Modern Vespa

I just got a rebuilt 79 P200E 2 weeks ago. I left the gas switch on all night and it didn't flood, started fine tonight. I was driving home tonight and all of a sudden it won't idle. I made it home keeping the revs up at lights. I was at 1/4 tank and then noticed the bubble in the oil reservoir. I filled up with gas and I still have the issue. I bought some Valvoline 2 Stroke oil, but haven't added it yet, it's all I could find at night. I had no issues until today. It starts fine still, just won't idle. I live in Arizona and it just cooled down below 100 the last few days.

1. Can low oil cause idle problems ?
2. I'm thinking wait until tomorrow and buy better oil at the scooter shop ?
3. Any suggestions ?

Thanks people

I have my Vespa books arriving tomorrow from Amazon 8)

hey there...

couple of things...

your oil makes no difference in the idel speed...

do you know about the idel adjustment screw and your air fuel mixture... these could solve alot of you problems...

idel adjustment screw is on top of the carb, sticks through the air box lid...

airfuel mix screw is at the back of the carb.... there is an access to it through the back of the airbox...

try turning up the idel screw should help, and setting you airfuel mixture screw to the stock setting 2 turns out.

try that let us know how it goes...

If it worked fine, and then all the sudden it didn't, i bet it's one thing the above poster didn't mention.

Is there a lot of slack in the throttle cable? It's possible that the tightness of the inner / outer was set ( this is a little fine tuner on the front of the airbox ) ...but they have a tendency to losen overtime if the locking nut isn't tight enough. If you don't know, this is one of the two cables that enter the engine at the front of your carb box ...one is for the choke, the other for your throttle cable. Make sure the cable adjuster is set properly there.

I'd try this first... make sure that when you're looking down the carb venturi that the slide starts to move the second you start turning your throttle tube on the headset. It's possible that your idle speed was a result of extra tightness here, and it loosened, and now your throttle slide at rest is just too far closed.

Hope that makes sense.

good point eric...

yeah check you throttle cable...

fresh cables can stretch and the adjuster can start to walk in/out a bit...

I'm off to work, I'll let you know how it goes. I'm obviously new at this. I was thinking the cable too but we'll see.

Thanks so much guys !

Ahhh. The idle screw had vibrated/unthreaded all the way out, hence no idle. Tightened it up and adjusted and it idles fine.

My first fix, I'm feeling it now. Pfffft low oil

Thanks for the replies guys, you are awesome