Modern Buddy

Hey Folks...New to Genuine Buddy but not new to scooters/bikes!
I have a 2009 Buddy 125...really appreciate for what it is...really and I've owned a bunch of scooters.

Anyhow, it runs great, just does not maintain idle..it does sometimes but 50% of the time when I come to a stop, it just dies...it starts right back up but it's annoying.

I have cleaned the carb up a few times, really ensuring the idle jet is clean - its #38 for reference. The fuel filter is good, gas passes through, gas is clean, even tried ethanol free too. Air filter is clean. The air/fuel mixture screw is sealed; so that is the only portion in the carb that I did not remove and clean. I've made the idle a little high, but it still stalls when coming to a stop, not all the time, but about 50% of the time

Anyone has similar issues? The battery is little weak, but I don't think it would affect this right?

Any other areas I should look at? Gas cap? Spark plug, plug wires...just don't want to through a bunch of money ...and asking if someone experienced similar issue.

Thanks in advance!

BTW; I am little mad at myself on not trying out the buddy 125 sooner!

Check Page 77 of the service manual for the procedure on setting idle mixture. I'd also consider looking at the valve adjustment, depending on mileage.

It's possible to drill through the plug covering the idle screw, but you need to use a small bit and drill carefully; the plug is only about 3mm thick.

https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com ... Manual.pdf

Stator could be going bad.

can loosen the gas cap to see if it's pulling a vacuum...there's a thread on here showing a photo of how members have drilled the cap to allow for better venting if they were experiencing vapor lock

Might be helpful if you tell how many miles on the bike. I've had this problem twice. Once caused by a bad plug cap , 2nd time caused by a bad stator. If the carb is and has been working fine, then out of the blue the bike dies at idle, look someplace other than the carb.

az_slynch wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 8:05 pm Check Page 77 of the service manual for the procedure on setting idle mixture. I'd also consider looking at the valve adjustment, depending on mileage.

It's possible to drill through the plug covering the idle screw, but you need to use a small bit and drill carefully; the plug is only about 3mm thick.

https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com ... Manual.pdf

The fuel mixture is my last resort; but good to know the info you provided!!

Point37 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 9:31 pm can loosen the gas cap to see if it's pulling a vacuum...there's a thread on here showing a photo of how members have drilled the cap to allow for better venting if they were experiencing vapor lock

I've done that, but same results...I'll look into that more carefully

DeeDee wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 12:55 am Might be helpful if you tell how many miles on the bike. I've had this problem twice. Once caused by a bad plug cap , 2nd time caused by a bad stator. If the carb is and has been working fine, then out of the blue the bike dies at idle, look someplace other than the carb.

Thanks! The bike has 5600 miles and runs great otherwise...just the idle cuts off.
I'll look into plug cap and stator.

I agree with DeeDee - If the scooter has gone 5600 miles with this idle air mixture setting, that isn‘t the problem. Don’t mess with it.

Lots of signs of an electrical issue - weak battery, intermittent stalling, and you haven’t troubleshot much of the electrics. I’d replace the battery and spark plug, checking the plug wire very carefully for integrity and clean connectivity.

Weak battery has nothing to do with this type of problem on a carbureted engine. If the stator is causing your problem it has to do with the pickup coil igniter. It's not producing spark at low rpm.

DeeDee wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 3:09 pm Weak battery has nothing to do with this type of problem on a carbureted engine. If the stator is causing your problem it has to do with the pickup coil igniter. It's not producing spark at low rpm.

Thank you...I'll change the plug and ensure on the plug connections...and report back results....if it does not resolve, i might have to change this:

https://www.scooterwest.com/ignition-co ... 3Sf_MsUhAi

I believe DeeDee was referring to the pickup coil in the stator assembly.

The usual fix is to replace it with an NCY stator assembly, which works, but you'll have to stow all the extra wire length. This bit:

https://www.scooterworks.com/products/n ... 5-wire-gy6

NCY seems to be the go-to over stock, at least as far as I've read.

If you replace the stator you have to go with the NCY, they can go 60,000 miles plus with no issues.

fijiman wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 6:42 pm

DeeDee wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 3:09 pm Weak battery has nothing to do with this type of problem on a carbureted engine. If the stator is causing your problem it has to do with the pickup coil igniter. It's not producing spark at low rpm.

Thank you...I'll change the plug and ensure on the plug connections...and report back results....if it does not resolve, i might have to change this:

https://www.scooterwest.com/ignition-co ... 3Sf_MsUhAi

Please don't do that. Why would you want to put the same crap back in there? Buy this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/332961324611

With the money you save, put in a Denso iridium plug and some 9 gram Dr. Pulley Sliders. You'll have a whole different scooter.

DeeDee wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 9:31 pm

fijiman wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 6:42 pm

DeeDee wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 3:09 pm Weak battery has nothing to do with this type of problem on a carbureted engine. If the stator is causing your problem it has to do with the pickup coil igniter. It's not producing spark at low rpm.

Thank you...I'll change the plug and ensure on the plug connections...and report back results....if it does not resolve, i might have to change this:

https://www.scooterwest.com/ignition-co ... 3Sf_MsUhAi

Please don't do that. Why would you want to put the same crap back in there? Buy this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/332961324611

With the money you save, put in a Denso iridium plug and some 9 gram Dr. Pulley Sliders. You'll have a whole different scooter.

Sounds good!

Does anyone know what the ohm resistance reading should be on the stock coil unit? I want to test this out with the multimeter before buying a new one...

I'll test the ignition coil on my Buddy when I get home (Buddy is at the office with me, meter is at home) tonight.

I'll also try to test a spare stator I have. Depending on where you're at, I'd be willing to ship it to you to try it.

az_slynch wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 6:32 pm I'll test the ignition coil on my Buddy when I get home (Buddy is at the office with me, meter is at home) tonight.

I'll also try to test a spare stator I have. Depending on where you're at, I'd be willing to ship it to you to try it.

Thanks!! Tested the ignition coil; looked within spec...I friend in town also has a buddy 125 with similar miles that runs perfect. I swapped out the ignition coil just to be sure, and it still had the same stalling issues on my bike...so I know its not that.

Stator would be my next guess.

I am in Portland, OR

Sorry for the delay. Got home earlier tonight and let the scoot cool before messing with the engine.

I read .6 ohms measured across the red and black lugs on the back of the ignition coil. From the red lug to the plug cap, I measured 13.3 K ohms. I re-measured multiple times to confirm. Only unusual bit I noticed was that measurement across the lugs started at .8 ohms and dropped to .6 ohms after a few seconds.

I'll dig out the Pamplona project tomorrow and read it's ignition coil too.

Dug out the spare stator and checked the resistance for the pulser (trigger) coil. With the red lead on the blue/yellow wire and the black to the pulser coil ground, I measured 108 ohms. Then I checked the charging coil. With the red lead on the black/red wire and the black lead grounded to the center of the stator, I measured 582 ohms.

Thank you az_slynch!! I appreciate all the help.

I went ahead and ordered the NCY Statorp; it should be here in a few days...I'll put that on and report results...

Hey everyone - stalling issues resoled by slapping on the new NCY Stator. The scooter runs great now, no stalling issues.

One thing I did notice was that the magneto was quite dusty; I thoroughly cleaned it with old toothbrush and compressed air and some steel wool for good measure too.

Thanks for all your feedback!

Pictures:

Glad you were able to resolve the stalling issue.

Get out and ride! Spring is here!

FWIW, the NCY stator lasted exactly one month!! Scooter died over the weekend at the scooter rally, there is no spark. I have another buddy so swapped the plug, coil and cdi...still no spark...so definitely the stator is what I am thinking. I'll tear into that tomorrow and test it out.

Got the NCY from ScooterWorks; not sure if they do warranties.

Any other stator other that that folks had good luck with?

That's a new one. Check over the flywheel and stator for signs of rubbing.

On a side note, what's the part code of the plug you're running?

I second the vote for taking a look at your flywheel, specifically magnetism. Those NCY stators are kind of the gold standard for this scooter. Swap the flywheel with your donor bike.

az_slynch wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 3:57 am That's a new one. Check over the flywheel and stator for signs of rubbing.

On a side note, what's the part code of the plug you're running?

This is the plug - NGK CR7HSA

DeeDee wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 4:12 am I second the vote for taking a look at your flywheel, specifically magnetism. Those NCY stators are kind of the gold standard for this scooter. Swap the flywheel with your donor bike.

Yes, that is what I thought about NCY as well....I'll take the flywheel out tomorrow and report back the results!

Without taking the stator out; did a quick test with multimeter set to 2000 ohms:

Pick-up coil read (blue to red, black to ground) -->.154 which is ok as it should be between 130 to 160 I believe
Exciter coil (red/black to red and black to stator ground --> .023 which is way off as it should be between 350-600

So I am pretty sure there is a break in the NCY Excitor coil?

Update:
Performed another test at the cdi box;
There is no power to the cdi box - the red/black wires only provided 1.4 AC volts while my other buddy provided 70 AC volts. I am pretty sure my excitor coil from my new NCY stator is fried!

Note, checked the kill switch wired and it is functioning fine, meaning not grounded when ignition is on.

Going to order a new stator before I remove this one....