Cold Weather Starting Problems

[sandmenx]

I have a Longbo LB150t and I live in Florida. I have the hardest time starting it (usually having to twist the throttle and fidget with it to keep the rpms up) if the weather is below 65 degrees and its almost impossible to start if its below 55. Pretty much if I have to wear a sweater or jacket to ride it, it will putter for a couple reps and then just stall out while starting. This happens regardless if I use the electric or kick starter. After I get it started up and the engine heats up it starts perfectly after that. Does anyone have any suggestions about hwat could be causing the problem? I realize that theres probably something wrong with the choke, but I read that the choke starts by default in the rich position and then goes to normal. Also I have noticed that if I let the scooter sit for a couple days (anything more than 3) I get a shrieking noise when I start it up the next time, also regardless of electric or kick start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[swampsniper]

Sounds like it is too lean. The shrieking noise when you use the kick start is strange. The drive on the electric start can cause a shriek, or the starter bearings, if they are loose or dry.
I wonder if you have something going bad in the engine, that loosens up when it is cold. How many miles have you got on it?
We should be through with cold weather now anyway.

[sandmenx]

The scooter is actually pretty new. I just got it in February and have a little over 400 miles on it. I actually replaced the carb on it because there was an initial starting problem which just turned out to be a loose CDI cable. (but the company let me keep the new carb they sent me anyway). Everything on it works pretty well and its somehow a freak because Ive had it easily over 70mph on level land and my speedometer is calibrated fine.

[swampsniper]

Have you checked the valve clearances?

[mgreenfield]

If the kickstart is partly engaged when you use the electric start it will squeal like crazy for a second or two. Assuming this is it, I'd try opening fully the idle mixture screw on the left side of the carburetor AND setting the idle fairly high with the speed-adjustment screw near the throttle body.

Then when you crank the engine leave the throttle closed. After a couple of false starts, it should catch and run long enough for you to put just a little bit of throttle to it to keep it running, then after maybe 10-20 seconds it should run at idle just fine.

After it warms up a bit, turn the speed-adjustment screw back until the engine keeps running, but barely, then turn the idle mixture screw back in until the engine is running at its fastest. You may have to adjust the speed-adjustment screw back some more as you adjust the mixture screw.

When you've found the "sweet spot" for the mixture screw, turn the speed-screw back up to a comfortable idle, and that should do it.

Normally, when you crank the starter, you leave the throttle closed. It's the way CV carbs work.

Sound right, fellow Dawgs???

[ksuflash]

Too me it sounds like the automatic choke may not be working properly.

-ksu

[rebeccag]

not to hijack the thread, but maybe this will be of help to the both of us. I posted this on a different, hopefully less informed site.

"I'm a new college student and can't handle the long walks associated with it. Keeping in mind i'm a 22 year old lady, hopefully you guys can help me without getting to technical on me! I have a 150cc chinese scooter a "phantom". From what I have read through searches around here I have a gy6 engine scooter. I found the sparkplug after missing and pulling out something near the carbuerator, but that did not seem to cause a problem after putting it back in. The scooter won't start a lot of times after leaving it outside in the cold for an hour or two. So the problem is either the spark plug or fuel system (from what I have read). The scooter will always start if I take out the seat compartment and off the air filter hose thing (2" diameter black house) and spray in "quick start", but this process is starting to get really annoying and smells terrible.

It sounds like I should try to get a NGK CR7HIX spark plug and replace the one I have now. What kind of tool do I need to take out the old one. I have nothing, do i need a wrench and (20 mm spark plug removal extension thing?) I read that somewhere.
If that doesn't get my baby moving what do I do with the fuel system? All the tubes are connected to the engine/carbuerator. I feel like this is the problem because it starts some of the time but not when it's cold (Cali cold, 60 degrees). Any easy way to get more gas into the engine when its starting? I try pumping the gas accelerator handle a whole bunch before i start it, thinking it may flood the thing with gas but I really don't know.

Sorry for such a long post, I have done a lot of searching! you wouldn't believe how much I have learned, but i think i still need help. THANK YOU!!!!"


I got the same suggestion of turning out my mixture screw and not opening the throttle all the way when trying to start. Any other suggestions posters have for us?

Thanks a million

[swampsniper]

Turning the throttle when the engine isn't running doesn't do anything. To change the plug you need a 5/8 inch spark plug socket, and a 3/8 inch ratchet drive. Most engines respond best to using no throttle when starting. When the engine starts cold it should idle fast for a while, and then slow down. If it doesn't, your auto enrich isn't working. It is supposed to give extra fuel for starting and lean out the mix as the engine warms up. If you can't figure this out right away, you can squirt the starting fluid into the air filter, no need to take everything apart. Your air filter could be under the seat, or on the left side, in an airbox over the CVT.

[rebeccag]

thanks for the quick reply and heads up on the spark plugs! I turned out the mixture adjust screw, increased the idle a little and have been starting with very little throttle. If i don't use any throttle it won't start. There isn't a way to make the auto enrich put more gas into the engine is there? Going through the air filter instead of taking off the tube is a great suggestion, much much easier, but I'm still a little stubborn as to why it ain't working as it should.

Thanks for all the help!

[lee82]

Check and make sure your battery is fully charged. I just put a new battery in my scooter and starting has improved 95 percent.

[swampsniper]

The auto enrich isn't adjustable. On my old 50CC Geely I could make it start on cold days by stuffing a plastic shopping bag in the air intake. You may have an air leak in the intake system that is leaning things out, could be a valve clearance issue. On the little engines we deal with little things become big problems. You have to really study up on why an engine runs in the first place. There is a lot of hope for you!

[sandmenx]

I actually changed the mixture screw and got it so that it idles fine on a real low speed and then turned up the speed to something reasonable. This seems to help it start, but I cant really tell because it hasnt been cold. As to the engine starting off on high rpms and then settling down. My scooter does the exact opposite, it starts out real low and then rises to the normal idle. Then while riding it for a little bit, the idle will increase slightly. Im really starting to think that it was the choke, but I guess I'll never know until it gets cold again. I didnt think that such low temperature variations had such a great deal of difference (Florida cold being less than 60). Its definately very frustrating because it seems like such a minute problem. I had put in a new carb and I think there was something strange about it because the rubber housing around the choke was irregularly ripped like someone had pulled it off or something. I just reattached it and screwed it down into the carb. Is there an easy way to see if the choke is functioning or not when its warmer outside?

[rebeccag]

Well things took a turn for the worse on my baby today.

I had turned the mixture screw clockwise or out (i presume) and turned up the idle. I also tried to check the auto inrich to see if something was off there. I pulled the auto enrich and it seemed fine though it didn't fit back in as perfectly as one would like. It started fine and i drove to class.

I came back and tried to start and got nothing. Just barely turned over but never started and then the battery completely died out. This could be a side note, but perhaps is more important that I realized - but my brakelight is always on. Not just my tail light, but my brighter brake light also. Perhaps this is why my battery keeps dying and I have a hard time starting it? I had a male friend who tried to tighten my brakes for me and one day the back brake kind of stuck. the light has been on ever since, and the brake sticks every once in a while.

Thanks again for all the help. pretty dejected scooter rider over here