2012 Stella wont start

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:33 am

Hi all,
I have a 2012 4T Stella that rode out a pretty decent thunderstorm last night, and wont start today. I read that a common issue with Stellas and water is the kill switch failing, so i pulled the spark plug and grounded to the frame to check for spark.... there is spark. The spark plug also smelled like gas, so there is gas getting to the cylinder (at least i assume so..).

I tried starting if for about 10 minutes this morning, starter, kicks, choke on, choke off, gas on, gas off etc. and got a couple of chugs, but never took. So I was thinking that maybe some water got in the air intake?

I let the scoot sit all day and tried again a couple hours ago around 8pm and it chugs a couple times, but not starting again tried choke in, out, gas on off etc.

I dont thing clogged jets are part of the issue since i have put 2600 miles on the scooter in 5 months since I bought it new and it hasnt sat for more than a day or two in a row.

2 other things just to note, nearly full tank of gas and clutch broke and was fixed over the weekend.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Max

JoshWED · Post by **JoshWED** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:59 am

have you opened the gas cap?

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:25 am

I have a 2T gas cap and has been sitting for hours so i would be really surprised if it was the vapor lock issue, but no. Worth a shot in the morning.

Thanks!

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:32 am

You could be flooded.

Turn the gas off, Take the plug out and kick it for a while, You want to dry out the cylinder.

After a few minutes of kicking it put the plug back in, turn the gas back on, let the bowl fill, pull the choke and give it a kick.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:44 am

JohnKiniston wrote:You could be flooded.

Turn the gas off, Take the plug out and kick it for a while, You want to dry out the cylinder.

After a few minutes of kicking it put the plug back in, turn the gas back on, let the bowl fill, pull the choke and give it a kick.

That will work if it is flooded. Another thing you can do is turn off the fuel tap and keep kicking until it starts and then turn on the the tap.

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:47 am

I recommend just installing a new (= dry) plug.

In the past I have chased my shadow for too much lost time when all it wanted was a plug.
Although I could get spark at the plug while removed and grounded I speculate that under the high voltage requirement of compression the spark would just chase the damp porcealin to ground.....no spark to the ground strap.

Minimize the brain damage and try a plug.

Rob

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 2:58 am

Robbie wrote:I recommend just installing a new (= dry) plug.

Minimize the brain damage and try a plug.

Rob

x2 !! A fouled plug will drive you nuts!

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:00 am

viney266 wrote:
Robbie wrote:I recommend just installing a new (= dry) plug.

Minimize the brain damage and try a plug.

Rob

x2 !! A fouled plug will drive you nuts!

Stella was towed to dealer today.... I am thinking it might be bad gas I got at BP this weekend...

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/08/28/ ... e-from-bp/

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:58 am

Turned out to be a coil gone bad... Replaced and back up and running. Ive had my scoot for 5 months and have been to the shop 4 times already. Are there any 4T owners out there that dont have to have major components replaced monthly? So far i have replaced speedo, clutch, clutch cable, front brake light switch, and coil. I was planning a 350 mile trip one way, but dont have much confidence in the reliability any more... And I bought thescoot brand new in April this year!

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 5:39 pm

Mine has a had a hard life.

Saturday we had a Mini rally in town, and my 4T was every bit as good as the vintage bikes on it, And as dinged up as mine is people didn't seem to notice it was a 4-Stroke

However, Yesterday I did have the bike stall out on the way to work, It looked like it was my fuel line again (Routing is bad, Gas doesn't flow up-hill too well), Fixed that and found that my plug wire is pretty lousy, Today I plan to get a new plug wire and boot for it.

Don't give up!

They had to replace your entire clutch?

I wouldn't count a clutch cable as a major replacement

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:25 pm

JohnKiniston wrote:Mine has a had a hard life.

Saturday we had a Mini rally in town, and my 4T was every bit as good as the vintage bikes on it, And as dinged up as mine is people didn't seem to notice it was a 4-Stroke

However, Yesterday I did have the bike stall out on the way to work, It looked like it was my fuel line again (Routing is bad, Gas doesn't flow up-hill too well), Fixed that and found that my plug wire is pretty lousy, Today I plan to get a new plug wire and boot for it.

Don't give up!

They had to replace your entire clutch?

I wouldn't count a clutch cable as a major replacement

Not entire clutch just the clutch lever

JoshWED · Post by **JoshWED** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:29 pm

if I had a dime for every clutch cable I've replaced...

Seriously, you should learn to do those sorts of minor things yourself...otherwise you're going to rack up some mighty bills at your mechanic.

When I joined into Stella ownership a few years back, I chose a Stella over a vintage because I didn't want to learn new mechanical skills. While I certainly have had less headaches than I presume I would daily-riding a vintage, I've definitely picked up a bunch of tools and some skills. Not what I wanted to do, but it's a reality for Stella owners.

It's been frustrating and fun at the same time. You learn to love your bike in a way no modern scooterist does, that's for sure.

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:26 pm

JoshWED wrote:if I had a dime for every clutch cable I've replaced...

Seriously, you should learn to do those sorts of minor things yourself...otherwise you're going to rack up some mighty bills at your mechanic.

When I joined into Stella ownership a few years back, I chose a Stella over a vintage because I didn't want to learn new mechanical skills. While I certainly have had less headaches than I presume I would daily-riding a vintage, I've definitely picked up a bunch of tools and some skills. Not what I wanted to do, but it's a reality for Stella owners.

It's been frustrating and fun at the same time. You learn to love your bike in a way no modern scooterist does, that's for sure.

I completely agree. I did do the clutch cable myself and it was a fun rewarding learing process. Fixes like that I enjoy and are one of the things I like about the Stella. Its the major issues that cannot be solved roadside that are iritating me. No change of fixing a broken clutch lever on the side of the road....

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:43 am

After another week in the shop got the Stella back today. A bad crank bearing yeilded an entire engine rebuild. New piston, jug, crank and bearings and now I have to break her in again

Hopfully this is the end of major issues for awhile...

DCUNITED4LIFE · Post by **DCUNITED4LIFE** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:11 pm

Damn brother! That's some serious stuff right there. I have heard of the 2t Stella's having some shoddy bearings. Looks like there may be trouble in 4t land too. Sorry bout that but glad you are riding again.

jmer1234 · Post by **jmer1234** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:47 am

Wow! Bad bearing? I got mine about the same time as you, and have had a few problems. But nothing like you.

I had my turn buzzer/indicator go out on me (I know, I know, everybody can’t stand it anyway, but I prefer it to driving down the road, turning left all the time), and my fuel gauge that we have on back order right now. Then, this morning it mysteriously stalled on me at the bottom of my driveway, and I could not get it started until I had it back on the carport. I did not want to drive it then and get left high and dry on the way to work. Acted like it was running out of gas, even though there was a little under half a tank. Put some Murphy’s Magic Oil in and filled up this evening. No problems after that. We have been having some rain here in San Antonio, lately, with some coolish mornings. I was thinking that I may have some condensation in the tank.

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:59 am

jmer1234 wrote:Wow! Bad bearing? I got mine about the same time as you, and have had a few problems. But nothing like you.

I had my turn buzzer/indicator go out on me (I know, I know, everybody can’t stand it anyway, but I prefer it to driving down the road, turning left all the time), and my fuel gauge that we have on back order right now. Then, this morning it mysteriously stalled on me at the bottom of my driveway, and I could not get it started until I had it back on the carport. I did not want to drive it then and get left high and dry on the way to work. Acted like it was running out of gas, even though there was a little under half a tank. Put some Murphy’s Magic Oil in and filled up this evening. No problems after that. We have been having some rain here in San Antonio, lately, with some coolish mornings. I was thinking that I may have some condensation in the tank.

Broke yet another clutch 'paw', and stopped for gas on way home from shop after repair and now my electric start is not working. All i get is a click. Now to decide if i should just kick it for the rest of the season or take it back to the shop.

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:03 am

Check the voltage of your battery and the fuse at the back of the bike?

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:04 am

JohnKiniston wrote:Check the voltage of your battery and the fuse at the back of the bike?

Is that the fuse near the battery?

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:14 am

Yup, the one on the side behind the battery IIRC.

jmer1234 · Post by **jmer1234** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:27 am

Maximus53 wrote:Broke yet another clutch 'paw'

Ok, I need to see a picture of your hands. You must have a pair of absolute meat hooks.

GenuineStellaJax · Post by **GenuineStellaJax** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 11:04 am

"Turned out to be a coil gone bad... Replaced and back up and running. Ive had my scoot for 5 months and have been to the shop 4 times already. Are there any 4T owners out there that dont have to have major components replaced monthly? So far i have replaced speedo, clutch, clutch cable, front brake light switch, and coil. I was planning a 350 mile trip one way, but dont have much confidence in the reliability any more... And I bought thescoot brand new in April this year!"

My 4T has only 95 miles on it and wouldn't start the next morning after driving half a mile through a tropical storm downpour. BTW, It ran fine in the rain, I had no hint it would quit the next morning. I ordered a trailer hitch carrier which is one reason I kept it 2 weeks during which time I kept getting it to start several times but it wouldn't run more than a few seconds. I drained and replaced the gas with mid octane fuel as recommended in the owners manual, changed the spark plug and fiddled with different idle settings and then gave up and gave in... finally had it towed to the dealer Thursday under warranty. I haven't even been called back by the dealer yet. When it gets fixed I'll be able to drive 40 miles to the dealer and carry it home on the hitch carrier with its little ramp. Feeling discouraged about the product. It's quite fun when it works, but I'm not happy about dealing with dealerships 40 miles away if it is going to be this unreliable. Looking for words of encouragement, like it'll be easy breezy to do my own maintenance and repair. Need to get the new manual for the 2012 4T and someone needs to update the YouTube maintenance videos for the 4T.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:08 pm

If the stock "kill switch" is still hooked up. UNHOOK IT. They are a known fault issue from sitting in rain. The new Stellas have this fixed, but the older ones will fail when sitting in the wet. I have both mine unpluged and just use the key to shut down the bike.