Post by abqsteve on Mar 28, 2013 23:34:12 GMT -5
Hey all, I wanted to share some success I've just had with my scooter in case it's helpful to someone else. I had let mine sit for about 4 months over the winter and when I went to wake him up to start riding, I would have a really hard time getting the engine started. Once started and warmed up, the engine ran just fine and I had no troubles. The challenge was getting it started.
I've got a 150 GY6 that's almost identical to the lance venice ( www.scooterwiki.com/directory/gas_moped_motor_scooters/lance_gas_moped_motor_scooters/lance_venice_150/). I've got 5000 miles and 3 years on it and it's been a great commuter. I had noticed that it was getting harder and harder to start especially when cold. It got to the point where I had to hold the throttle juuust right when running the starter and, once the engine was running, if I was too quick to add gas, the engine would die again. One started, I would have to carefully hold the throttle in just the right place to allow it to warm up enough to start riding. And then, after storing for 4 months (nope, I didn't drain the gas like I should have and yes, I don't have the gear for the cold winters yet), it was nearly impossible to get it started.
It seemed like a fuel flow issue so I changed the fuel filter (it was still the original) but that didn't make any difference. Also, the new fuel filter has a clear body, so I could see that the fuel was flowing into the filter and that told me that the fuel petcock was working. After seeing those didn't appear to be a problem and after searching around a bit on the internet, I was headed towards a carburetor rebuild. Because I've never done that before, I was a bit nervous.
The good news for me is that a friend of mine recommended trying the B-12 chemtool cleaner. I picked up a can and tonight I tried it. I took the air filter cover and air filter off and, per the instructions on the can, intermittently sprayed it into the intake while holding the engine at a high idle. After perhaps a dozen shots of it (I found that if I sprayed for too long, it would kill the engine), the engine seemed to smooth out. After, when I tried the starter, the engine repeatably started up within 1-2 cranks.
The carb cleaner appears to have made a huge difference in the starting and I'm looking forward to trying the scooter in the morning when it's cold. I'm also looking forward to the commute because at the moment I feel like I've got a new scooter.
I've got a 150 GY6 that's almost identical to the lance venice ( www.scooterwiki.com/directory/gas_moped_motor_scooters/lance_gas_moped_motor_scooters/lance_venice_150/). I've got 5000 miles and 3 years on it and it's been a great commuter. I had noticed that it was getting harder and harder to start especially when cold. It got to the point where I had to hold the throttle juuust right when running the starter and, once the engine was running, if I was too quick to add gas, the engine would die again. One started, I would have to carefully hold the throttle in just the right place to allow it to warm up enough to start riding. And then, after storing for 4 months (nope, I didn't drain the gas like I should have and yes, I don't have the gear for the cold winters yet), it was nearly impossible to get it started.
It seemed like a fuel flow issue so I changed the fuel filter (it was still the original) but that didn't make any difference. Also, the new fuel filter has a clear body, so I could see that the fuel was flowing into the filter and that told me that the fuel petcock was working. After seeing those didn't appear to be a problem and after searching around a bit on the internet, I was headed towards a carburetor rebuild. Because I've never done that before, I was a bit nervous.
The good news for me is that a friend of mine recommended trying the B-12 chemtool cleaner. I picked up a can and tonight I tried it. I took the air filter cover and air filter off and, per the instructions on the can, intermittently sprayed it into the intake while holding the engine at a high idle. After perhaps a dozen shots of it (I found that if I sprayed for too long, it would kill the engine), the engine seemed to smooth out. After, when I tried the starter, the engine repeatably started up within 1-2 cranks.
The carb cleaner appears to have made a huge difference in the starting and I'm looking forward to trying the scooter in the morning when it's cold. I'm also looking forward to the commute because at the moment I feel like I've got a new scooter.
..BAD TO THE BONE..
