ClareQuilty

Oops thought it is 2-T but it isn't. I was thinking spark plug but 4 strokes are more forgiving but it might be worth checking to see if is the correct one. I think it is the same as a Crypton so NGK CR7HSA.

Otherwise it could be a sticky valve. As has been said put a little oil in the fuel tank and run it through.

Yeah it is just a little 100 cc four stroke - which is why the engine rebuild was so expensive. I guess you could be right about the valve.. or could be timing..

Turkleton, how can you criticize an engine rebuild for being too cheap when it cost 2,000 baht? A two stroke rebuild usually costs me 1000,or in rare cases 1500. Why would a little 100cc motor cost more than two grand? there';s very little to these small bikes, so I'm not sure what prices you imagine would be 'correct'. The brand new piston out of the box costs like 380 baht or so from the parts supplier..

Anyway, I've given the bike back to the mechanic (please refrain from the offensive quasi-racist 'Somchai' baiting), as I'm away for a week, so he'll have a chance to work with it and drive it around a while. I've a lot of confidence he'll try his best to figure it out and probably at little or no charge, as to both he and I 2,000 baht (my original payment, plus another 480 for the clutch) is a big investment.

Alas I have to report continued troubles with the old Yamaha Fresh. I took it back to the mechanic who had rebuilt it, and he did quite a lot of adjusting, at no charge. The bike ran slightly differently when I left, but the same problems returned just as bad - after the bike is warmed up a little, it begins to jerk and buck, and will even occasionally die, including while driving at speed, though mostly when one is beginning to slow down a bit from higher speeds (don't get me wrong, not high speeds, its just a 60 km/hour kind of runabout).

I've no idea what it could be. Seems to be bad trouble in side the engine, varous bad noises coming out. But, it still runs, and it will run normally at times.. at any rate when first started until warm.

Guess I should've passed on buying this one and found another old two-stroke Don't seem to have any luck with these old four-strokes.

The market killed two-strokes in Thailand. Most people buying bikes in Thailand are buying them as primary transpiration. Four-strokes are more reliable,

Haha, no. Two strokes are far more reliable - simpler and more durable. If you visit us up here in Isaan you'll see them serving at age 15-30 years old as basic, reliable transportation for all the poor rural people. I'm a two stroke fanatic, and I have about seven of the old gems - all bought for 3-6 thousand baht, fixed up for a few more, and all of them more reliable than the few four strokes I have.Current favorites: 5-spd Yamaha Tiara, 6-spd Suzuki Akira, and a 5-spd Honda Nova. All around 15 years old, I think, and all running and driving great.

Well, you just missed a 40K a month job as a general features writer (WP included) on Samui .

Well jeez that's really not any better than teaching. I thought when people mentioned 'better jobs' they meant like 80-120k/month. Teaching already pays 30-45.

I feels just like that - like the engine is 'too tight' or the compression is too high.. like its having difficulty firing off.

Don't know this engine, but could the timing be out?

I thought of that too, but I'm not aware if these type of engines, being only one cyclinder, actually have 'timing'.

I honestly don't think its so likely that the guy seriously messed up the job.. its not that difficult. Basically I had the same guess as Lickey:

Sounds like a mini-heat seize, like a tight piston/rings,

I feels just like that - like the engine is 'too tight' or the compression is too high.. like its having difficulty firing off.

try putting a dessert tablespoon of 2t oil in the tank, prefably with about 3 ltrs of petrol inside, if this helps, gradually decrease the dose till the engine beds in and try it without,

Interesting idea, I'll try it. I was also wondering if this is the kind of problem which might get better with time even if you do nothing - like just needing a 'breaking in' period.

<p>...if you know of any better jobs I'd love to hear about them. So far I never met anybody but teachers and retired gentlemen here.

What is that saying to us? Looks like, some people avoiding, to meet you?

Ever thought about this?

"Birds of a feather flock together."

Dude, what kind of farangs do you think live in Isaan? Astronauts? Ferrari salesmen? Its all teachers or 'farang geh' - old retired guys - up here.

By the way, about the bike in the original post -

It is now running ok, never leaves one stranded, however once it gets good and hot after 30-45 minutes of use, it can be a little balky. As in, it kind of jerks, like a bit of a miss, and feels like it might stall out, but doesn't. It keeps going, its just a bit nervous making. I noticed another rebuilt bike of mine - a two stroke Tena, also acted like this a bit. What could cause this kind of thing?

<p>

Life is about choices. If teaching is your gig, that's your choice, but there are better paying jobs to be had if you want to make more money. Are you ready for the challenge?

Heck yes, if you know of any better jobs I'd love to hear about them. So far I never met anybody but teachers and retired gentlemen here.

Seriously, though, you don't have to make excuses for having old/cheap/crappy bikes. Especially since you've bought about ten of them for less than the price of a new Fino.

Speaking of clouds of smoke for 3,000 baht - I got a Suzuki Akira six speed I want to show you... give a call.

I mean you really should give BSJ some credit for his advice If you went for the 2380 rebuild instead of the 2000baht you would be ahead 150baht plus time and aggravation!

Actually that's a good point, but its all up to the mechanic - I just hand it over to him and see what he comes up with. Sometimes when you rebuild one thing it does put a little stress on other things, and there's often a little 'sorting out' period with follow-up repairs.

Don't forget rule #1 for visiting the Department of Land Transportation in Maha Sarakham: Don't p*ss off the dragon lady working at counter #2!

I haven't actually been there in years, since I got my six year license a year or two ago. I always send transfers-of-ownership or vehicle-tag-updates through the shop. Hate to go to that place.

Get the landlord to give you a bill for the rent and/or a receipt showing you paid the rent--with the full address on it, and his/her name, sig, and phone.

And do what with that? Take it to immigration? My embassy? The license office?

Back in the old days I used to frequently leave my engine idling for 15 minutes or so to keep the air on, but this was back in the 80s and 90s with cast-iron push-rod V-8s - they really were almost totally indestructible. A friend of mine once broke the ignition on his old Chevy Caprice upon arriving home late in the evening, so he just left it running all night. It was fine in the morning, just sat there idling, using about a quarter tank of gas. I doubt I'd trust a modern car to sit idling overnight.

Just leave it in the bank in Australia. You didn't mention how old you were, if you were still working, or if you would retire soon, or already have, but whether you are still busy working or getting older and trying to relax and enjoy life, you don't want to burden yourself with worrying about some complicated, stressful investment.

After all, you only live once, and who cares how much you leave behind. Just keep this money as a nest egg, a security blanket.

Surely when you signed a contract for place of residence then it has your name on it?

If they didn't give you a copy of the rental contract then ask for one.

I've rented many times in Thailand, but never had a written contract. Just pay the deposit and move in.

But guys, how could I have any utility bill in my name without a 'green book' or tabien bahn or whatever they call it? All my utilities are of course in my landlord's name - as a foreigner I can't have anything in my name.

Its a catch-22 = can't get utilities, cable, etc, in your name without a tabien bahn, and can't get a tabien bahn without proof of address.

I have nothing to show either immigration or embassy to 'prove' my address.

I do have a Thai 6 year driver license with an address on it (I totally forget which address), so I guess I could try that, but the bike shop told me 'no, they won't accept that'.

As for the suggestion that I show them the address in my work permit, no, they won't accept that - (they already have full copies of my work permit, apparently that isn't enough).

Sorry to hijack your post, I am currently looking for something like yours... A Toyota Corolla KE70. Anything consider.....preferably not a rust bucket. Anyone know of any around for sale?

I see really rough ones once in a blue moon for about 35,000, but nice ones are pricey. Guy around here was selling one for 70,000 with low kilometers (now gone). I'll keep my eyes open though.

Usually the only 35,000-60,000 baht cars I see in running condition are either Mitsubishi Lancers, or Ford Festivas both circa early 1990s.

You're renting?

Then you take your rental contract to who ever wants to feel an inch bigger than day.

I'm renting in Thailand - do they even have 'rental contracts'? I just moved in and pay, there is no paperwork or contract. Never have had in previous residences either.

Unreal! You couldn't make this stuff up! What is involved in a 2000 baht engine rebuild? Strip the top end, lap the valves, hone the cylinder, drop in some new rings, silicone every mating surface 'n' bolt it back together. Or is that the 2500 baht rebuild?

PS: I forgot the new clutch.

Guy, its a ten year old Yamaha Fresh - a bike which was quite cheap new, and is now worth maybe 5-7k baht. It is only a 100 or 110 cc engine - what do you think it costs to rebuild this type of engine? It is always about 1,500-2,500 for a four-stroke, and about 1,000-1,500 for a two-stroke. I've had a few done, and mostly had great luck (admittedly better luck with two-stroke than four-strokes).

I'm a little tired of the taunting about the low-end. Surely it isn't news to anyone that we teachers must live on a low budget.

Anyway, on to the happy news - I had a tuk-tuk carry the bike the 8 kilometers back to the shop outside town (150 baht), where the guy replaced a kind of set of round parts, part metal, part plastic. I have no idea what they were (probably some parts of the clutch), but the total cost was an additional 380 baht, and now the bike works fine.

Guys, here's an update - there is nothing wrong with the dealership I use - it is the biggest Honda dealer in the town, so that's not it.

However, as it turns out the government office was looking for a 'confirmation of address', not a confirmation of employment - but they couldn't explain it or thought that I could get such a confirmation of address from my employer (who of course known nothing about my personal address).

I have never, in all the years I've lived in Thailand, gotten a 'confirmation of address' - is that the 'tabien ban'? How would I get such a thing?

A couple of days ago I had a small bike's engine rebuilt, as well as a new 'clutch' installed. This is a Yamaha Fresh with the 'auto-clutch' or whatever you call it, the click through the gears style shifter like on a Wave. The whole job was done for about 2,000 baht, and the engine started and ran great. I drove it around about a day, but that night I stopped at a 7-11, when I came back out to re-start it five minutes later the kick start just spun free without connecting at all (in neutral of course). So, the bike can't be started (there is no electric start).

Very annoying - now I have to get it all the way across town, about 8 kilometers, to get the original shop to set their work right. Any idea what is wrong? Maybe they didn't install the clutch mechanism right?

Guys, this was at the Thai 'DMV' - the place where you get the bike's ownership transferred into your name and the license tags brought up to date.

I never actually go there - it is the representative of the bike dealer that goes there for a small fee (or for free if you bought the bike from them). They were unable to transfer bikes I had purchased into my name because of this letter issue. I since procured such a letter, but when I suggested that they make a copy of the letter for each bike (I was buying several), they said it may be problematic and the government office may want a fresh letter for each bike!

I can say that securing even one such letter from school administration is difficult and unpleasant (the usual bureaucracy and anti-farang attitude), but securing several would annoy them to no end.

I've bought and sold quite a few bikes over the years here, and all I ever needed was my passport and work permit.

Now, in the last year here in Maha Sarakham, they're insisting on a 'letter confirming employment' from one's school. This is redundant of course since this is what the work permit is.

I'm wondering if others have faced this or if this is just something to do with a bad boss in the office here or something like that.

Honda Tena 5-spd clutch.

You can pick them up for about 5,000-6,000 baht, any mechanic in country side or town can fix them. The parts are still readily available, and the whole engine can be rebuilt for a thousand baht - probably the whole bike for less than 2,000. They have plenty of power to cruise at 80 or 90 for hours, which is probably as fast as I would go on Thai roads, and they do have dual disk brakes.

I've ridden in these, and I one time a friend let me drive his a couple of kilometers. It was nice, though I would prefer the clutch model.

But I just couldn't get used to the tiny seats. Is there any economy car in Thailand that has human-sized seats? My old 1984 Ke-70 is a small car, but the seats are big enough and don't squeeze you.

Certainly, long term Thai government lecturers, as civil servants, get a nice salary and benefits as they progress up the scale. My wife more than tripled her salary as a civil servant, compared to my 5K increase over the same time frame as a teacher. If you can teach kids in a private school, you can splash out on a civic:) Glad I had a car, after the major downpour tonite in my area.

Yes, precisely - Thais get decent contracts with respect, benefits, raises, rights, etc. Not so farang.

As for extra teaching - not my thing. I'm no workaholic.

But even this old decrepit car is as you say a great thing in the rain. Mine does have an annoying problem in that if driven in the rain the water splashes up into the floorboards, soaking the carpet - must be a hole, no one can find it. I just let it dry out in the sun the next day or two though.

Kru is high school teacher and below, Ajarn (master) is for Uni lecturers. Thais are always trying to call me Kru because I look young, but I tell them, 'I work at the Uni' and they apologize and call me ajarn.

Maybe better off dumping the car and just get a motorbike, but if you can't afford 20-30k for a paint job you can't afford a new bike either.

I'm not sure I would feel like continuing in the current career path if the Thai people in the same job have better cars, LMAO

I have several motorbikes, all very old and cheap. The car is for when it rains, or for going to the next town. The bikes only cost a few thousand to buy and virtually nothing to keep running, the car is a little more difficult proposition, though so far I've been pretty lucky.

As for the Thais having better cars - that is nearly universal among teachers at Unis in Thailand. Thai teachers make more than foreigners (though they claim they make less), and of course they have access to credit, unlike us. Typically the foreigner teachers are schlepping around on motorbikes while the Thais are riding Civics and Altises.