Broken Buddy -- help?

JyotiKing · Post by **JyotiKing** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:32 pm

My friend bought a Buddy out in AL some time back, moved to CO and hadn't ridden it much. She took out the battery and says she got spark plugs replaced since it wasn't running right. About 5 months back it got stolen and she got it back just a bit ago. The courts said they'll be trying to get her some sort of restitution, but the scooter is kinda broken

Apparently the guy who stole it took out and replaced the place where the ignition key goes, as my friend's key no longer fits in the lock. The guy was pulled over riding it and had a ring of keys on him, none of which fit. So there is no key.

Problem 2) There was no battery. We can't figure out how he started it.

My friend gave me the scooter to fix (since I fixed her car years back) and gave me the battery and charger that were sitting in her apartment. The battery is charging right now (130pm on Monday, Jan 9) but I need to know if I need to buy anything to fix the key thing or if, once the battery is in, it will start and drive.

Thanks!! <3

pattio · Post by **pattio** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:02 pm

Thieves seldom install new key-switch assemblies. They go the simpler route of smashing and circumnavigating most of the time. See if you can turn it with a screwdriver or with a similar size key, the thief may have customized it.

Replacing key-switches is a fact of life in scooter-land, due to theft and sometimes lost keys. A dealer should be able to install it for you pretty reasonably. As far as doing it yourself, the key-switch is not a very expensive assembly and the installation is not rocket science, but you might benefit from letting a shop take a look at it to see if the steering stops are damaged or the forks or handlebars bent- also things that happen on stolen bikes.

On a scoot that's been sitting for five months or more, you probably are looking at some fuel-system cleaning as well.

Generally Buddies seem to recover from theft and abuse quite well. They are scrappy little scoots.

agrogod · Post by **agrogod** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:14 pm

You may want to read this post topic20203.html

JyotiKing · Post by **JyotiKing** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:16 pm

Awesome ^^ I do hope I can get it running again!!

A screwdriver didn't turn it, and looking into the lock, it looks like it does, actually, need a key... at least, the pins appear intact. I got the cover off and had a look.. Nothing appears broken-broken, but I am far from an expert.. I've taken pictures of the bits that look damaged but they're too large to put on here.. I've added them to my photobucket...
If you can't click, I do understand and I'll find a way to shrink the images to fit on this site..

http://s885.photobucket.com/albums/ac57 ... n%20Buddy/

JyotiKing · Post by **JyotiKing** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:22 pm

That's fantastic!! I am now no longer so afraid of it not working again... My friend will be pleased ^^ and I get to play hero again

You guys rock ^_^

agrogod wrote:You may want to read this post topic20203.html

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:35 pm

Re: did it run without a battery? I don't know the answer to this one. Some (vintage) scooters and other non-FI engines will run fine without a battery, but I've certainly never tried to kickstart the Buddy without the battery installed. Thoughts from the veterans?

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:12 pm

some kickstart ones will run with no battery. My Zuma will run without one, it just takes 1000000 kicks to get the alternator/starter to cooperate.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:53 am

You can kickstart and run a Buddy without a battery, but the ignition has to be on.

JyotiKing · Post by **JyotiKing** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:09 am

Very good to know, Eric.. Thank you

So my dilemma now is, how can I start the ignition? The original key does not fit, and the guy who stole it did not have a key in it when he was pulled over riding it. Of the ring of keys he had, none fit.

I tried a screwdriver, per someone's suggestion, but it didn't do anything useful. I even tried a combination of screwdriver, starter-button and kickstarting, all to no avail.

I linked a pic of the front and back of the ignition where the key should go. The cover is gone and there is some damage on the inside, but I cannot figure out how to use that to my advantage, nor can I see how to repair it.

Thoughts?

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:22 am

You'll probably have to replace the ignition and get a new key set.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:30 am

I looked at your pics, JyotiKing. Did you happen to remove any electrical connector from the far end of the ignition switch? It looks to me like the electrical piece of the switch is missing.

Or my mind is stuck on memories of mid 60's Ford ignitions, on or the other.

JyotiKing · Post by **JyotiKing** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:31 am

Is this something I can do on my own? Buy the part and replace it myself? It looks, from what I can see, that it's being held on my a single screw... maybe two.. and then wires inside the casing, I'm assuming...

Or do I have to take it to a Genuine (brand name) dealership? Or can I take it to my local mechanic?

ericalm wrote:You'll probably have to replace the ignition and get a new key set.

JyotiKing · Post by **JyotiKing** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:33 am

All I did was take the primary cover off of the front of the scooter... I did not remove anything else. It was late enough in the day that I wasn't sure I'd have the light to put things back together.

Syd wrote:I looked at your pics, JyotiKing. Did you happen to remove any electrical connector from the far end of the ignition switch? It looks to me like the electrical piece of the switch is missing.

Or my mind is stuck on memories of mid 60's Ford ignitions, on or the other.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:51 am

JyotiKing wrote:Is this something I can do on my own? Buy the part and replace it myself? It looks, from what I can see, that it's being held on my a single screw... maybe two.. and then wires inside the casing, I'm assuming...

Or do I have to take it to a Genuine (brand name) dealership? Or can I take it to my local mechanic?

ericalm wrote:You'll probably have to replace the ignition and get a new key set.

You can get the parts and keys from a dealer. Your closest is probably Sportique Scooters in Denver.

http://www.sportiquescooters.com/

JyotiKing · Post by **JyotiKing** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:55 am

It is, however I am going to be near the Englewood one on an errand tomorrow, so I shall try to swing by and price what I need.

Thank you so much, everybody <3 You've been a spectacular help, and I shall post when I fix it ^_^

agrogod · Post by **agrogod** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:28 am

From viewing your pics the ignition is toast and as Eric stated needs replacement, also looks like the starter may have been hot wired so that may need replacing also.
Make sure you test the charging system thoroughly, and go over the wiring with a "fine tooth comb".
I vehemently despise a*holes that think they can just walk off with your hard earned money, it always ends up costing you more in the long run.
I sincerely hope you can get your friends scoot running again without too much financial burden. Good luck.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:17 pm

I'm not sure what insurance coverage your friend had or what it's like where you are.

My insurance covers the bike in case of theft or vandalism, as well as gear, up to the KBB value.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:35 pm

If the perp was riding it with no key, it either was screwdrivered (meaning using a heavy screwdriver to break the lock pins and twisting the electrical switch to the ON position, also including breaking the steering column lock) or hotwired behind the switch to always-on and breaking the steering lock by banging on the handlebars. In either scenario, with the ignition switch always-on regardless of the presence of a key, and without a battery, you start the bike with the kickstarter and shut it off with the kill switch. This will drain any battery that's subsequently installed, as the Buddy kill switch doesn't seem to be a 100% battery/stator disconnect. Some circuits (taillight, coil maybe?) are still energized if the ignition is on and the kill switch is off.

Best bet is to get with a dealer and order up a new key lock and switch module, as trashing the original probably is also keeping you from opening the pet carrier. You may need to provide proof-of-ownership (title or registration) since you're in a different city and you didn't buy the scoot there, although the dealer may be able to look you up in the warranty system if the friend is the original owner. A prudent dealer should be making sure he's not selling a new switch to a thief, yes?