Starting help PLEASE!

[whozleft]

I bought my wide a brand new left over 2010 Grand Vista. It only has 8 miles on it right now. We just went out to start it and it started right up. Then it died. It starts up easily but as soon as I give it some throttle it stopos dead. We just put some gas in it thinking that maybe it was out, but that didn't help.

Any ideas or suggestions. I know it's under warranty, but would like to get it trunning if I can.

[zombie]

It was thru a dealer? Sitting on the showroom floor? Did you test ride it?
I assume it drove to your house... That would eliminate bad fuel MAYBE! How long between the last good ride, and the issue you have now?

[whozleft]

Yes we bought through a dealer and it drove just fine. Brought it home, rode it a few short times to check it out and it's been sitting for about 3 weeks due to other things going on. It started and ran just fine both at the dealers and when we got it here.

I just went out and started it again and it fires right up, runs a minute or two then stops. Any attemot at giving it throttle shuts it right off.

[zombie]

I would suspect water in the carb bowl. If there is a drain screw open it. If not pull the carb. One way to tell a bit better is to start it, and let it just idle. A full minute would be good to tell. Then twist it to WOT till it either revs out or stalls. If it revs try to keep giving it as much throttle as you can till it does stall. Either way you want the throttle as OPEN as possible when it dies. Quickly pull the spark plug, and check it for water. Since you want to try to fix it yourself your gonna have to take things apart. I'd have the seat out, and the spark plug ready to be removed quick so the water doesn't evaporate if it is there. 

[whozleft]

Thanks for the advice. I do have the seat pan out now. So that part is done. It looks like I have to remove the side panel on the left side to access the plug. Is that right? If so, can you tell me what needs done to get that off without damaging anything? I hate to sound stupid, but I am new to scooters. Have had motorcycles for years and have worked on many of them, but not a scooter.

Thanks again.

[ce]

Ok, it's been sitting for 3 years, then you bought it and let it sit for 3 weeks. It's a scooter, not a chair. It needs to scoot, not just sit.

Turn up the idle screw a little, put the scoot up on the center stand, let it warm up for a while, then try to throttle it up. It probably just has some old gas that needs to be burned up, and you can't empty a gas tank if you only go 8 miles, so drive it back to the dealer, especially if he's 50 miles away, then when you get there, turn around and go home.

Pick other fun places to go, and let us know if it breaks down, or if you go a thousand miles and it breaks in.

Good luck.

[MaryK]

I agree with CE, except I would also add some SeaFoam to the existing gasoline.
Use the fuel gauge (scooter on center stand) to estimate the amount of gas in the tank (5 bars = 2 gal. + reserve, so 1 bar~ 1/2 gal)
Use the amount of Seafoam indicated on the label.... 1 oz / gal.  It will take some engine time to clean out the varnish and water.
Keep using the Seafoam for 2 tanksful.  Then use SeaFoam or Sta-Bil to keep the gas from going bad.

 We use fuel stabilizer all year round in all the small engines.

Scoot Safely and have fun.

[whozleft]

thanks for all the advice. I wqs able to get the scoot started and kept it running for several minutes by aprtially occluding the intake. As soon as I removed my hand it stopped and then continued the same pattern of starting up, and then shutting down.

I have decided to take it to the dealer and let them work on it since it's under warranty anyway. I was just hoping to be able to fix the problem myself. I am also convinced it is a cse of bad gas but I can't get it cleared out. If I could get it to run when I give it gas I would ride it until it started running right. Unfortunately it won't take any throttle at all with out dying.

[MaryK]

It never hurts to develop a good relationship with the dealer.
But please remember to use a fuel stabilizer if the gas is to be in the tank for more than a month.

Scoot safely,

[whozleft]

Thanks MaryK. I always keep both Seafoam and Stabil on hand and will use one or the other at all times.

The dealer we bought the bikes from is very good to work with o i don't think there will be any problems.

[zombie]

Please keep us in the loop on this. It will help someone else who sees the thread.

[whozleft]

Here's the latest. I do have an appointment to drop the scoot off at the dealer. But when I went home last night I was able to get the bike started but it still won't idle. It will allow me to twist the throttle open without dying now, so that's a step forward. I was also able to ride it down to the end of our condo comples and back as long as I kept it under power. As soon as I pulled into the drive and stopped the engine shut off. At least I was able to get it to go!

What have I done? I did fill the gas tank with premium gas along with a shot of Sea Foam. I disconnected the lines from the tank up to what I guess is the fuel pump and the line from there to the carb and shot some carb cleaner in them before I went to bed the night before. I guess I was hoping I could break whatever is gumming up the works lose. It seemed to help since I consider that I made some progress.
 
If I get it running and ride it down a long stretch of highway, do you think it would eventually clear up? Or is that wishful thinking?

[ce]

I think it would, since that will give the Seafoam a chance to work.

Taking stuff apart and putting it back together adds needless wear, and should be avoided when possible. Unfortunately that is usually how problems are solved, with a lot of stuff being done without result. I do it all the time.

So, your scoot is new, it needs to break in, turn the idle up a little, a run that fuel tank empty.

[zombie]

Try the smaller idle MIX screw on the left side of the carb. Turn it all the way in, and keep track of the turns. Bring it back out to the original position, and try a 1/2 turn in either direction. Keep doing that till you get the Highest idle speed, and adjust that by turning the Larger screw till it's at appropriate idle rpm. You MAY have cleared out the Gell residue from ethanol gas left sitting.
Good Luck!

[whozleft]

Took the scoot to the dealer. They cleaned the float bowl, jet, and got it running. We have had it on several short runs two up and it's doing great now.

Thanks for all the advice.