Stalling w/increased temps following engine rebuild

[cesmpt]

Sadly this past April my 2009 Buddy 125 shuddered and stalled. When I climbed off I was standing in a puddle of oil. After towing it to a dealer I was informed that the oil filter had spun loose. Apparently a common problem with Buddy 125 's if not torched correctly. My neighbors own a scooter rental business and have 10+ buddy's and do all of their own service. So they serviced mine prior to the filter spinning loose. My scooter was still in its warranty period but this was not covered as it was user error as I did not have it serviced at a dealer. So $900 later I got my engine rebuilt. On a long ride with AmeriVespa in July I filled up after riding 100 mi with no problems. About 3 miles after filling up (not topping off) the scooter lost power and died. It was a really warm afternoon (about 100). The scooter was just about 100 miles post engine rebuild. So I limped it along to the dealer by having to let it cool down and remove the gas cap every 3 miles. They diagnosed it with user error again saying it was due to overfilling of fuel. All parts cleaned out and returned to me $100 later. Today with less than 200 miles post rebuild the same thing happened during a 45 mi ride. It got warm lst power and died. Resolved only by taking gas cap off. Again I limped scooter back home. I had 1/4 tank of fuel and have only filled up once to 3/4 the tank since the "cleaning". Problem seems o happen over 45 mph.

So my question is;

Vapor Lock? What is the fix?
Stator?
What?

Help. Super frustrated.

[Throwback7R]

If it is vapor locked ..

Check this thread

topic18630.html

Sounds like it could be did you modify the scoot " go fast parts? or just stock rebuild?

[cesmpt]

It was stock rebuild by VespaMotorstorts in San Diego.

If it is Vapor Lock it looks like I need to drill 2 holes.

1 in the bottom of the cap and
1 in the top of top (or side of the hand grip).

Do I drill all the way thru from the bottom to the top or just part way?

Thanks.

Frustrated.

And to reply to other aspects of that post Vespa Motorsports doesn't seem to care about much other than selling me the bike and charging me a lot for service. They are not customer service oriented at all. Also I'm in touch with Trey at Genuine who also seems dis-interested. I really don't "feel the love" of the Genuine Family business.

[Throwback7R]

That is quite odd that you feel that way with genuine. it is really hard to say what was done at the shop with out knowing what really happened.

However lets get the scoot running..

Ok how long is it off when you pull the cap and try and start it again?
It could be something else ..
Could be a pick up going bad or bad CDI unit.

[cesmpt]

Yeah I seem like the only not 100% impressed with Genuine.

But that aside.

When it dies, it looses power and spudders and dies. Usually @45+ mph. I pull over and pull the gas cap off and it immediately starts. Less than 1mo ago it was serviced for this and they told me the charcoal canister had fuel in it from overfilling which I am sure I haven't done (but that is beside the point). They cleaned it and sent me on my way. Now riding about 75 mi it is doing the same thing.

Things I noticed.

Happens When
Riding greater distances 45+ mi
When scooter is going over 45mph
Doesn't matter how much fuel is in tank.
Heat seems to play a role

Love to get it resolved.

[DemRemz]

Working at a shop. I can tell you that if it is always occurring when it is hot out, then your bike is 100% vapor locking. Every bike we get in, we always drill holes in the cap to prevent this. It is a quick and easy process. Good Luck!

[cesmpt]

Dem.

Could you tell me exactly where to drill the holes and how many?

Thank you.

Christian

[BuddyRaton]

I really hate to say it sounds electrical to me. It has all the symptoms of a bad stator. I haven't run any polls but the 09s seem to be very prone to this.

[cesmpt]

Hi Buddy

Is there a test for this?

I am super hesitant to take it back to my selling/sales dealer as they only seem to be nickel and dimming me to death and pointing the finger at me for all of the issues this thing has had. I think it's odd that this stalling prob seems to have started after the dealer rebuilt the engine due to the oil filter spinning off.

Christian

[Throwback7R]

Take a very small drill bit and put one in the side of the top like this ..


and one in the bottom do not go all the way through



Not my pictures just found them on the modern buddy site.

Seems they had a issue with the 09's and gas caps

[cesmpt]

Thanks so much for the pics.

I read a 1/16 dril bit. Is that what you have seen?

[BuddyRaton]

Hi Buddy

Is there a test for this?

I am super hesitant to take it back to my selling/sales dealer as they only seem to be nickel and dimming me to death and pointing the finger at me for all of the issues this thing has had. I think it's odd that this stalling prob seems to have started after the dealer rebuilt the engine due to the oil filter spinning off.

Christian

Yeah...drilling the cap isn't going to do any harm but if it wasn't vapor locking before I dont see why it would start now.

What I don't get is that it starts right back up. Usually a heat induced electrical problem will take a while to cool off before it starts working again.


How to check stator

http://www.buggydepot.com/buggy-tech-ce ... No-Spark/6

[cesmpt]

Well. The scooter was in PS. Where it was over 100. On the ride yesterday in SD it was maybe 80. But it was 45 min into a ride of over 45mph with demands on the scooter. Hills. Etc.

It usually starts right up. Sometimes a few minutes but no more than 5.

Wow. That looks a bit too complicated for me.

Oddly enough we have 3 Buddy 125's and this is the only one rebuilt and only one with this problem. No holes drilled in any of the other gas caps. No other probs with any of the others. Just this one.

[Throwback7R]

the newer buddy's have built in vapor lock control " i guess you could call it"
could just try switching the cap ?

[cesmpt]

Will do.

Thanks for all of your help

Christian

[BuddyRaton]

Wow. That looks a bit too complicated for me.

It's really not that bad. Print it out, take it with you and follow it step by step. It is really just unplugging wires and taking some readings. If you're afraid that you will forget where the wires go take a photo before you start.

[Stormswift]

I may have "overfilled a bit the other day however....I have not ridden the bike (don't want any tilting and fuel going where it should not). I just remembered I bought something that would have likely been very useful to Mad Max rather than urban dweller like me: a gas suction tubing. I can get into the tank and easily suction out access fuel before there is any trouble (not to mention the fuel can be re-used). I think these contraptions must have been used in the days when gas prices skyrocketed and people were stealing gas from neighbor's cars by suctioning it out of the tanks. I bought it just in case you know what hits you know what some day . Don't know what it was doing in our local store but I bought it. Beats accidental mouthful of gasoline

[Stitch]

Drill the holes. Quick and easy. The holes are tiny, you won't leak gas everywhere.
Check the easy stuff first. Vent the gas cap, then move on to other simple stuff.

[PeteH]

I think these contraptions must have been used in the days when gas prices skyrocketed and people were stealing gas from neighbor's cars by suctioning it out of the tanks.

Yeah. My Beetle got siphoned when gas skyrocketed to like $1 back in the Carter administration.