Cant keep the battery charged.

[gtremblay]

Hi I am having some issues with my Kymco People 250. it seems that no matter how many new batteries i use or how much i charge them they seem to die. i put a new battery in on saturday and the first few times it started no problem. On about the the 4th or 5th start it wont even turn over. It works when i jump it and i can drive it no problem. but as soon as i turn it off it wont start. it seems at though when i drive it doesnt keep my battery charged at all.

If anyone has a soulution or option i could try that would be great.

[MaryK]

It does sound like the scooter's alternator isn't making sufficient voltage to keep the battery charged.
So, the 1st question is do you have DC voltmeter to measure the voltage on the battery ?
If yes, then charge the battery fully.
Then attach the voltmeter and record the voltage as you change the RPMs. 
Remember to be sure that the rear wheel does not touch ground when the engine is at higher RPMs.

The voltage on the battery before you start the engine should be greater than 12.0 VDC
With the engine operating the voltage should go up to about 14.5 volts when the RPMs are about 2500 (a guess).
No need to rev the engine about 3000.
If the voltage does not climb towards 14 VDC, then the chaeging system is not working.

There are 3 parts to the electrical system:
(1) alternator, which makes AC voltage
(2) Rectifier, which converts the AC to DC voltage
(3) Regulator, which keeps the voltage to below 15 volts.

Figuring out whether #1 or #2 are faulty is more difficult. 
One would need a service manual for the location of the parts and the values that the tests should show.

Is there a dealer nearby ?

[josephthediviner]

Yep it's the charging coil, I have replaced mine twice from long periods of over reving the engine. 

To replace it at home first have a jack and a buddy handy you will need a new cover gasket (11394-KHE7-900) $9   and the stator assy (31120-LDH1-E00)  $65
There are instructions in the repair manual for the People 250 you can down load it here.  (http://www.timtaylor.net/Scooter/Manuals.htm)  you need to down load the .rar unpacker as well. 

The hardest part is scraping the gasket, finding an impact driver for the three screws in the case a hammer works and then getting it all lined back up while installing some gasket tacker helps.  I found the instructions online as well but that was years ago.  Good luck and keep riding.    Jim.   

[Vivo]

Yup!