Rough Idling

[daphnelcc]

Okay, so this has been a problem I've been trying to trouble shoot for a while now...

Does anyone know what may be going on?

I have a 2007 Kymco People S200. It's been a great bike with the exception of an erratic idle that appeared sometime last year. It's been a while since I've ridden but before tucking it away last winter, I took it to the shop and they smoothed out the belt, cleaned out the spark plug (apparently it was leaking) and did a valve adjustment. Recently I just changed out the oils - gear and engine. However, I still have a slight problem with it idling erratically.

Before I changed out the oils - it would stall very easily across bumps and even at a stop without me constantly throttling it.

After I changed out the oils - it's not as bad but it still stalls sometimes. The idle feels like it's still "gasping" for air. At stops, you can feel it idling up and down as if it's having trouble breathing.

I listened a bit more carefully the other day and heard that the driven pulley seemed to run with a slight roughness to it. However, when I drive it around, it doesn't seem to be struggling at all. The kick start also seems "sticky." It's been difficult to start it with the kick start because it gets stuck when I kick it down sometimes. A sign?

I've also tried to adjust the idle and the rich mixture (I'm fairly sure I'm adjusting the right screws).

Any ideas? Anyone in SLC that's able to troubleshoot?

Thanks for any advice and help!!
d

[juice]

It could be a number of problems but these small cc scooters are especially vulnerable to fuel related problems . Ethanol causes problems with "phase separation" and sometimes these scooters sit unused for a while , which can cause blockages in the tanks , filters and fuel lines . I use seafoam in all of my small engines all the time . A lot of folks here say this is snake oil or claim that additives are not effective , but I have been using it for 3 years now and have not had a single fuel related problem . Use your own judgement and report back on your experience . Good luck .

[daphnelcc]

thanks for the input, juice.

you think it could still be fuel problems though? this was happening before i even put it away for the winter. it was actually probably right in the dead of riding when it all starting to cause problems... whatever "it" could be.

i usually use stabil through the winter but have never used seafoam. i usually end up riding it until november or early december and start back again in february or march at the latest. this year was unusual though because i let the registration fall through until just recently.

cheers,
d

[juice]

Stabil didn't work for me . I have heard positive reviews of Star tron , and lucas fuel treatments . I will stick with what has been working for me . Good luck .

[racewalker]

Check the air filter for oil. I had problems with this on my People S 125 from the gear box. Also try seafoam in the gas.

[daphnelcc]

guess i should try the seafoam.

checked the air filter today. thanks for the suggestion, racewalker. but no dice. it was fairly clean aside from normal wear and dirt.

hopefully the seafoam can get it going 100% again! any more suggestions in the meantime?

[juice]

I don't know where you live but non-ethanol gas may be available , try this web site to see pure-gas.org . I keep a container of non-ethanol for my small engines at home . Good luck .

[daphnelcc]

i'm in salt lake.... seems like the closest station to me is about 30 minutes away though.

what's the difference in non-ethanol gas?