Modern Vespa

Heres a really quick way to clean your jets in the carb if you are having trouble. Know that if your scoot has been sitting for awhile ( 4 months or more) you will need fresh gas. Dont be intimidated. Here ya go!

Thanks for that, I suppose it is very similar to my GT200 carburettor ?

I'm assuming that's an LX50, as the chassis is the same as my LX150, but the carb and engine are a bit different. The basic procedure would be the same for all the Keihin and Walbro carbs up through the 200. The designs are pretty similar.

Hi, i have a S50, and am i right in thinking that the LX & S are basically the same? If so, does this mean i should be able to follow these steps?

Yes.

Be aware that you will spill some gas when you remove the float bowl unless you put a rag under the carb to soak it up.

great thanks! i'll let you know how it goes

When screwing the jets back in, should they just be snug or really tight? Also, do any gaskets need to be replaced? Should battery be disconnected?
Thanks!

When you are screwing the jets back in and it stops, just give it a secondary "make sure its tight" check. Dont try to put the gorilla paw on the jet, as it will strip. You dont need to disconect the battery and the float bowl gasket doesnt need to be replaced as long as it is not damaged.

Thanks! My ET4 sat for a few years before I bought it from its then owner. It runs good but will sometimes idle high at stops. Not sure if this may be a jet issue, but it's good to see documented processes like the one above.
Thanks again!

I did the same few weeks ago, and before I was looking for exactly something like that in order not to mess up anything
Anyway everything went pretty much Ok and I can tell the procedure for the ET4 is exactly the same.
A note: I found more comfy to disconnect the throttle cable, the harnesses and so on, bring my carb (it was way much filthy than this one) under the light on the table with a white cloth below and patiently dismantle it and cleaning it all: much better for your back!

On the LX150 there is also a very tiny black tube that runs off of the bottom of the carb which will come off as you lift the carb. It can be hard to see if you don't have direct light into the engine area. If you don't reattach this tube, you can expect a small puddle of gas under the carb.

Brilliant, this is exactly want i have been looking for, great instruction and clear photos.

Will try tonight and if i mess up, will be back saying how rubbish the instructions were!!! haha

No seriously many thanks

Tim

cleaned the jets on my et4, went well. Boy were they dirty. The bowl gasket was stuck to the carb body and I had to ease it off with my finger nail tool. Wound up stretched and wouldn't fit back in the groves on the bowl side. just kept working in and holding and compressing and it finally stayed long enough to index it back to the carb body.

In the process the hose on the bottom of the bowl came off, at the other end, and I can't find out where it goes. There is a nipple some where that needs a hose that I can't see.

No real help in any of the drawings in any manual I have.


Help.

Is it an orange hose? If so, it mine runs down the side of my engine case and is not attached to anything.
I'll take a picture and post.

There is another Post that addresses that hose, it's a vent/overflow hose, explained in this Post...

What is this hose? (LX150)

Hope this is what you needed.

I think so. The end does not look like it has been on a nipple and no clamp mark. fits real nice along side the head and down to ground.

I think this is solved.

Many thanks.

Correct.

So what happens if you strip the screw heads in step 6?

And how can I fix it?

T_T

Very cool. Thanks for posting with such detailed pictures.

Use pliers to turn the broken screws out. After that buy new screws and install them.

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Hi Longbeach


I've only just seen this thread on carb jet cleaning - you've made an excellent job of explaining it.

Have you thought about turning this into a MV Wiki article - I think it would be very useful for many a MVer to refer to.

Well done you !!!


Fabio

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Thanks Fabio! How do I go about doing that? I actually had alot fun doing this. I have been thinking about more. Anyone have anything they need a pictorial done on?

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Hi LB...

Have a look at this thread (towards the bottom of the page).... How To Use This Wiki


Fabio

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Excellent description. Gives me the confidence to give this a shot. I'll let you know how it goes.

Graham

The results were great. I had a little difficulty clearing the jet. I ended up using a thin wire from a jewelry kit. Once it was back together the scooter works great.

Graham

This was awesome. My 2006 LX50 would start but would die if I revved the engine above idling. I followed your instructions and I'm back to 100%. Thanks!!!!!

Great job on the post! Thanks!

This instruction was great thanks! So i cleared the hole in the jet (can see through it now!) and reassembled everything. Now, I can't get the engine to start. It is like the battery is dead but it is not. I have it fully charge, light works, horn, etc.

What in the word could be going on?

Before I removed the carb and cleaned the jet, I had removed the Evap hose (I think that's what it is) and so this hose is not connected. Surely this is not the problem.

Suggestions appreciated!

Actually, I just looked at my speedometer and the Piaggo Code light is flashing red. Wondering if I am being punished for fixing the jet??? Thoughts anyone? Many thanks

Sorry, the red button was switched off so dummy me did not realize it. All is well. the Jet clean worked!! Thanks again

Good tutorial

Great tutorial. I was able to clean my jets last night in about 20 minutes.

However, now I come to a stall when idling. Did I miss a jet in the Carb? (I cleaned the slow jet and the larger one)

LX 50 hear.

I'm thinking I need to adjust the idle screw like this picture?

GT 200: Adjusting the Idle

Or is there an idle jet in the carb that I missed? (I noticed another jet in the carb that was off to the side...)

Edit: I think I've found the answer. I'll tinker with the idle screw later. Thanks

Awesome tutorial! My wife has a LX 150 which had been sitting in the garage for at least 18 months. I got it to start but it would stall repeatedly. After a couple of rounds with Sea Foam, it would still not run. I came across this tutorial and followed it exactly. The hardest part was getting the jet clean which took repeated cycles of carb cleaner and canned air. Finally, it came clean, reinstalled everything and the LX 150 is running great! Thanks for the great info. I was done in about 40 minutes.
BTW, the 2006 LX 150 has 4 screws holding the float bowl, otherwise, instructions matched up perfectly! Thanks.

great instructions, well documented and clear pics...and finger tattoos cool too

Great Stuff Thank you.

Here's my challenge. Sandy decided to give my LX150 a bath. Drained and changed all the oils, changed all the filters. New plug. Draind the gas, new gas. ANd yes, I cleaned out the carb and ALL the jets.

It turns over but does not start. ALL the electronics seem to work...any suggestions? Did I miss something simple?? Should I do something over?

Please help, I don't want to trash the 2006 LX150 with less than 2K miles.

Regards,

Ray

PS: Happy New Year

If it was just rain that got the scoot there’s hope, if it was bathed in saltwater you could have some significant problems.

First thing to find out is if it’s an electrical or fuel related issue. Have you checked to see if you have spark (pull the plug and hold against the engine while trying to start it)?

This was excellent.. Performed this on my 2007 LX -150 and saved myself almost $300.00 - which is what i paid to have a shop do the same thing to my wife's about 2 years ago.
My scooter was sputtering and stalling after being stored for the winter despite fuel stabilizer, and now she purrs like a kitten!

Thanks again!!

Duff

Hey LongBeach...

I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!, this post has helped me sooooooooo many times.

Peace
Enzo

I'm stuck, I can't get the rear boot off the carb. I have undone the clips but it just won't shift, any suggestions please.
Thanks.

Hopefully I can fix the wife's 2007 LX 50 today & be the hero. Darn thing won't start, having been totally reliable up to the point of leaving me stranded on the roadside last week. I've been doing a whole lot of Vespa wrenching lately (for me.) Just tackled full service (belt, rollers, oil/filter, air filter, spark plug) for the first time on my GTS 250. A lot of work, but I'm glad I tackled it.

I have the LX cracked open at home right now in an attempt to pin down the problem that caused me to get stranded in the heat last week and what's keeping it from starting. I've cleaned the bendix as well as I could--I think a bodybuilder torqued the variator nut down last time because I couldn't get it off with my 18v impact wrench or with a torque wrench & a towel (I don't have the variator tool for the LX50, so I used the rolled-up towel trick...which totally worked on the GTS, but did nothing but shred the towel on the LX's razor-toothed gears. I had been hoping that it was just the bendix and was not to be thwarted, I covered the belt with the towel & sprayed the gear assembly with WD-40 and then wiped it down the best I could. I then placed the cover back over the transmission housing & tested the ignition. The bendix engaged & turned over the engine, which was an improvement. Repeated attempts yielded no ignition. I removed the spark plug lead and reconnected it (after was unable to get in to remove the spark plug. I picked up a double-drive extenable ratchet set on clearance at Lowe's...looks like it make getting at the spark plug a bit more manageable.

I even removed the top casing of the carb and cleaned it out as best as I could...but I didn't know how to proceed further with it, so I put it back together. I went to bed, got 1 hour of almost sleep and went to work. I'm about to get off, go home, take a nap and then we're gonna clean that carb out. Here's hoping this takes care of the non-starting problem! Time to go...exhausted. Glad work is only 2.5 miles from home.

Hi,

Not sure if anyone has any advice but have tried to take off my carb to clean and failed at the first steps.

With some difficulty I managed to remove the rear boot. However, I can't get the carb of the other boot (front facing one). And now I can't get the rear boot back on!

Help!

Thanks!