Starting Issues help

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:15 pm

So I was on my original 07 battery. When I last had service they told me it was pretty low. Well the Buddy got hard to start, so I got a new one.

Since battery was replaced 2 weeks ago, it has still had trouble starting. I have had to tender and kick start. I normally don't tender btw...with the old battery,maybe once a week or so if I had been riding the vespa. I don't think I should have to tender a brand new battery to get my scooter to start each day, My driving habits have not changed.

I took the battery back to the scooter shop and they hooked it up to whatever tests these things and they said it was fine. A possible caveat might be it was tendered right before I took it in.

I also noticed when I plug the tender in the light stays red (usually blinks red after plug in)it takes for ever for the light to turn green.

What else could this be besides a bad battery? Should I take it back in to have checked out, this time making sure it has been off the tender? We have gotten a bad battery before and then missed the 30 day deadline to return it so I don't want this to happen.

If this is not the battery what else could it be? thanks! PS I don't have a way to test battery at home

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:23 pm

Did you make sure to clean your terminal clamps? You need a battery brush to do so.

Corrosion and dirt can interfere with proper contact.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:26 pm

k1dude wrote:Did you make sure to clean your terminal clamps? You need a battery brush to do so.

thanks! no i did not use a brush. Can you use an old toothbrush?
Also would dirty terminal impact it not starting unless it has been tendered?

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:31 pm

No, it needs to be a wire brush to scour the terminal and clamp surface. If you have a wire brush small enough, it will work. But it's best to buy an actual terminal brush since they're designed specifically for the job and they only cost a few bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/Car-Automoble-Bat ... 361&sr=1-5

OR

http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Battery-Pos ... 361&sr=1-2

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:34 pm

peabody99 wrote:Also would dirty terminal impact it not starting unless it has been tendered?

Yes, a fully charged battery may be able to overcome the poor contact problem with the terminal. A weak battery will likely not be able to overcome the same problem.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:43 pm

Yeah, cruddy terminals affect both power going out to the starter as well as power coming in from the stator. Clean 'em up!

The brushes in the above pictures are more suited towards automotive round-post-style batteries. The square bolt-in terminals on the Buddy and its battery can be cleaned up pretty well with any sort of wire brush.

Good luck!

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:34 pm

How is your Tender connected?

If the battery is getting weaker when you use the electric start and ride, could be the stator or an issue in the wiring harness.

If the Tender light does go green, that means the battery is fully charged. If you have trouble starting with a fully charged battery, it could mean a problem with the starter, the plug or something in the wiring harness.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 2:49 am

ericalm wrote:How is your Tender connected?

If the battery is getting weaker when you use the electric start and ride, could be the stator or an issue in the wiring harness.

If the Tender light does go green, that means the battery is fully charged. If you have trouble starting with a fully charged battery, it could mean a problem with the starter, the plug or something in the wiring harness.

ok update- checked with the spouse who changed the battery and he said the terminals were very clean. It is starting GREAT with a fully charged battery. But it goes weak/dead very quickly. As mentioned I had to kick start it 2x today and when I got home and plugged the tender in it stayed steady red for a while-usually it blinks red and then turns green. It did eventually turn green.

I am keeping it off the tender for a few days and if it gives me trouble will take it back to motorsport to check it. It goes without saying a 2 week old battery on a regularly driven scooter should not require a tender or kick starting to come to life (am I right?) Is there anything else this could be??

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:21 am

Maybe your stator or regulator/rectifier is bad. It may not be charging your battery. Or maybe a ground wire is loose somewhere.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:00 pm

Are you starting/running/riding the scooter? Or is the battery getting weaker without use?

k1dude wrote:Maybe your stator or regulator/rectifier is bad. It may not be charging your battery. Or maybe a ground wire is loose somewhere.

This is my guess if they're using the scooter. If not, maybe something leeching!

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:14 pm

how old is your sparkplug? twice my cap that connects to it has shaken loose. I know it's happening (after the 2nd time) when I have to pull the throttle to get it to start or it doesn't start on the first try.