Modern Buddy

Hello guys I am Leo some of you know me from the Vespa world or the Land Rover world. Anyway I have purchased a 2008 Buddy 125 for $500 that dosn't run and is fairly rough. It's has a few mods on it and was supposedly a race winner . So far I have changed the oil and filter. Replaced the spark plug with a properly gapped NGK plug, cleaned the fuel tank and added fresh gas and checked all the fuses. I have good compression, I'm getting fuel to the carb (or atleast I think) and I have spark. But I still have no start, much less any effort to start from the engine.

So far here are a couple question to hopefully get answered so I can get it running tomorrow:

When you turn the key on should the headlight and tail lamp come on and the dash light up? I have brake lamps, horn and blinkers when the key is on but that is it.

Is there something I am missing in my hunt to get it running? I have spark, I have air and I seem to atleast be getting fuel to the carb. Is it possible to have a clog in the carb or something I'm missing?


I appreciate the help I hope to get the scoot going tomorrow so I can get it to the tag office and start ridding it to work and for fun! Here is a pic I took when I was picking it up, I dig the Prima exhaust!

Thats a pretty good deal
I round run some seafoam .


The lights come on when you get the motor going

Can you post a video of what it sounds like when you try to start it?

http://youtu.be/viP5hNsYX5M


Here is a video I shot this morning.

Not sure if this will help, but I found this video (The Ultimate GY6 Starter & Ignition Troubleshooting Tutorial): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSZ3t_oibeA

Any chance that your valves might need to be adjusted?

topic8312.html

It doesn't sound like it's getting fuel.

Pull the intake off of the carb, and put your hand over it. Try starting it. You should end up with some gas on your hand.

Have you tried kickstarting it?

I am going to adjust the valves today just to be safe and I will just to see if I am getting fuel from the carb in the intake.

I have tried the kickstart but with no success.

PcolaBuddy wrote: Is it possible to have a clog in the carb or something I'm missing?

Of course, it is possible to have an obstruction in a carb jet or other carb issue such as a hole in the diagram. And Seafoam won't do you any good if the engine doesn't run.

In the video it sounds like low compression but engines never sound right through a microphone. You definitely need to clean the carb. Especially the idle circuits and pilot jet. The float needle will probly be sticky as well. If the slide moves freely I never remove the diaphragm cap. There is a 161cc kit in the classifieds for cheap and a big valve head.

Was it running when it was the previous owner stropped riding it?

How many miles are on it?

The engine sounds like it's spinning freely. Was the plug out? If not I'd run a compression check.

Plug was in and I went and compared the sound to another 125 scooter and I agree I have no compression. It ran fine when parked by the previous owner but that was awhile ago. I wish I had a compression gauge small enough for the scoot to confirm it. The scoot has a little over 14k miles on it.

Definitely has no compression! Double check the valve clearances to make sure a valve isn't stuck open, but you're probably in for a top end. Big bore time!

The Harbor Freight compression tester works in the small engines, just know that it reads ~10psi low.

PcolaBuddy wrote:Plug was in and I went and compared the sound to another 125 scooter and I agree I have no compression. It ran fine when parked by the previous owner but that was awhile ago. I wish I had a compression gauge small enough for the scoot to confirm it. The scoot has a little over 14k miles on it.

If it ran when last parked, sat for a long time, and suddenly has no compression now... I would strongly suspect a stuck or otherwise problematic valve. Take the valve cover off. Have somebody turn the motor over slowly and see if you can figure it out by inspection.

jrsjr wrote:

PcolaBuddy wrote:Plug was in and I went and compared the sound to another 125 scooter and I agree I have no compression. It ran fine when parked by the previous owner but that was awhile ago. I wish I had a compression gauge small enough for the scoot to confirm it. The scoot has a little over 14k miles on it.

If it ran when last parked, sat for a long time, and suddenly has no compression now... I would strongly suspect a stuck or otherwise problematic valve. Take the valve cover off. Have somebody turn the motor over slowly and see if you can figure it out by inspection.

I agree the valve cover is coming off tonight I think the exhaust valve is stuck. Is this a two or four valve motor?

2 valve.

Before ripping into the engine, I would take off the air box cover and try to start it without the cover. You may not have air flow. I'd try something simple like this before checking valves.

WOW - You have a real classic, a much loved customized Italia that has been seen all over this site in days gone by. Good to see you bringing it back to life!

Kevinpsu160 wrote: I'd try something simple like this before checking valves.

Agree. While pulling the valve cover really isn't a big deal I would also start simple. Pull the carb and the jets and blast it with carb cleaner. I wouldn't even take the diaphram off the first time.

Did you ever figure out what the problem was?

Ok an update!

Valves are operating as they should, no blockage on the intake side and I have good spark.

The bad though:

The carb is just done and for a challenge I have to figure out the jet size the previous owner upgraded to so I can rebuild the carb correctly. She's a petite cute little lady an I am a overweight slob with the aerodynamics of a cinder block. So I need to figure out the right jet size for my profile with the Prima exhaust and upgraded drivetrain.

I still haven't determined if I have compression or not, I am going to have to hop on the Matco truck Monday and get a motorcycle compression set. If it is low on compression then I will be rebuilding the top end.

Mean while enjoy a wrenching action shot with a La Palina cigar:

Jetting doesn't change due to weight or transmission mods

avescoots1134 wrote:Jetting doesn't change due to weight or transmission mods

But it does for the exhaust

Indeed it does but it should already be jetted for that.

Get a fitting for the compression gage and know the compression for sure. It shouldn't cost much for an adaptor or even a gage that comes with a hose with multiple fittings. You will use it again in your lifetime.

How do you know it had compression when parked? Because someone told you that? Most people do not routinely check compression so you should consider that information with skepticism.

Carbs are cheap and at this price point hardly worth the cost of theropy that might be related to trying to properly clean them. Pilot jets and passages are so small that the slightest obstruction or deposit could drive you crazy.

I have a very high strung Husky chainsaw that I often have to revert to dumping a little gas in the sparkplug hole to get a pop. That effectively bypasses the carb and although it won't run much if it pops it can tell you that something might be amiss in the fuel system.

BuddyRaton wrote:

avescoots1134 wrote:Jetting doesn't change due to weight or transmission mods

But it does for the exhaust

I've read both ways. Some people and dealers say a Prima Pipe requires a different (bigger) jet. Other people and dealers say a Prima Pipe does fine with the factory jet.

I guess the only way to tell is to check the color of the plug after installation and riding it for a while.

k1dude wrote:

BuddyRaton wrote:

avescoots1134 wrote:Jetting doesn't change due to weight or transmission mods

But it does for the exhaust

I've read both ways. Some people and dealers say a Prima Pipe requires a different (bigger) jet. Other people and dealers say a Prima Pipe does fine with the factory jet.

I guess the only way to tell is to check the color of the plug after installation and riding it for a while.

Jetting changes are for wide open throttle and (possibly midrange on some vehicles) but that would not affect starting and idling which are based on the pilot system.

With more freeflow exhaust changes more airflow out needs more air and fuel flow in, but that's only in play when your going flat out. The muffler only flows out what is allowed in by the carb and if you only put a small amount of air in then anly a small amount of fuel is needed.

When you take plug readings to check jetting it's after a wide open throttle run and you shut down immediately and do the check without idling about or running part throttle.

Still waiting to get a compression test done, been busy at work. Here's a picture of the scoot in the OR, you can see my wife's supervisors chair in the background.

I'm not a big fan of the stock Italia color scheme (even though I now own one), however I do like the custom look this one was given.

bigmike7801 wrote:I'm not a big fan of the stock Italia color scheme (even though I now own one), however I do like the custom look this one was given.

Hey Mike - We graduated through three Italia's falling in love with the color scheme yet once we picked up her third Italia brand new, we already had bought the inner plastics in black to switch out which really got a lot of comments.

Aside from that, there have been a few (including this one above) that really was one of a kind and looked great! Looking though the gallery you are sure to find some great inspiration to customize yours if that is something you would do.

MYSCTR wrote:

bigmike7801 wrote:I'm not a big fan of the stock Italia color scheme (even though I now own one), however I do like the custom look this one was given.

Hey Mike - We graduated through three Italia's falling in love with the color scheme yet once we picked up her third Italia brand new, we already had bought the inner plastics in black to switch out which really got a lot of comments.

Aside from that, there have been a few (including this one above) that really was one of a kind and looked great! Looking though the gallery you are sure to find some great inspiration to customize yours if that is something you would do.

I do plan on customizing mine. I have a color scheme in mind, just need to find the right paint/paint color as well as the time now!

This may help.

Have no compression and the valves are moving just fine so time for the motor to come out! See the video linked below.

http://youtu.be/0dQ6WNjvCBY


I had some help from my two year old, he was adjusting the gas cap!

The two year old: That is AWESOME!

Progress made this afternoon with the help of a Zuma buddy.


Engine out:



Engine top end apart:







Spot the issue?

So I'm going to order a new top end kit and carb to get her running again. Time for a few mods!

My two year old starting the breakdown process:



And a picture of me after getting the motor out:

I am at the same spot on a 2012 buddy 125 where I have done everything but the Compression test. I have a new Spark plug and it does spark, unscrewed the screw on bottom of carb and gas dripped out. I took out carb and cleaned it all out. There is oil in it. Battery is okay I have to jump it. It just wont start. It sounds like it is trying to turn over but just never does. So I don't think its the starter. It sounds like your first video. And same result with Kick Start. Any recommendations?

Any Help would be much appreciated!!! Thanks