and what appears to be a needle bearing embedded.

Not good.

It appears something in the bottom end gave up and proceeded to quickly grenade the rest of the motor.

I’ll update more once I figure out how to tear the motor down further, right now it’s seized at TDC and I can’t split the case with the jug still on.

Thankfully, worst case scenario, I can get a fresh complete motor for about $600 if nothing in this one is worth salvaging.

!!! UNSUPPORTED LINE BREAK IN HEADER !!!

(Update 9/24 PM)

Tore in a little further tonight. Got the motor out of the bike.

Got the exhaust off and that allowed me to beat the jug off with a hammer.

The piston has DEEP scouring, not going to be good for much other than a neat desk toy.

The cylinder fared a bit better, being made of a noticeably harder metal. Still cylinders are cheap enough to make reworking this one not worthwhile.

Everything inside is coated with fine copper flakes.

The crank is totally seized at the big end. I tried everything I have on hand to free it up but noting. This is the failure point. Reading online, there was a tolerancing issue on a bunch of these that causes the bottom end to go. It appears that’s what happened here.

And that’s where I’ll be for a while. Next step is to split the case, but I’m waiting on a flywheel puller to get any further.

benjrblant > Decay buys too many beaters 09/24/2018 at 15:59

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Love those little Stella scoots. Sad to see yours in such a state- hoping you can get it back together quickly!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Decay buys too many beaters 09/24/2018 at 16:00

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Good luck! I would love to get a scoot of my own at some point, but need to get my bike license first...a Piaggio or Vespa is the dream, but in my neck of the woods, prices are insane for them, even used...

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/24/2018 at 16:07

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You don’t need a bike license for a scooter like this do you?

In BC if you have a license (even a novice or learners) you can ride it if it conforms to these rules:

Has no more than a 50 cubic cm engine displacement or 1.5 kilowatt motor rating

Does not need clutching or shifting after the drive system is engaged

Has a maximum speed on level ground of 70 km/h and weighs no more than 95 kilograms, excluding fuel and batteries

Must have wheels that are 25.4 cm in diameter or more

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Decay buys too many beaters 09/24/2018 at 16:22

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After our 4th, my wife said no more cars. But... scooters are not cars.

“ Ha! logic woman! Hey, where are you going with that suitcase?”

Decay buys too many beaters > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/24/2018 at 16:28

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I’d argue that for most situations, sub 50cc is dangerously underpowered. I love my 50s, but it takes a certain degree of defensiveness to make them work in traffic. 

Decay buys too many beaters > benjrblant 09/24/2018 at 16:30

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Yeah, manual 2 stroke large frame Vespa for half price, sign me up! I’ll figure it out I’m sure, but it does look like the season is over for this little thing. 

DutchieDC2R > Decay buys too many beaters 09/24/2018 at 16:33

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Rear lock up is always better than front lock up.....

Decay buys too many beaters > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/24/2018 at 16:33

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Be careful, they do multiply rather quickly :p 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/24/2018 at 16:38

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In Nova Scotia you need a bike license for anything over 49CC that goes faster than 35kph and has no foot-operable pedals. Ther e are other caveats, but I can’t remember them off hand.

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 09/24/2018 at 17:23

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*Opens Craigslist, searches “2 stroke”*

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 09/24/2018 at 17:26

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Manual clutch? On a scooter? You have my attention.

It’s so adorable! I hope you’re able to get it back on the road without much issue.

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 09/24/2018 at 17:34

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You clutch and shift with your left hand, it’s  neato.

MatisyahuSerious > Mercedes Streeter 09/24/2018 at 17:40

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*Opens Craigslist, searches “2 stroke”*

they did away with the personals section a few months ago , i do believe .

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Decay buys too many beaters 09/24/2018 at 17:58

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Sorry to hear that... but at least in a worst case, it won’t be too bad.

AestheticsInMotion > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 01:49

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Does this mean you need to buy another scoot to (temporarily) take over for the Stella?  

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion 09/25/2018 at 03:45

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Maaaaaaybe... 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter 09/25/2018 at 05:28

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If memory serves the Genuine Stella is just a rebadged Indian-built scooter which , itself, was a built-under-li cense Vespa T5 from the 80s/90s, so before CVTs became a thing. :)

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 06:49

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I love the idea of these. Most of the same bits as a real car, but the parts are comparatively cheap, simple, and can be picked up with one hand.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 09/25/2018 at 07:06

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Yep. These are rebadged Indian built Vespas. One popped up for sale in Deerfield last month for $750. I wish I could have picked it up.

shop-teacher > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/25/2018 at 07:09

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This scooter is  a 150cc, does require manual shifting, and is faster than 70km/he. It probably weighs more than 95kg, as it has a steel body.

shop-teacher > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 07:11

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Oooof, that's a bummer!

arl > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 07:36

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Ah man, sorry to hear the motor is toast. Well, I hope you get it back on the road. It’s a neat little scooter.

If I lived somewhere with less traffic I’d be tempted to get one of these.

Decay buys too many beaters > arl 09/25/2018 at 09:37

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Traffic is the main reason I have one! It's still fun, even just creeping along. 

Decay buys too many beaters > shop-teacher 09/25/2018 at 10:45

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Thankfully that means this gets filed to the “shit happens” category instead of something I did wrong. Probably just going to grab that new motor, hard to pass up at that price and then build up the broken motor long term. 

shop-teacher > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 10:53

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Agreed. That sounds like a plan to me :)

Sovande > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 11:24

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The only reason I have ever heard of these engines seizing is because the carb is jetted too lean.  No enough oil/fuel and then everything seizes up.  I used to have a Stella.  Was pretty fun and was certainly fast enough for in town traffic.  Nothing like doing 50 on a 10" tire.

Sovande > Sovande 09/25/2018 at 11:31

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I used to have a few.

Decay buys too many beaters > Sovande 09/25/2018 at 11:51

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Apparently there was a large number of bottom end failures amoung the 05-06s. Tons of people with hard seizures just like mine. Taking it apart so far, I’ve seen a nice coat of oil amidst all the internal components. Also I’m running the injection pump, so even if the carb was run ning lean it wouldn’t affect oiling.

Decay buys too many beaters > Sovande 09/25/2018 at 11:53

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*insert heart eyes emoji*

CaptDale - is secretly British > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 12:34

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If you want, you can buy my Aprilia and but a 998cc V-Twin in your scooter XD

CaptDale - is secretly British > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 12:34

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If you want, you can buy my Aprilia and but a 998cc V-Twin in your scooter XD

Decay buys too many beaters > CaptDale - is secretly British 09/25/2018 at 12:58

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You know what’s funny. Due to the weight distribution of these old Vespas, people talk about how hard it is to keep the front wheel on the ground after adding big bore kits... That’s at like 20hp

I can’t even imagine 6x that :p

CaptDale - is secretly British > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 13:05

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So you want to then?

Decay buys too many beaters > CaptDale - is secretly British 09/25/2018 at 15:07

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I would kinda want it in a G rom more. Prople have managed to squeeze panigale motors in them (then they caught on fire)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Decay buys too many beaters 09/25/2018 at 16:09

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I’ve got some 3 jaw pullers if you want to try them. 

Decay buys too many beaters > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/25/2018 at 16:30

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I do too, most scooter flywheels have a theaded area , the right tools are usually cheap and make the job cake. Unfortunately my Japanese one does not fit the S tella