Scooter won't start

Pflower001 · Post by **Pflower001** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 2:58 am

So, I went back to work this month (teacher here) which sadly means I haven't given my pink princess road time in about a month. I went to ride her and she wouldn't start. I have never had this problem. She turns over but won't catch. I took out the battery and charged it and she still won't start. What to do?

phatch · Post by **phatch** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:24 am

Hey, I'm a teacher, too!

This same thing literally just happened to me today. Know what it took to get it started? I opened up that hatch in the pet carrier and wiggled tubing around with my left hand while holding the brake, hitting the starter and pulling the throttle with my right hand. For whatever reason, it started.

You might want to check your spark plug, though...? Pics here:
viewtopic.php?t=20718&highlight=spark+plug+cap

PIStaker · Post by **PIStaker** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:38 am

Unscrew the spark plug. Plug it back into the cable. Hold it next to the frame and hit the starter.
Are you getting spark?
Could be as simple as that.

Was it having a hard time idling before this happened?
It could be the stator.

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:42 am

Try giving it a little gas while you're cranking and be persistent - don't give up too quickly. She might just need a bit of encouragement. Just make sure you are either on the scooter, or that it's on the center stand with the back tire off the ground while you do that. You don't want her to go lurching forward when the engine kicks in.

(Thanks for being teachers, pflower and phatch!)

Pflower001 · Post by **Pflower001** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:10 am

Oh dear Jesus! I am such a girl, this looks veeeeery complicated!

Pflower001 · Post by **Pflower001** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:10 pm

Phatch, what do you teach?

phatch · Post by **phatch** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:22 pm

Pflower001 wrote:Phatch, what do you teach?

Music! And you?

Pflower001 · Post by **Pflower001** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:37 pm

Oh my goodness! Phatch, I tried what you did, and woohoo! She is up and running again. Just jiggled the wires a bit. She was a bit rough for the first 30 secs, but then she was smooth as silk again. My, these are temperamental lil' buggers sometimes! guess, I won't leave her lonely for long stretches again!

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:39 pm

Well, that was... Scientific.

But I'm glad you're both on the road.

Pflower001 · Post by **Pflower001** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:40 pm

Oh, and I teach mild/mod special Ed. Biology and I coach cheer. Since my kids are mild/mod they are still diploma bound and have to take all the same classes, just in sdc. I work in a low income urban area, so it is mostly gang kids with learning disabilities or emotional disturbance with some high functioning aut kids thrown in for good measure

Did you just go back this week or did you go back early like me?

VinylDoctor · Post by **VinylDoctor** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 5:10 pm

thats justice.
guys need to whip out the tools.
and girls just have to wiggle the wires.

CROSSBOLT · Post by **CROSSBOLT** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 5:47 pm

Nobody mentioned the "kill" switch on the right handlebar.....ALWAYS check that first, then other stuff....

Karl

fossel · Post by **fossel** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 6:03 pm

You might want to put 1 or 2 oz of seafoam in your gas ,If you have good a good charge.It wouldnt hurt if your not riding alot.

BuddyLicious · Post by **BuddyLicious** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 6:54 pm

fossel wrote:You might want to put 1 or 2 oz of seafoam in your gas ,If you have good a good charge.It wouldnt hurt if your not riding alot.

I 2nd what fossel said and if you add a bit to much Seafoam to your gas it wont hurt anything.I mean by accident or something.

Lastly after adding Seafoam I would run or ride your scooter for a few miles so that the Seafoam can work thoroughly thru the gas/gas lines.

Have Fun!

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:00 pm

CROSSBOLT wrote:Nobody mentioned the "kill" switch on the right handlebar.....ALWAYS check that first, then other stuff....

Karl

That was ruled out when she said it "turns over but won't catch". At least on the Buddy, it won't do that when the kill switch is off. If it were a Kymco, that would be something to check.