Wont start after winter

[Rdeangelis]

Hey all, I just wanted to get some info from those who know more about this kind of stuff.  I put my scoot away for the winter, took out the battery and had it in the house, and let it run for a bit with some fuel stabilizer.  When I brought it back out this spring its not starting now.  I thought it might be the battery which wasn't on a tender and which I've found to be kinda weak even before now (it sometimes takes a second to start and dims the console display as it struggles.)  So I got a new battery (which works much better) but even now the engine just won't catch, so I assume that means gunk in the Carb despite the stabilizer? (Maybe I didn't let it run through enough)

I do get some gasoline smell after trying to start it a bit unsuccessfully so its not like it isn't flowing at all.  And yes, my engine switch is turned on.

So can someone offer me a suggestion as to the first thing I should check?  If its opening up to the carberator would cleaning it up be something that can be done without taking it apart completely or does it really just have to come all the way apart and I should probably just hand it to a mechanic?

Any helpful input is very welcome.

[tortoise]

would cleaning it up be something that can be done without taking it apart completely

Try rotating up the fuel bowl vent tube and spraying in a few shots of carb cleaner.  If you suspect the fuel stabilizer failed, splash some 91% isopropyl alcohol into the tank to solubilize the water.

[Rdeangelis]

Awesome, I'll start there.  Thanks also for the reference pic, much appreciated!

[MassScoot]

Rdeangelis: I hope things get squared away for you. My bet is your carburetor is gummed-up. A couple of quick questions....Do you live in a state that uses E10 Ethanol gasoline? If so...use 93 octane to begin with. When putting your scooter away for the Winter use these steps here:

1st: Always use StarTron ethanol fuel treatment (with every fill-up) I went to CVS & purchased those 3 oz. bottles that you can use on a airplane trip to put in on the fly.

2nd: Use Seafoam! I use it in every tank (maybe overkill, but it works for me) But make sure you use it before you store her for the Winter.

3rd: Use some Lucas fuel treatment before you put her away for the Winter.

4th: Use some Gumout Octane booster as well before storage. Additives will breakdown your octane rating a tad, plus for sitting for months that will also take away from your octane.

Also...Please just don't put those additives in your tank & start it @ idle for a few minutes. Take her for a 10-15 mile cruise to enable those above agents to do their work & get into the carb. & fuel lines. I can tell you that it will work on a carbureted scooter when the Spring comes! I have owned (still do Super 8 150cc) & it works like a charm every time! I owned a Kymco People S200 (carburetor) for 5 years & it sat in my shed for 6-7 months until Spring came around up her in chilly New England. Within 3 tries, she would start every time! I still use the same procedure on my fuel-injected Kymco GTI300.

Good Luck!   
 

[MassScoot]

Also...I forgot to mention...This sub-$25.00 investment will keep your battery on a "float charge" Worth every nickel my scooter friend!

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366415200&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+tender+jr.

Just buy one & you'll never look back! Trust me on this one.

[Rdeangelis]

OK, so here's where I'm at.

I tried the Carb cleaner in the vent, but no luck.  I added some Heet to the tank and swished it around for a bit, emptied the Carb of whatever fluids were still inside through the little drain tube, tried again but still no luck.  Took out the spark plug which was a little greasy, wiped it off best I could, tried again but still no.

I'm also killing my two batteries with all this attempted starting which brings me to another question.

I *did* happen to buy that battery tender that was recommended at the same time I bought the new battery, however when I hook either battery up to it it gives me a green light no matter what which according to the charger is the "storage" light.  It never goes red to 'charging' although I know very well at least one of the batteries is nearing death.  The old battery has trouble with even one startup attempt and the display dims when I try, so I know its got practically nothing.  Anyone know why the charger doesn't go to charging, or is the green light indicitive of the trickle charge in action? 

Anyway, not quite sure where to go from here except to have someone who knows more look at it.  Thanks for the suggestions all!

[Rdeangelis]

I can't believe I did this, ignore the battery tender question, I think I just realized.   

I didn't realize they came in different varieties, I just bought the first result that had come up on amazon.  There's a 12v and a 6v version, guess which one I got...  Time to see if I can return this and get the one I can actually use...

[de dee]

if you are starting for the first time ,. and it does not start right away,. hook up to your car battery , do not start car ,.  and you will have lots of power for starting, low power makes it hard to start,.   good luck and happy trails,. 

[Rdeangelis]

I've taken the entire Carb apart and sprayed all the openings with Carb cleaner and let it dry.

Have two batteries and charger, so I've made sure it has full power.

Cleaned the spark plug off and also tried switching it out with a different one.

Put some Heet in the tank and swirled it around to hopefully absorb any water.

Checked the fuses in the battery compartment, all are good.

The scooter makes the "juh, juh, juh" sound continually as if wants to start but never catches.  Any last recommendations on where I can look for the problem before I take it to someone else to look at?  Thanks for all suggestions thus far.

[Vivo]

Do you have spark?

[Rdeangelis]

Do you have spark?

How do I check this?

[Vivo]

To check for a spark, remove the spark plug from the cylinder, hold the tip of the plug against the cylinder head and crank the engine. You should see a spark across the gap.

[Rdeangelis]

To check for a spark, remove the spark plug from the cylinder, hold the tip of the plug against the cylinder head and crank the engine. You should see a spark across the gap.

OK, yeah...  I don't think its sparking.  Good to know where to start looking now, thanks for that.

[andsetinn]

I have the same issues every time my scooter stands for more than 3 weeks, but I never remove the battery. I suspect the carburettor drying out and the vacuum petcock not opening for fuel flow from the tank until the scooter is actually running. I spray start-spray into the air intake for few seconds and start, it "coughs" and then dies, I repeat few times and it starts to run.

These motors are simple, basically if they get spark and fuel they will run.

If you spray start-spray into the air intake for few seconds and start it should at least "cough". If it does, you have spark and the trouble is in the fuel system. If you suspect the fuel in any way replace it with fresh fuel (put the suspect fuel in your car, it will mix with the fuel in the tank and you'll never notice any difference there).

Your choke might be stuck "off". Try using poor mans choke by covering about 80-90% of the hole in the air intake and start with the throttle wide open (wot).

[Rdeangelis]

I did get it running again, I should mention.   I appreciate everyone's help.  I'm fairly certain originally it really was a clogged Carb.  But while I was cleaning it out I'd also dismantled the spark plug pieces (the wire and little electronic box thing attached.)  It turns out I'd put one of the spark coil bits back wrong which is why it wasn't sparking, so I created a new problem while fixing the first without realizing it.  Run around in circles for a bit to realize my own mixup, got it fixed, and it jumped to life immediately upon the first startup attempt after that.  Music to my ears.