buddy not starting... and it's so pretty out :(

SFscootgirl · Post by **SFscootgirl** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:19 am

Ok, so here's my sad story...

I had surgery on my foot two weeks ago, and before that was monsoon season in San Francisco, so it's been about a month since I have had the joy of scooting around on my buddy. The bud is almost new since I got it last fall and have only about 150 miles on it. Now that I'm up and walking, and the sun has finally found SF again, I'm anxious to hop back on.

I tried starting it this morning, and it got very close to catching a couple of times, but never quite stuck. But the engine definitely turned over... I figured the battery was low, and charged it all day using my roommate's Battery Tender. Now it's all charged up and the engine on my poor buddy won't even turn over! All I get is the click of the start button, and that's it... *silence.* I am a little afraid to try kick starting since I'm still in a walking cast, so I thought I'd see if anyone else has had this problem. If kick starting has worked for someone in the past, I'll try and coerce my roommate into doing it... or if anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them!

Thank you in advance for helping to get me back on my scoot as soon as possible!

pcbikedude · Post by **pcbikedude** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:18 am

You can try kickstarting. If it works great.

2 things,your Buddy hasn't been started for a long time, your gas may have gone bad. Second, your carb. may have to be clean out because of the none activity.

shdyldy · Post by **shdyldy** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:28 am

I'm still new to this whole scooter thing......which by the way I luvvvv, but I have heard from others that it could be "sour" gas. Hope you get it going soon.......it's great riding right now!

voodoosix · Post by **voodoosix** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:03 pm

ya,have your roomy try and kick it. if the starter is just clicking- that isnt bad gas or dirty carb. if it starts when kicked, take it for a long ride to get the batt back up to snuff. good luck.

babblefish · Post by **babblefish** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:44 pm

One month is not enough time for gas to go bad, so I think you might have something else going on. When you connected the battery tender, you got the positive and negative connections correct I assume? If all else fails, I'd give Barry a call at San Francisco Scooter Center (he advertises on this forum) on 10th street. He's a great guy and is always willing to help.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:54 pm

I hate to bring this up...but I've been caught by this mistake a few times. Check your kill switch. You may *think* it's been flipped to run. However, an accidental bump or something might have switched it to "off" without you noticing.

SFscootgirl · Post by **SFscootgirl** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:09 pm

thank you to everyone for your help! so far i haven't been able to find anyone to kick start it, but i'll try as soon as i can, and let you know the results...

and yes, barry is the next on my list if kick-starting does not work

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:16 pm

Sparky wrote:I hate to bring this up...but I've been caught by this mistake a few times. Check your kill switch. You may *think* it's been flipped to run. However, an accidental bump or something might have switched it to "off" without you noticing.

Good point, although it probably wouldn't 'click' if that was the case, right? Also, don't forget you have to hold in the brake lever, and make sure you have gas. We've all been there, ha.

Bb.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:22 pm

It depends on the scooter. On my old Kymco Bet & Win, with the kill switch engaged the starter motor would work without any "go action". It fooled me enough to call my dealer for a check up, since "obviously the starter would not chug with the switch engaged". When he showed up in the rain and later told me....

One reason I am hesitant to buy the Kymco S125 instead of a PGO Bubu 125 at another dealer is the embarassment I still feel over the incident.

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:09 pm

I'm thinking it could still be the battery. Depending on a lot of conditions, it may not have gotten a good enough charge from the Battery Tender or it may just be so dead it can't take a charge.

Either way, kickstarting should work. You can also use the Battery Tender cables to jump start the scoot from another scooter or motorcycle. You can jump from a car, too (if you can get the Battery Tender cables to reach), as long as you don't turn the car on (you'll fry something in your wiring).

babblefish · Post by **babblefish** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:13 am

I just discovered something on my own 2006 Blur that might help a few people. If I let my Blur sit for a week or so without starting, the battery would appear to be dead. I'd charge it up and everything would work again although the starter sounded a little weak. In examining the electrical connections on the battery, I found that if I tightened the screws securing the cables to the battery, everything worked again. I know some of you are thinking "of course you'd have problems if the screws were loose" - the screws on mine were not loose. My guess is that over time, a bit of oxidation develops that prevents a good electrical connection. By tightening the screws further, it breaks through this oxidation. Anyway, I removed the cables from the battery, cleaned the battery posts with sandpaper and put everything back together. Seems to be working OK now, but I'll wait a week or so to see if the problem comes back. In the mean time, I have a new battery that I bought at Sears waiting to be installed.