First Chinese... Piranha 140

No wheelies...goosed it once coming back up the driveway in first...16/38 gearing still...guaranteed to wheelie. Never glanced at the speedo...but I ran out of street well before redline in 4th.
I think it started on the 3rd kick, on the first start, choke closed...38 degrees approximately. But the idle screw was turned way down. I opened the choke after only a couple minutes... without any throttle, there just wasn't enough fuel in the mix, and it died.

I have 2 of these exhausts. The one on this bike cost me less than $60 I think, all in. I put in on a 113cc trx90 engine and it was loud. I drilled the rivets out of the tail end and added this simple obstruction. It quieted it down considerably. Recommended.

I can see that exhaust mod in my future. Great tip. I only paid $35 for the muffler and adapter for the pipe. Had the pipe already.
I’m gonna fire mine up later today. I’ll let you know how it goes. Sitting around 30* Fahrenheit today with bunches of snow on the ground. Think I might have the same carb as yours. Stock jets. My ground zero is 3700 ft above sea level.

MountainMini said:

My ground zero is 3700 ft above sea level.

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Hence your handle.

MountainMini said:

I can see that exhaust mod in my future. Great tip. I only paid $35 for the muffler and adapter for the pipe. Had the pipe already.
I’m gonna fire mine up later today. I’ll let you know how it goes. Sitting around 30* Fahrenheit today with bunches of snow on the ground. Think I might have the same carb as yours. Stock jets. My ground zero is 3700 ft above sea level.

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Some info here...
https://lilhonda.com/index.php?threads/cheap-big-bore-exhaust.21926/#post-174537

And here...in post #91
https://lilhonda.com/index.php?threads/3rd-wheel.22769/page-5

MountainMini said:

I can see that exhaust mod in my future. Great tip. I only paid $35 for the muffler and adapter for the pipe. Had the pipe already.
I’m gonna fire mine up later today. I’ll let you know how it goes. Sitting around 30* Fahrenheit today with bunches of snow on the ground. Think I might have the same carb as yours. Stock jets. My ground zero is 3700 ft above sea level.

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These bikes are fun in the snow too.

So yesterday was an embarrassment! Didn't have enough gas in the tank to get it started. Oops. After I got that figured I did get it going. Left it over night outside covered over. Today Went to start with enough gas this time. It was 14* Fahrenheit when I got up. About 20* Fahrenheit when I kicked it over, choke on and just cracked the throttle a touch. Started first kick. Turned the choke off shortly. Then had to baby the throttle about 2 minutes until it was warm enough to run on its own. Then it was fine. Just have a few pics for you to compare things like exhaust and carb. Don't want to hijack your thread.

Carb is totally different then the 140's and that exhaust, well that will burn your leg for sure! You both might want to wrap them rascals...

MountainMini said:

So yesterday was an embarrassment! Didn't have enough gas in the tank to get it started. Oops. After I got that figured I did get it going. Left it over night outside covered over. Today Went to start with enough gas this time. It was 14* Fahrenheit when I got up. About 20* Fahrenheit when I kicked it over, choke on and just cracked the throttle a touch. Started first kick. Turned the choke off shortly. Then had to baby the throttle about 2 minutes until it was warm enough to run on its own. Then it was fine. Just have a few pics for you to compare things like exhaust and carb. Don't want to hijack your thread.
View attachment 69366 View attachment 69367 View attachment 69368 View attachment 69369 View attachment 69370

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Haa...There's no such thing as hijacking in one of my threads. I welcome all. All comments criticisms and conversation is good. I think it helps to keep lilHonda happenin.
20 degrees is pretty dang chilly in my book. I'm not sure if ANY of my CT will run when it gets that cold. lol But I have my ATC70 snow machine now. I hope to put some hours on that this year if we get some good snow.
Cool bike MountainMini.

OLD CT said:

Carb is totally different then the 140's and that exhaust, well that will burn your leg for sure! You both might want to wrap them rascals...

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Wrapped mine yesterday. I'm pretty good at starting that header wrap. And I can wrap it pretty neat. But when it comes time to end it...I can't come up with a better way than copper stator wire.
I swapped on the other foot bar too...with a center stand. It works...bout the same as the Tbolt footbar I spose. Kickstand is a little too short on this one too. And the center stand is a little too tall

Header wrap is a great idea, I see that mod in my bikes future, also. Thanks Old CT. I've actually never used it before. It's definitely warranted In this case.

I’ve only run mine 3 or 4 times and I’ve touched my inner thigh on the head pipe every single time.

Good call wrapping the pipes. I start at the head pipe mounting clamp and use a worm gear style hose clamp as close to the muffler can that I can get. It's real easy to get burned down low by the head, if you tinker right after riding the bike.

Jeckler said:

I’ve only run mine 3 or 4 times and I’ve touched my inner thigh on the head pipe every single time.

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Header wrap your thigh.

OLD CT said:

I have a 27.5 and a 102.5 that will be out in the mail to you soon. With the pilot correctly sized at least you wont fry the engine. 102.5 is getting in the ball park at least. I think you will like that knockoff carb if you never tried one yet. If you like it, you can go bigger on the main jet like I mentioned.

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BIG thank you OLD CT!
I got the jets in the mail yesterday, and I installed them.
I'm surprised the motor ran as well as it did with the 95 main...if it needs a 110.
Let me know what I owe you. It's very much appreciated.

I also mounted the Deoodles recommended Monkey 125 shocks. I just got them mounted up with clearance from the fender and exhaust...no shims yet.
The bike is ready for another ride I think. Warm and windy here today and tomorrow...warm enough at least.

For the 2nd time now, I'm quarantining at home...living in my basement and garage. Exposed to covid-19 by my coworkers. This time, the company actually quarantined me. Told me yesterday...go home until further notice. Waiting for my counterpart's test result to come back...but I'm quite sure that he has it.
Soo...mixed blessing I spose. I'm feeling fine, but I have to behave as if I'm sick and contagious...to keep my family safe.
About 2 weeks ago...my other partner at work had it (pretty sure). I took a couple days off of work...got tested...and quarantined at home...for a week. But #2 work partner's (quick) test was negative. So it was never documented at work at all.
I got a negative test...never got sick...and all was well. Hopefully THIS new go round will pass without incident too. But my millwright mentor, partner, and friend is pretty sick right now. I sure hope he will be ok.
Thanks for listening.

Bike looks great! Glad they arrived so fast. You don't owe me. Grab at least 110 asap and try it as you have very cold weather now. Cold air likes a main jet on the fatter side. Maybe bigger than 110? Might even take bigger mains. Come time next year when the weather is in the 80's you should tweak it down for that weather. The pilot jet you have now is good all year round. Double check to make sure the needle clip is in the middle. No telling as this was not a new purchase by you. The P.O. may have fiddled with that.

Give a update when you try the jets. STAY SAFE!

Wifey is keeping me busy with some work outdoors, but I did short rides yesterday and today.
Yesterday with the 102.5 jet it ran pretty good, but I could tell it wasn't right. It didn't want to start with the choke closed...but fired up with it open, no throttle. These engines seem to have a reputation with kicking back. I got a good dose of why. It's kicked back a few times on me thus far, but it got my attention once yesterday. It could hurt someone, for sure.
15 minute ride yesterday, ran pretty good, made a few tweaks...carb, clutch. Got good and hot, then I shut it off and dropped the oil. LOTS of stardust in the oil...more than I think I've ever seen before. But then I've never seen a brand new engines first oil change before either. But there was NO steel in that stardust...all aluminum as best I could tell.
Then, I installed a 110 main jet and moved the needle clip to center.

Today, with the 110 main jet, I rode it for a good 20 minutes...made it work a little...and it was workin great. I'm still really impressed with the way it revs...I'm gonna need to know exactly WHAT makes it rev, up and down, so quickly. Bigger valves? Cam profile? Lightweight oil slinger and flywheel? Maybe it's all of those..? I'll have to make a short video to show what I'm talkin about. I never buried the 50mph speedo, but I ran it right up TO 50 a couple times. That was as far as I wanted to push this new engine, still running 16/38 sprockets. It's really zippy. 3rd gear wheelies with only a small yank.
I'm certainly impressed with the Piranha. It runs every bit as well as my Honda 117. I'll get a better comparison once I get the gearing right. I couldn't find the 33tooth sprocket...I might have it on my ODB project...in storage. It shifts well too, no complaints there. I also didn't notice any excessive vibration, etc. Nice engine, so far.
Carb is working good. Props to you OLD CT...the jetting seems right. The air screw access is a problem. I think I might have ended up turning it almost all the way IN tho. I'll have to check it now that the engine is cool. There is a replacement screw available that is a thumb screw sort of thing. Suckers too expensive IMO, but I'll probably buy one anyway. IDK, once I get it set right, shouldn't need to mess with it much.

The air screw access sucks. Kicking the engine over at cold starts is a challenge...and kinda scary maybe. Otherwise, the engine runs and shifts VERY good IMO.
I'm going to look into a off the shelf brake pedal that works on a CT70. If none are available...that will go on the con list.
I'll make a short video to post when I can.


20 bucks at Tbolt...guess that aint too bad.
https://tboltusa.com/store/works-fuel-screw-in-black-p-10397.html

I think that a brake pedal off an icebear or skyteam will work.

The reason the bike revs real quick is the 38 tooth rear. A 140 is naturally torquey. Make good and sure that screw isn't screwed all the way in or you could nuke that engine quick! The bike should get ''rapid oil changes'' now with a less expensive Rotella 15-40 oil. I did mine after every half hour of run time. Save the Valvoline or GN4 for when no stardust is visible any more. Then you can extend the oil changes. The ''spinner'' or ''slinger'' really sucks at collecting ANYTHING, soo change the oil early/often. Especially when it's virgin new.

Re think buying that thumb screw thingy, there simply isn't enough real estate to actually use it. LOL!

Fuel screw! Not, air screw..? That would explain why I was confused by it. Turning it in, lowers the fuel in the mix? my funky screwdriver was...difficult to use and kept jumping out of the slot. I bottomed it out, I think, but the engine didn't die. I turned it back out, maybe half a turn or so, and ran it. I'll be able to set it right now I think...2 turns out...then turn in to best idle...then a little further in to lean it out it slightly?

The way it revs...I'm talking about revving in neutral. It revs different than any engine that I've built. Quick like a crotch rocket. I want to build a motor for my ZB50 that revs like that.
The short gearing is only a small problem right now. I'll include a 32tooth sprocket with my Black Friday order.

Tripod said:

I think that a brake pedal off an icebear or skyteam will work.

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Maybe Trailbuddy then?? I'll look there, and maybe email the guys at Tbolt. I'm sure I could cobble one using a couple crappy CT70 pedals. But it seems there has to be one available somewhere.

Just like that!
https://mytrailbuddystore.com/sae841bronzesleevebearingforclonetoct70brakelever-1.aspx

My ZB would actually be a good bike to run this engine in for a while. It would bolt up and plug into the ZBs wire harness easy enough...with lights/battery. It would move that bike right along.
Right now I have a 88cc crf70 engine in the ZB, with the loud ass, shorty exhaust. I'm not sure if I could squeeze this carb up under the tank tho.