Hit a corner and slid

ridingclean · 07-08-2015, 12:12 AM

So I took my brand new TaoTao Quantum for a test drive this evening and was accelerating to hit a left turn and went too far down on my left turn, wheels gave out and the bike slid. I rolled twice and am mostly ok, though my knee hurts

Anyway when I got it home I noticed some white smoke coming from the tailpipe where it meets the exhaust portion. I went around to the left side to find some more damage.

Any suggestions on what this might be? I had just changed the oil, possibly put a little too much so I'm hoping its just extra oil but I'm thinking it could be a blown head gasket.

Edit: The smoke stopped after I tightened the connection on the exhaust where it meets the pipe. I'm guessing it was just exhaust. Seems to be running fine for now.

bandito2 · 07-08-2015, 09:22 AM

You shouldn't just guess at the oil level. For most scooters, the proper way to check is with the scooter on the center stand on level ground. At the oil fill, the cap often has the dip stick integrated. the level is checked by putting the cap into place, but not screwed in.

Too much oil can give problems with excess being sucked up into the air cleaner. (that is if hoses are in place and crankcase venting goes to the air box)

Head gasket should still be good on a new scoot; so not likely, but not impossible either. Who knows what kinds of unseen defects may make their way into something during manufacture... It does happen, but I have doubts about that being the case here.

ridingclean · 07-10-2015, 03:18 PM

Hey, thank you for the response. It saw some oil was still on the exhaust and was getting heated up by riding, causing the smoke and burning smell. So I drained off some excess oil as well, and the dip stick isn't soaked when I test it. I may drain a little more to keep the level below the textured part of the stick that is meant for measuring, but it seems to be filled a little over that when the scooter is on its stand balanced in the middle.

Neither the right turn signal or hazard is working, I'm guessing this is a turn signal relay problem?

scosgt · 07-10-2015, 09:44 PM

Worry about your knee. You can get another scoot.

blueboy5000 · 07-11-2015, 06:18 PM

I would check your turn signal, running light, and brake light bulbs. If even one is burned or loosened, the blinkers will not work correctly.

07-08-2015, 09:22 AM	#2
bandito2 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Southeast Mchigan Posts: 169	You shouldn't just guess at the oil level. For most scooters, the proper way to check is with the scooter on the center stand on level ground. At the oil fill, the cap often has the dip stick integrated. the level is checked by putting the cap into place, but not screwed in. Too much oil can give problems with excess being sucked up into the air cleaner. (that is if hoses are in place and crankcase venting goes to the air box) Head gasket should still be good on a new scoot; so not likely, but not impossible either. Who knows what kinds of unseen defects may make their way into something during manufacture... It does happen, but I have doubts about that being the case here. __________________ Southeast Michigan Dark Side Rider 4 Honda Reflex scooters & a Big Ruckus Originator of the "Darkside" Honda Reflex. "Yeah dude, that IS a car tire there on the back of my scooter." Sometimes I'm so far outside of the box, the Hubble telescope can't find me
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07-10-2015, 09:44 PM	#4
scosgt Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 23	Worry about your knee. You can get another scoot.
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