Buddy 125 Power Loss After Maintenance

rsklenar · Post by **rsklenar** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 3:54 pm

I recently started cleaning up my Buddy 125 for the summer. I got it started and took it for a quick test ride and everything was fine from a performance standpoint, low end power was excellent, zipped up hills, and top speed was decent. Engine was "coughing" a bit here and there and when I stopped it would completely die. I hadn't done great winterizing so I decided a whole cleanup was in order.

I removed and disassembled the carburetor and completely cleaned it (jets are completely clean, can see daylight), reassembled it, adjusted the idle and fuel/mix screw so it would idle properly and everything seemed smooth. I also did an oil change and gear oil change and replaced the spark plug which was a fouled a bit to say the least.

It's running very smoothly now however I have lost power, especially on the low end and uphill. Top speed isn't as good either but it will still get up around 45-50mph. All of the power and speed is down from where it was before.

I'm wondering if anything jumps out at anyone as something obvious I may have done (or not done) that would cause this.

The scooter is more than useful, it just doesn't have the same punch and power which I really like, especially from a safety standpoint in traffic. Any thoughts are appreciated.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:23 pm

Did you overfill the oil by chance?

A shot in the dark, but a friend filled his Big Ruckus on the side stand, not center, had similar problems. Then he took it in to a shop. They changed it again to the proper level, no issues.

rsklenar · Post by **rsklenar** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:29 pm

Thanks for the reply. I doubt that is the issue. I was extremely careful refilling the volume. I have a funnel with the volume labeled on the side so I can measure and then fill correctly. Put in the 800ml recommended and 90ml of gear oil.

george54 · Post by **george54** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:34 pm

You didn't mention what you did with the gas in the tank. If you haven't dumped it, you need to. Assuming the carb is as clean as you say, another thought is to play with the mixture. If it's coughing I'd say maybe too rich. But this is from my experience on old Hondas, I don't have much experience on repairing scooters

rsklenar · Post by **rsklenar** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:47 pm

Thanks for the response. I drained the tank and have fresh gas in it (added a small amount of Seafoam to it for good measure). I've tried adjusting the mix and it's very smooth now so unless there is a really precise combination of settings needed between the idle and mix (I'm probably 2 - 2 1/2 turns of the screw from all the way closed with idle adjusted to smooth).

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 8:16 pm

My guess is that you didn't install the carb's vacuum piston diaphragm correctly. Remove the top of the carb and make sure the diaphragm is seated properly.

rsklenar · Post by **rsklenar** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 8:19 pm

Thanks Dave, I'll definitely check that out. I had just read on one of the boards here that it can be tricky to make sure the ridge gets seated properly. I'll give that a shot. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

avescoots1134 · Post by **avescoots1134** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 10:08 pm

Yeah, check the CV boot. Make sure everything is clean and the needle is smooth without any gunk.

If no improvement, pull the carb back out and check the tiny holes under the main jet (the mixer).

Long shot, but also check the two connectors that plug into the coil on the bottom right in the back. You can see it without removing anything. These have a tendency to get loose over time and can cause a misfire when the engine revs.

rsklenar · Post by **rsklenar** » Fri Jun 26, 2015 10:33 pm

Well I continue to be baffled by this. I reopened the carb and checked the CV boot. It all appears to be in correctly, needle is clean, etc. I'm still not positive that the gasket is seating into the groove all the way properly. Any tips here? Is there an adhesive or liquid gasket I should apply? Not positive that this is the problem but it does seem to pop a bit on the edges.

lovemysan · Post by **lovemysan** » Sat Jun 27, 2015 1:08 am

Check the intake. I had a similar issue that was caused by the airbox cover not seating. It had warped over time and when I changed the filter it wouldn't go back on properly. Also loose intake clamp or bolts, or a misplaced vacuum line can cause this

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Sat Jun 27, 2015 2:59 am

rsklenar wrote:Well I continue to be baffled by this. I reopened the carb and checked the CV boot. It all appears to be in correctly, needle is clean, etc. I'm still not positive that the gasket is seating into the groove all the way properly. Any tips here? Is there an adhesive or liquid gasket I should apply? Not positive that this is the problem but it does seem to pop a bit on the edges.

There's a thread on this board about this, um, here it is. We also heard from someone who used a little bit of the blue painter's tape to hold the diaphragm in place during reassembly. There's a couple options.

Also, I have personally experienced what lovemysan describes above when my air box cover was not secured after a service. Same symptoms and easy cure. Definitely give that a look.

Good luck. Let us know what you find.