bodminman Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Yesterday my scooter started fine and got me to and from work without a hitch. This morning I kicked it over and started straight away but then I realised I had to grab my wallet from the house so I switched it off, went into the house and grabbed my wallet. When I got back to the scooter and tried to kick it over the bugger just wouldn't start. When kicking it over (the kick-start not the bike) it sometimes make a little grumble as though it is about to fire up but nothing happens! It has a full tank of fuel. (Visual check) There is a spark. (Put spark plug against engine, kicked it over and could see a good spark) Anyone any ideas? I was due to give it an oil change this weekend as well as a good clean but looks like I've got more important thongs to focus on now! Thanks in antisipation!
laserblazer Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Did the plug look wet around the contacts? Could have been a flooded engine.
bodminman Posted June 10, 2011 Author Posted June 10, 2011 I will have a butchers again later. If it is flooded what can i do about it?
SYNACK Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 If it was flooded you could kick it over a few times with the fuel shut off or you could just leave it with the plug out for a while. If you are feeling dangerous you can kick it over with the fuel off and the plug out which will spit the fuel out but it doe mean flying fuel. If it is still being problematic after you could try spraying some engine start in and/or cleaning or replacing the plug, also check the leads (to the plugs) are attached propperly.
mac_shinobi Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Never had a scooter but I used to have a motor cross bike and did flood the engine a couple of times, I either Tried a few times to kick start it ensuring I held the clutch in whilst kick starting it a few times, obviously the clutch thing will depend on if its manual or not If that failed then I left it for a good few hours and tried again later ( as above I also did the first thing with the fuel line turned off ) then once it had started and died due to no fuel then put the fuel back on and seemed to work.
Popular Post Hightower Posted June 10, 2011 Popular Post Posted June 10, 2011 Sounds like a flooded engine to me too. Get an 8mm spanner and undo the 3 bolts holding the engine in place and remove the engine from the frame. Then run upstairs, pinch your missuses hair dryer and install in place. Should run no problem, and you will find you have 3hp more as well as a better sounding engine. 5
laserblazer Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Sounds like a flooded engine to me too. Get an 8mm spanner and undo the 3 bolts holding the engine in place and remove the engine from the frame. Then run upstairs, pinch your missuses hair dryer and install in place. Should run no problem, and you will find you have 3hp more as well as a better sounding engine. Whilst you're at it. If you get some brasso and polish all the ports until they are really shiny, that will give you another 3-5HP
SYNACK Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Whilst you're at it. If you get some brasso and polish all the ports until they are really shiny, that will give you another 3-5HP That sounds like work, just run it on ethonol.
bossman Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Used to own several "Lambretta's" in my time and the only reason they wouldn't start was because they were flooded, the best thing to do is to leave for about 10 mins as it will be an automatic choke system and will dry out the cylinder and spark plug then turn ignition on and kick-start or electric start without touching the throttle, it should start up fine.
Chris_in_notts Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 if its flooded it should start like normal after about 10 minutes, if it doesnt then it may be a jammed float in the carb or dirt in the carb jets. You could try easystart or deodorant if you don't have easystart to make sure its got a good spart then if it wont carry on running its fuel.
DAZZD88 Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 If it kicks over and sounds like it's going to start but then won't, does it have an immobiliser? My mam's previous Mini (classic, not the modern fake tripe) had a secret switch that turn on/off the immobiliser. When the immobiliser was on, the car would turn over and sound like it's about to start but never would.
SmellyLlama Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Like all the other comments I'm going with flooded. Do you give it a hand full when you kickstart it? I used to flood my vespa all the time.
mattx Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Stick it in second, pull the clutch in - run with it, jump on and dump the clutch.....or run with it in second [ whilst holding the clutch in, then let the clutch go ] and see if it starts to fire, if it does, jump on and open it up. Don't forget to jump on it before you open it up otherwise you will look silly. Or is it a twist and go ? BTW - you don't have an emeregency cut off switch do you which you may have accidently knocked..... Lost count how many times I've seen bikers do that..... [ myself included ]
Chris_Cook Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Might also be worth checking the oil level and topping up if necessary. Also check any air filters are clean.
mac_shinobi Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Sounds like a flooded engine to me too. Get an 8mm spanner and undo the 3 bolts holding the engine in place and remove the engine from the frame. Then run upstairs, pinch your missuses hair dryer and install in place. Should run no problem, and you will find you have 3hp more as well as a better sounding engine. Paint some go faster stripes and use some nitros oxide ( same stuff in fast and furious ) lol That should give you about 20hp - engine will melt together though
bodminman Posted June 10, 2011 Author Posted June 10, 2011 Hi all, I have just changed the oil and replaced the spark plug and this hasn't made any difference. Tomorrow I was going to make sure the valves are adjusted to the correct distance and replace the gasket. After that if things still don't look good I'm gonna wheel it down the road to the pub car park and ring the RAC! (I have to be 1/4 or more away from home) I can just say that I went to pick it up after leaving at the pub over night and it just won't start. Hopefully they'll give me a diagnosis if it comes to it. Cheers for the replies and I'll let you know how I get on.
mac_shinobi Posted June 10, 2011 Posted June 10, 2011 Hi all, I have just changed the oil and replaced the spark plug and this hasn't made any difference. Tomorrow I was going to make sure the valves are adjusted to the correct distance and replace the gasket. After that if things still don't look good I'm gonna wheel it down the road to the pub car park and ring the RAC! (I have to be 1/4 or more away from home) I can just say that I went to pick it up after leaving at the pub over night and it just won't start. Hopefully they'll give me a diagnosis if it comes to it. Cheers for the replies and I'll let you know how I get on. You havent got a fuel switcher thing and its set to reserve tank which is empty and not to the main tank ??
bodminman Posted June 10, 2011 Author Posted June 10, 2011 Not that I'm aware of but I'll have a look in the morning. When kicking over it sounds as though it's almost going to go sometimes.
bodminman Posted June 11, 2011 Author Posted June 11, 2011 Morning all! I went out early this morning and tried to kick start it again, not a chance. So I done what I planned to do and that was to look at the valves and then move over to the carb. Starting on the valves they were a) filthy and b) needed adjusting. Took me about 45 mins from start to finish and on the second kick over it started! I left it for an hour just in case it was a fluke and then tried it again. It started on the first kick! Done a little tuning to other things and now the glorified hair dryer is running great. Lots better than it was earlier in the week. It seems to sound and ride a lot smoother. I now just need to replace the air filter when the new one arrives which will only take about 10 minutes to do. Thanks for all your suggestions etc. Happy motoring!
laserblazer Posted June 11, 2011 Posted June 11, 2011 Great job, I bet you are feeling pretty chuffed with yourself.
bodminman Posted June 11, 2011 Author Posted June 11, 2011 Thanks to youtube really. Having the manuals etc is great but actually watching someone doing the job your trying to do really does help.
bodminman Posted June 11, 2011 Author Posted June 11, 2011 I thinks me may have spoken to early! Just went out to make sure it would start again and guess what, it didn't! I'm thinking the suggestions re flooding maybe true!! I think that maybe I'm slightly turning the throttle when getting the bike out of the garage. I have re reverse it out and negotiate some movements between cars to get it out onto the road. It's firing and just seems to almost get there and then just fizzles out! I'll update again tomorrow!
bodminman Posted June 12, 2011 Author Posted June 12, 2011 I have to have this going by tomoz so I have decided to call in a mechanic.
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