Scooter died while riding it... diagnosis?

[4x4mecca]

Kymco Agility 125 2007
I was riding my scooter to work Thursday and it died while riding it, then I couldn't get it started. It cranked and wanted to start, but wouldn't catch. After trying to start it off and on for a minute or so, it would just click, but not kick over.

Fast forward to today. I pulled the fuel line from the carb and cranked it, it had fuel flow. I removed the spark plug and replaced it (it was pretty brown).

I don't know where to lay the plug to test if it's firing, but I thought I saw a tiny spark trying to light on the dirty plug.

Also after trying to start it for a little while today, it stopped trying to crank over again and just made a click noise.

Any ideas?

[jrinlv315]

Your battery is dead now. Do yo have a volt meter? At least charge the battery, if it's still OK. As for the original reason it died is in the air. I would say look at the fuel filter. ie change it out. What mantaince have you done on it since 2007? Let us know.

PS
Part of me wants to tell you your scoots shot so you should just sell it (to me(for cheap)) ....JR

[scootwes]

Your battery is now drained from trying to turn over your engine. You've got to get your battery charged back up to test for spark.

Once the battery is charged, take out the spark plug, but leave it plugged into the spark plug cable. As you turn it over, hold the tip of the plug (electrode end) on some ground metal (some bare metal on your frame, or a bare bolt screwed into the frame somewhere). If you have spark you'll see a spark jump across the gap in the electrode. Another way is to pull the plug out of the cable, stick a narrow metal screwdriver up into the cap on the cable, and move that screwdriver close to the ground metal, and you'll see a spark jump across the gap.

Of course, all this goes without saying, keep your fingers off of the metal or you'll get a nasty shock yourself. Wear gloves if you want or hold the plug with some plastic tongs or rubber handled pliars.

[4x4mecca]

It should have a little juice still. Why would the fuel filter be a problem if it's flowing pretty good by the time it gets to the carb? (Serious question, I'm kinda new to scooters)

[4x4mecca]

i'll be back, I'll test again for spark

[defurce]

Check the muffler. Mine did the same at 1000 miles and it turned out to be the stock muffler colapsed internally

[4x4mecca]

muffler was making a different sound lately. How do I check if it's collapsed? I can probably remove it but how do I see inside?

[4x4mecca]

I have spark and fuel, it's cranking and wanting to start, but having trouble. Sounds real funny, I think I will do an oil change and check the muffler while I'm at it.

[4x4mecca]

I think I have a cracked piston (according to my brother).

I did the oil change and the oil was black. (I changed it a 2-3 months ago).
It sounds like something is in the engine knocking around.
It has no power, I floor it and it slowly accelerates while making noise.

[garyr]

How did it die? Did it cutout like you had turned off the ignition, did it cough run cough and die, or did it die with a lot of banging and clanging noise? What speed were you at when it quit? Had it quit like this before? Nosy, ain't I, but, it may help our expert troubleshooters to know.
Garyr

[wf1761]

Did you check for moisture in your fuel tank? You could drain the old gas out and put new fuel in. You should charge your battery also since the battery is now dead.

[4x4mecca]

It died like I had hit the kill switch. No banging when it died, but the exhaust noise has not sounded that smooth the last couple weeks, kinda a high pitch rattle coming from it, not smooth, but I had no other vehicle and didn't know how to trouble shoot the noise. I was doing around 45 when it died. No it hasn't died like this before. The tank was just filled up about 3 days before and was about 50% full still. Yes I need to charge it as it will only start with a jump.

[jrinlv315]

So have you done no maintenance since you bought it? Oil, air filter, fuel filter? These little motors can only take so much abuse. JR

[2btiger]

Sorry to hear about your scoot 4x4mecca. Hang in there these Dawgs will get it going again.

Just to add to the questions; How many miles do you have on your scooter?

Did you find any metal fragments when you changed the oil?

I guess when you checked the muffler it was still attached to the engines exhaust with 2 bolts?

Did you get this scooter new or used?

And last question, did you do any upgrades or modification (air-filter jets stuff like that) ?

I would stop trying to start the thing until we have a direction to start a trouble shoot.

Tiger.

[4x4mecca]

The guy before me did regular maintenance. I got it at about 6k kilometers on it and I did an oil change at 7k like I was supposed to, I also checked the air filter then and it looked good. I put mobile 1 premium oil in it. Now it's at around 10020 km on the engine, but the speedometer is off by about 5mph at 45 so it doesn't really have that many miles, it has less.
No fragments in the oil. The muffler is still attached I think, I felt it all the way up to the engine block and it felt snug but I didn't feel for 2 bolts (I will do that tomorrow).
No I didn't do any upgrades to it.

[Kaos]

This has probably been covered butttt....

don't know where to lay the plug to test if it's firing

ground it on the valve cover. you should do this at dusk and should see a hard blue spark with a good audible "snap"
if you got that...than spark aint ya prob.

Dont hold it by the threads !!

[2btiger]

Mar 3, 2009 10:16:47 GMT -5 4x4mecca said:

The guy before me did regular maintenance. I got it at about 6k kilometers on it and I did an oil change at 7k like I was supposed to, I also checked the air filter then and it looked good. I put mobile 1 premium oil in it. Now it's at around 10020 km on the engine, but the speedometer is off by about 5mph at 45 so it doesn't really have that many miles, it has less.
No fragments in the oil. The muffler is still attached I think, I felt it all the way up to the engine block and it felt snug but I didn't feel for 2 bolts (I will do that tomorrow).
No I didn't do any upgrades to it.

Ok nice info, great amount of miles on that scoot, says alot about previous owner.

Hopefully it was due for it's most recent valve adjustment. Worst case scenario you damaged the valves, no biggie just need the tool to replace them (* & THE VIDEO* ) and they were probably worn anyways. * VALVE ADJUSTMENTS
*

Take a look at the valves, measure em' & let's hope for an ez fix.

good hunting

Tiger.

[4x4mecca]

Thanks for the info. I will pull it apart wednesday. I just hope if it is something like that I can actually find the parts locally.

[2btiger]

mecca the valves are ez to take a peek at and maybe ez to measure the gaps if your hands are slim enough, if you got quarterback mitts you may bruise a knuckle or two. The objective here is to diagnose whether or not the valve are the problem. As far as parts, thats ez , *PFS* & *oregonvintage* can provide stock parts and support and advice.

Tiger.

[garyr]

The way you describe it dieing, it almost sounds like an electrical problem. With a good charge in the battery, are you getting a good cracking spark when the plug is grounded? Or is it sort of wimpy? If not a good spark, can you try another plug first? (Cheapest and easiest test). The plug is fired by voltage from the coil, which may be next. And the coil voltage comes from the cdi unit, which in turn is powered by the stator. Let's hope the plug just died on you.
Garyr
p.s. Here is a bone for your troubles and giving the dawgs a reason to practice troubleshooting.

[4x4mecca]

I emailed Kymco, I may be under warranty still. We'll see before I tear it apart.
By the way, I have received so much support and help here that I'll definitely stay here and help out when I can.