Modern Vespa

This morning my LX150 wouldn't start. i have had it for a couple of weeks. I purchased it used and it had 600kms when I bought it. I have since put another 200 kms on it. From the beginning it always required a bit of throttle to get it going and usually took one or two attempts to get it started. However, today it wouldn't start at all. I didn't have a long time to try and get it going but I did make 5-6 attempts. I stopped because I didn't want to wear down the battery.

I don't think that it's an ignition/battery issue (just a hunch) because when I press the starter it sounds fairly strong.

Since I bought it I have had 2 fill-ups. I may have given it too much gas when I first filled it up. The second time I gassed up I was careful not to overfill and I also added some seafoam as the bike had been inactive for a while. Should I remove the evap hose to see if this will get it started? If so, how do I access the carburetor?

Thanks for any help!

If you were giving the throttle a small twist each time, you may have flooded it. On these cooler days, you can use the carb warmer to help out. Turn the engine switch and key on and let the scooter sit for a short period of time (about 1 minute) before you try to start the scooter. Don't let it sit too long because your headlight will also be on (with the carb heater) and will run down the battery.

You may also want to throw the battery on a tender to ensure that it is fully charged..

Also consider doing an idle jet swap at some point. I found that when I switched idle jets, these types of starting problems disappeared.
Replacing LX150 Idle Jet

Carburetor access couldn't be easier... just lift out the "pet carrier" (the underseat bucket). The carb is right on top of the engine in plain sight.

I don't know what year your LX is but they have a battery that doesn't last more than a few years. I'd look into replacing the battery at some point. Once you start to have problems it's downhill from there Good luck.

I have personally noticed and after perusing the forum a bit, realized that the LX 150 has some problems starting within 2 hours of rainfall. I have experienced this after riding in some rain and also immediately after pulling it out of a dry garage. I think that the air is too humid immediately surrounding the engine, so the gasoline doesn't combust.

Maybe this helps?

Based upon my subjective impression, I haven't noticed this. Perhaps members who live in areas that get more frequent rainfall can comment in.

I haven't noticed this problem either. My LX ALWAYS starts (in cold weather I may have to press the starter button a couple of times due to the infamous "sticky Bendix" problem).

A vehicle that has problems starting in high humidity would be pretty useless.

^ My point exactly. It is really annoying. If I let it run for a few minutes after riding in the rain, it seems like the engine starts better next time. I'm planning on getting a NGK iridium spark plug, but to the original poster, I wonder if it could just be the spark plug? My engine turns and reeks of gasoline, it just never catches during those conditions. Do you experience the same thing?

No, but I'd suspect you have an evap canister problem, not a spark plug problem. But maybe a quick look at the plug and a test to see if you have spark under damp conditions would be worthwhile.

When I got back from work I was able to start my scooter, it started right away. I went to do some errands and after my first stop I had a hard time starting - took several attempts. So this seems to be an intermittent problem. This weekend I'll do the following:

- Check Spark Plug
- Disconnect Evap hose
- Clean air filter

Is there anything else I should do myself before I go to a mechanic (if my own maintenance doesn't solve the problem?

Thanks again!

PS: I'm not very knowledgeable about scooter repairs but should be able to figure out these 3 items

I have no problems at all starting mine. Aside from the above, you might want to also check your gas filter and try some Sea Foam in your gas tank. Perhaps you got some stale gas, dirty gas or gas with a little water in it? http://www.webbikeworld.com/sea-foam/

Heres some stuff that may help.
I cleaned the jets in my carb on my 2008 Fly 150 last weekend and took some pictures.
I have been told the engine is the same as an LX.
This can be done with just a few tools.
I have really never worked on cars or motorcycles before.
It took me a few hours but that was due to stripped screws from last dealer service and driving around finding metric screws.
I also took all the covers off to see stripped screws better.
Don't let carb cleaner touch any plastic or rubber! (melts them)

Hope this helps.

Also here is a link to some manuals for LX.
http://manuals.wotmeworry.org.uk/Vespa/LX150/

NUTS THE PICTURES CAME OUT BACKWARDS.

Go from bottom to top. (my first pictute post. Can ya tell?)

Well done! Very brave... Now that all's said and done, it wasn't so bad, no? (Save for the stripped screws, which must be the bane of my existence.)

Check to make sure that the spark plug boot has a strong connection to the wire. I've know it to loosen to the point where it looks and feels like it's on there snugly, but it wasn't, causing intermittent starting problems (and the problems became worse, I thought, when it was wet). You're going to be in there to check the plug anyway. It screws on and off. So just unscrew it, sometimes you'll see some greenish corrosion, and screw it back on tightly. Good luck.

fly_boy, thanks for the photos and instructions. Now the question, is this very similar to removing the carb. and cleaning the jets on an ET4 150? Somebody knows. If so, I'd sure like to save this for future reference.

The engine if yours if Leader engine is going to be the same, so it should apply to your ET4.

Thanks, Benny, but how do you tell if it is a leader? ET4 150 (2003).

I have a 09 Vespa 150cc I did have some problems starting it, because I had the kick stand up and both wheels where on the ground and I had a hard time keep it running, but when I had both wheels off the ground it starts just fine no problem at all.

Sorry for the very very late response. Your ET4 has the LEADER engine as the pre-LEADER engine was phased out in 1999-2000.

I wonder if your spark plug harness connection is solidly connected. It might be a bit loose.