Difficulty starting Vespa then dies
Discussion
My 2008 GT300 goes well until this evening. Good run to local petrol station near work, filled up but then it acted like the battery was flat and wouldn't start.
Gave it a rest and tried again a few times. It started turning over and finally started and then died.
Tried again and held the revs high, awkward on an automatic, jumped on but bloody awkward in heavy traffic. Had to keep the revs high, ride like a lion and modulate speed with the brakes.
Realising I would come a cropper if I rode like that all the way home, I headed back to work where at least it should be safe parked up.
Any ideas?
A quick look under the seat and I could see this badly perished hose.
Gave it a rest and tried again a few times. It started turning over and finally started and then died.
Tried again and held the revs high, awkward on an automatic, jumped on but bloody awkward in heavy traffic. Had to keep the revs high, ride like a lion and modulate speed with the brakes.
Realising I would come a cropper if I rode like that all the way home, I headed back to work where at least it should be safe parked up.
Any ideas?
A quick look under the seat and I could see this badly perished hose.
Sounds like your "in tank" fuel pump or more accurately the vacuum hose that feeds it is the problem . With the engine warmed up and running - open the fuel filler cap and look for gurgling and bubbling within the tank . If it is this then you have a big job to strip all the plastic of to remove the tank for a 3" long hose !
Ok all, OP here. I tried a good look last Saturday and patched hose up. Lots of engine turning over but no start.
Ended up pushing it a mile in 30c heat to a Honda dealer who said they'd take a look.
All they did was fully charge the battery and the bike started. They had it nearly a week but were good enough not to charge me anything even after sending me a video of a safety check on the bike. Nice one Honda Chiswick. I promised to come back and buy a Honda one day.
They say the battery is duff which as it looks original makes it 13 years old, so no surprise there.
I got it home under its own power and I'll order a new battery and a hose next week.
Not sure why the engine wouldn't start after a short break in my trip but maybe it is down to the duff battery.
Shocker is that a Yuasa battery is £130 but I can get another name for £30 odd.
Cheers everyone.
Ended up pushing it a mile in 30c heat to a Honda dealer who said they'd take a look.
All they did was fully charge the battery and the bike started. They had it nearly a week but were good enough not to charge me anything even after sending me a video of a safety check on the bike. Nice one Honda Chiswick. I promised to come back and buy a Honda one day.
They say the battery is duff which as it looks original makes it 13 years old, so no surprise there.
I got it home under its own power and I'll order a new battery and a hose next week.
Not sure why the engine wouldn't start after a short break in my trip but maybe it is down to the duff battery.
Shocker is that a Yuasa battery is £130 but I can get another name for £30 odd.
Cheers everyone.
How interesting!
Fwiw Tayna are great for batteries if you can wait for postage.
https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batteries/f/pia...
Fwiw Tayna are great for batteries if you can wait for postage.
https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batteries/f/pia...
croyde said:
Not sure. I was in Halfords the other day and all their motorcycle batteries were £120 to £150.
MDS batteries. Free shipping and I just bought a Yuasa YTXB9S for under £40 shipped (I think Tayna is even cheaper). Is yours a special type?edit: Looks like it's a YTX12/14BS which is about £50 most places.
Edited by TimmyMallett on Monday 26th July 14:25
Edited by TimmyMallett on Monday 26th July 14:25
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