Modern Buddy

My scoots been in hibernation mode since November 2009 that's about five months sleeping. Apart from checking the air pressure, are there other things that I need to do before I can safely ride my scoot? As one example; do I need to first clean the carburetor since it has been unused so long and if yes, any suggestions on how to do it?

Are there other things that I need to do to prep my scoot?

Thanks,

PR

I'm guessing you didn't winterize?

Start by getting the battery charged up.

Then try cranking it. If that doesn't work, then you might have to look at a carb cleaning, but no sense in jumping to conclusions.

Seafoam, couldn't hurt (don't use the whole can, pay attention to the ratio).

Burn the old gas out then change the oil and you should be good to go.

Lostmycage wrote:I'm guessing you didn't winterize? Start by getting the battery charged up. Then try cranking it. If that doesn't work, then you might have to look at a carb cleaning, but no sense in jumping to conclusions. Seafoam, couldn't hurt (don't use the whole can, pay attention to the ratio).
Burn the old gas out then change the oil and you should be good to go.

Hi Lostmycage,

No, I didn't winterize. Is it ok to just try turning on my scoot? I did have my oil changed maybe 500 miles ago. Do I still need to change the oil and yes I realize it has been hanging around for since November.

Thanks for your reply.

PR

Hey PR, we still need to finish painting that thing don't we

I put mine away in November with a full tank of gas, no stabilizer.

It took about 20 kicks but it fired up and ran great.

The battery took a crap last winter and i never bothered to replace it.

If it doesn't run you probably have gummed up carbs but it usually takes longer than 5 months for that to happen.

Just run it, there are 100 bad things that could happen but a 99.8% chance it will run just fine.

Not been turned on since November? Take it to a scooter single's party. Maybe whisper seductively in it's mirror?

Seriously though, I would recommend cranking the kick starter with the switch off a few times before starting it. This distributes some engine oil throughout the system before it actually runs.

Check tire pressure. Give it a good visual inspection; especially brake lines and other rubber bits.

Portland_Rider wrote: Is it ok to just try turning on my scoot?

Good advice from several folks on tire pressure, oil level, oil circulation, fresh gas, and possible use of seafoam. Five months with no attention - do not expect the scooter to just "turn on". The battery will be near dead or at least deeply discharged. If you are lucky, you can trickle charge it and it will be okay. If you are unlucky, the battery won't take a charge and you'll need a new one. If you don't have some brand of battery tender already, you need to get one. As others have pointed out, the scoot will actually run without the battery if you kickstart it. If you have no experience kickstarting your Bud, you may find that somewhat frustrating when it has been sitting along time. I'd sort out the battery.

Pretty much what they said. I'd say as long as it's not your break-in oil, just wait till your next scheduled mileage. A lot of people like to change it in the spring for a "fresh start" to the riding season.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I appreciate all your advice.


Hi Kaos,
--- Yes, we do need to finish painting the scoot.

Hi Ray Knobs,
--- I’ll give her a go. I am thinking positive thoughts about my scoot waking up without a hangover.
Hi Tocsik,
--- Never having tried the manual kick, that is good to know about it distributing oil through the system. “Maybe whisper seductively in its mirror?” You are as twisted as I am

Hi Dooglas,
--- I’ll hope for the best but won’t panic or get ticked off if there are some problems. Excuse my ignorance but what is meant by trickle charging it? Is that just running it to rebuild its charge? I do not have a battery tender.

Hi again Lostmycage,
--- Fresh starts are good. I think many of us can, at times, use plenty of those in life.

My Buddy wouldn't start. I seem to have lost my touch in turning her on.

Initially, when I tried electronically starting her there was a slight sound as if it was trying to engage yet then it went silent. I was able to get the hazards to blink showing there was a slight charge left yet obviously not enough.

If I buy a battery tender can I re-charge the battery or is it really dead and gone requiring that I buy a new battery?

Poor little skoot.

it's probably just the battery. mine did the same thing too which was actually kind of weird because mine is kept in a garage (albeit a large condo garage where it does get kind of cold) and i do turn it on/ride it in the winter. i guess the cold wasn't great for the battery... i was able to either use the electric starter or used the kick-start all throughout the winter so i thought nothing of it. and then, it finally "died" and kick-starting would take almost 15 minutes.

i had just gotten a tune-up about a month ago, too! anyhow, long-story short i brought it back to the local dealer so that they could take a look at it. they ended up doing a trickle charge overnight and it's fine now.

hopefully yours just need the same treatment to get it going again. good luck with it!

Portland_Rider wrote: Hi Dooglas,
--- I’ll hope for the best but won’t panic or get ticked off if there are some problems. Excuse my ignorance but what is meant by trickle charging it? Is that just running it to rebuild its charge? I do not have a battery tender.

A battery tender charges quite slowly as it has a small power output. That is sometimes called trickle charging. It is particularly easy on small batteries and avoids overcharging - though it does take longer.

Now stop putting it off and go get a low output charger. Get a Battery Tender Jr from one of the dealers or the similar Black and Decker 1/2 amp charger from Fred Meyer. This trying to start your scoot out of storage with old gas, a dirty carb, and a weak battery is not likely to work. (time for tough love here)

Dooglas wrote:Now stop putting it off and go get a low output charger. Get a Battery Tender Jr from one of the dealers or the similar Black and Decker 1/2 amp charger from Fred Meyer. This trying to start your scoot out of storage with old gas, a dirty carb, and a weak battery is not likely to work. (time for tough love here)

I will get one! It's tough love time. Dooglass, have you ever thought about being a Boy Scout Leader? My gut tell me that you'd make a good one.