Modern Vespa

Three times in the past eight months, I have take the P200E to the race track as our pit vehicle. Every time it is unloaded, it will not start until the next morning. This happens both to and from the track. It is transported in an enclosed trailer and is run before it is loaded up. Are there any ideas as to this behavior?

I'd try to find its tolerance for trailering.

Would it start if you just loaded it on the trailer and then unloaded it? (Maybe just tipping it up and down the ramp sloshes the gas around somehow. Carburetor float? Flooding?)

How far do you trailer it? Would it start if you just drove a little way on smooth streets?

Does it start easily enough the next morning on its own? Or does it take a whole night of kicking and cursing to make it go? (Are you doing something that would move the spark plug wire etc.?)

Go to the track a day earlier.

Just some ideas...good luck!

I'd say flooding. If you don't already, run the fuel line/carb dry. Maybe next time, close the fuel tap and run it dry and pull the spark plug? That way any extra vapors that leak from the carb can vent on the drive to the track.

When I close the fuel tap and run my scooters empty before trailering, I still have problems occasionally starting. I can usually get it push started, but sometimes they can be stubborn.

the bumps on the way & being taut on the suspension makes the carb float bounce, & therefore extra fuel ends up in the motor, hence major flooding.

My P would do the same thing when I would trailer it. It had a bad fuel tap as well so even when I would shut the petcock off, fuel would still seep by, filling the cylinder with gas. Remove the sparkplug and put a rag over the sparkplug hole before you kick it over about 10 to clear the fuel out of the cylinder. If you don't put a rag over the sparkplug hole, and you have a significant amount of fuel in the cylinder, gas will shoot out everywhere (if that bothers you at all in the paddock).

I trailer mine a lot. With a stock tap it will let fuel through even if it's turned off. If you use the BGM/OMG type of tap it will be much better... no fuel can get through.
Otherwise do what MJ said and make sure it's empty or nearly empty.

Either of those things will allow you start normally at the other end.


Did you take the scooter to ride on the track, or just to ride around when you got there?

double post

I think you have solved the issue. We will find out on the way to Daytona next weekend.

Ginch, the P200 works at the track. We pick up fuel, run tires, take jump battery to the false grid. My wife never rode a shifty before this past weekend. We went to the skidpad and she had a blast. I think she will want to trade her Fly on a shifty now. More likely just take mine.

I'm sure you'll find that will solve your problem. Nice P you have... sounds like a good excuse to buy another scoot.

We are in Daytona. From your advice, I emptied the P200 tank and then ran it dry. Unloaded here, added gasoline and it started! Although I did take JKJ's advice and arrived a day early. I was so inspired, I waxed the scooter.

Ha ha! Well done!