Modern Vespa

Hi everybody!
Incredibly I’ve become the owner of a PX125.
She is a stunner and I’m in love... however like all big first loves I’m in over my head!
She is a 2014 2 stroke and has been sitting in a garage since the day she was new- so only about 60miles on the clock.
I’ve had her a couple of weeks, not really had a chance to ride her much and she was starting ok struggled a bit when idle but when she was warm she was fine.
This week when I started the engine she faded after about 30 secs and now I can’t get her to start.
She is turning but not firing. Tried ignition key and kick start.
I’ve charged the battery.
Incase I flooded the engine I’ve taken out spark plug and turned her over.
I’ve also changed the spark plug... what else am I missing? I’m a amateur but I really want to learn rather then go straight to a mechanic... but please talk basics to me- assume I no nothing!
Thanks in advance x

Welcome. Congrats on the sccoot. I suspect having sat for years it had a cruddy gas tank, so when you ran it for a few miles the other day it probably fouled the carb.

You are gonna need to clean the gas tank and remove and clean the carburetor. There are a ton of good YouTube videos out there on how to clean carburetors. Or check the scooter mercato website for a good stepwise pictorial.

http://www.scootermercato.com/Garage/Tech-Tips/Carb-Rebuild_2

That’s brilliant! Thank you.
Hopefully that will do the trick. That’s my Sunday sorted!
One more question-
Do I need to “run it in” I’ve seen on other forums with Pxs with new engines or is that a pre mix thing?
I’m not even sure if my question makes sense I feel like I’m learning a new language!
X

With only 60 miles, yes you need to do the break in period. Not really bad to do. There are lots of different methods etc. Usually the factory says for the first few hundred miles, don't run wide open throttle or at a constant rpm. Being that new, does it still have the run in sticker on the glove box top?

60 miles? Did they drive it home and park it for never? You need to post some pics!

whereshaldo

Great, as soon as I get her started I’ll get some miles on her. I’ll check about the sticker and let you know!

Yep! Exactly that! I’ll get some photos for you!

I recently bought a 2003 PX200 with 2 miles on the clock. Bought and stored from new by the first owner as part of a small collection. It did start easily, but smoked a lot and smelt awful. Once I had drained the fuel and replaced with fresh, the smoke and smell went away. The fuel was refreshed by the previous owner from time to time, but clearly not that regularly.

If your fuel smells like turpentine, that's likely the problem

Oh it really stank ( I quite liked it! 😂)
I’m guessing we are in the same situation then.
Thanks for the advice, I hope you are enjoying your new bike!

Update:
Thanks so much for all your kinds words and help. I didn’t end up getting out to play on the scooter today but I will be spending the day on her on Tuesday
Where I’ll be -

Cleaning out the fuel tank
Cleaning the carb

If there are any other jobs you think r worth while please let me know!
Hopefully she will be on the road soon!
X

Clean or replace the fuel line too.

It's sure to have old caramelized gas and muck in it too.

Hmmm just thought I’d check to see if I had a spark at all before I started taking her apart and nothing... no spark... tried 3 different plugs and cable.
continue course of action or change direction to electrics?
🤦🏻‍♀️

start with the electrics. You'll never know if the carb is working if you don't have spark.

Some pictures of the scoot, including one with a close-up of the engine will help a lot, because we can mark those up and post them back to explain what we're referring to, and it'll be *your* engine so there's no confusion.

I'm going to assume your knowledge level is pretty much zero, since I'd rather over-explain than over-confuse if you already know what I'm talking about. Feel free to adjust expectations and we'll adjust our advice accordingly

First thing to do is try disconnecting the kills witch wire. That's one of the two green wires into the CDI. The CDI is the small nylon box that the spark plug wire comes out of. It's probably bright blue and should be attached to the back of the motor.

If you look at the wiring harness, there will be one set of red-green-white wires coming out of the motor case through a tunnel to the stator plate, which sits behind the flywheel. These provide the accumulation of electricity into the stator along with the timing signal telling it when to fire.

The second green wire will run back into the wiring harness and is the kill switch. It grounds the stator CDI, preventing the spark plug from firing. If that wire is shorting out for any reason (and it's a known issue, but generally on 1970's bikes) it will kill the spark. So start there.

You may also have inadvertantly pulled the spark plug wire out of the CDI. It's connected by screwing the wire down onto basically a sheet metal screw. I can be loose and produce intermittent spark, e.g. "it dies when I go over a bump" or be completely loose, but still held in place by the spark plug wire boot. If that's the case, cut 1/4" of with a pair of scissors or dykes and just screw it back down. Cutting 1/4" off won't hurt anything.

You can also test spark by putting the spark plug into the spark plug cap and grounding the tip to the motor. If you pull the plug from the cylinder at the same time, it's really easy to kick over to test if things are working, as well as test different plugs in rapid succession.

Good luck! And pictures! definitely post some pictures!

Since I had to get a ride home from work once because my scooter wouldn’t start only to return the next morning to find the kill switch (which I never use) in the off position, I can ask this. Is the kill switch on? 🙂

This is great thank you!
I’m gonna spend the whole weekend on he rao this is so helpful!
X

Ha! That is definitely the sort of thing I would do- She has an immobiliser, is that the same thing?
I’ve looked and I can’t find any other switch
X

Guys I really can’t believe how great and helpful you all are!
Here are some photo of my girl.
I’m hopefully gonna spend all weekend working on her so fingers crossed I might get her on the road soon!

Engine

🛵

Hello mate.
Going by the information you have posted. I would suggest the ignition problem is due to the battery dragging down the volts.
Disconnect the battery by removing the neutral wire marked (—) black wire.

Remove spark plug.
Put it in plug cap
Rest it against something metal. Top of engine Not the plastic bit in front
Make sure the ignition switch is on.
The spark is tiny and not really visible in bright daylight.

A sure method it to give the spark plug to your mate to hold in his right hand and his left against the frame, Engine, backrest or any metal part. Kick it over. If he screams the Ignition is working.

I FULLY agree with the above, and love your lovely 'new' black paint and tiny miles.

I predict that you will soon be having lots of fun and admiring glances.

What's that black box on top of the cylinder and tube going down toward the exhaust? Some kind of emissions-control?

Yes. It’s a filter and one way valve that feeds air into the exhaust before the catalytic converter. It’s purely mechanical. When Margot gets it running, replacing the Exhaust will be the first post on how to increase the power form 6 to 8 horsepower for £200.

That's a pretty simple whip. We should probably trade, my egg yolk orange LML (actually a Stella, whoooooooo! for you Limeys) for your sooty black post-industrial lump. I mean its barely earned its stripes yet, and you'd be well served to have a higher mileage, reliablity-proven, steed that has already endured a few scrapes and bumps. Will save you a few schillings in service and more than a few pounds in emotional scarring when you encounter a rogue lorry.

I'm willing to make this sacrifice for you to welcome you into our small community.

h

Hi Margot, and welcome to MV! Congrats on your gorgeous shiny new girl. She is a stunning beauty!

I have no mechanical advice for you because I am still a newb at that kind of stuff. But, it sounds as though you have at least a moderate amount of ability and experience with a wrench.....lots more than I had when I arrived.

With all of the helpful and knowledgeable forum members here troubleshooting for you, I’m guessing you’ll be out zooming the roadways with a big excited smile very soon. There’s nothing quite like the first few months riding your sweet Vespa—it’s SO FUN!! Be sure to post up some first ride pics

That's a nice looking scoot, all right.

The motor looks completely unmolested and the whopping 62 Km's makes spark problems kind've interesting.

Right now, let's isolate the problem and make 100% sure it's lack of spark and not some other issue, most likely fuel and/or carb related, which I'll give you the quick n' dirty test after we discuss spark a touch more.

When you test spark, are you using the new spark plug, or the plug that was in the motor? Plugs are cheap (like a couple bucks). I don't think the plug is going to be the cause, but it's such an easy test, and you can never go wrong having a spare around.

Assuming that you don't have spark with the new plug grounded to bare metal on the motor, we can continue to dig in on what's failing and how.

If you *do* have spark, the next thing I would to is head over to the nearest auto parts or DIY store and pick up a can of starting fluid (ether in a spray can) and a can of SeaFoam gasoline additive.

If you didn't do so already, drain the gas tank and put in fresh fuel, then add the Seafoam to the gas. It will clean an amazing amount of varnish and general crud out of the fuel system once the motor is running a little.

Then, remove the airbox cover and spray some starting fluid onto the air filter. A half-a-second spray is plenty, then crank the motor over. If you have spark, the ether will cause the motor to run for a few seconds, probably smoke a lot, then quit at first. This test verifies that you have spark and compression, meaning that the only thing you're missing is fuel and air in an appropriate ratio.

Do this a few times and if you're lucky, it'll start to run a little longer each time. Once you get good, you'll even learn to pulse the starting fluid onto the air filter to keep it running. I've started motors and gotten them to run (not well, but it fundamentally works) long enough to get some fuel flowing and work the worst of the gunk out of the carb and fuel system using this method even after they've been sitting for ten years or more.

Ideally, some of the Londoners on here can find a couple hours to swing by and give things a once over.

Sounds about right, except over there they're forced by Royal decree to call it STAR on pain of hefty fines and certain confiscation!.

Work out shipping, each paying half and looks very fair indeed for our new friend I think.
He does offer proven real world benefits, especially for one just starting out. Better scare up a STAR badge though