Trouble starting scooter, help appreciated.

**michaelqian** · 3rd May 2008, 15:35

Hi all, I'm new here.

I'll try to make a long story short, hopefully someone can help.

A month ago I bought a 2007 Lifan Scooter, 50cc. It ran fine for the first week (I didn't ride it much though).

Then I started riding it to University. From two weeks ago roughly it started having trouble starting in the mornings, also sometimes on the way back, when the engine is cold, especially difficult after a weekend when I havn't started it for two days. (will always eventually start, sometimes takes a lot of attempts, runs fine when after it starts)

I took it into a scooter shop, they told me its most likely to be a faulty autochoke, which made sense, so today I took it in, the guy found the wiring done the wrong way, so he fixed that and didn't replace the autochoke, as it's hard to tell if it's really faulty or not when the engine is warm, and he told me it should start good now.

Unfortunately when I left I had trouble starting it right there on the spot, the girl from the shop came out and told me I wasn't starting it right, I had to hold the electric button until it starts. So she tried, first time it didn't start, did start the second time, but I don't think the electric button should be held for that long.

This is how I normally start it...

Hold brake (both works), hold down electric button and give it some gas, if it doesn't go within 5 seconds, I let go and try again.

Am I doing it wrong? If so what's the correct method?

When I got home, after about 30 minutes I tried again, but still no luck with electric start, it will spin but won't fire up, I kickstarted it, then electric start worked.

Really puzzled here... Help would be appreciated.

Thanks

**idb** · 3rd May 2008, 17:40

Try it without any throttle.
The auto choke should be enough I would have thought.

**JimO** · 3rd May 2008, 17:50

its not made by Jeep is it

**michaelqian** · 3rd May 2008, 21:15

RE 2

No throttle then it definitely won't start? it'll just make that electric sound.

**KelvinAng** · 4th May 2008, 00:00

My scooter sometimes start using just the starter (usually when the weather is not that cold), and sometimes she needs gas. I've been told by the scooter shop mechanic to give it some gas whenever I start her up.

Two mornings ago it was really cold (there's ice formed on the surfaces) and she took much longer than usual to start up, and then dies after a while. I suppose that's normal due to the cold. I now made it a habit to start her up while on the main stand and revved her a bit, then let her sit idle while I put on my helmet and gloves. I guess that gives her a bit more time to warm up before I ride her onto the road (busy road where I have to ride at full throttle to stay in the flow of traffic).

**Katman** · 4th May 2008, 14:52

Make sure you have a good quality sparkplug in it. Lifans come out with crap Chinese plugs.

**WarlockNZ** · 4th May 2008, 17:30

Have you tried setting it on fire??

LOL .. no seriously, if it's just turning over and not firing, i'd start by check the sparkplug/s, see if there is any spark at all, if not, replace.

While there, can you smell fuel in the cylinder?, if not check fuel line and filter.

Can it be crash started? or will it just not run at all.

**michaelqian** · 5th May 2008, 10:00

Started first time this morning.

But then I can't freakin believe it, broke down on me half way to uni.

I noticed from when I went out it was slower than before, was better after a little while, it feels a bit like the bike is trying to go backwards at low speeds, on Great South Road it took a very long time to reach 50km/hr, going up the hill after Foodtown it started to choke a bit and slows down and started to make this really high pitched noise, had to stop it, then can't start it back up again.

Going to call real mechanic this time and see what the problem is.

**idb** · 5th May 2008, 10:38

That might be wise I think.
Good luck.

**TygerTung** · 5th May 2008, 13:04

Did you buy it from a shop? Perhaps you should take it back under warrenty

**Sollyboy** · 5th May 2008, 18:31

Originally Posted by michaelqian

Started first time this morning.

But then I can't freakin believe it, broke down on me half way to uni.

I noticed from when I went out it was slower than before, was better after a little while, it feels a bit like the bike is trying to go backwards at low speeds, on Great South Road it took a very long time to reach 50km/hr, going up the hill after Foodtown it started to choke a bit and slows down and started to make this really high pitched noise, had to stop it, then can't start it back up again.

Going to call real mechanic this time and see what the problem is.

That sounds like rings cracked or blowing by or a holed piston, how much did you pay for it ?is it a name brand? do you have a warranty?

**wasabioik** · 6th May 2008, 17:33

Problem will be the carburator.
Autochoke: need to be checked
Cylinder compressor need to be check
Also sparls pluge: check the spark strong enough or not

If that brand new: return to shop to do the warraty.

If you have tools.

Pls. take pictures carburator and send them to me. I will consult you as much as I can.
I am using scooter also, 110cm3

do not hesitae to contact me.

phuongyume@gmail.com

P/S: I just try to help and giving my opinion. Because I do not know give mail adress here will be alowed or not

**Squiggles** · 6th May 2008, 18:57

Yuck, lifan's, the quality of build aint great. Take it back if its under warranty...

**michaelqian** · 7th May 2008, 12:58

Unfortunately no warranty.

It's 2007, done 1070km so far, the previous owner bought from 50/50 Racing Panmure.

I don't think their service is that great, their attitude seems to be that as long as they well a scooter they don't want anything to do or hear anything about it.

I understand perfectly there is no warranty on it anymore but the way the girl form the shop speaks it still sounds like I'm trying to get it fixed under warranty.

Also the scooter was running perfect before I took it in to get the "starting problem" fixed, after the guy said he switched the wires around it breaks down, which makes me think he did something wrong.

Now it's at Davy's Motorcycles being looked at, hopefully in the next hour I can find out what's wrong with it.

**michaelqian** · 7th May 2008, 14:30

just heard back from the mechanic, he said the a nut from the crankshaft has fallen off, not exactly sure what that means but will ask him when I get there.