Modern Buddy

Today I was a mile away from a gas station and the scooter started "chugging". It was still running, but power was low and didn't change no matter whether I had half or full throttle. It sounded like it was about to stop running. I thought I was almost out of gas, so I kept chugging, hoping to make it to the gas station. After about 3/4 mile of this the engine did die.

I pushed the last 1/4 mile to the gas station (fortunately it was downhill, so it was the most pleasant push to a gas station that I have ever had). I got gas, but it still wouldn't start.

While I was trying to get it started, someone came over to help. We went through a checklist:
- do I buy ethanol free gas? Yes, so not as likely a fuel filter problem
- 2 stroke or 4 stroke: 4 stroke, so less of a chance of lubrication issue
- can I get to the spark plug? Let's check for a spark

I removed the cover and went to pull off the plug cap. THE PLUG CAP WAS LOOSE! I pushed it on firmly and that solved it.

15,000 miles on the scooter and the cap has never just "fallen off". At least it was an easy fix.

Good on you for staying calm and tracking that down. We used to hear similar symptoms with certain years of the Vespa because they made the spark plug wire just a tad too short and the wire would pull free of the cap. Haven't heard too many complaints about that with the Buddy, though. Again, good job troubleshooting and thanks for the post!