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Author Topic: Occasional Starting Problems  (Read 4739 times)

superdan54

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #15 on: May 11, 2010, 01:53:39 PM »
well I hope I don't become a problem child here   :-[,

Scooter was running fine until I got caught in a rainstorm yesterday. It stalled once about halfway home (I think it's due to my tank not venting properly). After I took the rubber seal off the gas cap, I was able to get it started and got home fine. This morning I tried taking it out and it started up great. I got about 3/4 a mile from home when I lost thrust and the engine started gurgling, I went about 20 more feet until I finally came to a stop where it promptly died. It wouldn't start back up at all, kick start or electric. Ended up having to walk it back home...

I know rain is very bad for scooters, but where do I start now?
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wordslinger

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #16 on: May 11, 2010, 02:47:49 PM »
..no one is ever a problem child here...well, except for that one guy.... ;D...we all have our share of problems to thrash about...

..i ride in the rain at every opportunity...with no ill effects other than a slight loss in performance...



..i wonder, does your scoot have the stock airbox on it or does it have a high-flow air filter?

..sounds like it might have been lean at WOT, and maybe rich/OK at idle...which would make the plug look brown, if it had been idling right before you pulled the plug for inspection..

..i think that running lean would generate a lot of heat, and may have contributed to the wide gap in your plug...

..hope this morning's problem doesn't boil down to a burned piston....
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zombie

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #17 on: May 11, 2010, 04:23:58 PM »
Can you do a compression test on it? That would eliminate/verify some problems. Rain, and scooters don't mix well I have one that sputters in the heavy morning fog we get here from time to time. Also if you could verify whether or not you have spark now. Also there could be water in the fuel now from removing the gasket on the cap. Try clearing the fuel system into a clear glass container to verify that also.
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wordslinger

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #18 on: May 11, 2010, 05:47:16 PM »
...Also there could be water in the fuel now from removing the gasket on the cap.


...yeah, that's more likely.....
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superdan54

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #19 on: May 11, 2010, 10:44:26 PM »
Quote from: zombie on May 11, 2010, 04:23:58 PM
Can you do a compression test on it? That would eliminate/verify some problems. Rain, and scooters don't mix well I have one that sputters in the heavy morning fog we get here from time to time. Also if you could verify whether or not you have spark now. Also there could be water in the fuel now from removing the gasket on the cap. Try clearing the fuel system into a clear glass container to verify that also.

I don't have a compression gauge, but I think my father in law has one, so I might wait until they come up in a couple weeks to test that out, rather than shell $30 for one. It would be good to have one anyway so maybe I'll ask the mrs. when she's in a good mood ;). I'll try siphoning the gas out as well. I didn't think too much water got in there when I took the cap off but I suppose it doesn't take much to affect the combustability.
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sidthesloth

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #20 on: May 12, 2010, 01:20:58 AM »
To get a true reading of water in the fuel I think it would be better to drain it from the fuel line than to siphon it.
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zombie

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #21 on: May 12, 2010, 03:52:07 AM »
Quote from: sidthesloth on May 12, 2010, 01:20:58 AM
To get a true reading of water in the fuel I think it would be better to drain it from the fuel line than to siphon it.
   Thanks for the Quote tip! I'm Gonna drive you guys/gals CRAZY w/ it. Sid's right.
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superdan54

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #22 on: May 19, 2010, 07:01:07 PM »
Well finally we've got some sunshine here, so I've been able to take her out the past few days. She's running great now! I drained all the fuel out as suggested and it did look like there was a small amount of water in it...bummer that it was a full tank!

Anyway, the other problems seem to have gone away w/ the new spark plug...even the compressed air problem I mention seems to have all but gone away.

I do have one final problem though. I think the vent in my fuel cap gets clogged, as I still have had a couple times where it will just die on me at random points. However, as soon as I take the fuel cap of and remove the rubber seal, I can start it up and not have any more problems. Is there anything I can do to further help out w/ the venting or should I just get a new fuel cap?
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zombie

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #23 on: May 19, 2010, 07:35:04 PM »
new fuel cap! I would also suggest replacing the vacuum line to the fuel petcock, and replacing the petcock. The Fuel shut off (petcock) is VERY sensitive to water/dirt. It may well be the petcock is not fully opening, and restricting the flow. It does sound like a venting problem...but the two are highly dependent on each other. The parts are cheap from   http://www.stadiumyamaha.com/pages/parts/viewbybrand/default.aspx   Glad to see you have it figured out, and can scoot once again!
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superdan54

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #24 on: May 19, 2010, 10:33:36 PM »
ok then I'll be ordering a new fuel cap shortly! I already replaced the petcock last month so I can knock that off the list  ;D
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zombie

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #25 on: May 19, 2010, 11:26:23 PM »
Cool Beans Bro!
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robmsz

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #26 on: June 19, 2010, 01:29:21 PM »
Quote from: zombie on May 12, 2010, 03:52:07 AM
  Thanks for the Quote tip! I'm Gonna drive you guys/gals CRAZY w/ it. Sid's right.

      :D  BAWAAAHAHAHA ! ! !
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robmsz

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #27 on: June 19, 2010, 10:59:19 PM »
Isn't there a way to blow out the cap or something to get it working?

I looked @ the price for a new cap and it comes to close to $30. seems alot just for a cap.

I was just wondering if there was a way to fix the cap rather than spend $30 on one. I can think of tons more things to spend $30 on my scoots other than a.........cap ! 
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art

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #28 on: June 20, 2010, 05:48:52 AM »
You could drill a small hole in it
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zombie

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Re: Occasional Starting Problems
« Reply #29 on: June 20, 2010, 05:53:17 AM »
Try the local auto parts too. Or a junk yard, just ask where they keep the motorcycles. They all have a pile of them somewhere.
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