After a long rain, Stella won't start

Riluske · Post by **Riluske** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 2:24 am

So I've had my stella 4T for about a year now, and for the most part she has been great.

However, while I was at work yesterday, that nice tropical storm dropped a ton of rain on her. I couldn't get her started, so I dragged her under some cover and left her there.

I just went out tonight and tried to bring her home, hoping that she had dried out. Sure enough, I couldn't get her going. My hope is that it's just flooded, so I closed off the gas and opened the choke in hopes of getting her going.
Am I right? Anything that I can do to get her going? I would hate to have her towed into the shop Tuesday, but if I have to I will.

One quick thing - I got a 2T gas cap, so it's not that.

Spud · Post by **Spud** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 2:26 am

Have you tried the kick start?

Riluske · Post by **Riluske** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 2:32 am

Actually, I only tried the kick start. I have never had much luck with the ignition.

fisher1 · Post by **fisher1** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 3:20 am

Kill switch shorted ? It happens.

Riluske · Post by **Riluske** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 3:24 am

Kill switch shorted? I don't suppose there is a quick fix to try bypassing it until I can get it to a shop, is there?

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 4:12 am

Riluske wrote:Kill switch shorted? I don't suppose there is a quick fix to try bypassing it until I can get it to a shop, is there?

Take the horn cover off and unplug the kill switch. It's the green wire IIRC.

You can also disconnect the ignition switch too under there. It'll run with both disconnected but you'll have to declutch in 4th to kill the engine.

Checked for Spark already?

fisher1 · Post by **fisher1** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 6:30 pm

Take the horn cover off and unplug the kill switch. It's the green wire IIRC.

Yes. Take off the horn cast and disconnect the two wire connector - should have a green or green/white wire and a black wire.

2strokes4ever · Post by **2strokes4ever** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 3:59 am

First thing I would do is check for a spark. My '09 2T has been down now for over a week. No spark. Starter works fine, kill switch has been bypassed, lights and horn work fine, basically everything works except the ignition system. I've been told the CDI unit is pretty fragile, water might have shorted it or the pulse generator out, if you have no spark. If you do have a spark, it's a fuel related problem.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:19 am

So? Did the kill switch fix it?

Riluske · Post by **Riluske** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 2:47 pm

Sorry for the delayed response.

I tried disconnecting the kill switch, and it started for about 5 seconds, then died again. I continued to try to get her started, but could never get it going for more than a few seconds, and as soon as I would pull the throttle, she would die.

I had her towed, and now I'm just waiting on the shop to tell me what is up.