I’m loosing my mind. Can I have some advice please ?

[getsomegetsome]

Hello

I recently purchased a ‘07 125PX that is in nice condition ( 3000 miles ) but has sat in a garage for 3 years not being used. It sailed through its MOT.
Please forgive the high detail here but I thought I’d give you everything I know about the problem.
When I got it  it had less than a 1/4 of a tank of old fuel in it and was advised by a friend to just filled it up with the good super stuff . So the old was diluted with good .Since then I rode it on a 3 mile trip and after 1 1/2 miles it started to die. I pulled out the choke and it came back. 10 seconds later it started to die again so I pushed the choke back it. Again it came back to life and I got home.
next day went on a 7 mile ride. Same thing happened again but after that went like a dream.
Next day talked the wife into getting on the back for a day out. Got 1 mile died. This time the choke didn’t make any difference. Stopped in a lay-by and after 5 minutes gave it a kick and it came back to life. Travelled another couple of miles same again. This happened 7 times had to call the day off and limp home.

When I got home I stripped the float out and jets the carb. I was amazed to find the bowl that was the one passed the float and that small round gauze was full of what looked like sand. I’m talking loads like a teaspoon full. Cleaned all that out and the jets with carb cleaner spray . I was pretty happy it was clean inside.
The fuel tap didn’t seem to totally close as a few drips seemed to keep coming through. But when it was turned on if poured out.
I sucked all the fuel out the tank. Took the tank out the scooter ,put a cup full of fuel back in the tank, shook it about and tripped it out. So as to remove anymore dirt.
Rebuilt it all and added a new spark plug with correct gap.

kicked it over and it bust into life.
took it for a test run…………..a mile away it just died. After a 5 minute wait kicked it over again started first kick.

Went home opened up the carb and it was spotless ! 
Im loosing my mind and am at a loss. 

I’d just like to be able to take the Wife out who’s not keen on two wheels as it is and show her it’s safe and fun. Rather than sat in a lay by surrounded with piles of human sh*t ( not joking ! ).

lads I need you help here. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

[adrian]

OK, so you cleaned the carb with carb cleaning spray , this it good for removing alot of the dirt and general gum, but an ultrasonic cleaner will remove all the very small bits and pieces from inside the jets and passageways in the carb body. Ultrasonic cleaners are very cheap on ebay ect, don't need a large one, just a small jewelry size works 👍. Another thought, are you sure it's a fuel issue, now the carb and tank have been cleaned ? Have you checked for a spark, after it has stopped running, if there is no spark it could be the plug breaking down when it gets hot, or even the cdi or regulator, let us know how you get on and hopefully you will have it running like a Swiss watch very soon

[alan34]

Hello there I had a similar trouble when I put in the wrong fuel line in. I would renew fuel line for what it costs but make sure u get the right one.also when it cuts out is plug wet or dry and is it sparking you can check all in one go when it cuts out.this could be cdi failure or maybe ht lead. Good luck with it you will get there in the end let us know how you get on cheers alan.

[getsomegetsome]

Right thank you for your replies.

I’m going to take it for a blip tomorrow morning and see what happens.
I’ll report back.

[alan34]

Hello there forgot to say try pulling up cover on cdi box and check wire
connections for corrosion and tightnes I've a feeling its electrical at fault but you never know cheers alan.

[getsomegetsome]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !
She’s running like a dream. 😃
So I basically went through everything again. Everything was sparkling. The only thing I did this time that I hadn’t done before is make sure the hole in the fuel cap was clear.
I hate to say it but it may very well have been something as simple as that. As each time I broke down I seemed to have gone the same distance.

Thank you for your advice lads. I wouldn’t have found it on my own.
Just waiting for the Wife to get home as I’m taking her out for a surprise pub dinner on the scoot.

Cheers

[alan34]

Well done I'd never of thought of that when you take cap of you might of heard a hiss as the air rushes in you always learning something with vespas.happy days.

[getsomegetsome]

Hold the press !!!
No it’s not working. Took the Wife out. Broke down. Exactly the same.
I really don’t understand. I took it out today did 7 miles at least . Went flat out a couple of times and it didn’t miss a beat. Thought great all sorted.

Went out just died. Kept going with my fingers crossed died again. Took out the plug to see how it was. Looked dry but also a bit grubby for a new plug that’s done less than 10 miles.
Swapped the plug with an old one that I had in the box. Got the Wife picked up.
I headed home in 3 miles broke down 4 times.

[getsomegetsome]

May 17, 2022 16:16:08 GMT alan34 said:

Well done I'd never of thought of that when you take cap of you might of heard a hiss as the air rushes in you always learning something with vespas.happy days.

Unfortunately not. It’s not that.

[alan34]

Hello. for what it costs put a new ht lead in it could be a intermittent breakdown in lead let us know how you get on.

[adrian]

Do you have a local friend who could let you try there cdi and see it that fixes the problem. I have a used bgm cdi if you find that's the problem

[getsomegetsome]

May 17, 2022 6:52:33 GMT alan34 said:

Hello there forgot to say try pulling up cover on cdi box and check wire
connections for corrosion and tightnes I've a feeling its electrical at fault but you never know cheers alan.

Pulled the boot up and it looks like new. Opened the small black box above it and that’s spotless too.

[ironsloth]

Check the tank for rust. Also fit a rubber plug cap, I found these are way better than the plastic ones. What plug you using?

[scooterbooter]

Oh dear keep the faith. Such an intermittent problem is a real bitch. Here's what I think . Intermittent problems are usually electrical so I'm going to say BAD EARTH. it's been sat a while and the metal used in these things are pretty cheap. Try giving all your earths a clean and a nice and tight doing up.

[scooterbooter]

Oh ueah and as said above new plug and ht always a good call.

[getsomegetsome]

Sorry lads on the delay in my reply as I’ve been working on it trying to sort it out.

BUT THE SAGA CONTINUES !!!!

We’ve had 2 1/2 solid days of messing with it now , with numerous test rides and it’s still not sorted.
Thought we’d figured it out a couple of time but no.
The strange thing is in testing every now and then it will be ok. My mate has ridden it twice and it didn’t miss a beat. I’ll ride it and all of a sudden the same problem returns. At 17 stone I’m 5 stone heavier than my mate.
Anyway this is what’s been done so far

Carb has been stripped down into its individual parts 5 times and throughly cleaned. It’s spotless.
Cap has now been drilled with a 3mm hole. So lots of air flow.
Tank has been removed and cleaned out twice . A new fuel was tap fitted. But when we watched it flow into a bottle it was taking loads of air in from a weird tube on the top. So that has now been changed to another new tap but now a BGM fast flow.
It pours out now with no air bubbles. I have no idea why the other tap had that tube !
The pipe has been changed twice. One pipe we thought was too soft and might kink when suspension squashed. So that has now been change to a harder one. It has also been cut to the correct 650mm length.
The carb has a new float and needle.
All jets are spotless.
We borrowed a cdi and that didn’t make any difference. So I’m happy that the cdi , Ht lead is good.
Tried 2 different temperature spark plugs.

Now each time we’ve done this we’ve gotten out on the road and the first mile is fine and then the same old problems. The weird thing is that if my mate rides it it’s fine. He did 5 miles no problem.
I get on it and not even a mile down the road and it just dies.
But one thing we found out. When I bounce up and down when it’s dying it will burst back into life and ride for another mile then die. Bounce and another mile and so on.

I’ve basically used up all my favours with help as it’s so bloody frustrating. Each time we’re sure it’s sorted but no.

My next test is the wiring to the ignition switch. In case some wiring has worn through. But it’s only done 3k miles .
I have to do some work and look after the kids. So I can’t put loads of time in for a bit.

The only place I haven’t looked is behind the flywheel. So I’ve ordered a puller. Could these problems be from something behind there ?

Is there anything else you think I should check ?

I lost my mind over this some time ago now. The bit where it works for my mate is a particularly big kick in the tits.
No one say go on a diet please !!!!

[adrian]

It might be a stator plate issue 🤔 can't think why bouncing it would make a difference, unless it is a fuel/carb issue 🤷‍♂️,

[getsomegetsome]

May 28, 2022 14:09:41 GMT adrian said:

It might be a stator plate issue 🤔 can't think why bouncing it would make a difference, unless it is a fuel/carb issue 🤷‍♂️,

I’ve completely exhausted all fuel issues. I’m starting to think that maybe there’s a break or worn spot in the wiring and that could explain the bouncing working. BUT that wouldn’t explain the same distances between dying. That would say fuel to me. 🤷‍♂️

[adrian]

It's so hard trying to diagnosis your problem without actually being there and working on it, but as to say, bouncing seems to bring it back to life, and milage is about the same distance which goes back to fuel 🤔. Will give this so real thought and let you know what I can think of 😶

[shaunbond]

I've had a read through this and by the sounds of it you've exhausted all the potential fuel issues. As someone says it's really difficult diagnosing faults over the internet, however have you considered if the LT pick up is failing? As soon as it stops, immediately take the plug out and check for a spark, if none, leave it 10 mins or so and do nothing else then check again. If it sparks I'd put my money on the LT pick up.

They tend to break down with heat but once cooled a little will work again.

[getsomegetsome]

Worth having a look. But it wouldn’t explain why my mate can ride it with no problems. But as soon as I do if fails. I bounce up and down and it comes back.

[L4NFF]

 It's a long shot but it could be a crank seal. Sat for 3 years without moving! seals can go hard and suck air in. Drain your oil and have a smell for petrol, remove your fly wheel and see if there is any evidence of a leak. Same thing happened to me once before but I never got the distances you mention.

[alan34]

Hello there. this seems to be fuel related if your friend rides it ok then it cuts out when you ride it and comes back to life when bouncing it. it might be the weight pushing frame low and petrol being gravety fed might not get through as quick as it needs to. a fast flow tap might sort it I'm guessing here though.it could be worth thinking about.let us know how you get on cheers alan.

[scuffa]

If bouncing up and down gets it to fire up again then perhaps a wire is partially broken in the loom? I you are taking the flywheel off I would check continuity of the wires with a meter while wiggling the loom.