How do you tune up a Doodlebug?

[LarryD1130]

How do I get my bike running as good as when I first swapped the engine?

BACKGROUND:
When I first put my 6.5hp engine on my bike it was fast as hell. Then I crashed. BAD. I got more messed up than the bike did but I did put a little scratch on my front fender and bent my right foot peg. After that, it was still pretty fast but it didn't seem AS fast (maybe it was just me). Then I let my friends ride it a couple of times. Big mistake. The first time, my buddy was driving around in some really thick mud and when I got it back the rear fender was mangled, the brakes didn't work, and it was muddy as hell. I tightened the brake cable and they started working again but it didn't seem like they worked as good as they use to. Then, this other time, another one of my buddies was riding it and accidently broke my chain. My other buddy bought me a new chain for it and put it on for me but it's too loose. The chain tensioner is all the way back and it still has some play in it. So now my bike is slower/slow and I'm not happy. To make it all worst, my friend just bought one and did the switch and his bike is probably faster than mine (which sucks). What should I do?

Some things I think I need to do are: Change the oil (I haven't changed it yet), take a link out of my chain (too make my chain tighter), and fill my tires up or something (what is the recommended PSI).

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO DO TO MAKE MY DOODLEBUG RUN BETTER?

Thanks in advance.

[oldfatguy]

new spark plug and air filter

[supernova]

See the thread titled "why remove the governer?" in honda/clones section of engines and modifications! After you read it and do the little mod. your friend will lose his mind wondering what the heck you did or had done to yours!

[sundries]

if you can't pull the motor forward to make chain tighter, remove the chain link. I have a tight chain with a double hint of slack. No chain tension-er either.

Removing the governer is a little more difficult, but the engine will open up past 3500 rpm's giving you way more power. (i still have governers in both my db30s and i weigh 255lbs and can still get up to 35mph)

oh, and don't let your friends ride it. Let em build their own!

Don't put any shit in your tires.. maybe more air, but not too much.

As for brakes, they wear depending on rider. My first DB30 had been ridden for 2 years and have barley any pad left. My second DB30 was brand new and still has plenty of pad.

[Oldschool]

Originally Posted by LarryD1130

How do I get my bike running as good as when I first swapped the engine?

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO DO TO MAKE MY DOODLEBUG RUN BETTER?

Thanks in advance.

..........
Where to begin.......

You sound like a young fellow who doesn't know a lot about small engines. Best adivice I can give you is geta Honda GX200 manual from the library and read up. Understand the engine first then trouble shoot.

Its realy pointless to tell you anything if you don't understand the basics.
Another troubling point is you already know what some of your problems are but rather than adress them you have simply kept riding and neglected the bike and engine.
You've never changed the oil? Have never put air or shit in the tyres? Never even looked at the air filter I bet.....

Last point is abuse, from your discription it doesn't sound like you realy care much for the bike worse you've managed to hurt your yourself driving it.
Maybe its time to rethink things and decide if you want to fix this or move on maybe a DS or something safe.

Yes I sound like a myserable old fart but at 16 I was building engines and racing. I bought my own tools and parts and drove with a degree of fear. Fear of getting hurt and fear of blowing things up because back inthe day G200 parts were expensive, MC and Clinton parts were unobtainable....

[LarryD1130]

I already removed the governor.

[Double J]

Originally Posted by LarryD1130

How do I get my bike running as good as when I first swapped the engine?

BACKGROUND:
When I first put my 6.5hp engine on my bike it was fast as hell. Then I crashed. BAD. I got more messed up than the bike did but I did put a little scratch on my front fender and bent my right foot peg. After that, it was still pretty fast but it didn't seem AS fast (maybe it was just me). Then I let my friends ride it a couple of times. Big mistake. The first time, my buddy was driving around in some really thick mud and when I got it back the rear fender was mangled, the brakes didn't work, and it was muddy as hell. I tightened the brake cable and they started working again but it didn't seem like they worked as good as they use to. Then, this other time, another one of my buddies was riding it and accidently broke my chain. My other buddy bought me a new chain for it and put it on for me but it's too loose. The chain tensioner is all the way back and it still has some play in it. So now my bike is slower/slow and I'm not happy. To make it all worst, my friend just bought one and did the switch and his bike is probably faster than mine (which sucks). What should I do?

Some things I think I need to do are: Change the oil (I haven't changed it yet), take a link out of my chain (too make my chain tighter), and fill my tires up or something (what is the recommended PSI).

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO DO TO MAKE MY DOODLEBUG RUN BETTER?

Thanks in advance.

I crashed my friends doodlebug, for sure not fun sliding 5 feet on gravel