Stella Issues

[Commodore]

Hi there! I'm new to this forum, but not so new to scooting. My girlfriend recently purchased a brand new 2012 Stella 4T from a nearby dealership. I have to say, this thing is hot! I love it, but it's got some quirks that make me wary of making it her daily reliable commuter just yet. She is fairly new to scooting, and has yet to learn the manual transmission. I'm sure once it's broken in and adjusted, all will be well.

Little bit of background before I continue - I currently own a 2006 Kymco People 150, and previously owned a 150cc Tank (2005 or 2006, not sure). My mom has a 2006 Vespa LX 150, and my dad has a 2007ish Keeway... something. Looks like a Matrix 150, maybe. Anyway, none of these scooters have had the same... quirks this brand new Stella is having.

Back to the issue at hand, as I've been futzing with this carefully since I rode this thing home in hopes that I can adjust it without having to take it back to the dealer, but it seems like we'll be having to take advantage of that 2 year warranty not 50 miles into the break-in. Here's what's happening: Periodically, the scooter will sputter out and die, and it seems to happen fairly often. It happens most often when coasting in neutral while pulling up to a stop, but it has happened in gear several times as well. The key thing is usually when it happens, if I apply throttle to try to keep the thing alive, it will die instantly. It starts back up almost always with no problems, but sometimes it seems to need a 30 second or so rest before it will continue.

At first I figured this was a pressure/EVAP related issue, so I tried running with a loose gas cap. This did not fix it. Just to be sure, I tried carefully drilling a pair of holes through the cap. When that didn't work, I tried running without a gas cap for a short distance and still nothing. I think pretty much rules out EVAP/"vapor lock" pressure issues.

So my next attempt at adjusting this issue out was to slightly adjust the idle screw on the carb up. This took care of some of it. Further adjustment had no additional effect, so I left it as it was after my first adjustment.

Now I'm wondering what can I try on my own before resorting to having the dealership look at it? Could it be a dirty carburetor or kinked fuel line maybe? It's still on its first tank of gas and only has about 45 miles on the odometer. I have scoured the net, and searched this forum a few times, and have yet to find a conclusive answer that has helped this scoot.

Any assistance or insight is greatly appreciated.

[BuddyRaton]

Issues like this can take some time to track down over the interwebs. Since you're under warranty bring it in to the dealer. That's part of what you paid for by buying new!

[az_slynch]

Back to the issue at hand, as I've been futzing with this carefully since I rode this thing home in hopes that I can adjust it without having to take it back to the dealer, but it seems like we'll be having to take advantage of that 2 year warranty not 50 miles into the break-in. Here's what's happening: Periodically, the scooter will sputter out and die, and it seems to happen fairly often. It happens most often when coasting in neutral while pulling up to a stop, but it has happened in gear several times as well. The key thing is usually when it happens, if I apply throttle to try to keep the thing alive, it will die instantly. It starts back up almost always with no problems, but sometimes it seems to need a 30 second or so rest before it will continue.

At first I figured this was a pressure/EVAP related issue, so I tried running with a loose gas cap. This did not fix it. Just to be sure, I tried carefully drilling a pair of holes through the cap. When that didn't work, I tried running without a gas cap for a short distance and still nothing. I think pretty much rules out EVAP/"vapor lock" pressure issues.

So my next attempt at adjusting this issue out was to slightly adjust the idle screw on the carb up. This took care of some of it. Further adjustment had no additional effect, so I left it as it was after my first adjustment.

Now I'm wondering what can I try on my own before resorting to having the dealership look at it? Could it be a dirty carburetor or kinked fuel line maybe? It's still on its first tank of gas and only has about 45 miles on the odometer. I have scoured the net, and searched this forum a few times, and have yet to find a conclusive answer that has helped this scoot.

Any assistance or insight is greatly appreciated.

My buddy's 4T Stella had similar issues and he's futzed with the evap lines and drilled the gas cap. I looked at it and found two issues with it.

1) The fuel line exits the fuel tank on the driver's side, curves down and around to the fuel filter, then continues on to the carburetor. On his bike the inlet end of the filter was hanging downward and the fuel line between the fuel tap and the filter actually hung below the filter level. I rerouted the fuel line to keep it up near the level of the fuel tap and to keep the fuel filter as horizontal as possible. I used wide plastic ties to avoid crimping, cutting or pinching the line and looped they around the frame under the rear body.

2) On his bike, the spark plug wire was exiting the plug boot at a funny angle (over 30 degrees off axis). I pulled the boot and found the plug wire to be coming loose. I unscrewed the boot off of the wire, clipped about a quarter inch off the end of the plug wire and screwed the plug boot back onto the wire. I also checked the tightness of the wire on the coil end. Finally, The spark plug had worked itself loose, I tightened it to finger-tight and then put a quarter-turn on it with a plug wrench.

After making these repairs, I took the bike out and flogged it all over town, putting over thirty miles on it. No stalling or hiccups. He's been riding it for about two weeks now without complaint, so I'm thinking that the Stella Stall-Out might be sorted on his bike.

I want to say that the old 2T Stellas had a fuel tap bracket that prevented the fuel line from dipping. Maybe they need to bring it back on the 4T and engineer a bracket to keep the fulter mostly horizontal.

[Commodore]

az_slynch, thanks! I'll have a look at that stuff and report back.

[Commodore]

Okay, I went down and pulled both cowls off to see if I could find the hoses in question. This is what I found, and I hope it's the same thing you're talking about. These pictures are taken from the engine side.

I know the quality is less than stellar but I was just using the camera on my phone for simplicity

I think this is the fuel line, is it not? Or is it the other tube that runs down the side of the frame?



The other end of the tube in the first picture runs into this. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but the kink in the hose coming out the other end cannot be good. I am having a sudden loss of memory, but I believe this hose runs into the carb.

[az_slynch]

I think this is the fuel line, is it not? Or is it the other tube that runs down the side of the frame?

Yes, that's the fuel line. Looks kinda kinked where it comes out of the fuel tap. Routing is strange. Normally, the hose sweeps around the front of the tap rather than the back.

The other end of the tube in the first picture runs into this. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but the kink in the hose coming out the other end cannot be good. I am having a sudden loss of memory, but I believe this hose runs into the carb.

Yes, the kink coming out of the filter is bad. Two words: fuel starvation! How short is the light-colored line, which leads into the carb? That needs the kink removed. Same goes for the end at the fuel tap.

I'll try to get a picture of the routing on my friends bike tonight. There was more hose to work with, so my solution allowed me to move the filter forward of the frame and make gentle arcs between the tap and the filter, and from the filter to the carb.

[Commodore]

There's some play on each side of the filter, but I'd have to go look at it again to tell you exactly how much. There is a loop kind of bracket almost that the fuel filter is sort of resting next to that it looks like it ought to be inside. Instead, the black tube is resting on the bottom of it. You can see it a bit in my second picture.

Can't wait to see your photos! If this solves the issue, I'll be as happy as a bird with a french fry!

[Robbie]

You can bet that kink at the fuel filter is your primary troublemaker.

Rob

[Commodore]

After giving it another look, it looks like the line kinked because it's not long enough to accommodate a reasonable curve. At this point, it's developed a pretty good crease, too. I will contact the dealership and see if they will replace the lines and route them better, in a timely fashion. If not, I will measure the lines, buy some replacements, and do it myself.

Additionally, I was thinking of adding some anti-kink coils to the appropriate length lines. Something like this. Has anyone else tried anything like that with any success?

[az_slynch]

After giving it another look, it looks like the line kinked because it's not long enough to accommodate a reasonable curve. At this point, it's developed a pretty good crease, too. I will contact the dealership and see if they will replace the lines and route them better, in a timely fashion. If not, I will measure the lines, buy some replacements, and do it myself.

Additionally, I was thinking of adding some anti-kink coils to the appropriate length lines. Something like this. Has anyone else tried anything like that with any success?

Hey, I didn't forget the pictures...I'm jst working out of town until the weekend. I'll get them then with a good camera.

If you replace your lines, ee if you can get some of the grey Motion Pro line; it stays supple and doesn't seem to kink that much.

The coils do work. I've seen it on multi-carb Honda bikes and it was great for routing line in tight spaces. Plus, it'd give you something to support the fuel line if you have to tie it up to the frame with zipties or wire.

[Commodore]

Awesome. I will grab some of those to fit the fuel lines then. Thanks for the suggestion on the fuel line, as well!