Have I lunched my engine?

[Vino A Go Go]

Riding around a few nights ago I thought I heard a noise that made me think I might have split a reed (per previous thread readings). It was a quickie trip of about 4 miles. At the end of the trip I had to climb a good sized hill and found the scoot lagging at only 20mph. I think I have heard about reed failure affecting the top end ride but would run okay at low speeds. That seemed to be the case and Mr. Goodwrench here confidently diagnosed a split reed and rode the last mile home. Wel,l I went straight into the engine and pulled the reed cage and found the reeds to be intact. $$#&$^#@! man did I assume a lot or what? Next I pulled the plug..should have done that first...it wasn't a proper chop read as I had idled low coming home the night before..it looked lean. The plug was a light tan, slightly oiled. I also noticed that my RS pipe had a bit more oil blow by coming out the pipe onto the chrome and where the silencer mounts.
I guess I will get another gasket, get it back together and see what happens. The pinging tin sound I heard made me fail to look at the plug, belt, or anything else.
Any ideas? I know it's really a guess at this point. Can reeds just weaken enough to not seal? They aren't bent at all, just seem to just sit lightly on the cage. '03 Vino,Standard Stage 1, synthetic oil,50cc,2k miles.
Thanks

[Jack B]

That pinging noise may be from being too lean on the main jet in the carb. The motor may have been trying to seize up. At least on my engine when I have herd the pinging noise it was too lean and it soft seized on me.

[Vino A Go Go]

Thanks Jack B,

was that engine recoverable? Soft sieze doesn't sood good. I ordered another set of reeds and a new gasket for the manifold...won't be here until Jan. I thought I had got the upjet right. I've been running it for months with no issues. I'll have to get it back together and see what happens. Thanks.

[Jack B]

On mine after the engine slowed down I limped it back home. I tested the compression and it seemed good,I put in approx two sizes bigger main jet and it ran normal again without the pinging.Months later when I took the engine apart to install a airsal cylinder kit I found the cylinder and piston had a scuff mark on it. Not the best situation but in my case it was still running well. I would try bigger main jet and hopefully it will be ok. If so it should stop the pinging noise.

[Vino A Go Go]

Thanks Jack B,

I hope once I get all back together I will have the same story. It did get me to look at the 70cc setups if it doesn't turn out good.

[Vino A Go Go]

Well here's a jump to conclusions story..

The change in the noise level, lagging performance and oil blow by out the pipe had me guessing reeds. Reeds were intact but since I had it opened I ordered new ones. Here's the Duh moment...when I was getting everything back together I was stopped when I couldn't get the stock airbox snorkel back on the carb. Normally this hasn't ever been an issue. BIG DUH.. The night that the "reeds went bad" I was on a test run with my new shock installed. I never would have connected a new shock install to engine trouble but guess what happened... while riding around I must of hit a pothole that knocked the airbox loose on the carb with the frame. When I was checking things over later on and pulling it apart I didn't notice it. It wasn't until reassembly that I felt like an a##.

So I'm back to the stock shock as the ebay shock was just a little too long..I'm only out $20 and gained some insight about jumping to conclusions.

Does anyone know where to find a chrome or black shock to use for the 3.5x10 tire that isn't $200.00? I see red ones out there but I'm not so sure it would look good. Thanks for the help and I hope I made you laugh.