'07 125 been in garage for 3 years...need to get running

gnositc19 · Post by **gnositc19** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:36 am

My gfriend bought this scooter brand new. She then finished nursing school and got spooked seeing all cycle injuries in the hospital so stopped riding the thing. I would ride it off and on but never consistently. I always tried to go out in garage and give it a start every couple of month but off course that never worked itself out.

So, now we are trying to get teh thing running again so we can sell it or where i can maybe even start riding again and maybe stick with it.

It has 325 miles on it...changed oil probably 2-3 years ago and it won't start, not even kick start. I assume i should start with a battery, but what else should i do and how extensive is possible damage to bike from sitting idle so long? I'm in TX, so extreme heat but mild winters, just a handful of below freezing temps, fwiw.

thanks for any help.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:49 am

The biggest killer to bikes in storage is dry-rot. Seals, gaskets and the like need saturation in oil or fuel to keep in peak operation. Leave them sitting and they dry out, causing leaks of all kinds.

The battery is an obvious replacement, but it won't be the end of it.

Things to check for is dry rot on all hoses and rubber bits. Simply flex the material to see if there is any cracking. You can't obviously do this on the engine gaskets, but this is something that may need to be observed once you fire it up. Next would be a replacement of ALL fluids. Since it's been sitting, that material has been idle and that's not a good thing for the engine. Also, the fuel will need to be drained, and perhaps give the fuel tank a good cleaning. Seafoam with a fresh tank of gas for a good minor to moderate cleaning works well on scooters. If it's bad, a good rinse of 3:1 water/hydrocloric (or pool) acid is something I've used on bikes and older generators before. (DO NOT run the pool acid through the engine!!!! this is something you may want to remove the tank for if the gunk is that bad or if there is rust)

After that, a new plug is of course a good idea. Once you get that all squared away, and you haven't seen any immediate leaks, give it a shot with the new battery. If it fires up, awesome! Keep a diligent eye for new leaks since the engine has not been run. You may not see any at first, but as the engine heats up and parts start to expand, gaskets may start to crack forming new leaks.

If you still have issues starting, but it turns over, the carburetor may need rebuilt. This is pretty straightforward, but the seals in the carb are quite vulnerable to drying out due to inactivity. A good cleaning at least, and a good rebuilt at most.

Another factor to consider is getting a new CVT belt. Again, being a pliable part, a lack of movement and sitting will cause it to dry out and rot. So, if you plan to ride it for more than a block, a new belt on that scooter after sitting for several years is a must.

Age is the biggest killer of bikes next to incompetence. But, thankfully a bike sitting can be rather easily revived if you take the proper steps.

gnositc19 · Post by **gnositc19** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 2:47 am

thanks for that info. I'll give all that a shot. I have a guy who's technical in a lot of ways who says he can help me out. Don't want to have pay some dude to fix it, probably cost bout $500 or so.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:22 am

I'd guess the big issues are the fuel and the carb. As neotrotsky says, dump and replace the fuel. Clean the carb. See if the battery will take a charge, if not - replace it. Then see if you can get it going. Lots of other possible issues, but that is where I'd start. Once you get it to turn over, change the oil and filter. Has it ever had a full service? If not, change the gear oil as well.

Beamster · Post by **Beamster** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:22 pm

Three years isn't much. Just fuel and battery issues to look into.

I have a 36 year old bike in the garage that only runs once a year and it's fine. It just demands battery replacements, a couple sets of tires so far, and good racing fuel that has a two or three year shelf life.

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:50 pm

I would remove any old gas & replace with some new along with a strong dose of sea foam fuel treatment.

I had an old snowmobile that I left sitting for years & couldnt get started... good dose of sea foam & it started up