Got a brand new Buddy50 today & it won't start, PLEASE H

Ninjasurfergirl · Post by **Ninjasurfergirl** » Sun May 19, 2013 12:28 am

So I got my Buddy50 today and was the happiest girl in the world, put a whopping 17 miles on it, and now it won't start. Picked it up 4 hours ago and already won't start. I know nothing about scooters, am not a mechanic, but am sad, frustrated, and very worried about how my scooter will perform in the years to come if it can't even start in the first few hours.

Some background, I heading away from my apartment and realized I hadn't strapped my helmet properly, pulled over to the side and in the time it took me to strap my helmet on, it died and hasn't started since. Won't kickstart either.

Can anybody help me?

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Sun May 19, 2013 1:29 am

" power switch" in the on position? Ignition key in the "on " position?Pressing left break in while hitting the yellow button?

Ninjasurfergirl · Post by **Ninjasurfergirl** » Sun May 19, 2013 1:39 am

Stormswift wrote:" power switch" in the on position? Ignition key in the "on " position?Pressing left break in while hitting the yellow button?

Yes, yes, and yes!
I really wish it was one of those things because then I could just feel silly and go about riding my scooter!

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sun May 19, 2013 2:36 am

If there is something wrong with the scooter, Genuine and your dealer will almost certainly make it right. Be assured about that.

As for diagnosing the problem, more symptoms would help. Does it do anything at all when you press the starter button? That is, does it rev but not start running on its own? Or does it do absolutely nothing? When you try to kickstart it, does the headlight come on at all? (Difficult to see yourself, but someone else could watch to see while you kick it.)

P.S. Check the gas tank too.

hg3 · Post by **hg3** » Sun May 19, 2013 2:37 am

It will start again but the good thing is you got a helmet and you were wearing it.

Keep us informed.

Ninjasurfergirl · Post by **Ninjasurfergirl** » Sun May 19, 2013 3:43 am

She's working now!
The electric start wouldn't work, so I did the kickstart AND turned the throttle half way and she kind of sputtered on.
It was starting but wasn't staying on, if that makes sense. Once I got her started, it took a while for her to be able to start moving, but after letting her sit for a few minutes, I got her going, a little shaky at first, but now she's running smooth again. I turned her off and was able to get her back started with the electric start. Have no idea what the problem was, the battery was brand new and hadn't been put in until I signed the paperwork yesterday. I'll probably take her in tomorrow to see what the problem was, hopefully it won't happen again.

Thanks for the help!

hg3 · Post by **hg3** » Sun May 19, 2013 3:49 am

GREAT and with helmet on and all. Maybe something in gas, small dirt speck. It will be interesting to hear what the shop says. The pleasure of riding is in front of you. Enjoy!

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sun May 19, 2013 5:22 am

Get the battery fully charged ...just to be sure. The 2 strokes are a little finicky the first 100 miles or so. Sounds like it was just a little loaded with too much fuel.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sun May 19, 2013 11:42 am

Ninjasurfergirl wrote:The electric start wouldn't work, so I did the kickstart AND turned the throttle half way and she kind of sputtered on.

Yeah, I've found that makes a big difference in kickstarting the 50cc.

lovemysan · Post by **lovemysan** » Sun May 19, 2013 1:36 pm

Was at the dealer and he complained about a few new buddy's coming in with bad start switches.

Ninjasurfergirl · Post by **Ninjasurfergirl** » Sun May 19, 2013 9:28 pm

Wouldn't start up again twice today. but didn't die while riding at all. Had to do the kickstart with the half throttle, only problem is I need my fiance to do the throttle while I do the kickstart, so if I'm by myself I might be in trouble! Kind of reassuring that the 50cc scooters are finicky the first 100 miles, at least it's not only mine, and at least I'll probably put 100 miles on her by the end of this week!
Unfortunately no one was at the dealership today even though they are supposedly open on Sundays, so I guess I'll just have to hope for the best this week and head back over there next time I'm off from work to make sure my starter is ok.
Besides some start up problems, I LOOOOOVE my new Buddy and am having the best time riding her around!

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sun May 19, 2013 10:33 pm

The more I think about this, the more I suspect the battery. Kickstarting is always tricky until you get the hang of it, so I'm not surprised you're having trouble with that. But if the battery wasn't charged adequately to begin with, and if you're not going on some longish rides to get it fully charged between starting attempts – or if it's just a bad battery – it would probably behave like this.

lovemysan · Post by **lovemysan** » Mon May 20, 2013 12:46 pm

Tip: I'm pretty sure you don't need to hold the brake to kick start. Holding the brake is only for the electric start interlock. I'm 99% sure you don't need to hold the brake.

Now, is your battery dead? Turn on the flashers, honk the horn to check and make sure its got juice. Or is it turning the engine a little slow? Slow turning is the batteries fault. Keep in mind that if you make lots of short trips the battery will need to be charged from an external source. It takes about 15 minutes of riding to replace the energy used by electric starting the engine. During the day when I make multiple short trips I kick start most of the time. Or you can install a battery tender connector and easily top the battery off nightly of once in a while. like this one http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-02 ... _rd_t=1401

Battery tender will keep the battery charged in the winter as well when not riding.

Or is it not turning the engine at all when you press the button. If the button isn't working try this: Key on, Hold down both brake levers, press an hold yellow start button, now switch and wiggle the start stop switch and see if the starter turns over.

You see when I was at the dealer I disassembled a faulty brand new throttle side switch assembly. The yellow starter switch and wiring all checked good. The problem was the engine kill switch.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon May 20, 2013 1:52 pm

lovemysan wrote:Tip: I'm pretty sure you don't need to hold the brake to kick start. Holding the brake is only for the electric start interlock. I'm 99% sure you don't need to hold the brake.

I'm 100% sure.

Kickstarting should only be done with the scooter up on its center stand, so the brake (to prevent the scooter from jumping forward) isn't necessary as a safety precaution.

Ninjasurfergirl · Post by **Ninjasurfergirl** » Mon May 20, 2013 4:30 pm

It's the carborator! I nearly ran out of gas on my way to work, apparently my carborator is flooding w gas for some reason. My fiancé has to bring me gas to work because I won't make it to the gas station, and I work 12 hours for the next 5 days, so ill have it fixed Sunday!

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Mon May 20, 2013 4:56 pm

Ninjasurfergirl wrote:It's the carborator! I nearly ran out of gas on my way to work, apparently my carborator is flooding w gas for some reason. My fiancé has to bring me gas to work because I won't make it to the gas station, and I work 12 hours for the next 5 days, so ill have it fixed Sunday!

If the carb bowl is flooding while the motor is running that's most likely the main jet or the carb float. (The carb float "floats" up and pushes a large "needle" into the "main jet" to shut off the flow of gas into the carb bowl.)

If it's flooding while it is not running, then it almost has to be the fault of the fuel petcock. (The petcock is supposed to shut off the flow of gas at the gas tank when the motor is not running)

Either way, this should be easy for your dealer to troubleshoot and fix.

Ninjasurfergirl · Post by **Ninjasurfergirl** » Mon May 20, 2013 7:43 pm

Comforting to know its an easy fix!