DFHS Puch Maxi Ep.1 - Disassembly and Cleaning.

In this episode, I begin the restoration of my wife's Puch Maxi. Disassembly and cleaning. Discussion of plans for the build.
Total Cost to date: $0

[@micah-hooka7275]

Dave, this is another reason why I’m a Garelli fan. Removable tanks. The Puchs, the Motobecanes and Numerous other europeds had the weak, seamed and crimped frame integrated fuel tanks and I really think it compromised frame strength. Plus, aesthetically a separate tank attached to the thick tubular frame makes the ped still worthy . If an integrated tank is roached with holes, the entire bike has to go bye byes. When I was a kid I had an amazing Sachs Clinton. It had a beefy separate tank. I took it through trails and a gravel pit over the course of two summers. I literally rode it like a wannabe MXer. I finally cracked the frame. I wasn’t allowed to road ride it. I was 10 or eleven. So unlike my two Garelli’s I’ve owned for 25+ years, I really can’t kick myself for trashing it and now wishing I had such a quality sky blue moped. Fond memories .....a poor kid with parents who never kept me involved in structured summer camps and team sports. At least I could get onto the local power lines access roads and ride for miles and miles until turning back for supper. Gas was 89¢ a gallon and I had to mix regular 10w40 motor oil in it. It did the job and kept a lonely boy occupied for two entire summers. Still waiting for a condenser for the one Garelli. I can’t wait to get it together so my daughter and I can ride together this spring before she graduates in May. And so yeah....I like a separate fuel tank.

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Agree 100%. Those integrated tanks are a pain in the ass. Especially now that they are all 40 years old. Most of them need to be coated at this point, and if it is removable, that’s a fairly straightforward process. For the integrated mopeds, that’s an ordeal.

[@fatherkai3865]

i keep re watching this series, such a great watch! haha excited to get my first bike soon. waiting for a good one to pop up in my local area.

[@bhorn141]

You know the youtube market is so oversaturated with people doing this kind of things with cars, but very few do motorcycles and even fewer do mopeds. Super well done Dave, definitely earned a subscriber and you're gonna be one of the few channels I watch every video of. Also I loved the shitty rock time lapse

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Thanks man! Happy to have you!

[@hbrockenbayer5105]

Looking forward to watching another great project . Thanks for sharing this with us on youtube

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Thanks. I’m trying to build two mopeds before the weather turns nice, so I’m going to be churning them out.

[@scottieb6942]

that synth lead though!! Thanks for the good times on these.

[@milosmucok9010]

Great! First complete restauration! It is great that it is slow, step by step

[@SDsailor7]

New camera is really nice! the video is very sharp and clear.

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Thanks man! I can’t figure the stupid thing out. To make it focus, I feel like I have to make the settings so dark. I really need to dig into it and study.

[@MinnesotaEric]

David, good editing, and fun to watch! As I've found out, remind viewers to thumbs up videos as the more thumbs, the more likely KZbin will suggest the video, the more exposure your channel gets and the more subscribers you gather. Things get interesting once over 1,000 subscribers.

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Eric -- Thanks! Thats the kind of advice i need. I really have no idea how KZbin's algorithms and processes work. I really appreciate the inside knowledge. When I started the channel, I told the kids if I ever hit 1000 subs (which I thought was a pipe dream) I'd give them each $100 to go to Toys R Us. I've got 4 kids, so that's an expensive promise. Totally worth it if I could get there though. Thanks again, and any other advice you may have would be much appreciated.

[@tim110ful]

Good luck man, can't wait to see you get to work on the Honda

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Thanks Tim. I’m going to do the Honda over the summer. I’m really looking forward to it too. The only four strokes I’ve ever worked on have been attached to cars.

[@borreltjuh83]

The tank can be saved, there are epoxy sets available to coat it to like brand new. I did the same on a 1971 Vespa Ciao, good as new

[@orangehat9057]

Use some metal rescue or evapo rust for the rust in the tank. Stuff works wonders, just clean it out the best before, then rinse after and run an in line fuel filter. I did that on my maxi and that was pretty rusty.

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Hey. Thanks for watching-- Yup. Used evaporust and I’m also coating it with the Por-15 sealer. I do that with all my mopeds (even ones that aren’t rusty), just so I don’t have to worry about it in 10 Years :-)

[@geraldscott4302]

I have 2 Puch Maxis, a Newport II ZA50, and a Sears Free Spirit Deluxe Puch/Kromag. I hate those square/rectangular electrical connector blocks they use. I removed all the reflectors from mine as soon as I got them. I use full strength muriatic acid in rusty tanks. Boy does that stuff eat rust. Remember the tank on a Maxi is a structural part of the frame. I have seen tank in frame mopeds literally break in half. I don't want to go fast on mopeds either. I have motorcycles for that. Mopeds are a hobby, something to tinker with and take long slow leisurely rides on.

[@tharanmansell5154]

Stoked your back!!!

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Me too!

[@cheesywheels]

I used apple cider vinegar to clean the tank and then used Autoseal to line the tank.

[@brenteaton4579]

tech school has nothing on this guy

[@lawrenceveinotte]

looking good, i'll be following

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Awesome. Thanks!

[@philsturkeychasers]

Nicely produced video with awesome content as usual. I wanted the Garelli to win, but really I don't mind what shit David fixes 😀

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Thanks Phil. I know you wanted the Garelli because you’ve got a stable of them in your back yard :-). I just watched one of your videos where you cleaned out the nastiest Puch exhaust I have ever seen.

[@philb6222]

David Fixes His Shit haha yeah I have a bit of trouble letting go of old parts as I'm too tight fisted to spend money on things. The jacket whose sleeve I melted off camera whilst cleaning that thing cost more than a new exhaust, so lesson learned... Maybe!

[@robinvanmiddelaar5156]

Great video David, kinda hoped the Garelli would have won, but I also really like the Puch, so no hard feelings. Also look forward to the Honda, Just because it is from the Netherlands and I live there, if you ever need help translating something, message me :-). Oh and by the way, I wanted to ask you if you know the moped-brand: Kreidler. I don't know if they are sold in the US but it is a really beautiful moped you should check It out! In Holland they are very populair.

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

I’ve seen the Kreidler before. They really are rare here. I appreciate the offer for translation services. I might take you up on that soon. I have a rather...unconventional... idea for that Honda. I’m still fleshing it out, but it might be freakin awesome!

[@AlexanderLanderman]

Think you'll do a Garelli NOI sometime? I have been working on mine for a while, and have so much less knowledge I'd love to see you redo one!

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

I'm going to do a Garelli this summer, but its the VIP 2 speed vertical engine. Hopefully there will be some crossover between our two bikes.

[@brenteaton4579]

it's like getting a college degree and a technical school degree all in one...America's heroes should be trying to be as good

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Ha! Thanks! That comment made my day!

[@arturp5466]

Hey David, my Puch Maxi II (ZA50) was running last year and just tried starting it up now and it seems almost there but lacks that extra umph when trying to start it. I checked the spark plug and it's works and just fully cleaned out the carburetor and still nothing. I changed the fuel line and it seems like the gas is not going through all the way to the carburetor almost like the air is blocking its passage. Any help would be grateful!

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Those gas caps are vented so that you can replace air. If it doesn’t do that, you create a vacuum in your fuel tank. That would be my best guess.

[@arturp5466]

@@DavidFixesHisShit what's the best thing to do then?

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Try to fix it or replace it, assuming that is the issue...

[@edboer2851]

Hi David put vinegar in the tank

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Hey Ed. I’ve done that before with little success. My brother swears by it though.

[@edboer2851]

David Fixes His Shit. It is good too start with and than the expansive stuff

[@CorralesRacing]

Buen vídeo 👍 pásate por mi canal saludos

[@NickCornaglia]

Disassembly song?

[@DavidFixesHisShit]

Hey Nick. I do all the music for the channel. That one is called 'Interstellar'. I probably recorded it in 2005 :-)

[@NickCornaglia]

@@DavidFixesHisShit you get more awesome every day! :)

[@jonathanbennett4899]

@@DavidFixesHisShit Damn! I've been typing the lyrics of the music in your videos to figure out what it was. I love your music. Where can I download it! Great stuff. Press some vinyl, now!

[@vulvalove]

@@DavidFixesHisShit Love that track man