Modern Buddy

When leaving from school today, I went to start the Stella and the starter seemed to get stuck.. Kept grinding away like it was still trying to start with the motor running. I quickly hit the kill switch, and then even turned off the ignition, all to no avail. It kept making this sound like it was trying to start even with the key fully OUT of the ignition. I finally popped the key back in, and pressed both the kill again, and the starter again- both many times and it finally stopped. I believe it was the starter that ironically made it stop 'starting'.
It was probably trying to start for about a full minute.

After the unfortunate event, I went to start the bike, it took a few tries to respond.

Anybody seen this before? Another electrical issue? I am also (still) having the low beam problem- low beams seem to disappear in any gear higher than second, so I'm always in high beam. I have talked to the shop, they are ready to help me, I have just had trouble figuring out how my girlfriend and I will get around while it's being worked on.. But this new problem seems more urgent- that is IF it's not something simple.

Thanks!

Likely a stuck starter relay.

Silver Streak wrote:Likely a stuck starter relay.

Is that an easy fix, or you think it's not likely to repeat? Or should I get on an appointment ASAP.

I haven't had to deal with mine, but on most scooters it's an easy plug 'n' play replacement and a fairly cheap item.

Some starter relays can be taken apart and the contacts cleaned. Don't know if that's the case with the Stella.

Had the same thing happen on a Honda twin several years ago. Fortunately the starter relay is relatively easy and inexpensive to replace. The down side is that it will run down your battery and ultimately damage the starter if it continues to malfunction and you don't remedy the problem.

Tom wrote:Anybody seen this before? Another electrical issue? I am also (still) having the low beam problem- low beams seem to disappear in any gear higher than second, so I'm always in high beam. I have talked to the shop, they are ready to help me, I have just had trouble figuring out how my girlfriend and I will get around while it's being worked on.. But this new problem seems more urgent- that is IF it's not something simple.

Thanks!

Yup, another electrical issue...

In the mean time just use the kick start. It is really easy and satisfying to use, and you will not have to deal with the starter relay issue until it is fixed.

desmolicious wrote:

Tom wrote:Anybody seen this before? Another electrical issue? I am also (still) having the low beam problem- low beams seem to disappear in any gear higher than second, so I'm always in high beam. I have talked to the shop, they are ready to help me, I have just had trouble figuring out how my girlfriend and I will get around while it's being worked on.. But this new problem seems more urgent- that is IF it's not something simple.

Thanks!

Yup, another electrical issue...

In the mean time just use the kick start. It is really easy and satisfying to use, and you will not have to deal with the starter relay issue until it is fixed.

Great idea, thanks..

Tom wrote:

desmolicious wrote:

Tom wrote:Anybody seen this before? Another electrical issue? I am also (still) having the low beam problem- low beams seem to disappear in any gear higher than second, so I'm always in high beam. I have talked to the shop, they are ready to help me, I have just had trouble figuring out how my girlfriend and I will get around while it's being worked on.. But this new problem seems more urgent- that is IF it's not something simple.

Thanks!

Yup, another electrical issue...

In the mean time just use the kick start. It is really easy and satisfying to use, and you will not have to deal with the starter relay issue until it is fixed.

Great idea, thanks..

Attention! Attention! Always make sure the bike is in neutral when you kick start it. If not, it will propel forward..
What I do is first check to make sure the indicator is pointing to neutral, then for the first kick push down really slowly to make sure it actually IS in neutral. The second kick is nice and hard.
Unlike using the push button start, you do not pull in the clutch when you kick start the bike.

Electric starters are for peg legged pirates and wussies!

Electric starters are for peg legged pirates and wussies!

I agree, man start that thing!

desmolicious wrote: Unlike using the push button start, you do not pull in the clutch when you kick start the bike.

however if you do it the bike will load some extra fuel for the next clutch-free kick, great for starting in the winter

BuddyRaton wrote:Electric starters are for peg legged pirates and wussies!

Arrgh!

BuddyRaton wrote:Electric starters are for peg legged pirates and wussies!

A-greed!

neotrotsky wrote:

BuddyRaton wrote:Electric starters are for peg legged pirates and wussies!

A-greed!

indeed....who's starter actually works?

JoshWED wrote:

neotrotsky wrote:

BuddyRaton wrote:Electric starters are for peg legged pirates and wussies!

A-greed!

indeed....who's starter actually works?

^^^ Ohhh, thats what that button does...

I had the same thing happen on a truck once. That was fun ...How fast can you remove the cable from the battery ?

JoshWED wrote:

neotrotsky wrote:

BuddyRaton wrote:Electric starters are for peg legged pirates and wussies!

A-greed!

indeed....who's starter actually works?

It's broken on your Vino as well as the Stella?

Silver Streak wrote:Likely a stuck starter relay.

I agree

But then again most of my scooters don't have turn signals either.

I like the kick start on my Vespa. The one on the Stella feels odd, maybe just by comparison. It's 'soft' sometimes, and a real beast at others, lol. Guess that's the 4 stroke motor?
Anyway, it works, but I would not call it satisfying!

Tom wrote:I like the kick start on my Vespa. The one on the Stella feels odd, maybe just by comparison. It's 'soft' sometimes, and a real beast at others, lol. Guess that's the 4 stroke motor?
Anyway, it works, but I would not call it satisfying!

Yeah...kick starting a 4T is kinda like kicking a pile of mashed potatoes

Yeah mine just died, fortunately it is under warranty, I am pretty sure it is the solenoid or the relay, it does click, and the lights dim but no life, will have to take it in. grrr the electrics on my stella are the worst, lol

The thing starts right up by kick starting, and i will do that most of the time, I can even kick it while seated, so should not be an issue. but maybe mine will work years down the road as I'm going to kick mine all the time.

BuddyRaton wrote:

Tom wrote:I like the kick start on my Vespa. The one on the Stella feels odd, maybe just by comparison. It's 'soft' sometimes, and a real beast at others, lol. Guess that's the 4 stroke motor?
Anyway, it works, but I would not call it satisfying!

Yeah...kick starting a 4T is kinda like kicking a pile of mashed potatoes

It just takes getting used to the fact that the proper technique involves gently turning the motor over with the lever until it is on the compression stroke.

Any kicking you do while the engine is on one of the other strokes is futile.

izark47 wrote:Yeah mine just died, fortunately it is under warranty, I am pretty sure it is the solenoid or the relay, it does click, and the lights dim but no life, will have to take it in. grrr the electrics on my stella are the worst, lol

Just sounds like a bad battery to me.

desmolicious wrote:

izark47 wrote:Yeah mine just died, fortunately it is under warranty, I am pretty sure it is the solenoid or the relay, it does click, and the lights dim but no life, will have to take it in. grrr the electrics on my stella are the worst, lol

Just sounds like a bad battery to me.

That is what i thought too have had a float charger on for a couple of day and all the lights work as intended but will not turn over. I suspect The solenoid. Will take it to the shop tomorrow.

izark47 wrote:

desmolicious wrote:

izark47 wrote:Yeah mine just died, fortunately it is under warranty, I am pretty sure it is the solenoid or the relay, it does click, and the lights dim but no life, will have to take it in. grrr the electrics on my stella are the worst, lol

Just sounds like a bad battery to me.

That is what i thought too have had a float charger on for a couple of day and all the lights work as intended but will not turn over. I suspect The solenoid. Will take it to the shop tomorrow.

It may still be a bad battery. If you can, try to borrow a good one and see before you do anything else.

desmolicious wrote:

izark47 wrote:

desmolicious wrote: Just sounds like a bad battery to me.

That is what i thought too have had a float charger on for a couple of day and all the lights work as intended but will not turn over. I suspect The solenoid. Will take it to the shop tomorrow.

It may still be a bad battery. If you can, try to borrow a good one and see before you do anything else.

took it into the shop, and it is the starter, on order. Man!! i'm glad i 'm still under warranty

Thanks for the update!

Mine is all fixed up as well, also under warranty. No real hassle at all. Thanks Genuine!