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Engine problem--new owner...please help!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:13 am
by sonystyle
Hi,
I just bought a used 2009 buddy 50. It has about 1000 miles. The previous owner mentioned that when ever the gas reads below half, the engine doesn't start. This happened to me for the first time today and I had to kick start it. Do any of you know what may be going on so I can try and get it fixed?
Many thanks!
Re: Engine problem--new owner...please help!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:22 am
by Syd
sonystyle wrote:Hi,
I just bought a used 2009 buddy 50. It has about 1000 miles. The previous owner mentioned that when ever the gas reads below half, the engine doesn't start. This happened to me for the first time today and I had to kick start it. Do any of you know what may be going on so I can try and get it fixed?
Many thanks!
Wait. When the tank is half empty the electric start won't start the engine, but the kickstart will?
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 2:27 pm
by TVB
I cannot think of a possible explanation for this pattern.
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:03 pm
by charlie55
I'm not familiar with the 50, so I'll start with a question.....
Does the headlight on the 50 turn on as soon as you turn the ignition key to the on/start position?
If it does, the do a comparison of the headlight's intensity (with the key in the on/start postion, but without actually starting the engine) when you have a full tank, and when you have the half-tank problem.
If the headlight is dim(mer) when you're at a half tank, then it sounds like there's an electrical problem somewhere in the circuit from the fuel level sending unit to the fuel gauge. At that point, you can further isolate the cause by disconnecting the wires from the sending unit (and making sure that they're protected from shorting against any metal parts). If you have no problems with the electric starter after disconnecting the fuel sender, then it's a definite fault in that circuit.
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:16 pm
by jrsjr
What charlie55 said, plus, welcome to Modern Buddy! Hope charlie55's hints helps you get that problem sorted quickly. When you find the problem, please do us the favor of reporting back in this thread so it will be in our archives.
Again, welcome to Modern Buddy!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:50 pm
by TVB
charlie55 wrote:Does the headlight on the 50 turn on as soon as you turn the ignition key to the on/start position?
No, the headlight is powered by the (running) engine, not the battery.
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:55 pm
by charlie55
TVB wrote:charlie55 wrote:Does the headlight on the 50 turn on as soon as you turn the ignition key to the on/start position?
No, the headlight is powered by the (running) engine, not the battery.
OK, that settles that aspect of the troubleshooting - thanks for the info.
So, I guess that the next step would be to wait until you get the half-tank starting problem, and then disconnect the fuel sender unit wires (again, protecting them from shorting against metal) and try using the starter. It's a bit of a reach, but I can't think of anything else that could correlate a fuel level with an apparent electrical problem.
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:55 pm
by Throwback7R
Does the electric start try to start the bike ?
next time it happens open the gas cap and see if it starts with the cap open
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:24 am
by sonystyle
Thanks everyone. Super helpful. I bought the scooter used over the weekend. Yesterday was the first time i had half tank, i'll let it run down again in the next couple days to see if it happens again then try the various recommendations. And report back. Thanks again for the suggestions.
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:01 am
by scootERIK
How many miles can you get on a tank before it stops running, or won't start?
Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 2:59 am
by iamryan25
You could check your fuel line and see if it somehow became routed higher than the bottom of the tank... maybe if it's half full the fuel line becomes higher than the gas and can't get down to the carb?
Re: Engine problem--new owner...please help!
Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 12:37 pm
by BuddyRaton
Syd wrote:sonystyle wrote:Hi,
I just bought a used 2009 buddy 50. It has about 1000 miles. The previous owner mentioned that when ever the gas reads below half, the engine doesn't start. This happened to me for the first time today and I had to kick start it. Do any of you know what may be going on so I can try and get it fixed?
Many thanks!
Wait. When the tank is half empty the electric start won't start the engine, but the kickstart will?
That's a question that really needs to be answered
Re: Engine problem--new owner...please help!
Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 12:48 am
by sonystyle
BuddyRaton wrote:Syd wrote:sonystyle wrote:Hi,
I just bought a used 2009 buddy 50. It has about 1000 miles. The previous owner mentioned that when ever the gas reads below half, the engine doesn't start. This happened to me for the first time today and I had to kick start it. Do any of you know what may be going on so I can try and get it fixed?
Many thanks!
Wait. When the tank is half empty the electric start won't start the engine, but the kickstart will?
That's a question that really needs to be answered
Yes, it happened to me again today, for the second time. The engine wont start. But kick start started it. I didn't add gas this time like i did the first time. Will see how it goes tomorrow when i start it for work.
Re: Engine problem--new owner...please help!
Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 7:54 am
by fatcharlie
sonystyle wrote:BuddyRaton wrote:Syd wrote:
Wait. When the tank is half empty the electric start won't start the engine, but the kickstart will?
That's a question that really needs to be answered
Yes, it happened to me again today, for the second time. The engine wont start. But kick start started it. I didn't add gas this time like i did the first time. Will see how it goes tomorrow when i start it for work.
When this is going on and you press the starter button, is it cranking or is absolutely nothing happening? Do you hear a click or anything?