Modern Buddy

My starter has been broke for a couple months, been kickstarting which has been fine. I ride every day, 200 miles a week. Suddenly it has become very hard to start. Rides fine at speed. Idles mostly fine though the problem began with a stall at a traffic light. Had to stop for a dozen lights after and it idled fine. Got home tried to start, again very hard. Let it idle for 10 minutes with no problem. It seems after i'm about to give up after 20 or 30 kickstarts it will start all of a sudden and then run fine. Any ideas? No sputtering or anything. Kickstart appears fine, just recentely has been cleaned out. Please help.

Choke has gone bad?

I had similar (but not quite the same) problems that were solved by replacing the spark plug. It's a cheap experiment, and if it doesn't fix it, you'll have a fresh spark handy for when you do need it.

Same here recently, turned out the gap on the exhaust valve was out.....

Two cycle scooters foul plugs quite easily.
I keep a few handy for situations mentioned in this forum.
I have been known to replace them half way home when
my scooter all of a sudden quits!

You mean it won't start, won't start, won't start, won't start, starts right up and runs fine? When I first read this thread I though faulty choke, but that description sounds electrical.

What doesn't work on the starter? Does it just spin without engaging? Or does it do nothing, like it's getting no power?

Thanks for the replies. It's a 4-stroke. Fresh spark plug, valves recentely checked and are good. Starter does very little, makes a quick, quiet whirl noise, am replacing starter this weekend, it's on route from scooterworks. A co-worker did a check on my starter and said it was bad using test wires and the battery. Started up on 2nd try this morning and idled for 5 minutes before dying and the wouldn't start again. Added 2oz seafoam last night. The auto-choke seems good as it worked fine this morning getting her started. I was thinking an electrical thing also. My plan is to check all connections and clean the jets this weekend. Could it be the "idle jet" this makes sense to me as it doesn't seem to have any problem as long as I'm giving it gas, not sure if that is how it works in reality. Co-worker suggested maybe the fuel filter was clogged and/or debri in gas? Going to go try her out right now, ride around the block a few times if possible.

EDIT: started on fourth kick, drove a few miles then let it sit and idle for 10 minutes. The idle was a touch rough, only a touch. Turned it off, after a couple minutes tried to start again and nothing, tried several times over 20 minutes or so, nothing.

Just in case there is anyone following this(lol) I'll update. I've noticed a obvious trend. It is starting when stone cold, not starting hot. My co-worker immediately says "CDI" when I mention this. He says to test pour ice cold water on CDI and then try to start. Going to try this today. Have already ordered a new CDI (NCY brand and new ncy Coil and spark plug boot) is this a good replacement?

If it is fine when cold and wonky when warm it sounds more likely an auto-choke issue to me.

Is there a way to check if the auto-choke is good/bad? Is the "auto bystarter set" in this link the auto-choke?
http://www.scooterloungeonline.com/prod ... Carburetor

I ruled out the auto-choke earlier because it operates fine, the stalling doesn't happen to a couple minutes after the auto-choke has done it's thing. Of course I could be missing something here?

I had a 1979 Datsun 620 pickup that had the same symptom (died after it warmed up), and it turned out being the IC Ignition unit in the distributor.

Probably, that's not very helpful...