Modern Buddy

Hey all,
I've gotten myself a 2007 Buddy 125. It had 300 miles on it when I got it, would start and run but needed a new battery. I became aware, quickly, that although it would run fine, the top end was,well, missing. It wouldn't go much over 45 without a downhill slope and a tailwind. I kinda guessed that it might be a clogged carb jet or something similar, so I took off the carb and attempted to clean out the jets, per some of the tutorials on the site. Well, to my chagrin, upon reinstalling the carb, it floods. I am pretty sure that I cleaned out the jets ok, and reinstalled them, but I must have missed something. Any of you experts have suggestions before I haul the scoot off to the local dealership? I'm perfectly happy to pull off the carb again and check anything....thanks in advance.

Sounds like you misaligned something in the float bowl, which now allows fuel to constantly flow.

strfish7 wrote:upon reinstalling the carb, it floods.

That's a classic symptom of the floats not pushing the needle up into the main jet and stopping the flow of fuel. When you pull the bottom off the float bowl you may even find some parts have conveniently fallen down in there. Ask me how I know this! Seriously, be careful when you pull the bottom off the float bowl so you don't lose anything, like the needle for example.

The needle is there, trust me. I think I will take the carb down again and check it out. It just seems too obvious a symptom, somehow.

The last time I screwed up reassembling a carb, it was part 15 on the below diagram that I failed to seat properly so it quickly vibrated out and dropped the float and, hence, the needle down into the bowl.

Agreed^^^.

Its probably that pin, or the needle and seat are hanging up. The alcohol in the gas these days is not making the brass and aluminum parts happy at all.
Take the pin out and carefully inspect the needle (part 13 ) for any corrosion that needs cleaned off. Reinstall and make sure it is free to move before putting back together.

You can even try this before you take it apart.

Put a hammer handle end against carb, now "thump" it hard with your hand a couple of times. SOMETIMES if you have a stuck needle that will jar it loose., always worth a try.

And make sure drain screw in float bowl is seated tight.

That rubber nipple/membrane can loosen or leak if not placed just right.

Thanks for the ideas, guys! I'm going to do another session in the garage with the carb today or tomorrow. Keeping fingers crossed!

You should also make sure that the float height is set correctly. Page 78 of the service manual shows a nice picture, but doesn't tell you what to set it to.

Does anyone know what to set it to?

Pull out that gauge if you have one and measure it for us