Scooter wont start

[Souly50]

Hi

I have finally completed rebuilding my scooter it is a LI 150 everything that needed replacing has been but can not get it started it turns over and every now and again it will fire but not keep going. I have checked the spark and this is fine and I have clean the carb and all the jets but still no good. If I take the air filter off and put my hand over the carb it try s to start but will not keep going. A friend has said I should try bump start it but if it wont start with a kick why would it start from a bump? I appreciate it a shot in the dark but really want to hear her running after all the hard work to get her done.
She is a 150 bored up to a 175 she has a 42 mm clubman exhaust and a standard del 18 carb I do have a del 28 off a friend. I have asked on the Carb forum what I should be using with this set up in case it is the carb that is causing the problem although I would of thought it would still start but not run well with the wrong size carb

Stu

[Jazzy b]

Have you tried spraying easystart in carb ?

[Souly50]

No where do I get it and where in the carb do I spray it sorry if I sound stupid never used before

[Wack]

It should start on the choke jet with no throttle so if it does then dies straight away I would guess you have another problem possibly electrical or motor related. Fuel flow shouldn't be an issue on choke until the bowl runs low if flow is suspect.

[Jazzy b]

No where do I get it and where in the carb do I spray it sorry if I sound stupid never used before

Hafords any car shop pull carb hose of spray in try scoot shud eliminate fuel prob hope this helps I'm not great we engines myself I use waddo

[Meds]

I had similar symptoms and it wasn't just one thing.
It was a mixture of a worn carb, bad jetting and timing.
My biggest issue was my electronic kit static timing was 3 degrees more advanced than the real firing point.
Ie static 21 degrees was 18 degrees, which should have run ok, but it didn't due to the other issues.
I solved it in the end by borrowing a known good cab, then messing around with the timing till it was running fine.
Swapped back to my carb and solved that problem.
Good luck

[Raveydavey]

I had the same when I rebuilt my sx a few years ago. Everything checked out but just would not start, seemed to want to but wouldn't. Exactly as you've described. A friend told me to bump it too, which I was sceptical of, but he came round and next thing you know we are running down the street with a running scooter. Loads of smoke later, and a setting of the mixture screw, it was never an issue again.

I say bump it and see how you go. If it works then you at least know it runs. I was on 6v points though.

[CHRIS in MARGATE]

Start again. Take the plug out and clean it and gap it to 20 thousands of an inch or ciggy packet cardboard.
Kick scooter over for couple of minutes with plug OUT.

Strip carb. Does fuel come pouring out of float bowl? It needs to.

Choke on and DO NOT OPEN THROTTLE WHEN KICKING !!

If that don't work then definitely a good long bump start.

Failing that Bradex Easy Start from Halfords will start a dead dog !

[Souly50]

Hi

My timing is set at 19 degrees as that what it states in sticky book is this wrong and are saying it should be 21 degrees before top dead centre. I have tried easy start and it fires for about 10 seconds but then cuts out check plug gap OK, checked carb fuel OK looked at wiring and checked against wiring diagram and everything looks correct. Reading in sticky book about Indian flywheels not always having the marks in correct place but everything on my flywheel lines up, i.e. when the arrow on the fly wheel lines up with 19 degrees and the 2 black raised lines either side of the white line on the pick up box line up with the 2 lines on the flywheel so I am assuming my flywheel is OK.

[Wack]

You can't go by the lines on the flywheel /pick up. You need a strobe.

[hullygully]

timing sounds ok, if borrowing someones working carb doesn't cure it then.... plus ckeck the stators readings, change the plug for someones working plug, try it without the airhose on (let her breathe

[Meds]

that was exactly my timing issue, BGM stator, AF flywheel, set mine to 19 degrees all the marks lined up, great spark, just not when the engine needed it.
I Got it to run after much messing around at around 21 degrees, but it alway ran poorly at low revs and I thought it was carburation, I swapped back to 19 degrees on points and it ran much better.
I only found out about the 3 degree difference between the static line up and the actual firing point when I built a another engine ( using the same stator flywheel/ crank set up ), had similar problems, got it running and a mate strobed it for me.
Try retarding the timing back to 21 or 22 and see if it starts better. if it does then get it strobed before running it any distance.

[Souly50]

Well the advice worked Meds thank you. I re adjusted the timing from 19 BTDC to 21 and behold it kicks over first time every time. Thank you and everybody else for the advice it is nice to know there are fellow scooter owners who you can turn to when you need help. Now if there is anybody on here who is good with electrics as it starts great now but I do not have any lights or horn.

[Meds]

Unfortunately for me it was bitter experience on the starting issue and didn't believe it until I proved it for myself after someone kindly gave me the advice I gave you. I suggest that you get someone with a strobe to confirm the timing.

Next your lights
There are only a few basic components
Stator/ regulator / switches/ light bulbs and wires.
here are some likely faults
1 the regulator is wired incorrectly or faulty.
2 there isn't a return earth path via the frame
3 faulty connections
4 the regulator output is being pulled down to earth by a faulty or incorrectly wired circuits.


You also need sort of circuit tester, either a bulb or volt meter. You can use the CEV or Aprilla type rear light reflector/lamp holder (as it comes apart )with a bulb and a couple of wires.
Always use the engine as the earth, don't Rev the engine too much or you are likely to blow bulbs


Simple check is to ensure your regulator is wired correctly, if it is then try the following
Disconnect the regulator input and output wires.
First prove your stator output by checking the voltage at the regulator input wires. If this is ok the proceed, if not the fault may be in the stator or wiring upto the regulator

Then reconnect the regulator input and check the regulator output
if this is ok then there its likely the fault is somewhere in the wiring beyond the regulator And you need to start disconnecting the circuits

[CHRIS in MARGATE]

Have to say I am amazed but hey I learn something every day.
Minor correction: Going from 19 to 22 is advancing the ignition timing and not retarding.
I most certainly would NOT run an engine at that setting on today's fuels. Just my opinion but I am sure others will agree.