Modern Vespa

New to scooters. I replaced my voltage regulator per instructions on this site. It was a royal PIA. I have 2 questions prior to buttoning it up.
1. When i try to start it, it does not crank. Should it start or does everything need to be buttoned up first?
2. I have a piece of plastic, black, 14.5 inches long, that i am not sure where it goes and how it attaches. Any help would be appreciated. I will try to add pictures.

Welcome!

First, is the kill switch in the Run position? Ignition switch on, then squeeze one of the brake levers and try the start switch. The brake light should light. If it doesn't, try the other brake lever. (Kill switch must be on and brakes applied in order to start.)

Then if the scooter hasn't started, listen for a hum from the fuel pump, a click from the starter relay, or whirring/cranking from the starter motor. Does the starter turn the engine over at all? At this point, if the scooter isn't starting, the most likely cause is a dead or weak battery. If it's the original battery it's likely toast. Get a new one and report back.

Good luck! 8)

Hi firstly.

If you replaced the regulator can we ask why?

Is it because it wouldn't start, or downloading didnt charge or.....

If it's any of the above could equally be the Stator or the battery that are at fault.

But if it's an older scooter and it is one of the above, even though the regulator hasn't solved it, at least you know this key part is new and works.

Welcome to the forum.

It's possible that the circular antenna ring surrounding the ignition switch became dislodged and the computer is not getting the confirmation radio signal from the chip in the key. Just an idea.

Good luck.

I'm still back here at this question. Makes me wonder whether that was the actual problem, and whether the battery is in good condition to start the scooter. After all, a scooter should start even with a malfunctioning voltage regulator.

Some background. The bike is a 2009 GTS 250ie. 8,000 miles. I have owned it about a year. I came of a pre unit Royal Enfield and a Ural.
The check engine light would come on after a few seconds, and then stay on. Checking with a multimeter would give me 12.73 in the off position, 12.8 in the on position and 18.62 when running, thus the vr replacement. Now it wont start. Now it shows 12.65 off, 12.o8 key on.
The suggestion on the antenna may be right as it is just hanging there as nothing is buttoned up.
Any idea where the black thing goes?

You certainly did have a bad regulator.

You could check the antenna theory by holding it next to the key while trying to start it. It has to be really close.

I'm guessing the black thing comes from either the top or bottom of the glovebox compartment. I have the same model but its too cold here for me to go out and look.

Scooter should still crank and start, but will only idle if the transponder isn't being seen.

Not true. It'll only start (but be limited to 2k revs) when the ECU is virgin and a service key is used.

Is the cluster connected? You should be able to tell from the code LED what the situation is with the immobiliser. It's certainly true that if the antenna isn't in the right position wrt the key RFID then the bike will remain immobilised.

I know it won't crank if the kill switch is tripped but will it crank if there is no RFID signal response?

I just cheched and it will not crank if there is no signal from the RFID chip.

Get a good batttery