Modern Vespa

My new-to-me LXV150 was in the shop last week to have some work done on it since it had been sitting for 2 years with the same tank of gas. The mechanic used Seafoam additive. Will is take a full tank of gas or more before it's out of there? The only difference I am noticing (besides the obvious power) between the LX50 and the LXV150 is that it does not start on the first press of the ignition. It usually takes two tries. Is this due to the additive? Will it get better? Am I expecting too much? It always starts, it's just a choppy start.

Do you crack the throttle slightly?

Hot or cold seems to be the only way to get mine to start consistently first try.

Don't sweat the seafoam, just run like normal.

Your starting observations are normal, and everyone has their own tricks.

I *very slowly* twist the throttle while holding the starter until it fires up.

Sounds like my scenario is pretty typical. I do crack the throttle a little when starting and that does seem to help a little.

Thanks for letting me know that this is normal

Will the problem dissipate after the seafoam has run through?

The seafoam will help unvarnish the carb that has sat for so long.

I've never used it to specifically clean a gummed up carb, but I use it every 800-1000 miles to help keep things clean and although some say it's a snakeoil, I think it helps.

It will be gone when your current take of gas is.

Considering how long its sat, it probably wouldn't hurt to add some to the next couple of fillups. I add 2.5 oz of seafoam to a full tank of gas.

Did the mechanic remove the carb, clean it out and clean the jets, etc. or just add the SeaFoam?

SeaFoam has worked pretty well for me. Never notice it's there; it just mixes in with the gas. However, it has its limits and can't fix a really gunked up carb or clogged jet.

If you're having a carb issue, the scoot will probably idle poorly, stall, and die when you try to give it gas.

My mechanic (certified with Vespa) said that the carb was surprisingly clean for having sat so long. The original owner did start it every few weeks so that probably helped. Luckily, my only issue is starting it every morning. It is just rougher to start than the smaller scoot we have. I was wondering if this was the seafoam or just the way the LXV150 is? Thankfully, no issues with poor idle, stalling or dying.

Thanks!

Think it's just the nature of the beast.

I've done the evap and dialed in idle speed and mixture. Even tried the richer jet that Motorsports recommends. Still need(ed) to give it a small amount of throttle to get it to start "first kick."

The fact that the PO started the scoot every few weeks is the reason the carb is clean and not gummed up. It's my understanding the gum in the carb comes from gas the evaporated while in the carb, leaving the gummy parts of the gas in the carb. If he started it up every few weeks, the gas never really had a chance to evaporate to gum up the carb.

If he added a large amount of SeaFoam, you may notice it is harder to start as the SF is not a fuel and will not burn as easily as the gas. This is likely to clear up in a few tanks of fresh gas/petrol.