stella woes continue...

[kmrcstintn]

things were looking good and it was running good...even performed a DIY gearbox oil drain, fill, flush, refill and ran it again; on Saturday morning the thing tried starting, sputtered, and died

called BMA Cycles and ran some 'common cause' checks; replaced spark plug, cleared cylinder (as though it was flooded), checked spark plug wire/boot, and tried like hell (both electric start and kick start) to get it to light...NOTHING!!! he had me remove starter kill module and the headset cover to check wires...found a few wires within the black wire covers crushed by screws...NOW I'M FUMING!!! after everything they did the first time to check and prevent pinched wires, some got damaged during re-assembly at the shop before I got it last week

so now it's going back to the shop again for multiple electric problems...tell me again WHY dealing with 'vintage' is fun?!? it certainly is NOT FUN how I see it considering I can't ride it and it could have potentially stranded me!!!

I am SERIOUSLY thinking about asking the shop to consign it after it gets fixed...

[vantage]

What is really sad is that these electical issues are known.

How much would it take for the factory in India to wallow out the area that the wires pass through to make it larger. How much would it take to put a bit of protection around the bundle.

Why don't the dealers have a list of these bugs, and take care of them when the bikes reach the USA. Or better yet, why does Genuine, take care of these things before distrubuting the bikes.

I hope that you get these bugs worked out and get a nice bike out of it despite the beginning.

[ericalm]

Why don't the dealers have a list of these bugs, and take care of them when the bikes reach the USA.

They do and should. Genuine has been retraining many dealers in Stella prep and these are some of the issues that come up.

Or better yet, why does Genuine, take care of these things before distrubuting the bikes.

Not really possible. The scoots arrive crated, partially disassembled, with un-charged batteries. They would have to be underrated, assembled, battery charged, etc., prepped, then disassembled, re-crated, shipped to dealers. This would be an immense cost and delay shipping.

We know there are "some" electrical issues that are common with the Stellas. To have one with with this many, though, is kind of unusual.

[kmrcstintn]

I have calmed down some, but even if (and that is a skeptical 'if') it gets fixed to my liking, I don't know if I can ever trust it to be reliable as daily transportation...I use my scooter during decent to excellent riding weather to save money on gas vs driving my jeep; I am not sure I will ever love the 'character' of my Stella since I have not been patient with the break downs...

the Stella product line was touted as fun, enjoyable, and had more hands-on maintenance than a twist-n-go type of scooter (I am willing to lube cables more often, change spark plugs due to fouling, do my own gearbox oil changes, etc)...only after I buy one are scooter club members, forum members, and even folks at shops disclosing that I am in for challenges, break downs, and tempermental issues during operation (I'm being told to assemble a roadside kit to include extra cables, spark plugs, fuses, a complete socket set since 'wrenching' will get old...but it's part of the 'character' of owning an 'improved' vintage scooter)

the shop personnel did a fabulous job of running down the first problem and took the time to bundle and re-route the wires in the neck/headset only to have wires get crushed by screws during reassembly (whether it was due to rushing reassembly or wires working their way into tight crevices while turning the handlebars is something I'll never know) which may or may not be the cause of the current issue (but is an issue in itself);

I'm just not sure I can cope with many more glitches like this...so far I've been fortunate that I haven't been left stranded; also I don't have the financial buffer to trade into another scooter nor to constantly fix and fluff my Stella...who the hell knows what will happen

[roasteroo]

The electrical stuff was easy for me to deal with. best to convert to all dc

Wait till the crank takes a dump. That will leave you stranded.
You thought you knew upset over your Stella now......
I haven't ridden mine reliably in over a year.
Stellas are a great bike, but instead of the spring bling, I wish I got a scooter lift.

[JohnKiniston]

the shop personnel did a fabulous job of running down the first problem and took the time to bundle and re-route the wires in the neck/headset only to have wires get crushed by screws during reassembly (whether it was due to rushing reassembly or wires working their way into tight crevices while turning the handlebars is something I'll never know) which may or may not be the cause of the current issue (but is an issue in itself);

Did you see how many wires are in the headset when the bike was open? There are a LOT of wires in there and there is barely enough room.

I've sawed through the headlight wiring once or twice in the left grip before I started using Zip-Ties and heat-shrink tube to protect them.

Also have nicked the wires at the bolt that holds the bottom of the headset to the fork tube.

It's a less than optimal setup, The older bikes had fewer wires.

[kmrcstintn]

dropped it off and left it with them; suppossedly they will run all the in the headset & neck, determine why the scoot has no spark, do the appropriate repairs, and perform the initial 300 mile service; good thing repairs are covered under warranty for the first year...

I'll probably run the rear rack that I ordered out to them tomorrow or Thursday so it can get installed and I can mark that off the 'to do list'