Modern Vespa

Hi.

I've got a 2006 gt200 that has some kind of starter issue.

Occasionally, when i go to start her, it won't start, so I'll release the starter button. No big deal. I'd say, the starter is trying for a few seconds, i.e., 4-5 seconds. I try again and she fires right up.

Other times when she won't, I'll release the starter button and I'll get this LOUD clank. It is not a good noise. I try again and she starts right up.

Tonight, I try starting her and she won't start and I release the starter button and get that loud, sharp clank noise. I hate that noise! I try again and all i get is the initial fire and then a spinning noise. I try again and get the initial start and then the spinning noise.

I wait, toggle the kill switch, take the key out and all i get is the initial start and the spinning noise.

I wait a minute and try again and she fires right up and i'm off. I get home, in the garage, stop the engine. I then try to start it, fires right up.

The battery is brand new, too.

Where do i begin to look for my problem and is it costly?

I don't want her to fail on me when I can't afford her to do so.

many thanks.

Have your mechanic check the starter 'bendix". What you're describing sounds like the very last days of your ability to start. One day you'll walk up and only hear the spinning till the battery dies.

Yes, the clunk is the worst sound. You can just feel the teethe ripping off of something.

It'd suck if something like the bendix would need replacing. While the scooter has many years on it, she's only have 700 miles on it and has been started maybe 500 times.

how would a new bendix cost?

thanks.

Mine cost $173 to have it replaced... but that included a tow since it failed at work!

Could well be that a good cleaning is all that it needs.