Modern Vespa

ok, so I got a new lx150 last week and have been doing a little riding, as this is my first scooter and I am just getting used to it, but yesterday I took it out for a small 10 mile ride and when I got back home, it would not start up again, I assumed that I must have somehow flooded it when I was riding or something; however, that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense... also, the damn thing took forever to eventually start up and when it did it would not idle, it would just turn off, until about the 5th or 6th time it started, I used to ride off road vehicles that would start up within 5 minutes after a flood, so I am very confused... if anyone might be familiar with this situation, any advice would be appreciated because my dealer is closed til tuesday and I would hate to bug him if this is normal or a known issue caused by rider error or something... but now it is making a weird random clicking sound every once in awhile when it does idle, so I have no idea what happened- this thing is less than a week old...

Have you overfilled the fuel tank?

no it says it is only 1/2 full...

Is it a new 2009/20 model, or an older (but still new) model. I ask because if it has sat for a while, you may have a gummed up carb.

When I had that problem, the symptoms were (1) hard to start, (2) no idle - I had to keep giving the scooter some gas or else it would stall on me.

If the scooter has been overfilled or tipped, you may have gas in the aircleaner, starving the engine of air. Removing the aircleaner to see if it smells like gas should tell you. If it does, ring it out, clean it, oil it and replacing should help.

Last, never, ever trust the fuel needle guage on the LX. Mine broke a couple of time, and now only reads 1/2 when the tank is full. I know how many kilometers I can get out of a tank, and I know how much further I can go when the orange signal light starts to come on.

Hope that you can get this straightened out.

it is a 2009 model, however, I have the same problem as it not starting right and not idling right, but really? I spent 4500 on a vehicle whose fuel gauge can't be trusted? I only bought a vespa because everyone kept saying how good they are... seems like I was misinformed...

I flooded when my LX when it was new. I was used to my fuel injected Burgman and wasnt starting the Vespa correctly. You have to give it just a little gas to start it. Even then when cold it usually takes 2-3 tries to start it. It will die immediately after releasing the throttle. I have 2 a 2008 and 2009 and they never start right up when cold. Its not a problem now that I know how the bike reacts.

My bikes were purchased 2 weeks apart. The 2009 has a double cable from the throttle to the carb the 2008 does not. Both have electric fuel pumps. Ive been told that early 2008s dont have the electric fuel pump.

ok, so it is not messed up if I have to try 3 times to start it and have to hold the throttle down for 10 seconds after it starts or else it doesn't idle? because that just seems like a recipe to flood it again... & is it supposed to make a weird clicking sound after it is flooded?

I am just confused because the one I test drove started without turning the throttle and idled fine... but of course it was a lame color, lol, so I didn't buy that one

Oddly enough. My when brand new my LX started just fine without the throttle for the first few days. I thought it was fuel injected. My dealer ( a FORD dealer and brand new Vespa dealer) had told me that they were all fuel injected except the GT200. He was obviously misinformed and I had done no specific research on the 150. Then all the sudden it wouldnt start, I would crank and crank and crank on the start button. I believe this flooded it. I finally read the manual and gee it talked about the carburetor. I visited a different dealer who had been in business for 3 years and he told me how to start it. Ive had no issues since then. Im not sure about the clicking sound. The fuel pump does make a clicking or pumping sound sometimes when you turn the key to the ON position before starting the scoot. It only does this if the carb needs fuel. I just went to the garage and checked. My yellow scoot has not been ridden for a few days. It made the fuel pump sound when i turned the key. The blue scoot was ridden an hour ago and made no sound. After starting the yellow scoot, turning it off and then turning the key back to the ON position it did not make the fuel pump sound. Typically I turn the throttle 1/8 to 1/4 turn while hitting the start button. I release the throtte when it starts. Its common to do this 2-3 times because the engine dies.

good to know, thanks soo much!! yeah it is like a gurgly clicking sound, didn't notice it before, but I prolly super flooded it because it wouldn't start for like hours...

My ET4 always starts on the first try and idles quite nicely. I would adjust the air/oil mixture. They are probably running too lean.

I didn't realize the new LX's have a fuel pump. Mine just has an air activated fuel tap.

Shane

Shane

Perhaps your idle speed is set too low. Try raising it and see if that makes any noticeable difference.

ok, so I will take it back to the dealer then, thanks for the helpful info.

ok, I just read Michael_h's instructions on where to adjust the idle, on a former thread (seems the lx150 has this problem a lot)- but it is like 100 degrees outside, so a little later I will try it, does turning it "in"
mean to the right? and do I need a special tool? or since I have no experience whatsoever with this, should I leave it to a professional?

It is the minimum flow screw of the carburetor for engines LEADER. Usually it is a bit rich for compatibility with Euro normative. This screw is responsable of minium flow , and it the promote the fuel depression from minimum to medium speed. That's why we must accelerate a bit to make it start when the engine is cold. If in turn the screw clockwise by 1 / 16 or 1 / 8 the situation can improve a little bit because you do the mixture at least a bit more lean. Do not confuse this screw with the screw of the minimum (idle). Do not expect miracles but the situation improves a bit, but be careful not to overdo it otherwise you risk to make the engine lean at the lowest speeds.