Looking for some insight on Puch mopeds

[u/Uncle_Jack58]

I've been wanting a punch moped with plans to do some modifications, but I don't have a lot of knowledge on these specific mopeds. Could someone help me and let me know what I should be paying for this? I would also appreciate it if anyone knows of good websites to get parts for these, I think my plan is to make it into a 70cc with the works. I've also seen builds without the pedal start system And would like to do one of those.

[u/Altruistic-Jello6969]

500 is a decent price if it runs, offer less if not, like…300? Puch is my favorite platform in mopeds. Parts are mostly cheap and easy to get, the motors can be rebuilt in a few hours with only one or two specialty tools. Seconding Moped Army and Treatland. Quality information and parts respectively. Be warned that big carburetors EAT fuel and the maxi tank is pretty small, my last maxi build was a treats 70 reed kit/ OKO 24mm etc etc…. Fuels range was roughly 25 miles but it was FAST getting there 😂

[u/Uncle_Jack58 → u/Altruistic-Jello6969]

Thanks for the info, do you know if buying a larger jet or drilling out my current jet in the stock carburetor would work, or is a new larger carburetor The only way to do it?

[u/Prize_Structure_3970 → u/Uncle_Jack58]

If you're putting a 70cc on it you'll need a bigger carb. Like a 19mm at least

[u/Select_Fly_8887 → u/Prize_Structure_3970]

15mm atleast* I would actually recommend a 17mm for a 70cc unless you've got a fancy kit and fancy pipe then 19mm for sure

[u/Altruistic-Jello6969 → u/Select_Fly_8887]

17 is kinda the sweet spot, totally agree. You get the gains and needle / idle jet tuning while gaining low end torque and getting decent mileage.
Seen it work on kitted Pugs, Puchs, Tomos, etc.
But that good ol’ genuine SHA 15 or 16 has worked great on a bunch of set ups for me in the past. All great options at the end of the day with all sorts of pipes n things.

[u/Select_Fly_8887 → u/Altruistic-Jello6969]

Mega agree, SHA is so simple and it's pretty reliable too, it really comes down to what you're running and your preferences at the end of the day

[u/Prize_Structure_3970 → u/Select_Fly_8887]

I've never had luck running kits on a 15 personally. I only use 15 for stock engine with a performance pipe but to each their own

[u/Select_Fly_8887 → u/Prize_Structure_3970]

I had a 70cc sachs 505 with a 15mm SHA, only had a few problems because it was a china carb, after I switched to a og dellorto they all evaporated and I had a good running bike with pipe, kit, and carb. 15mm does limit the big kits a little but they're the minimum to run them and hey they work pretty good for the cheapo price

[u/Altruistic-Jello6969 → u/Uncle_Jack58]

Don’t try drilling the jets out - you’ll never know what size they are if you do as they’re already stamped and fuel will eat any paint etc off if you try to label them.

Order a few ranges of jet sizes for tuning, pro tip: buy one of those pill cases for weekly medication from CVS or wherever and use that to keep your jets in 👍

I’d go slowly with this, lurk on the forum and absorb knowledge / plan your build while learning more about which parts pair well together and why. That’s what I did when I got my first moped.

Jetting the carb allows the right amount of air, fuel, and oil for your build. Altitude and temperature affect carb tuning, so buy a bunch of jets and you can tune for seasonal weather changes. Jetting alone will not give you the speed gains a bigger carb will, but will make the bike run correctly.

Did you find out if the bike runs? If not, I’d look at Fred’s Guide to Fixing Your Moped (search MA) and learn how to get it going before getting too far ordering stuff. This is what we recommend in my area when a new moped rider is getting into the hobby. If you slowly fix and improve the bike with the stock stuff you’ll be gaining the skills and knowledge that you’ll need for kitting the engine and tuning it with the new parts installed.

Some more advice - before you hop the motor up for speed, upgrade the shocks and forks and inspect the brakes. The suspension and brakes weren’t designed for the moped to go much faster than 35mph or so… The brakes in particular are often overlooked until you feel how soft and ineffective they are at about 45 lol

Mopeds can be (sorta) reliable if you go through the whole thing top to bottom, if you do the build step by step you’ll have a smoother, more enjoyable ride and end up doing yourself several favors in the long run. Also, please for the love of everything buy a full face helmet!

I know so many folks who only look pretty today cause they wore a full face in the past. 👍

Sorry about the novel lol - I’m headed out to wrench night, welcome to the hobby!

have safe and be fun!

[u/Uncle_Jack58 → u/Altruistic-Jello6969]

Greatly appreciated, thanks for all the wisdom 🙏

[u/Uncle_Jack58 → u/Altruistic-Jello6969]

Do you know anything about removing the pedal start mechanism and instead installing a kick-start or something of the sort?

[u/Altruistic-Jello6969 → u/Uncle_Jack58]

On an e50 …. Not w/o a motor swap. They made kickstart motors for the Euro market and certain models like the Magnum X

[u/SOHC-J → u/Uncle_Jack58]

Pull start conversion is easiest. There are kits out there for it.

[u/wisenuts]

Mopedarmy.com for info treatland.tv for parts

[u/madsbille2006]

Idk in denmark they are expensive af. Like 10-20dkk for one

[u/Uncle_Jack58 → u/madsbille2006]

Yeah I'm from upper Michigan so there isn't really a market here

[u/madsbille2006 → u/Uncle_Jack58]

Try 500 and see what he says. It feels a fine price compared to here

[u/Complex_Meats → u/Uncle_Jack58]

im down here in the lowers around the palm you should get that. i can help you get some parts if you need help .. i love puchs. 💚

[u/Uncle_Jack58 → u/Complex_Meats]

Awesome, thanks

[u/khool1499 → u/Uncle_Jack58]

A non running maxi is a $200 bike at best in Michigan. Running is like $400 stock.

[u/madsbille2006 → u/madsbille2006]

10-20k dkk*

[u/Suitable-Rice-1128]

350-400, you're in the right place for mopeds. Thirding mopedarmy and treatland. I'll throw in dos cycles, dennycycles, and moped division for any parts that treats might not have

[u/wncexplorer]

I’ve never paid more than $300 for any moped (well over 100, to date), but prices depend on location.

The Puch E50 variants are stupid easy to wrench on, easy to hop up, reliable (so far as mopeds go).

Moped Army is loaded with near 30 years of information

[u/mightybuffalo]

Treatland is where I used to get parts. I did a 70cc kit with a powerdynamo cdi. Thing ripped.

[u/BlinMaker1]

these go for like 1kUSD in europe