JimKeymaster
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As some of you know I got this 502 off trade me with another 501. I bought it from a local collector Kevin Dunlop. Kevin has a collection of about a dozen different scooters including a mint black 501. He sold them on behalf of his friend Andrew Hitchcock, another local man here in Invercargill.
I found a handbook and a rego certificate dated 19/12/78, under the seat in a bag with some bits and pieces. It was registered to a Mr Peter Thomas Briggs from Auckland.
Isn’t Google great(yet scary) – a quick check on the white pages and sure enough there was a phone number for a Peter Briggs. On to the ham bone and sure enough Peter lived there. He wasn’t in when I called but his son Andy was, so he gave me the run down on the 2 scooters. They sold both scooters to Andrew in November of 2010. Peter had bought the 502 from the Union Steamship Company in the 1970’s. Andy recalls rides around the section on the back and his dads efforts at doing it up with the addition of chromed parts and a “paint job”. Andy bought the 501 through a local trade and exchange in 1988.
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This topic was modified 12 years, 4 months ago by
 Jim.
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This topic was modified 12 years, 4 months ago by Jim.
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This topic was modified 12 years, 4 months ago by Jim.
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This topic was modified 12 years, 4 months ago by Jim.
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JimKeymaster
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I have been in contact with Andy via email and he reckoned if I put new fuel and a battery into the 502 it should go…….eventually. Technically I’m supposed to be finishing my wifes Bajaj 150 before I do anything else, but while she’s away surely that doesn’t count ? A quick drive down to super cheap autos to buy a 12v battery and an overnight charge later, we are good to go. I’m not sure what the premix is for this but I guesstimated on the high side and put a couple of litres of fuel in the tank. I pumped up the tyres with the air compressor I got from super cheap from sante last year then installed the battery. The motor turns over quite slowly and at first I thought it must be crook however it just seems to be the way the starter system works, anyway 5 minutes later I just had a lot of fuel on the garage floor and she just didn’t want to start. I pushed it round the section and up and down the driveway for a bit but quickly learnt 3 things from that:
1. Its very heavy
2. It doesn’t turn corners very quickly
3. The brakes don’t work !!
Oh well worth a crack. I pushed it back into the garage and turned the fuel off and decided to check the spark plug. It must be a design flaw or these scooters came with a special plug spanner thingy because none of mine would fit over it as the frame is in the way. Eventually I found a 7/16 ring spanner that did the trick. The plugs in real good nick and has fuel on it…..hmmm, test it for spark and its surprisingly bright so thats good. Disconnected the fuel hose from the tap and checked both those, seems all good. OK, push it outside and try it again. By now its dark and the wife will be home soon so boy was I surprised when it almost started. Long story short it eventually fired up, the lights worked and I went for a slow ride along the road and back in first gear. RESULT !
It took a while for the smoke to clear out of the garage but – she goes.
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DYLASHMember
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Hi Jim,glad to see the bike started for you.The starter always turned the motor over slowly,I still haven’t dragged the other parts out but will do over the next couple of weeks.Anyway well done,dads real happy to hear she’s going again.Regards Andy.
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JimKeymaster
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Thanks Andy. I have the blue one on the lift, just checking it out at the moment. Someone has riveted new front panels over the old ones as they are rusted at the frame so I will need to get the frame sandblasted and see whats what.
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