Electric vs kick start
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- DoubleD
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Electric vs kick start
How many ignore the electric start on your Buddy and use the kick start? Seems a better way to go if you ride a lot of short trips. I got into the habit when my battery was low and after replacing just kept using it. I'm surprised at how many people say, "Oh wow, that has a kick start? How cool!"
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- Whimscootie
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One of the reasons I chose this scoot was for the back-up kickstarter. Only use it as back-up tho.
Scootin' for a slower pace of life...
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- wheelbender6
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- Skippy
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Electric vs Kickstart
I just tried my kickstart for the first time yesterday because my electric start isn't working, but couldn't get the kickstart to work either. Thought I'd run it by MB. Scoot has only 500 miles on it and I ride it usually only on the weekends. It's hooked up to a battery tender and has gas so don't know why it won't start. Had it serviced at 300 miles and has been running fine since I bought it a little over a year ago. Any ideas before I haul it to the dealer for a warranty check?
- theemptythrone
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That isn't necessary. Since the only way you would be kickstarting the scooter is with it on the center stand, there is no interlock requiring one of the brakes to be held. It only disables the electric starter (which is commonly used with both wheels on the ground, requiring the safety precaution).theemptythrone wrote:make sure you squeeze the brake while you kick start just like when you use the electric start.
The 50cc model does require that the throttle be held open a little for successful kickstarting. I haven't heard the same about the 125/150 engine ... but it's worth a try.
- ericalm
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Not held open — you might flood it — but it needs some gas to start.TVB wrote:That isn't necessary. Since the only way you would be kickstarting the scooter is with it on the center stand, there is no interlock requiring one of the brakes to be held. It only disables the electric starter (which is commonly used with both wheels on the ground, requiring the safety precaution).theemptythrone wrote:make sure you squeeze the brake while you kick start just like when you use the electric start.
The 50cc model does require that the throttle be held open a little for successful kickstarting. I haven't heard the same about the 125/150 engine ... but it's worth a try.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
- Skippy
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electric vs kickstart
Kill switch not on. Engine sounds like it wants to start but just won't. Since it's under warranty and RA, guess I'll have the dealer worry about it. Thanks for replies.
- agrogod
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My battery is at the point it needs to be replaced, so I have been kick starting to get the beast going. The few times that I was able to use the electric made me feel self conscious, as if I was taking the easy way out by using it.
"When your mouth is yapping your arms stop flapping, get to work" - a quote from my father R.I.P..
always start with the simple, it may end up costing you little to nothing
always start with the simple, it may end up costing you little to nothing
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battery back up
i know some of you know you need to have some battery power to get the cdi to work
is there some kind of back up battery out there for some of us with no kick stater
is there some kind of back up battery out there for some of us with no kick stater
- PeteH
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My vision for the fuel-injected 170s: First swap out the stock CVT cover for a 125/150 cover with a kicker fitted. Then fab a little 12v battery pack to plug into the 12v jack on the leg shield, enough juice to run the fuel pump and computer for a minute or two. Keep it tucked in the pet carrier for emergencies.
Think it'd work?
Think it'd work?
Feel da rhythm! Feel da rhyme! Get on up! It's Buddy Time!
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My experience over the last year says to replace your dead/dying battery asap. Too much kickstarting will: 1. Eventually grind up your worm-gear that your kick lever half-moon gear engages. If you are using it for more than 3 months, I suggest you pull off the side belt cover, clean and re-grease the gears and all parts of the kickstarter mechanism. 2. Operating your scoot with a dead batt for too long might fry your stator. That happened to me, I think.
Also, not using your electric starter for awhile allows corrosion to attack the two metal contact points behind the yellow plastic electric start button. If nothing happens at all when you press the yellow button, and you know your battery is good, suspect this switch first....before the starter motor. You can pull that assembly apart, fine sandpaper the metal contacts, apply some electrolytic grease, reassemble, should be ok.
Also, not using your electric starter for awhile allows corrosion to attack the two metal contact points behind the yellow plastic electric start button. If nothing happens at all when you press the yellow button, and you know your battery is good, suspect this switch first....before the starter motor. You can pull that assembly apart, fine sandpaper the metal contacts, apply some electrolytic grease, reassemble, should be ok.
- michelle_7728
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I use the kickstart when ever my battery doesn't want to work...but then get a new battery asap. Usually my kickstart works, but sometimes it does not, and I wouldn't want to depend on it working when I'm not at home....
Past bikes: 08' Genuine Buddy 125, '07 Yamaha Majesty 400, '07 Piaggio MP3 250, '08 Piaggio MP3 500, '08 Aprilia Scarabeo 500
Current bikes: Two '09 Genuine Buddy 125's
Current bikes: Two '09 Genuine Buddy 125's
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Just be aware if you kick your scooter a lot. My electric start died last summer and I was going to wait until the weather warmed up before I fixed it so I had been exclusively using the kickstart.
About a month ago, the kick start locked up on me and wouldn't go down at all. With both starts failed, I had to have the thing towed.
It turns out, if you use the kick start a lot, the lube starts to wear off and it needs to be occasionally regreased. If you think your kickstart is feeling a bit rough, get that re lubed before the gears lock up.
About a month ago, the kick start locked up on me and wouldn't go down at all. With both starts failed, I had to have the thing towed.
It turns out, if you use the kick start a lot, the lube starts to wear off and it needs to be occasionally regreased. If you think your kickstart is feeling a bit rough, get that re lubed before the gears lock up.