The stability and reliability of starting the engine of an Alpha moped depends on several factors, including correctly configured ignition. The absence of problems due to an incorrectly configured unit guarantees ease of driving the vehicle at any time of the year - it will start at every kickstart without any extra effort. You will need to adjust the ignition only if the moped was purchased very cheaply and needs to be restored to working condition.
The electrical equipment system (and, accordingly, spark supply) consists of the following elements:
- power supply;
- additional devices;
- other nodes that consume energy.
According to statements, there is no need to adjust the ignition after purchasing a new vehicle, but in reality everything is somewhat different - the conditions of transportation and storage impose their own problems. Most likely, you will have to eliminate the consequences of incorrect ignition settings - in Alpha vehicles it is set on the principle of too much advance. In addition, disassembling the engine inevitably entails the need to adjust the ignition without fail.
You just need to follow the instructions for disassembling and reassembling the moped to achieve an optimal result that will last until the next time the engine is dismantled for maintenance or replacement. Uncertain operation of the engine while driving causes not only discomfort, but also troubles in the form of an increased accident risk on a busy highway, where a sudden stop is extremely dangerous.
Signs and causes of moped motor malfunction
Among the main manifestations of a breakdown of the ignition system are the following factors:
- the moped does not start the first time or does not start at all;
- it takes a lot of effort to start the engine;
- presence of burning on the candle;
- excess noise when the engine operates while driving and idle;
- inability to gain sufficient speed without effort.
- Correct ignition settings can eliminate the following problems in the operation of the moped:
- fuel detonation;
- increased gasoline consumption;
- reduction in power at low speeds;
- noticeable knocking not only when driving, but also when the engine is running without moving;
- strong heating of the motor;
- presence of pops.
Setting up a timely spark supply will also extend the operation of the piston system and the entire engine in general due to the absence of gasoline accumulation inside the engine - carbon deposits do not increase, leading to coking and unusability of the engine in general.
Incorrectly set ignition is associated with other problems, including the installation of the piston system. The reasons for the failure of the moped ignition are:
- incorrectly installed ignition coil;
- wear of the piston system, which leads to the release of gases from the inside and the release of fumes onto other components;
- physical damage to the vehicle due to a fall or accident.
It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition and correct connection of the ignition coil, since it is this part that increases the voltage, resulting in a spark. Lack of sufficient voltage prevents a spark from forming and starting the moped engine. There is a way to diagnose the ignition coil to understand what needs to be replaced, and not just adjusted correctly. You need to take a tester (multimeter) to measure the levels. It is worth considering that a digital tester is preferable, since the needle may not pick up the slightest fluctuations.
The tester probes need to be connected to the terminals of the ignition coil, and the multimeter itself must be switched to resistance measurement mode. After this you will need to apply voltage. An indicator of up to 5 Ohms is considered normal (but not lower than 0.5 Ohms) - the optimal level. Next you need to do everything with the secondary winding:
- one probe is connected to the coil terminal (supply);
- the second must be attached to the spark plug cap;
- you need to look at the value on the screen.
Checking the ignition coil with a multimeter
The norm for the secondary winding is two to three kilo-ohms. If the indicators do not correspond to those mentioned above, you will need to replace the ignition coil, and not just adjust the corresponding system.
Video on how to check the ignition coil on a moped:
Causes of malfunction
The Chinese Alpha moped, whose price is affordable, does not cause owners many problems. Interruptions in a moped engine have several causes, and once you understand them, you can quickly fix the breakdown.
Disassembling the moped engine
So, if the engine starts with great difficulty, the muffler “shoots”, and smoke comes out of the chimney, it means that the moped is “capricious” due to problems with the carburetor. In order to solve this problem with the Alpha moped, you need to:
- clean the carburetor;
- thoroughly clean the moped's air filter;
- tighten the screws;
- adjust the moped carburetor.
If the Alpha slowly picks up speed, and its engine is not able to develop the declared power, then the reason is the incorrect operation of the moped valves. It can also “get sick” due to gaps and incorrect timing. In order to make the Alpha moped function normally, it is necessary to replace the used valves with new ones.
If the Alpha moped is not able to reach the required speed, despite the roar of the engine and solid revolutions, it is impossible to stop the spinning wheel, and gear shifting occurs intermittently, then the cause of the malfunction is clutch wear.
Moped clutch parts
To eliminate the breakdown, you must perform the following manipulations:
- remove the engine;
- remove the plastic cover;
- unscrew the tightening screw;
- Unscrew the adjustment mechanism and tighten the screw tightly;
- start a moped;
- turn on first gear and drive a few meters.
Another cause of moped engine malfunction may be wear on the drive sprockets. If they are very worn, they must be replaced with new ones.
You may encounter the problem of engine overheating. The situation can be corrected after adding oil. If oil leaks, you must urgently contact a professional service .
Alpha moped engine overheating
Engine disassembly
Disassembling the Alpha engine is quite simple. To do this you need:
- “arm yourself” with a key;
- Unscrew the bolts on the intake manifold (by 10);
- unscrew the cylinder covers and the bolts located there (4 pieces);
- remove the cylinder head.
After performing the necessary manipulations, you need to properly assemble the engine, installing all the parts in place.
A diagram can help you understand the nuances. Also, a lot of useful tips regarding repairing the most important “organ” of the Alpha moped are contained in the training video.
Preparing to set the ignition, necessary tools
It is necessary to start working with a moped with a sufficiently warm engine - if you leave the vehicle to cool for about two hours after the trip or let it sit until the morning, if the vehicle was driven into the garage in the evening, then you need to put it on a stand for a few minutes with the engine running. Among other things, it is worth doing:
- place the moped on a flat and stable surface (asphalt or concrete);
- fix the vehicle on the stand so that it does not move anywhere;
- prepare a small box for the extracted parts (if you have to do something extra). The best option is the cells from the tool box, into which everything can be sorted, eliminating confusion.
To work on a moped you will need several elements:
- a set of tools that came with the moped;
- instructions that came with the transport - it describes the main points of the procedure;
- strobe
If this type of moped repair is being performed for the first time, it is recommended to enlist the help of at least one person so that he can hold individual parts of the vehicle or record the process in a photo/video. The materials will be needed if problems arise when putting the entire mechanism back together.
The whole process is best done outside in dry weather, but without wind, so that sand does not get inside, which would require additional cleaning. Inside a garage or box, the process will not be safe because you will need to start the engine. The instructions for setting up the ignition will be useful to all owners of Alpha mopeds, as well as Honda, from which the model was copied for production in China and sale at a lower price in other countries.
Start setting up the ignition on a moped
Using a strobe light, you will need to check for the presence of measuring marks on the ignition timing. Thanks to this, you can find problems with the moped in advance, so as not to disassemble it too much. There will be two wires coming out of the strobe: the first is connected to the vehicle's power source, the other must be connected to the spark plug (this is the induction wire).
Strobe with wires
To complete the task, you need to warm up the engine, and then:
- start the engine to get a spark (the strobe light will light up);
- the light received from the device must be directed to where the measuring marks are located;
- if the risks are level, then there is no need to adjust them. Otherwise, you will need to perform other operations that require more time.
The result of this operation is a reduction in costs in terms of spare parts that may not be needed. If you don’t have a strobe light, borrow one for a short time from those vehicle owners who have one, so as not to spend money on a tool just for one use. To find the measuring marks, you will need to inspect the generator flywheel along with the flywheel housing - they can be easily found. The main difficulty lies in the non-standard arrangement of marks on Alfa brand mopeds. Otherwise the process won't be too complicated.
Video on how to correctly set the marks and ignition in general:
Setting the ignition timing
This operation will need to be carried out if the risks do not correlate with one another. It is recommended to use a strobe light that has a sensor for counting crankshaft revolutions. If this element is missing, you will need to check the engine starting at idle speed.
Motorcycle carburetor
To learn how to quickly adjust the carburetor on a moped, watch the video:
Complete ignition settings are carried out as follows:
- the crankcase is disassembled, and the maximum permissible gap for a full circle of shaft rotation is set on the contact group;
- the piston is placed in a position that coincides with what is indicated in the instructions for the moped;
- the stator fastenings are loosened, it is adjusted to the position where the contact closes.
Everything is put together in reverse order. Ignition must be either synchronized or slightly advanced (but literally by a fraction of a second). The advantage of the latter method lies in the fact that the spark is produced a little earlier than the piston inside the cylinder reaches its top dead center. This manipulation results in a low increase in power and easier engine starting, which is especially important in regions with temperature changes and simply in the cold.
Useful videos with step-by-step instructions:
Do-it-yourself repair of Alpha moped engines
When the moped does not start, the muffler fires and black smoke comes out of it, this means that you have a problem with the carburetor. To fix these problems, you need to clean the carburetor and air filter, also make carburetor adjustments and tighten the bolts thoroughly.
If your moped takes a long time to accelerate, and the engine does not have enough standard power, the problem is broken valves. The old valves need to be replaced with new ones and the moped will work again.
If the Alpha moped cannot accelerate to the required speed, although it has high speeds, and the engine roars like crazy and shifts gears intermittently, the problem is clutch wear. To repair the clutch you need to do the following: you must remove the engine and the plastic cover from it, then unscrew the clamping bolt and the adjustment mechanism, then tighten the clamping bolt tightly, and start the moped. After all this, you need to drive a little at first speed, about a couple of meters. Also, another cause of engine-related problems is wear of the drive sprockets , in which case you will have to replace them with new ones.
Engine overheating . This problem can be solved very simply - add oil. If suddenly oil leaks from somewhere, you should definitely contact a professional.
Recommendations for owners of Alpha mopeds
To ensure safe and enjoyable trips on this vehicle, you must follow these rules:
- do not move away immediately, so as not to provoke an overload of the engine. It is especially not recommended to start abruptly at full speed for a long time in the cold season. Temperature changes lead to the formation of condensation and its effect on the inside of the engine;
- If the above signs of malfunction appear, immediately inspect the ignition system. Black thick smoke will indicate that disassembling the motor is required;
- refuel only with high-quality fuel to prevent rapid engine wear due to poorer purification of gasoline and detonation of fuel with a lower octane number;
- After adjustment, you should immediately check the result - ride the moped at moderate speed on a flat road, listening to the sounds inside the engine.
By following all the instructions, you can achieve moderate gas mileage and reduce moped maintenance costs. Each trip will go smoothly if you drive carefully and pay attention to any deviations from the normal operation of the moped. Proper engine starting is the key to its longevity.
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Dismantling engines and gearboxes of Alpha mopeds
In order to disassemble the engine you need to do the following:
- Remove the screws located in the intake manifold.
- Remove all cylinder covers and screws.
- Remove the cylinder head.
The gearbox is disassembled to replace parts such as rotors, clutches or cylinders.
In order to disassemble the gearbox you need to do the following:
- Remove the retaining ring, then the drive gear is removed.
- Unscrew the locking gear screw, then remove the gear shift mechanism itself
- Remove the shift fork and shaft, then the crankshaft and drum.
- Put everything back to front.
And in conclusion, we would like to say that although the Alfa moped rarely breaks down, it is not worth disassembling and repairing it yourself if you lack knowledge and experience, or you are simply not completely sure that you can handle it, since if you want to save money, you can lose a lot more . Therefore, you should not refuse the services of professionals. But still, if you decide to repair the engine of the Alpha 110 moped yourself, do not forget to use the diagram or training video. And if there is no diagram, then mark the location of the parts on a piece of paper so as not to forget.
