Troubleshooting

What to do if your Scooter won’t start …………………

If you havn’t used your scooter for a while and you’ve just spent 15 minutes trying to kick start it, and have resorted to pushing it up and down the road, it sounds as though it needs a good once over to ensure everything is as it should be.
Is the timing OK ?
Are the points in good shape (not pitted or worn) and are they set correctly (if you have elcetronic ignition is that set correctly)

Next, clean and check the carb by completely disassembling it. Cleanliness is crutial here so only use a clean lint free cloth, brush and petrol. Whilst it’s separated check that the correct size choke, slide, atomiser, pilot, main and starter jet are fitted. Also ensure the air screw is a adjusted correctly.

With the carb still off ensure there’s fuel passing through the petrol tap and pipe, both in the normal position and reserve position. With scooters that have been sitting for a long while the petrol tanks can corrode and rust. This debris goes into the carb and clogs up everything. Take the lid off of the petrol tank and have a look inside using a torch. If necessary empty and remove the old tank, fill it up with a few clean stones & some soapy water, give it a good shake & rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove any residue. Then let it dry out completely (very important, otherwise you could make matters even worse). If it’s in too bad a condition get a new or second-hand tank.

Check that the air scoop, box, filter, intake rubber boot are all OK. Remove these and ensure that everything including the air box and intake are clean. Replace if in doubt, but for the present leave these disconnected. Refit the clean and dry petrol tank, fill with fresh unleaded petrol and mix in 4% (25:1) of good quality 2-stroke oil.
Once all this has been checked, if you haven’t done so already fit a new spark plug (even if it looks OK). Fit the plug to the HT lead and place it against bare metal or the engine (don’t hold it!) Now kick the scooter over a few times to see if there is a decent spark. If not then you could have a problem with the suppressor cap, HT lead or coil. To check this remove the suppressor or HT cap, stick a small piece of wire in the end and place this against the frame. If it sparks get a new cap. If not then check for a spark from the stator plate. Remove the green wire coming out of the stator plate into the junction box (or rectifier if you have a battery) Place this against the frame (bare metal) If it sparks OK here then there is probably a problem with the wiring, coil or HT lead so it should be fairly easy to fault find from here.

Once you have a decent spark at the plug refit it, turn the petrol and choke on and kick it over a few times (10-15) with the throttle fully open. Remove the spark plug to see if it’s wet. Is it wet, dry, black or oily? Wet is good, but if it’s dry then there’s a problem with fuel flow somewhere. Place your hand over the carb and kick the scoot over. This should cover your hand in petrol, as with no air going in the mixture will be very rich. If this is OK then kick the scooter over again. It could take some persuading to start so after a few kicks attempt to bump it in 2nd gear all the time opening & closing the throttle. If it starts OK fit the air filter assembly and make sure it starts again!

If you have fuel going through and a properly timed spark it should start - eventually!