My scooter will not start!!

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Acen
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My scooter will not start!!

Postby Acen » Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:08 am

I can not start my scooter, i was riding it happyly and it suddenly lost power and stopped.

It then refused to start.

I pushed it home. battery is fine and recharged. Spark plug was cleaneed but also then replaced but still nothing.

Its not the starter motor as it all ticks over as normal but its not firing up.

Kick start is useless. The fuel is a few months old and I have been leaving the bike outside during the cold weather as essentially i dont have anywhere to put it.

If it is "dirty fuel" or water in the fuel tank any ideas on how to resolve.

I anctually dont have breakdown cover for it and live no where near a bike mechanic.

cheers for any advice. i need it running so that i can pass the ITV in a few months time.

cheer
a

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Enrique
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Enrique » Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:35 am

Hi acen,
Sounds like a fuel blockage........but...check for a spark at the plug first when it turns over on the starter.
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Acen » Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:49 am

am I actually meant to see a spark????

Ive changed the plug itself. is it that I keep the plug in the cap and then start it up??

Will I then see a spark?? apologies it its really obvious??

cheers
a

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Enrique
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Enrique » Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:01 am

Sorry Acen....you want more detail...........
Best to get a helper....
Remove spark plug cap....use insulated screw driver...put this in cap and hold exposed screw driver shaft near spark plug top......turn on and use starter, a spark will flow from screwdriver shaft to top of plug.....if it does then replace spark plug cap and check out fuel lines ..to see if fuel is getting to carburettor.
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Acen
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Acen » Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:18 am

Enrique wrote:Sorry Acen....you want more detail...........
Best to get a helper....
Remove spark plug cap....use insulated screw driver...put this in cap and hold exposed screw driver shaft near spark plug top......turn on and use starter, a spark will flow from screwdriver shaft to top of plug.....if it does then replace spark plug cap and check out fuel lines ..to see if fuel is getting to carburettor.

so by leaving a small gap, say half a centimetre, the spark will jump from screwdriver to spark plug and it will be visable???

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gerryh
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby gerryh » Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:21 am

Another way to do it is to pull off the spark plug lead, plug in the old spark plug, put the plug on the engine casing so you have a metal to metal contact and try starting it.
It won't start but you should see a spark jumping the spark plug gap.
Cheers
Gerry
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Enrique
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Enrique » Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:27 am

Acen.........yes visible....Gerry's way is probably safer for you....... :D

Just plug old plug into cap and place on cylinder head , turn on and press starter......
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Devils Advocate
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Devils Advocate » Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:56 am

Try to shield the light from it if it's sunny to exagerate the spark.

If there's spark then to check if fuel is getting through, simply put the plug back into the head and turn it over for a few seconds. If it's wet you have a fuel supply and we'd need to look elsewhere for the problem :thumbup:
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Acen
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Acen » Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:53 pm

Devils Advocate wrote:Try to shield the light from it if it's sunny to exagerate the spark.

If there's spark then to check if fuel is getting through, simply put the plug back into the head and turn it over for a few seconds. If it's wet you have a fuel supply and we'd need to look elsewhere for the problem :thumbup:
will try it, but sorry for asking, why would the spark plug get wet?? would nt that indicate a fault in the engine???

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Enrique
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Enrique » Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:13 pm

Following on from DA's post..........A wet plug end would indicate fuel getting into the cylinder....

Normally if fuel/air mix gets into the cylinder and the spark is getting across the spark plug electrodes it will start........in your case one or the other or both are missing........... :(

To check for spark is quick and easy.........if yes move on to check for fuel

We are assuming that you have fuel in the tank, and the on/off/reserve switch is in the correct position.
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Acen
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Acen » Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:21 pm

there is no on off swith on this one!!

There is 3/4 of a tank of fuel AND I even checked by swishing it around and listening to it. (i realised that it could be possible that the fuel meter was faulty and the bike was actually empty).

If it was "dirty" fuel or water in the petrol, would topping it up with some fresh petrol have any affect???

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gerryh
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby gerryh » Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:24 pm

Enrique wrote:Acen.........yes visible....Gerry's way is probably safer for you....... :D
I was going to suggest the quick way by sticking your little finger in the plug cap. :twisted: :twisted:

CHILDREN, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

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Gerry
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Enrique
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Enrique » Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:24 pm

No you would have to drain it down........the fuel that is......... :(

Gerry................ :evil:
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Devils Advocate » Wed Feb 13, 2013 3:17 pm

Thanks Enrique for answering Acens question :thumbup:


Acen, have you managed to check for a spark yet?........as I say if you do and you have one, then refit the plug and turn the motor over for a good 10 seconds. Remove the plug again, check what's on it......ie fuel, oil, nothing or whatever and report back.........with a new plug it'll be easy to tell what's going on in that dept.
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Acen
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Acen » Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:56 am

will try today, still have to work during the day and its night before i get home.

will certainly report back asap

thanks everyone for your valued advice.

acen

viv
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby viv » Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:07 pm

My scooter has a vacuum controlled fuel valve.
Between the carburetter and engine, on the inlet tract, there is a pipe which goes to the fuel valve,the pipe perished and split causing NO vacuum. I replaced mine and it now works.

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Enrique
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Enrique » Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:24 pm

Nice one viv........ :thumbup:

All you want to know about trouble shooting a non starting scooter............

http://scooterchromeparts.com/#/scooter ... 4533182575


viv's valve is mentioned too...........
All my best learning experiences start with a problem I need to solve.

Acen
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Re: My scooter will not start!!

Postby Acen » Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:06 pm

My luck has run out!!

Still have not fixed the scooter as Im still wating for a local "expert" to have a look at the bike.

As a result my battery has gone flat with the continued "ticking over".

its less than a year old and its simply not charging. Its an acid based battery so is it true that I can not fill it up with distilled water????

its it time to bin the battery and get another one (seriously less than a year old and cant find the receipt)

Ive got the ITV for scooter in next month so im starting to worry about it.

Could I just tell trafico its off the road??? could that get me out of the ITV problem until its fixed???

cheers for any advice.

The insurance ran out and I dont have the breakdown cover (ie a van) to send it to the garage to get fixed.

cheers

a :crazy:


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