Puch Maxi Maintenance Schedule

The Puch Maxi with the E50 engine is a two-stroke with mixed lubrication and a centrifugal clutch that runs in an oil bath — no V-belt, but chain drive. This makes maintenance different from a modern automatic: you don't have variator rollers or a drive belt to replace, but you do have to change the clutch oil, adjust the contact points, and decarbonize the exhaust.

The schedule below comes from the original factory documentation: a service after the first 500 km, followed by a fixed interval of 1.500 / 3.000 / 6.000 km. The key numbers: clutch oil (ATF) every 3.000 km or half a year, replace spark plug every 6.000 km, clean air filter annually.

The maintenance schedule by mileage

Expand a turn for the tasks and factory specifications. Repeat fixed rhythm turns at the same interval each time.

Wear parts outside the fixed schedule

• Replace brake segments — in case of wear or scratches (annual inspection); drum Ø 80 mm
• Replace contact points — if burned in, worn or discolored (annual inspection)
• Replace tires — in case of visible wear of the tread (weekly check)
• Replace chain and sprockets together — in case of heavy wear — never treat only one part, otherwise the new will wear down the old more quickly
• Replace centrifugal clutch lining — at wear limit: clutch outer diameter in resting position 92 mm (new 94,6 mm); starter clutch pressure plate lining may wear up to 1 mm — wear is rare in practice
• Replace front fork springs (per set) — at wear limit: spring length shorter than 175 mm (new 184 mm)

Mixed lubrication: 1:50 or 1:25?

The factory writes 1:50 for use with the special Maxi Mix two-stroke oil (20 ml oil per liter of petrol). If you use a regular, self-mixing two-stroke oil, the manual is 1:25 add (40 ml per liter) — with the caveat that you will then need to decarbonize more often. Pay attention to the clutch oil: that is ATF, no motor oil. Regular motor oil causes the clutch lining to swell, causing the clutch to slip, engage too late, or fail to disengage.

What temperature do you need?

For a two-stroke, the spark plug is not a fixed value. The manufacturer's specification above applies to a standard block — moped or 45 km/h. But as soon as it has a tuned cylinder, a different exhaust, or a larger carburetor, your engine makes more heat, and then you have a colder spark plug needed.

At NGK, cooler means a higher number: a B8HS is colder than a B7HS, which in turn is colder than a B6HS.

• Standard (moped / 45 km/h): the factory spark plug.
• Slightly ramped up (exhaust, filter, slightly larger jet): one step colder.
• Significantly increased (cylinder kit, racing exhaust, large carburetor): two steps colder.

The mistake that costs money is only one way. Is your spark plug cold, then it turns black and wet and sputters — annoying, but you can twist it right out. Is it sitting there heet on a tuned engine, you get self-ignition and your piston burns out. Are you in doubt? Then choose the colder one.

Read the spark plug after a vigorous ride: light brown is good, white/blisters is too hot (check colder spark plug and your mixture), black and wet is too cold or too greasy.

What Do You Need?

• Two-stroke oil: Putoline Classic Scooter (1 l) — for the mixed lubrication — see the ratio above
• Clutch oil: Putoline ATF (1 l) — the manufacturer specifies ATF; 170 ml (block with coupling cap) or 150 ml (without)
• Spark plug: NGK B6HS — factory specification for the standard version — electrode gap 0,40–0,45 mm
• Spark plug: Champion L86C (same heat rating) — the Champion code stated by the factory
• Putoline air filter oil — for the foam element after cleaning
• All parts for the Puch Maxi
• Necklaces
• Brake pads and brake lining
• General: scooter maintenance — what to do and when?

Source: Original Puch Maxi owner's manual (Steyr-Daimler-Puch), chapters 'Oil, gas/oil mixture', 'Owner maintenance', and 'Technical data', combined with the Dutch-language Puch Maxi workbook that reproduces the factory diagram. Puch no longer exists as a moped manufacturer; there is no manufacturer portal that legally offers this manual for free, so we do not link to it.

Printable workshop checklist for the Puch Maxi (E50)

Maintenance Checklist — Puch Maxi (E50)wheelerworks.nl — parts for scooter, moped and bicycle

Tick ​​off during the service. This list follows the layout we used ourselves in the workshop, filled in with the diagram of your model.

Date: __________Mileage: __________Next service at: __________ km

Weekly or every 500 km

• Check tire pressure and tire wear (front 1,8 bar — rear 2,2 bar (sizes: front 21×2.00-17, rear 21×2.25-17))
• Check the drive chain and tension it if necessary. (approx. 2 cm up and down play, measured midway between the gears)
• Check lighting
• Adjust rear brake

Monthly or every 1.500 km

• Clean the spark plug and adjust the electrode gap if necessary. (Champion L86 / Bosch W7A / NGK B-6HS, electrode gap 0,40-0,45 mm)
• Check the clutch oil (crankcase oil) level (ATF Type F — via level plug in the clutch cover)
• Adjust all cables (throttle, brake, clutch/starter lever)
• Check spokes, true wheels (permissible lateral runout: spoked wheel approx. 2 mm, cast wheel approx. 1 mm)

Every six months or every 3.000 km

• Change clutch oil (crankcase oil) (ATF Type F — special Maxi clutch fluid prescribed, definitely no ordinary motor oil (clutch slips or sticks) 170 ml (blocks with clutch cover) / 150 ml (older blocks without clutch cover))
• Lubricate cables (thin oil, SAE 30)
• Clean and lubricate the chain (chain spray, chain grease or SAE 90 oil; replace chain and sprockets together in case of heavy wear)
• Decarbonize the exhaust (especially the inner muffler)
• Adjusting contact points (point spacing 0,35 mm; ignition advance 16°-18° for TDC (1° ≈ 1 mm on the flywheel circumference); grease felt with an occasional drop of oil)

Annually or every 6.000 km

• Replace spark plug (Champion L86 / Bosch W7A / NGK B-6HS, electrode gap 0,40-0,45 mm)
• Replace contact points if burned out (after assembly, point gap 0,35 mm and readjust ignition timing)
• Check wheel bearings for play (loose balls/cones: use new balls and plenty of lithium grease during assembly)
• Check and adjust headset bearing
• Check brake segments, replace if necessary (drum brake Ø 80 mm, front and rear)
• Clean air filter (blow out the filter element with compressed air (note: not every filter housing can be opened))
• Grease standard suspension (pivot point runs in aluminium — without grease it wears in quickly)

Executed by: __________________ Checked: __________________

You can order parts and fluids for the Puch Maxi (E50) at wheelerworks. Nl — the complete maintenance schedule is at wheelerworks.nl/advies/onderhoudsschema-puch-maxi/

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