New Stella - what problems am I in for?

jungle tim · Post by **jungle tim** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:00 pm

Hey, Hello
Im new so appologies if there is a thread to all this.

Im in for the ride on a stella, and one of the reasons that I have chosen the Stella is that I get to tinker but I was hoping that this forum might give me some advice on what to expect/look forward to fixing.

What should I be checking when my Stella arrives?

Any specific tools I should be getting?

Is there a 3rd party manual (Haynes?) you can reccomend?

What will most likely go wrong / or what indicators should I be looking out for to stop it going wrong!?

Thanks very much

Tim

vwgrl1999 · Post by **vwgrl1999** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:07 pm

It might help everyone if we knew what model Stella (2 or 4 stroke) and what year.
Welcome to the Stella club, enjoy the ride!

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:39 pm

welcome.

read through the forum threads, many of your questions will be answered.

assuming you purchased a new scooter you will have a two year warranty. when problems arise take it to the dealer.
(psssst! don't tinker with your scooter...they're watching)

JohnnyScoots · Post by **JohnnyScoots** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:21 pm

lempira wrote:assuming you purchased a new scooter you will have a two year warranty.

+1 | Don't touch anything unless it breaks. Then, still don't touch it and take it to the dealer. Ride that warranty out, my friend.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:03 am

Make sure you stay up on the oil changes and maintenance schedules when they are due, break it in nicely and it should give you good service. typically they have little annoying problems like turn signal issues or wiring stuff. Small things.

They do shed a lot of metal on the first two oil changes. Make sure you get those done on time. Ride lots, enjoy!

jungle tim · Post by **jungle tim** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:17 am

Ok i hear you - ill ride the warranty out

Thanks everyone

fyi 2012 stella 4t

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:33 am

I had an issue with my front turn signal which turned out to be a wire connected to the socket being knocked loose by something in the glove box. The connectors are exposed and quite flimsy IMHO.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:08 pm

Things to look out for with a new Stella 4T:

1/ The steering head bearings not properly torqued down. You will feel this by the front end clunking when you brake.
2/ Electrical issues with the horn/turnsignals that either/and/or prevent the turn signals from working, or turn on the horn by turning the handlebars away from center.
3/ The grips disolving to a gummy mess once exposed to air.
4/ Rubber trim pieces cracking very very prematurely -especially the rubber boot on the back of the engine where a cable/wire goes in.
5/ Stalling due to the EVAP sytem filling with gas even though you have not over filled. Curing by using a vented gas cap and plugging the EVAP hose (see elsewhere on this site)
6/ Make sure your choke cable is actually attached. Mine wasn't.
7/ Realize that no matter what the owner's manual claims, the usable fuel tank size is maybe 1.1 gallons, which limits your range between fillups to about 100 miles, tops.
8/ Get rid of the unbelievably awful stock tyres for something decent ASAP - I use Michelins.

Lovelandstella · Post by **Lovelandstella** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:14 pm

jungle tim wrote:Hey, Hello
...what to expect/look forward to fixing.
What should I be checking when my Stella arrives?...

Ask and you shall receive!
viewtopic.php?t=15425&highlight=

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:01 pm

desmolicious wrote:Things to look out for with a new Stella 4T:
8/ Get rid of the unbelievably awful stock tyres for something decent ASAP - I use Michelins.

How does one go about selecting new tires? I imagine your intended use of the scooter has some determination. I hear Zippy ones mentioned a lot on this forum but no real explanation of what makes then better than other choices. You mentioned Michelins and I have hear of several other brands as well.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:03 pm

desmolicious said..

"1/ The steering head bearings not properly torqued down. You will feel this by the front end clunking when you brake."

I'm so glad I read this! Been hearing that and I wondered what that was!

"2/ Electrical issues with the horn/turnsignals that either/and/or prevent the turn signals from working, or turn on the horn by turning the handlebars away from center."

Yep, I had that..

"3/ The grips disolving to a gummy mess once exposed to air."

I concur! Changed mine out in the first week.

"4/ Rubber trim pieces cracking very very prematurely -especially the rubber boot on the back of the engine where a cable/wire goes in."

Again, I have this- everywhere. Is there anyone else who make these bits in higher quality rubber?

"5/ Stalling due to the EVAP sytem filling with gas even though you have not over filled. Curing by using a vented gas cap and plugging the EVAP hose (see elsewhere on this site)"

My first tow! I came home and read the issue on the boards here and called my mechanic to alert them, but they had already figured it out.

"6/ Make sure your choke cable is actually attached. Mine wasn't."

Your list is so good, I'll be checking on that.

"7/ Realize that no matter what the owner's manual claims, the usable fuel tank size is maybe 1.1 gallons, which limits your range between fillups to about 100 miles, tops."

Agreed.

"8/ Get rid of the unbelievably awful stock tyres for something decent ASAP - I use Michelins."

Heidenaus here. My stock tires wore out on the back each, 1500 mile increments. I decided to go ahead and use each up because I'm cheap, and ended up paying more to have them changed. If I had it to do over, I'd have just done them right away instead.

Desmo, you know your stuff. I love these boards, great for someone like me who isn't so mechanically inclined.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:39 pm

Maximus53 wrote:
desmolicious wrote:Things to look out for with a new Stella 4T:
8/ Get rid of the unbelievably awful stock tyres for something decent ASAP - I use Michelins.
How does one go about selecting new tires? I imagine your intended use of the scooter has some determination. I hear Zippy ones mentioned a lot on this forum but no real explanation of what makes then better than other choices. You mentioned Michelins and I have hear of several other brands as well.

Almost anything is better than the stock ones!
I used Michelin S83s, which are known to be a really decent practical tyre and they are great. Zippys are grippier with a more contemporary tread pattern (some like this, some don't on a vintage looking bike) but the current Zippys (most? all?) are no longer made in Germany, but Taiwan. And apparently no longer as good.

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:07 am

Maximus53 wrote: How does one go about selecting new tires? I imagine your intended use of the scooter has some determination. I hear Zippy ones mentioned a lot on this forum but no real explanation of what makes then better than other choices. You mentioned Michelins and I have hear of several other brands as well.

I like many other swear on the goodness that is Heidenau.

I rocked the K58s all winter and they had amazing grip in the wet and cold, they were even good enough to head out in a snowstorm! (not that I advocate snowstorm riding, but I have enough years of riding under the belt and a set of chrome crashbars so I am willing to take the risk).

The K58s started wearing considerably with the warmer weather so I replaced them with a set of K61s that I have installed today!

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:52 am

As to not steal this thread, I started another:
topic21775.html

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:14 am

desmolicious wrote:
Maximus53 wrote:
desmolicious wrote:Things to look out for with a new Stella 4T:
8/ Get rid of the unbelievably awful stock tyres for something decent ASAP - I use Michelins.
How does one go about selecting new tires? I imagine your intended use of the scooter has some determination. I hear Zippy ones mentioned a lot on this forum but no real explanation of what makes then better than other choices. You mentioned Michelins and I have hear of several other brands as well.
Almost anything is better than the stock ones!
I used Michelin S83s, which are known to be a really decent practical tyre and they are great. Zippys are grippier with a more contemporary tread pattern (some like this, some don't on a vintage looking bike) but the current Zippys (most? all?) are no longer made in Germany, but Taiwan. And apparently no longer as good.

That sucks!! The Zippy 3's were great on my 2T Stella

jungle tim · Post by **jungle tim** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 12:41 am

Wow amazing reply thanks

Got my new scoot in the garage now - already can see the rubber going around the key lock,

but she is a beaut!

Tack One. · Post by **Tack One.** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:10 am

desmolicious wrote:Things to look out for with a new Stella 4T:

1/ The steering head bearings not properly torqued down. You will feel this by the front end clunking when you brake.

is this easy to check and fix yourself?

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:12 am

Congrats! you know you are now required to post a pic! I love mine!

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:12 pm

Tom wrote:"1/ The steering head bearings not properly torqued down. You will feel this by the front end clunking when you brake."

I'm so glad I read this! Been hearing that and I wondered what that was!

I just mentioned this to the Genuine dealer today and he said to just bring it buy but now at least I can ask if this is the problem.

Tom wrote:"3/ The grips disolving to a gummy mess once exposed to air."

Removed mine before they got gummy and did a nice chrome grip with the ribber rings; they looks real nice.

Tom wrote: "8/ Get rid of the unbelievably awful stock tyres for something decent ASAP - I use Michelins."

I don't like the way the stock tires grip the turns, are the Michelin tires better, and which Michelins?

Also thanks for the great tips

Modern Buddy

New Stella - what problems am I in for?

New Stella - what problems am I in for?

Re: New Stella - what problems am I in for?