KymcoForum.com

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: kimura on May 04, 2015, 06:50:32 PM

Title: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on May 04, 2015, 06:50:32 PM: Hi, i stored my scoot in the garage for the winter but would start it every couple of weeks. Now, it runs ok but it won't start by pushing the button. I have to use the kick start.

I have 2 questions:

1) any idea on what it could be?
2) when i use the kick start, should i twist the throttle, giving it gas?

thanks!
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: BettinANDlosing on May 04, 2015, 07:00:43 PM: Was the battery on a trickle charger? Simply starting up every week won't keep the battery charged up, most likely will kill it faster. When you kick start, you need to give it the same amount of throttle you normally do with the electric starter, usually it needs a little.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: NeoGenesisMax on May 04, 2015, 07:06:22 PM: My old Genuine Buddy 50 did something similar. It would crank but not start. Seemed like the battery was fine. I rode every day and the scooter was 4 months old. The battery went foul. New battery fixed it.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on May 04, 2015, 07:25:34 PM: betting and losing, no it wasn't on a trickle charger. is there something i can do to charge it or should i buy a new one?
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: BettinANDlosing on May 04, 2015, 08:13:23 PM: Quote from: kimura on May 04, 2015, 07:25:34 PM
betting and losing, no it wasn't on a trickle charger. is there something i can do to charge it or should i buy a new one?

Do you get any horn or blinkers with the key on? If not, then it is totally dead and past being able to get charged. If you do get a new battery, make the investment of a trickle or "float" charger so you don't kill batteries in the winter.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on May 04, 2015, 10:13:33 PM: I turned the key and the flashers worked.
I pushed the start button to try starting it and it started.
I let it run for 15 secs then turned it off.
I tried to start with the button again and it kinda felt like it was going to turn but didn't.
Now the flashers work but it won't start with the button.

:\
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on May 05, 2015, 12:38:17 AM: Quote from: kimura on May 04, 2015, 10:13:33 PM
I turned the key and the flashers worked.
I pushed the start button to try starting it and it started.
I let it run for 15 secs then turned it off.
I tried to start with the button again and it kinda felt like it was going to turn but didn't.
Now the flashers work but it won't start with the button.

:\
Your battery is pooped out - the Latin for your issue.
If funds permit > pop a good Yuasa battery in there & buy a trickle charger to watch over things.
If funds do not permit a new battery - you got nothing to lose by buying a trickle charger and giving it a try overnight.
my 2 cents
Stig
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: MassScoot on May 06, 2015, 11:52:17 AM: The best $25.00 I've ever spent.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430913033&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+tender+jr. (http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430913033&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+tender+jr.)
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: 0BARK4322 on May 07, 2015, 08:26:09 AM: TIME FOR A NEW BATTERY
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: Chris0381 on May 07, 2015, 02:54:58 PM: I was working on my bike and forgot the key was on. After putting it back together, I had the same issue. Kick started it, let it run a bit, then all is back to normal.

Get a real good battery. The battery is the like the heart of any motor vehicle system. Never go cheap on a battery for any MV. Get the best you can.

Also change that plug every season.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on May 15, 2015, 01:35:56 PM: thanks guys, after riding it a bit, it now starts with the button. After learning how to use the kick start, I don't mind using that but I will look into a new battery. thanks to everyone for your help.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: MassScoot on May 15, 2015, 02:28:10 PM: Quote from: kimura on May 15, 2015, 01:35:56 PM
thanks guys, after riding it a bit, it now starts with the button. After learning how to use the kick start, I don't mind using that but I will look into a new battery. thanks to everyone for your help.

New Battery sounds great. I leave my scoot on the Deltran Battery Tender Jr. "all of the time" I have my original Kymco (Yuasa) battery & it will last 5+ years doing this. If you're looking for a decent replacement then checkout Scorpion batteries. What Kymco scoot do you own? Buying a battery tender is so worth the coin! Trust me, they pay for themselves very quickly. See my link above.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: 0BARK4322 on May 17, 2015, 12:37:05 PM: Quote from: kimura on May 15, 2015, 01:35:56 PM
thanks guys, after riding it a bit, it now starts with the button. After learning how to use the kick start, I don't mind using that but I will look into a new battery. thanks to everyone for your help.
KEEP ON RIDING AND HAVE FUN 8) 8)
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on July 15, 2015, 01:11:51 PM: hehe oops, now the kick start doesn't do anything either. When i crank the kick starter in the dark i can see the lights in the dash barely come on for a split second but nothing else happens, would a completely dead battery do that?
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on July 15, 2015, 01:16:01 PM: Quote from: Chris0381 on May 07, 2015, 02:54:58 PM
I was working on my bike and forgot the key was on. After putting it back together, I had the same issue. Kick started it, let it run a bit, then all is back to normal.

Get a real good battery. The battery is the like the heart of any motor vehicle system. Never go cheap on a battery for any MV. Get the best you can.

Also change that plug every season.

thanks for your input chris, can you link me to a good battery?
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: Chris0381 on July 15, 2015, 03:11:06 PM: I think the battery that comes with the stock super 8 has a number on it.

Google that number and a few options will come up.

How is the BBK doing, did you do any upgrades since and whats your top speed now.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on July 16, 2015, 12:06:40 AM: ok thanks, ill check it out. I've never done any work on it myself, other than put gas and oil. lol

the bbk is great, my top speed is about 42mph but it accelerates quickly from a dead stop and it handles the steep hills around me very well.
Before the bbk and variator it was so slow that I found it dangerous to ride. Now it's got some pep to it. Eventually I will change to a bigger carb but not for a while, as it is now, it more than satisfies my needs. :)
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: TroutBum on July 16, 2015, 01:30:29 AM: Take your batter either to your repair shop or auto parts store. They can test the battery and if the cells are good slow charge the battery usually for a few bucks or free.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on July 16, 2015, 12:43:51 PM: Troutbum, thanks for your suggestion.

As I've mentioned before, I really suck at working with tools. Anything I try to work on, it seems I either put it back together wrong or something breaks, to the point that I've accepted that I must be cursed.
Since I have no other choice and the job of undoing a total of 4 screws and pulling the battery out seems so simple, I figured I would be try it while making sure I was SUPER careful not to force anything.

I was so happy that maybe this one time I was successful in not breaking anything but Alas! My misfortune continues. When I pulled the battery out, I noticed a piece broke off right where that red mark is. How could that happen? I didn't even touch that piece, let alone force it.

Anyway, I got the battery out and will be ordering a new one today.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: MooseMax on July 18, 2015, 03:05:33 AM: I believe that plastic piece is the Chinese flag. ;D

I've always bought the least-expensive sealed AGM battery on Ebay and never had a problem.

By the way, it's good to own a multimeter, to test the battery and diagnose other electrical issues. It's just $4 on Ebay for a digital model.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on July 19, 2015, 10:04:26 AM: thanks, ill try to pick one up.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: Chris0381 on July 19, 2015, 12:05:29 PM: I take it you are not letting your scooter get soaked by rain, you keeping all contacts clean and especially the battery terminals.

Those are important. I use dielectric grease on my terminals.

I also converted all the fuses to sealed (almost water tight) flat fuses.
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on July 20, 2015, 11:24:19 AM: Hi Chris, I don't let it get soaked. I guess it could be cleaner in there. I'll look into dielectric grease and sealed fuses.

My battery should be here today, I can't wait to hook it up and see what happens. I hope it hasn't been so long (3 weeks) since I started it and the carb isn't clogged. lol

On a side note, the last time I rode it I got a ticket because I forgot to replace the 2015 sticker on my license plate, :-[ The officer was really fired up about giving me the ticket too. lol
Title: Re: problems with electric starter
Post by: kimura on July 21, 2015, 12:19:05 PM: I'm SO happy to report that swapping the battery was a success!! she fired right up!!

although its a petty job for most, its significant for me because I usually can't do anything at all with tools. :-\

thanks to everyone on this thread, especially Chris, and zombie, who hooked me up with some parts last year!

I'm off scooting, beep beep! ;D