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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: September 19, 2025, 03:00:25 PM »
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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: September 18, 2025, 03:14:58 PM »
Thank you all. It's a great satisfaction to see my Kymco back on the road in such a shape. I've done 150 miles and not a drop of oil consumed till now. It seems to have recovered a half horsepower or so in power, which is great. I'll do as you say
Good road
Good road
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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: September 18, 2025, 08:50:20 AM »
Okay. Jobe done. Engine runs as new now.
But I have a doubt. With new piston rings, should I replace the oil after about 200 miles as if it was a new engine? And then is it needed another oil change at about 600 miles?
Thank you
But I have a doubt. With new piston rings, should I replace the oil after about 200 miles as if it was a new engine? And then is it needed another oil change at about 600 miles?
Thank you
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People GT 300i / Re: Correct procedure for chain tensioner mounting
« on: August 26, 2025, 07:57:41 AM »
Thanks Ruffus, very useful. I have the hex kind, so with a spring. Now I know! 
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People GT 300i / Re: Correct procedure for chain tensioner mounting
« on: August 25, 2025, 01:07:21 PM »
Thank you. Yes I have the official service manual but it's not explained anywhere. Maybe I should check your service manual at this point.
From what I've learnt on Youtube, there are two kinds of tensioners. The ones with a long spring that comes off once you remove the central screw, and the other ones with a flat screw deep inside tu be turned clockwise. I suppose mine is of the second kind but I have no confirmation about that
From what I've learnt on Youtube, there are two kinds of tensioners. The ones with a long spring that comes off once you remove the central screw, and the other ones with a flat screw deep inside tu be turned clockwise. I suppose mine is of the second kind but I have no confirmation about that
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People GT 300i / Correct procedure for chain tensioner mounting
« on: August 25, 2025, 09:43:27 AM »
Hi everyone. I'm about to do a new head gasket and I have a doubt about the mounting of the tensioner. Is it correct that I have to unscrew the central hex screw (red arrow in the pic) to get access to a flat screwdriver screw that has to be turned to make the piston retract before installing it?
If I understood correctly, if I mount it as it is, i.e. with the piston all the way out, I'd damage the timing system.
Thank you for help :-)
If I understood correctly, if I mount it as it is, i.e. with the piston all the way out, I'd damage the timing system.
Thank you for help :-)
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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: August 23, 2025, 11:40:19 AM »
I'm assembling the engine again. Now I have a doubt. The "T" mark on the flywheel is horizontal with a vertical mark on the right (see pic). I suppose the mark on the right is the one to align with the reference marks. Done this, now the camshaft pulley seems a little bit off alignment. You know that there are two holes on the pulley that must align with the head surface. But I see one entirely and the other just a little. It's like 1-2 degrees off.
So I tried to remove the chain and put it one tooth in the other direction but it's way worse in the other direction.
Why I can't align the engine as in the manual? I'm afraid of starting it with this doubt. Thank you
So I tried to remove the chain and put it one tooth in the other direction but it's way worse in the other direction.
Why I can't align the engine as in the manual? I'm afraid of starting it with this doubt. Thank you
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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: August 22, 2025, 10:36:41 PM »
gasket is Kymco original.
Today I checked the head warpage and I think is off specs. In a particular direction I can fit a gauge of 0.05 mm, so it needs to be resurfaced. But now I have also doubts about the upper/right stud that seems bent. I have also doubts about having done the wrong procedure in removing the head, I removed the 4 head nuts first and then the two side screws. And for installation, do I have to do first the 4 nuts and then the side screws, right?
I also have doubts about the chain tensioner. When reinstalling it, does it have the flat screwdriver screw inside to retract the piston? Thank you
Today I checked the head warpage and I think is off specs. In a particular direction I can fit a gauge of 0.05 mm, so it needs to be resurfaced. But now I have also doubts about the upper/right stud that seems bent. I have also doubts about having done the wrong procedure in removing the head, I removed the 4 head nuts first and then the two side screws. And for installation, do I have to do first the 4 nuts and then the side screws, right?
I also have doubts about the chain tensioner. When reinstalling it, does it have the flat screwdriver screw inside to retract the piston? Thank you
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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: August 21, 2025, 08:19:56 PM »
You say it could have been a factory defect? I destroyed two head gaskets in the same exact point.
While I had the head in my hands, I also noticed that if I push the camshaft pulley in and out with a finger it moves a lot, I'd say almost 1 millimeter. I think something is off but don't know what.
If you notice, the stud at the top right in the picture, seems off-centered with respect to the cylindrical invite. I really don't know
While I had the head in my hands, I also noticed that if I push the camshaft pulley in and out with a finger it moves a lot, I'd say almost 1 millimeter. I think something is off but don't know what.
If you notice, the stud at the top right in the picture, seems off-centered with respect to the cylindrical invite. I really don't know
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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: August 21, 2025, 04:29:56 PM »
The head gasket is definitely blown. Same point as the last time. I don't know, maybe a not perfect valve clearance or too hot exhaust gases. I don't know
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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: August 19, 2025, 08:42:42 PM »
oh yes, you're right. But that time I think it was a bubble inside the circuit, I solved immediately after doing the air bleeding again. And the scooter worked properly for 2 years so I don't think it could be the cause of the blown gasket. I would have destroyed the engine I suppose and I never noticed overheating.
I decided to replace the head gasket by myself, I'll post pictures of the damaged gasket as soon as I do it
I decided to replace the head gasket by myself, I'll post pictures of the damaged gasket as soon as I do it
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People GT 300i / Re: Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: August 19, 2025, 01:58:30 PM »
Hi, what waterpump problem?
How can I know if the waterpump works properly?
Thank you very much
How can I know if the waterpump works properly?
Thank you very much
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People GT 300i / Blown head gasket for the second time...
« on: August 18, 2025, 05:57:52 PM »
Hi everyone, I have a People GTi 125 with 25k miles on it. I have an issue at cold start, wet spark plug. Same symptom it had when at 12k miles I had a blown head gasket, leaking coolant into the chamber (repaired by a Kymco service). Now I removed the spark plug and I see red drops of coolant on the piston so it seems the same again.
I don't know how it could happen, but the scooter is driven by my brother too who I suspect has a "heavy hand" on the gas at this point.
Two days before the event I did an oil change, draining all the oil carefully inclining the scooter also to remove all the oil from the sump. I use first quality oil and coolant, HiFlo oil filter. Next days he did a couple of trips of 50 miles on state roads (around 40 miles per hour) each with a lot of heat (37-38 °C). Could this heat do this? Or is his driving style?
Or is it a known issue for this model?
I don't know what to think, and I don't know if I should repair it considering that the issue happens regularly. Thank you for help
I don't know how it could happen, but the scooter is driven by my brother too who I suspect has a "heavy hand" on the gas at this point.
Two days before the event I did an oil change, draining all the oil carefully inclining the scooter also to remove all the oil from the sump. I use first quality oil and coolant, HiFlo oil filter. Next days he did a couple of trips of 50 miles on state roads (around 40 miles per hour) each with a lot of heat (37-38 °C). Could this heat do this? Or is his driving style?
Or is it a known issue for this model?
I don't know what to think, and I don't know if I should repair it considering that the issue happens regularly. Thank you for help
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People GT 300i / Re: Possible overheating
« on: October 16, 2023, 07:13:24 PM »
Thank you Ruffus!
On my People, the water pump has a drain screw. But not all the coolant comes out this way. You have to lift the front wheel very much to empty totally the circuit. My only fear was of overheating the head gasket, but probably it requires more to make damages
On my People, the water pump has a drain screw. But not all the coolant comes out this way. You have to lift the front wheel very much to empty totally the circuit. My only fear was of overheating the head gasket, but probably it requires more to make damages
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People GT 300i / Possible overheating
« on: October 15, 2023, 12:28:13 PM »
Good morning guys Yesterday I replaced coolant on my People Gti 125. I made a mistake. When filling new coolant, I started the engine for some seconds (classic procedure to bleed air), revving up lightly, topping up while radiator level was going down and after shutting off the engine I opened the bleed screw near thermostat to bleed air from the circuit. After 6-7 times of this start&stop, air was still coming out from the bleed screw. It seemed strange to me so much air was still trapped, so I started the engine and let it idle for minutes to see what happened then. I was waiting for the fan to start, but it didn't. How can I know if the cooling fan is broken without a diagnosis scan tool?
Also, after 7-8 minutes the temperature went from the safe level 2, to level 3. I immediately turned off the engine. Then it happened a second time after, evidently there were still some air bubbles inside. Or it was simply overheating because it was idling still and fan not working. At some point also the CEL appeared but I turned off immediately. Do you think I could have damaged the engine? Or the new coolant itself?
Thank you
Yesterday I replaced coolant on my People Gti 125. I made a mistake. When filling new coolant, I started the engine for some seconds (classic procedure to bleed air), revving up lightly, topping up while radiator level was going down and after shutting off the engine I opened the bleed screw near thermostat to bleed air from the circuit. After 6-7 times of this start&stop, air was still coming out from the bleed screw. It seemed strange to me so much air was still trapped, so I started the engine and let it idle for minutes to see what happened then. I was waiting for the fan to start, but it didn't. How can I know if the cooling fan is broken without a diagnosis scan tool? Also, after 7-8 minutes the temperature went from the safe level 2, to level 3. I immediately turned off the engine. Then it happened a second time after, evidently there were still some air bubbles inside. Or it was simply overheating because it was idling still and fan not working. At some point also the CEL appeared but I turned off immediately. Do you think I could have damaged the engine? Or the new coolant itself?
Thank you