| The scooter was received and assembled, now | | | | |
| finally to the long awaited moment, starting | | | | 9. Kick the kick start vigorously 3 or 4 |
| the scooter. The urge to stick the key in the | | | | times in a row making sure the starter goes |
| hole, press the button and hear the engine | | | | all the way down and comes all the way back |
| purr is close to irresistible… | | | | up every time |
| | | | |
| But it must be resisted. Though above may | | | | 10. Then keep on accelerating all the way |
| sound ideal, is not the case. Imagine a car | | | | (step 6) and kicking all the way a few times |
| that was parked for six months; it may not | | | | (step 9) |
| start at first try. In this case we are | | | | |
| talking about a scooter that may have been | | | | 11. Do not accelerate while kicking |
| sitting for 6 or more months in addition to | | | | |
| having traveled by sea for 2 or 3 weeks; | | | | Try the electric start only AFTER having |
| carburetors love fresh salty marine air. | | | | tried to start the bike as described above |
| | | | with the kick-start. |
| This article aims at guiding first time | | | | |
| scooter owners to properly start their | | | | Electric start procedure: |
| scooter without blowing anything out. | | | | |
| | | | 1. Follow steps 1 to 6 in the kick-start |
| Most Chinese scooters have a gravity fuel | | | | procedure above |
| system. This means that the fuel pump only | | | | |
| works when the engine is started. It may take | | | | 2. Hold the rear brake |
| some effort to start the scooter. In | | | | |
| addition, the battery is brand new and does | | | | 3. Gently turn the accelerator to pickup the |
| not contain much charge. It too gets | | | | slack; do not accelerate, just hold the slack |
| recharged when the engine is running. | | | | |
| | | | 4. Press the start button for 3 seconds and |
| Dos and don'ts: | | | | let go |
| | | | |
| 1. If the scooter is 50 or 150cc, don't try | | | | 5. Accelerate all the way and let go, hold |
| the electric start; at first kick start only | | | | any slack in the throttle |
| | | | |
| 2. Do not, under any circumstance, try to | | | | 6. Press the start button for 3 seconds and |
| jumpstart the scooter | | | | let go |
| | | | |
| 3. Avoid using a charger. The engine will | | | | 7. Let the electric start motor cool down for |
| recharge the battery when it is started. If a | | | | 30 or 40 seconds and repeat the steps above |
| charger is used, insure it is a motorcycle | | | | one more time |
| charger set to no more than 2 amps | | | | |
| | | | Overheating the electric start motor may also |
| 4. If the scooter is equipped with an alarm, | | | | damage the scooter by blowing the starter |
| do not try the alarm or the remote start | | | | motor, the fuse and other electrical parts. |
| until the scooter started | | | | |
| | | | If the bike did not start, do not try the |
| 5. Buy the most expensive fuel and fill the | | | | electric start procedure more than 2 times; |
| gas tank all the way up | | | | rather go back to the kick start procedure |
| | | | and repeat it 2 or 3 times. It may take a few |
| 6. Do not use any fuel additives or | | | | tries, most bikes start at the 2nd or 3rd |
| carburetor cleaner solution | | | | try. |
| | | | |
| 7. Once the scooter is started, be ready to | | | | If all else fail: |
| ride it for at least 15 minutes to charge the | | | | |
| battery - letting the engine charge the | | | | Some scooters my have a hard time starting. |
| battery is by far the best | | | | This may be due to several factors. In 90% of |
| | | | the cases, the failure to start is due to no |
| Remember that a new battery is very fragile. | | | | or insufficient fuel getting to the |
| If it runs all the way down, it may get | | | | carburetor. The simplest way to check and |
| permanent damaged as well as damage other | | | | cure this, is to prime the carburetor |
| components such as the fuse, voltage | | | | manually: |
| regulator and / or the CDI unit. In order to | | | | |
| protect the battery and the other components, | | | | 1. Open the seat |
| all 50cc and 150cc scooters should be first | | | | |
| started with the kick start then try the | | | | 2. Unscrew the carburetor access panel screw |
| electric start a couple times as described | | | | (usually a single screw) |
| below. | | | | |
| | | | 3. Remove the access panel and locate the |
| Since most 250cc scooters don't have a kick | | | | carburetor |
| start, 250cc scooter owners should follow the | | | | |
| electric start procedure. | | | | 4. The top of the carburetor looks like a |
| | | | metal dome with 2 screws holding it |
| Kick start procedure: | | | | |
| | | | 5. Remove the 2 screws from the top of the |
| 1. Fill the gas tank all the way up with the | | | | carburetor |
| best gasoline available | | | | |
| | | | 6. Put 3 to 4 spoonfuls of gasoline directly |
| 2. Put the bike on the center stand | | | | inside the carburetor |
| | | | |
| 3. Check that the kill switch is pointed | | | | 7. Replace the top of the carburetor and |
| towards the circle, not the X | | | | secure with the 2 screws |
| | | | |
| 4. If the scooter came with remote, click the | | | | 8. Follow the electric start procedure only |
| UNLOCK two consecutive times | | | | if it was not followed more than 3 times; |
| | | | otherwise kick-start |
| 5. Turn the key to the on position | | | | |
| | | | If the scooter does not start after the |
| 6. Accelerate all the way and keep throttle | | | | above, those with limited mechanical |
| open of 1 second, repeat 3 times | | | | knowledge and those who know just enough to |
| | | | be dangerous are encouraged to contact the |
| 7. Unfold the kick-start; gently push it down | | | | tech support department of the scooter dealer |
| with your foot half way | | | | where the purchase was made or seek advice |
| | | | from a professional motorcycle mechanic. |
| 8. Let the kick start come back up | | | | |