Idling issues after changing spark plug.

sve · Post by **sve** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:56 pm

I recently purchased a used buddy 125 from an older gentleman that took pretty good care of everything on it but mentioned that it was probably time to do some regular maintenance.

I have had it for a couple weeks and so far so good. I did notice some idling issues and a couple stalls. I adjusted the idle screw and that helped quite a bit, but still a little rough and then surge after taking off.

I picked up a spark plug while out of town the other day and decided to do the change yesterday, using the pictorial posted here. The old spark plug was dirty but not terrible. Now, the scooter starts fine but either dies shortly thereafter (and giving it more gas doesn't help) or it runs okay for a little but but after giving it gas, it dies once it hits idle again. I tried adjusting the idle screw again with no luck.

Any suggestions?

ferg52 · Post by **ferg52** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 3:37 am

Could be coincidental that the spark plug change is causing the problem. Perhaps the original owner let old gas sit in there for a while and your carb has gummed up a bit. Try running some Seafoam in a tank of good gas. It might just clear things up a bit.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:49 am

how many miles on the scooter? could need a valve check / adjustment

it could also be the dreaded vapor lock if the gas cap is not of the vented sort. so loosen that or take it off and see if it helps

just a couple of simple things to consider. others with more knowledge here can usually guess further

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:22 am

Check the spark plug cap first and make sure it's on correctly and snug. These can even work loose on their own.

Did you check the gap on the spark plug? The NGKs (I think) usually don't need it but another brand might.

sve · Post by **sve** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:35 pm

Thank you for the responses. I had a few minutes to go back through everything and it appears that the spark plug cap was loose. I fixed that and adjusted the idle screw back a bit. It has been raining and snowing all day so I haven't had a chance to ride it, but it did seem to run better while on the stand. I do think that part of it may have also been either vapor lock or bad gas. Seafoam did help a bit but again havent ridden it enough to know for sure, the weather has been terrible.

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 1:28 am

Glad you found the problem!

dkw12002 · Post by **dkw12002** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 3:08 am

I got an old Metro scooter that had been sitting and it would do the same thing. If you find you still have the problem, use starter fluid, sprayed directly into the air intake...it goes right past the filter after you first start the scoot. That should allow you to rev it up and once you get the revs up, it will probably stay there. Next I would take out the air filter and spray some carb cleaner into the intake as directed on the can...little at a time as the engine rpms are up. Then replace the air filter. Next, I would go out and run it hard and get through a tank of gas. Sounds more like varnish in the jets to me from sitting. Seafoam does help I think, but there is no substitution for running the scooter almost every day and getting the gas flowing. That Metropolitan runs like a new scooter now. What you will probably notice is that you need starter fluid a couple of days, then if you open the throttle slowly, it will rev on its own, then after more high speed rides it will start up and run normally....unless it is something else of course, but varnish or dirt in the jets is very common.