Persuading PX125 back into life

[bikeownerus]

Hi,


An elderly neighbour has been storing an '01 PX125 in her dry garage for the last 15 years. It was her daughter's who disappeared to Australia in '03, so it only has about 5000 miles on the clock.


I'm a lifelong biker (although not scooters) and said I'd see if we could get it going and see how near it is to an MoT and sale - I'm also really keen to have a spin around! It seems to be really solid. I've gently turned the engine over - nothing stuck. I have also connected up an external battery and the starter spins. Tyres blown up, it rolls easily and the brakes appear fine.

Although there appears to be fuel and 2-stroke oil, I'd be happier if I could start afresh in both respects and ideally run it on pre-mix so I know it's getting what it needs.

So - any advice please on draining fuel (I think I can find this feed), 2-stroke oil and how can I easily but temporarily set it up to run on purely pre-mix - or is it just a case of draining the 2-stroke tank (presumably would need priming when reverting to auto mix?).

Thanks for any advice to this scooter newbie...…..I have a 22 year old daughter who may be lured into 2 wheels via this iconic machine!!

Doug

[mijapxman]

bikeownerus, the easiest way is to use something like this 👇

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hand-Syphon-Fuel-Oil-Diesel-Petrol-Liquid-Water-Extractor-Transfer-Pump-Tool-Kit-/401409716973?

To remove the old petrol.👆

Remove the two stroke oil by pulling of the small diameter plastic pipe going to the carb box, under the right-hand side panel.

Put the end of the pipe you have removed into a bottle or whatever to catch the old two stroke oil, this may take a wee while, remove the two stroke oil cap under the seat to help gravity along.

With the petrol syphoned, refill the tank with clean petrol. Add about an inch worth of two stroke oil from your new bottle to the new petrol.This will keep the engine from seizing till it gets new oil from the oil tank and  primes the oil pump.

Add the rest of you bottle of two stroke to the oil tank, filling from under the seat, still with the small oil pipe disconnected, wait till you see the new oil filling the small pipe, when you think the new oil has pushed as much of the air out the pipe that it can, reattach the pipe to the carb, don't worry about the air bubble ( about an inch of air bubble left is possible)in the pipe, this is the reason we added some oil to the fuel tank.

Start the scoot with the side panel off, just let it idle and watch for the air bubble disappearing from the pipe, once this has happened your good to go and you know the oil pump is working.
Once you know the pump is working you no longer need to add oil to the fuel anymore.

It's too much fecking about doing it any other way, as it would also require a re-jet of the carb ,amongst other things to run it on premix in the tank, all the time.

Good luck.

Mij☺

[bikeownerus]

Excellent - many thanks Mij for your detailed, informed and utterly sensible response - just what I needed.

I'm really looking forward to having to run from my shed for fear of being overcome by smokey fumes...!

Today I've taken both tanks off the bike, drained and refitted. There was quite a bit of gunk around the petrol tap so I'm a bit concerned there may be similar in the carb itself; I'd rather not have to think about removing that. I'm hoping that if I can get it running, it will clear itself especially with some cleaner in the petrol.

Encouragingly the bike is really solid - no rust or anything!

Keep you posted 

Cheers

[mijapxman]

Jul 1, 2018 13:59:43 GMT bikeownerus said:

Excellent - many thanks Mij for your detailed, informed and utterly sensible response - just what I needed.

I'm really looking forward to having to run from my shed for fear of being overcome by smokey fumes...!

Today I've taken both tanks off the bike, drained and refitted. There was quite a bit of gunk around the petrol tap so I'm a bit concerned there may be similar in the carb itself; I'd rather not have to think about removing that. I'm hoping that if I can get it running, it will clear itself especially with some cleaner in the petrol.

Encouragingly the bike is really solid - no rust or anything!

Keep you posted 

Cheers

If it doesn't start, try cleaning the sparkplug ( if you haven't already 😉)

If it still won't start you may have to clean the carb and fuel tap.

Let  us know how it goes , Bud.

Mij☺

[bikeownerus]

Somewhat frustratingly - despite fresh fuel, fresh 2T oil (primed), plug checked and giving fat spark outside and car battery via jump cables - it's spinning madly but not firing at all??
The plug appears 'wet'. I've tried on kick start but I'm guessing electric give it the best chance (particularly with a big fat battery)? I've also tried as if it were flooded (max throttle) - but again nothing.

Have I missed anything obvious - there's no equivalent of the kill switch I have on my bike is there? There's nothing more than pulling the clutch required other than switching the fuel to horizontal (does A or C translate to normal and reserve?).

Any top tips gratefully received....many thanks! I'm genuinely looking forward to riding this little beast....

Doug

[bikeownerus]

Thanks Mij. I have pulled the plug and given it a cursory clean to ensure there was no whisker, but haven't checked the gap. Nonetheless, checking outside showed good sparking.

I suspect you're right about stripping and cleaning carb and fuel tap ……….unfortunately :-(

I won't give up - it's far too good to disappear as a non-runner for spares.

Thanks again

Doug

[mijapxman]

Jul 1, 2018 19:30:18 GMT bikeownerus said:

Somewhat frustratingly - despite fresh fuel, fresh 2T oil (primed), plug checked and giving fat spark outside and car battery via jump cables - it's spinning madly but not firing at all??
The plug appears 'wet'. I've tried on kick start but I'm guessing electric give it the best chance (particularly with a big fat battery)? I've also tried as if it were flooded (max throttle) - but again nothing.

Have I missed anything obvious - there's no equivalent of the kill switch I have on my bike is there? There's nothing more than pulling the clutch required other than switching the fuel to horizontal (does A or C translate to normal and reserve?).

Any top tips gratefully received....many thanks! I'm genuinely looking forward to riding this little beast....

Doug

No kill switch fitted.

Might be flooded, close petrol tap, remove spark plug, dry it, with plug still out and fuel off, try kicking ( or starter) till no fuel vapour coming from plug hole, replace plug and still with the petrol tap at closed try starting if it starts turn fuel tap on. ( Repeat all the aforementioned if your sure petrol is getting to the cylinder/plug)

If no fuel to cylinder/ plug, pore a egg cup full (approximately) into carb inlet hole after removing the air filter, at least this will let you hear the engine running 😉.

Carb rebuild 👇

www.vespamaintenance.com/fuel/carbrebuild/index.html





www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLri8t7DWSkg26QxOB3zyW6PzVPs9k9V9M

Good luck.
And goodnight lol.
Mij☺

[ironsloth]

From one Doug to another, there is one sure fire way to make it fire first time.... Box of matches, swan vestas preferably, I've been tempted to do that to mine so many times.... How's the scoot coming along? I'm sure mij said, have you tried pouring straight into the carb and kicking it over? Is there any green connections coming out of the box on the top of the engine?

[bikeownerus]

Thank you chaps …. well, I've followed your advice (minus swan vestas) and whilst I wouldn't say she lives and breathes, she did at least momentarily cough and splutter into life following an intravenous injection of petrol - hoorah!

I had to hold it virtually fully open which suggests to me that the carb is well gummed up which I guess is no surprise given that petrol's been sitting there for 15 years.

So, thank you for the youtube links, I'll remove, strip down, clean, lose bits, swear …. etc etc. I do have a mate who both loves 2-strokes and has an ultrasonic cleaner jobby - refuses to touch any of my 4-stroke stuff but will likely be persuaded in this case.

Interestingly (and this is all relative), with the filter off, I could see that the choke mechanism wasn't closing when the choke was pushed back in - that won't have helped.

I also think I've seen and smelt enough to provide sufficient confidence to buy the required battery.

Anyrate, I'll keep you posted - cheers again

[bikeownerus]

Well - she's running and I think pretty well - although my daily ride is a 1 litre Yammie so I'm not sure what to expect?

I had to pull, strip and clean out the carb - the needle valve was solid. Similarly the fuel tap - 15 years of stagnating petrol leaves a unpleasant gunge.

I've also cleaned her up and she looks very good - the odd graze here and there but extremely solid, I guess not surprising after less than 6k miles.

Next step is to try for an MOT and also give her a decent run to clear the lungs - I'm keen to fully understand the appeal of scootering but I'm sure it will be fun.

[bikeownerus]

Thanks again for your help folks - it helped stop a perfectly good little scoot rotting unloved!
I'll keep you posted
Doug

[bikeownerus]

Here are a few pictures of the rejuvenated PX. I'm guessing value is somewhere around £1250, once it has an MOT?
It's running better with use (careful!).
Hope the DropBox technology works
Doug