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@adri avatar
UTC

Atypical Canadian
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
 
Atypical Canadian
@adri avatar
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
Hey everyone. Dead batteries happen (especially for those with mid-2000s Vespas). Knowing how to jumpstart your Vespa, motorcycle, or really any other 12v vehicle is good knowledge to have.

In Canada especially, where everyone drives around with jumper cables in their car because winter climates can be so rough on people's batteries, it's not hard to flag a stranger and ask them if they can give you a jump.

It's pretty straight forward, there are basically just 3 mistakes you want to avoid:
- Not connecting the jumper cables correctly
- Touching frame with jumper cables (more of an issue for motorcycles)
- Turning the car (or truck) on (and leaving it on for extended period of time)

Anyway, hope someone will find this helpful and it will help someone avoid paying for a tow.

PS: On this Triumph Bonneville I clamp to a nut that isn't too visible just in case the jumpers leave some scratches, I suggest you guys look for a similar spot on your Vespas, perhaps where the rear shock mounts. I'm sure if we took the underseat bucket out we could find some piece of raw metal, like a motor or something

If anyone who's jumped a Vespa can chime in with where they clamped to that would be useful and I can add it to this post. TY

And yes, terrible pic of me, just took a still frame from the video lol
@bob_cowley avatar
UTC

Addicted
GTS250, P200E
Joined: UTC
Posts: 777
Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
 
Addicted
@bob_cowley avatar
GTS250, P200E
Joined: UTC
Posts: 777
Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
UTC quote
I recently had my Vespa battery go to 8.4 volts after it was charged with an automatic charger. The charge current tapered off in the normal manner as shown on the built-in ammeter. Obviously it was an internal battery problem. Jumpstarting did not work as the starter would still not turn over the engine. When I replaced the battery everything was good.

Cheers,
Bob
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@adri avatar
UTC

Atypical Canadian
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
 
Atypical Canadian
@adri avatar
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
Makes sense. 11.3 volts is essentially considered 10% battery capacity and useless, so 8 volts is basically just a paperweight.

Was it the charger that failed or the battery itself? What was the brand?
@lars_danner avatar
UTC

Hooked
2014 GTV300; 2009 S50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 178
Location: Anchorage AK
 
Hooked
@lars_danner avatar
2014 GTV300; 2009 S50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 178
Location: Anchorage AK
UTC quote
You probably didn't have a good connection between your cables and the batteries. A working motorcycle will ALWAYS start with cables properly attached to a good battery in a running car.
Bob Cowley wrote:
I recently had my Vespa battery go to 8.4 volts after it was charged with an automatic charger. The charge current tapered off in the normal manner as shown on the built-in ammeter. Obviously it was an internal battery problem. Jumpstarting did not work as the starter would still not turn over the engine. When I replaced the battery everything was good.

Cheers,
Bob
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
Please don't have the car running - there's normally no need. A car battery will have an order of magnitude more CCA than any motorcycle can require. However, if jumping from another motorcycle you can start that running (after the cables have been connected) as it otherwise might not quite have the oomph required.
OP
@adri avatar
UTC

Atypical Canadian
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
 
Atypical Canadian
@adri avatar
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
Lars_Danner wrote:
You probably didn't have a good connection between your cables and the batteries. A working motorcycle will ALWAYS start with cables properly attached to a good battery in a running car.
I've seen batteries get so dead that they are essentially just bricks, and even a booster pack can't do anything for it. If it was in the high 11s, low 12s, you're right, better connection could have helped... but he said it was at 8 volts. That's essentially a shiny rock, and not the expensive kind lol

For reference:

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

From: Dead Motorcycle Battery: Recharge It Or Replace It? https://youmotorcycle.com/dead-motorcycle-battery.html
@lars_danner avatar
UTC

Hooked
2014 GTV300; 2009 S50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 178
Location: Anchorage AK
 
Hooked
@lars_danner avatar
2014 GTV300; 2009 S50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 178
Location: Anchorage AK
UTC quote
adri wrote:
I've seen batteries get so dead that they are essentially just bricks, and even a booster pack can't do anything for it. If it was in the high 11s, low 12s, you're right, better connection could have helped... but he said it was at 8 volts. That's essentially a shiny rock, and not the expensive kind lol

For reference:

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

From: Dead Motorcycle Battery: Recharge It Or Replace It? https://youmotorcycle.com/dead-motorcycle-battery.html
That wasn't my point. Sure the battery might need to be replaced, but with properly attached jumper cables, the bike WILL still start and run even with a completely dead battery--it just won't take a charge.
OP
@adri avatar
UTC

Atypical Canadian
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
 
Atypical Canadian
@adri avatar
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
I know it wasn't your point. I'm saying my experience is different from yours, and trying to show you why that's the case
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
Lars_Danner wrote:
That wasn't my point. Sure the battery might need to be replaced, but with properly attached jumper cables, the bike WILL still start and run even with a completely dead battery--it just won't take a charge.
Usually, yes, but if the charging system is open circuit and the scooter battery is already discharged, it won't stay running once the jump connections have been removed.

A dead battery isn't always just an old or neglected one, it can be all down to other electrical problems. E.G. an MP3 500 that's stalled or won't start because its 'hidden fuse' has disintegrated can often be diagnosed as a bad battery when that's simply not the case.
@bob_cowley avatar
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Addicted
GTS250, P200E
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@bob_cowley avatar
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Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
UTC quote
adri wrote:
Makes sense. 11.3 volts is essentially considered 10% battery capacity and useless, so 8 volts is basically just a paperweight.

Was it the charger that failed or the battery itself? What was the brand?
The charger is good. The failed battery was a two year old Canadian Tire brand. I should have measured the voltage when the batteries were connected together. With the bad battery, there was not as much as a click when I tried to crank the engine. With the bad battery and the battery giving the boost, the lights came on very weakly and the starter solenoid clicked but the engine would not turn over. With a new battery, everything has been fine for several weeks.

Cheers,
Bob
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@adri avatar
UTC

Atypical Canadian
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
 
Atypical Canadian
@adri avatar
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
Hey Bob, just realized you're down the 401 from me. Feel free to shoot me a DM if you ever run into any trouble with the Vespa
@bob_cowley avatar
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Addicted
GTS250, P200E
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Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
 
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@bob_cowley avatar
GTS250, P200E
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Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
UTC quote
Thanks, Adrian.

Cheers,
Bob
@harbinger avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2023 Arancia Impulsivo Vespa GTS300 HPE , 2022 BMW R1250GSA 40th Anniversary, 2019 Ural Gear Up
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
@harbinger avatar
2023 Arancia Impulsivo Vespa GTS300 HPE , 2022 BMW R1250GSA 40th Anniversary, 2019 Ural Gear Up
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8508
Location: Toronto
UTC quote
adri wrote:
Hey Bob, just realized you're down the 401 from me. Feel free to shoot me a DM if you ever run into any trouble with the Vespa
Just realized you're from TO. What part? I'm downtown in the King St West neighbourhood.

As far as batteries go I've never had an issue with any of my Vespas or BMWs. Now Ural on the other hand let's just say I carry a Canadian Tire 12v charger and long extension cable with bar at all times.
OP
@adri avatar
UTC

Atypical Canadian
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
 
Atypical Canadian
@adri avatar
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
Harbinger wrote:
Just realized you're from TO. What part? I'm downtown in the King St West neighbourhood.

As far as batteries go I've never had an issue with any of my Vespas or BMWs. Now Ural on the other hand let's just say I carry a Canadian Tire 12v charger and long extension cable with bar at all times.
I used to bartend in Parkdale for 6 years, and worked for a summer at some pools around King and Bathurst. I'm living up at Dufferin and Eglinton now though. I'm fairly certain we must have met at some point, you look very familiar in your profile pic
@petercc avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
Piaggio Beverly 300 ie - 2012
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Posts: 1336
Location: Belgium
 
Molto Verboso
@petercc avatar
Piaggio Beverly 300 ie - 2012
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1336
Location: Belgium
UTC quote
adri wrote:
I've seen batteries get so dead that they are essentially just bricks, and even a booster pack can't do anything for it.
(...)
I have the same experience. My father in law's car was dead. No dashboard lights, nothing. The car had been standing for more than a year due to him having a health problem.

So I connected starting cables from my car's battery to his with my engine running.
Waited for a few minutes to let his battery charge. But no result. The dasboard lights came on but as soon as I tried to start all black. Repeated this, waiting longer, but no result.
It needed a new battery. Apparantly the old one was too far gone.
OP
@adri avatar
UTC

Atypical Canadian
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
 
Atypical Canadian
@adri avatar
2009 Vespa S50(LX150 motor swap), 2006 Vespa GTS250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2319
Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
And that's only one year of sitting!

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