Scooter won't start after winter, What is wrong?

[1918militaria]

  I added stable to the gas in the tank on the onset of winter. Winter is over and I've tried to start it twice now after draining the gas and adding new gas but still will not start.

 It has plenty of spark. Air should not be a problem it ran fine before it got cold. Gas is the only thing I can think of.

 Does my scooter just need a carb cleaning?

  Mike

[goosestale]

Did you have a battery tender on the battery? Sometimes they hold enough power to get it to turn over, but not enough to get it going.

[ron521]

almost certainly you will find that the carb bowl is full of stale fuel, and/or the jets themselves are clogged with gum and varnish.  Gasoline evaporates out of the carb vent, leaving behind a thick, unburnable residue.
Cleaning the carb thorougly will help

[scooter 49]

When you added the Stabil to the gas tank did you let the engine run for at least 5 minutes? You have to let the Stabilized gas get through the gas lines and carb before storing. Some people also drain the carb of gas before storing as well. I have never drained the carb and both of my scooters start up right away in Spring.
You also have to add Stabil to FRESH gas, not gas that has been sitting for awhile.

[1918militaria]

  Hi Guys and thanks for the replies.

I did let it run a little bit when I added the stable as common sense told me I needed to get it into the whole system but I don't recall how long I let it run.

 I have a battery charger and removed the battery for the winter and stored it in a closet. It was near brand new when I removed it having had just replaced it after the first cold snap.

  Is cleaning the carb something i can do myself? Or draining it for next winter? I'd run it all winter but I find it does not like the cold at all.

  I may have to drag it into the local shop again. I don't know about you guys but the savings in gas never showed it self with all the trips to the shop.

  Mike

[goosestale]

 Just storing it in the closet won't keep your battery through the winter. You need to keep it on a tender. Even a new battery. I learned that the hard way. It may seem to have a good charge even, as I said. It'll try and turn over, but it won't fire it up. My battery would even give a good half dozen + shots at it before it died out from trying. Once I put a new battery to it, fired right up. I would try that first before going through the whole cleaning of the carb. Can you borrow a known good battery to test it out?

[scooter 49]

Draining the gas from the carb is as easy as finding the screw on the bottom of the carb. You probably have a rubber drain hose coming out from that spot. Turn the screw counterclockwise which will drain the gas out of the carb. Remember to close it back up after the gas has drained. This is also a good way to tell if gas is even getting to your carb. If you open the drain screw and nothing comes out it is possible your vacuum valve is stuck closed.

[1918militaria]

Scooter 49,

Ahhh I might be a dummy but I don't even know where the carb is The scooter is so enclosed in plastic I can't see much. It might be the gizmo I see under the seat. I'll look around for it. But as to borowing a battery I don't have that option and a new one is 55 bucks.

  Now I have a trickle charger but am under the impression that over charging it will kill it too?

  Oh ya it might help, I have a 250 cc Roadster made by JM star I believe.

  Mike

[goosestale]

 The trickle charger was designed for that purpose. This should be a 12 v trickle charger designed for a motorcycle battery, not a car.
 As for the carborator, yes it's probably under the seat. I know to get to my drain screw I would have to take off the plastics. This thred will show you what it looks like, drain screw at the bottom isn't highlighted though. Wish I had more time this morning but someone can fill you in better.

http://www.scooterforumonline.com/index.php/topic,1603.0.html

[scooter 49]

To clean the carb thoroughly you will have to remove it. Yes, on mine and most others, you have to remove the seat bucket to gain full access to it. The jets inside the carb should be removed and generously sprayed with carb cleaner. Every hole, nick, and cranny should be thoroughly cleaned. By the picture Goosey has referred to you will know what the carb looks like and where the drain screw is. On mine you can reach the drain screw without removing anything. You must have the correct size phillips head screwdriver or flat head screwdriver before messing with those screws. The heads on them can wreck pretty easily otherwise.