OP
@jimmythehat avatar
UTC

Addicted
GRAPHITE LX 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 762
Location: delaware, Bethany Beach
 
Addicted
@jimmythehat avatar
GRAPHITE LX 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 762
Location: delaware, Bethany Beach
UTC quote
I guess the heading says it all. Almost 300 mi. and makes a
short noise and gets stuck doesn't turn over. Ten seconds
later it starts like normal. If or when I take it in I'd like to sound as if I know whats probably wrong and what would fix it, unless its simple and
I can do it myself.

Not mechanical but can follow instructions.
Appreciate any suggestions.
THANKS
JIM
@masala avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
946
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6165
Location: Acworth, GA
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@masala avatar
946
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6165
Location: Acworth, GA
UTC quote
Mine with ~5000 miles has done that on and off since new. I've noticed that if I just continue to hold the starter button when it "hesitates", it will pause for a second or two, and then it always turns over (i.e., 100% of the time). I don't know the exact mechanical etiology of the problem, but I know that it's not enough to strand me (us) anywhere, so I haven't bothered with it at the dealer. Next time it happens, just keep holding the brake and the starter and I bet that it'll kick over. Best of luck!
@judy avatar
UTC

World Traveler
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
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Posts: 29303
 
World Traveler
@judy avatar
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
Joined: UTC
Posts: 29303
UTC quote
I give mine a little gas when starting it. Make sure you have the brake on and the scooter on the center stand when you do this, but it does seem to help. LX series does have intermittent hesitation issues.
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Posts: 44570
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
Moderaptor
@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44570
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
New bike? Check the battery connections are tight...
UTC

Member
Joined: UTC
Posts: 19
Location: Pasadena, CA
 
Member
Joined: UTC
Posts: 19
Location: Pasadena, CA
UTC quote
also got an LX, is it normal to always have to hold the throttle when starting? If i don't give it any gas it will not kick over, and if i close back down the throttle from a cold start before 5-10 seconds it dies out. normal?

thanks in advance
@generoso avatar
UTC

Member
Vespa GTS 300 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 48
Location: Italy
 
Member
@generoso avatar
Vespa GTS 300 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 48
Location: Italy
UTC quote
Vespa LX leaves slightly lean from factory, for to be complicance to Euro Normative 3. When cold it does not have the right amount of fuel and therefore hard to start. Simply turns a little the trhottle, when it start, just feel that the engine is started turn 2 time the throttle a bit 1/4 of turn. And it now idle. In 2009 Vespa LX have EFI instead of the carburetor and this problem there isn't because the lambda probe of fuel injection control the right amount of air, fuel and temperature. In carburated engines the amount of air is is always the same with cold and with hot.

I hope this help.
@michael_h avatar
UTC

Moderator
2006 LX150 "Amadora"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7131
 
Moderator
@michael_h avatar
2006 LX150 "Amadora"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7131
UTC quote
jleept wrote:
also got an LX, is it normal to always have to hold the throttle when starting? If i don't give it any gas it will not kick over, and if i close back down the throttle from a cold start before 5-10 seconds it dies out. normal?

thanks in advance
I have found that it is normal to have to give the throttle a little twist just before starting first thing in the morning - particularly on a cooler day.
@benito avatar
UTC

Moderator
2010 Dragon Red GTS 300 Super, 2018 Grigio Titanio Piaggio Liberty S 150
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Posts: 16296
Location: Toronto, Canada, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
 
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@benito avatar
2010 Dragon Red GTS 300 Super, 2018 Grigio Titanio Piaggio Liberty S 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 16296
Location: Toronto, Canada, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
UTC quote
Prior to pressing on the start button, I will give a full quick twist and release of the throttle, then hit the start button. I find this starts the LX and the GT up really easily and without fail.
@dutch avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
LXV 150 GTV 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2471
Location: Logan OH USA
 
Ossessionato
@dutch avatar
LXV 150 GTV 250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2471
Location: Logan OH USA
UTC quote
Mine has that little hesitation in the starter also. I just hit the starter button again and it'll go. This morning I hit the button and it fired right up.

It's almost like the starter hits a dead spot on the flywheel but I know that's not it.

I'll have to try cranking the throttle before I start to see what happens.
@arctic_circle_rider avatar
UTC

Enthusiast
GTS300 Super (scrap cube post accident); 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic
Joined: UTC
Posts: 87
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
 
Enthusiast
@arctic_circle_rider avatar
GTS300 Super (scrap cube post accident); 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic
Joined: UTC
Posts: 87
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
UTC quote
generoso wrote:
Vespa LX leaves slightly lean from factory, for to be complicance to Euro Normative 3. When cold it does not have the right amount of fuel and therefore hard to start. Simply turns a little the trhottle, when it start, just feel that the engine is started turn 2 time the throttle a bit 1/4 of turn. And it now idle. In 2009 Vespa LX have EFI instead of the carburetor and this problem there isn't because the lambda probe of fuel injection control the right amount of air, fuel and temperature. In carburated engines the amount of air is is always the same with cold and with hot.

I hope this help.
I have a 2009 LX and it is not fuel injected. Is this a European thing?
@benito avatar
UTC

Moderator
2010 Dragon Red GTS 300 Super, 2018 Grigio Titanio Piaggio Liberty S 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 16296
Location: Toronto, Canada, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
 
Moderator
@benito avatar
2010 Dragon Red GTS 300 Super, 2018 Grigio Titanio Piaggio Liberty S 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 16296
Location: Toronto, Canada, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
UTC quote
I believe Vespa is just starting to introduce the LX 150 with the fuel injected engine. We don't have them yet in Canada.
@generoso avatar
UTC

Member
Vespa GTS 300 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 48
Location: Italy
 
Member
@generoso avatar
Vespa GTS 300 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 48
Location: Italy
UTC quote
Arctic Circle Rider wrote:
generoso wrote:
Vespa LX leaves slightly lean from factory, for to be complicance to Euro Normative 3. When cold it does not have the right amount of fuel and therefore hard to start. Simply turns a little the trhottle, when it start, just feel that the engine is started turn 2 time the throttle a bit 1/4 of turn. And it now idle. In 2009 Vespa LX have EFI instead of the carburetor and this problem there isn't because the lambda probe of fuel injection control the right amount of air, fuel and temperature. In carburated engines the amount of air is is always the same with cold and with hot.

I hope this help.
I have a 2009 LX and it is not fuel injected. Is this a European thing?
In Italy in may 2009 Piaggio start to sell Vespa LX with carburator and with Electronic Fuel Injection.
@masala avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
946
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6165
Location: Acworth, GA
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@masala avatar
946
Joined: UTC
Posts: 6165
Location: Acworth, GA
UTC quote
Any updates?
@gaseous_clay avatar
UTC

Addicted
1978 P200E, 1963 GS 160
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Posts: 663
Location: Decatur, GA
 
Addicted
@gaseous_clay avatar
1978 P200E, 1963 GS 160
Joined: UTC
Posts: 663
Location: Decatur, GA
UTC quote
Is it sort of a whine, like a dremel's running down in the engine?

Charge up your battery. If your battery is too low, the starter gear can't move enough to engage the engine. Better yet, buy a new AGM battery and you will rarely have the problem again.

As for giving it throttle when starting up, have the larger idle jet that Motorsport sells installed (or do it yourself). It has helped my cold running and starting quite a bit. The stock idle jet is just a little too small to compensate for emissions.

idle jet

idle jet installation thread

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