Modern Vespa

The basics: 07 LX105, purchased in March 08. About 1100 miles. Mainly used for a very short (3 mile) commute on surface streets (stop and go, 25-45 mph) and the occasional errand. Boston area

The problem: This morning, I turned the key, lights came on, pressed the killswitch, and before I got my thumb to the ignition button, the lights died. Fiddled with key and buttons for a few minutes, but no luck. Parked it again and quickly dashed for the subway.

The hypotheses: Loose spark plug, fried spark plug, dead battery.

Anything else I should look for? Is there any sort of surefire way of determining that the battery is dead, aside from putting it in another scooter? Anyone know if Herb Chambers sells spark plugs or has a rapid charger?

Dead battery. Too many short journeys without any charging in between.

If your lights died, I wouldn't think the spark plug is involved.
It could be the battery (but I would think your lights would dim, not die suddenly), the kill switch (does it shut off the lights? I'll have to check) or a blown fuse/bad contact (It wouldn't start! Solution found!).

A battery tender would be a good idea for you, given you're doing short trips (which may not allow scooter sufficient time to recharge the the battery) and with winter coming, it's good to keep the battery charged overwinter.

Regards
Harvey

Get ready for a bunch of dumb questions.....

Can you tell if a spark plug is fried just by looking at it or shaking and listening to it? For some reason I'm assuming it's like a light bulb with busted filaments.

If the battery is the issue, I'm guessing popping it out and putting it on the Battery Tender Jr (12 v, right?) is the way to go? I don't have a garage or anything. Is the battery a pain to take out and put back in? Should I just call it a season?

If it's like the GTS; easy peasy. The hump between the foot boards has a rubber mat with four screws. Remove the screws & the mat et voila! the battery. Charge it up and you're probably good to go. If that fails, take the battery to any motorcycle shop and ask them to check it.

I don't think you'll have to, but the quick check of spark is to remove the spark plug, touch the plug's base to the engine to ground it (with the spark plug cap in place) and engage the starter. You should see a good spark between the electrodes. Remember there's current flowing so be careful.

Regards
Harvey

Battery on the LX is under the seat, you will have to remove the rectangular cover to the rear of the pet carrier. You don't have to remove the battery to charge it, but it is not hard to remove. Just be careful not to short out the positive terminal.

Okay, Battery Tender Jr is ordered. I think tonight I'll just pop the battery out, walk the grueling 3 blocks to the Vespa dealer and make a sad puppy dog face until they check its levels. Then perhaps I'll bat my eyelashes until they charge it for me. After that, I'll start with putting it on the tender once a week and see where that gets me, and be aware of the possibility of a dud battery.

Have you been checking the electrolyte levels in the battery? If it is a wet battery, you may need to top up with distilled water (but don't over fill above the line indicated on the battery case).