Why does my starter keep running after scooter is started By brainpup (Read 8,299 times)

[brainpup]

I have a 2013 TaoTao 150cc EVO that just today developed a bad problem with the starter and I need it to run by morning and no shops are open here in Charlotte, so I figured I'd give you guys a holler as you've been helpful in the past.
Problem: when I started the bike ( hold brake, turn key to run, push starter button ) about an hour ago it started right up as usual but I heard a noise from the engine, it turned out to be that my starter was still trying to start the bike even thou it was already running. I turned the key off, but it kept running. Luckily I have done maintenance on a bunch of different scooters and had some tools under the seat that I could remove the battery connections with and it stopped then.
I thought maybe the key was stuck in the run position, but it doesn't work like that, its either on or off. The starter button doesn't feel like its stuck either. So I tapped on the side of the starter (like we use to do with old cars to free up the bendix) But when I tried to hook the battery back up the bike tried to start again and the key was in my pocket !!
I've looked online at several post and even a couple of video's and some say it could be the starter relay/solenoid or the ignition switch.... and obviously its not my starter, because it started the bike as usual.

Have any of you all had this problem ? I have done some work on a few of my scooters (2009 Jonway 150cc F-One, Peterson 50cc, Honda Aero 80cc, Yamaha 50cc Riva, etc. )in the past, so I've seen a few crazy things happen, but never this type of problem, an I ain't scared to take things apart, I'd just like to be heading in the right direction.

Any help ?

Brian

[Deleted]

I once had a problem with my starter running after i started my scooter. It was the actual button you press to start the scooter was still making contact even tho i was not pressing it. I replaced it and fixed the problem. A button is an extremely cheap item and i would start with that. Should cost no more than 5 bucks shipped.

[Alleyoop]

It is your SOLENOID that is stuck, making contact with the two terminals from the inside. So give the SOLENOID a WHACK to disengage the contacts inside. It works just as if you jump the two terminals from the outside on the solenoid. The Solenoid is passing 12v from the battery so it has nothing to do with the start button. I would get a New Solenoid because you never know when it will happen again and or giving it a whack will not disengage the contacts inside and will drain your battery and ruin your starter.
Alleyoop

[brainpup]

Hey thanks for the reply, I am thinking it's the solenoid also. We had a ton of RAIN this morning and most of last nite (scoot is covered and locked outside my front door) but it is expose to the RAIN.
I'm thinking maybe my solenoid got wet and is shortin across the contacts. I tried whackin the starter... but that didn't do nuttin.
I will have to take the seat off to get to the solenoid, and disconnect it

BUTT, its drizzling outside and dark, so it ain't gonna happen tonight.

I will be up early in the AM, (7:00AM Charlotte-EDT) and try.... I will post as soon as I find out what the frill the problem is.
Thanks for all the advise so far everybody.
Brian

P.S. I tried to post a picture of my scoot, but it said it needed an URL ? how u do that ?

[Guitarman]

Click here to post pix

[Bashan]

Since you are on emergency mode to get this thing running take the black cable off of the solenoid. Turn on the key and touch the black cable directly to the red post on the solenoid. The bike will crank just like you hit the start button. As soon as it starts take the cable off and tie it somewhere so you can get to it to start it again. Now none of that would account for your bike not shutting off. Check the black/white into the CDI and make sure it's not loose. If it's OK the key switch might be shorted. Does the killswitch kill it? If not pull the trigger wire or AC feed to kill the motor. The trigger is blue/yellow into CDI and the AC is red/black.

[Alleyoop]

Much easier than pulling wires off the CDI just pull the COIL off the Plug, grab it by the boot and pull it off then after it dies put it back on.
Alleyoop

[Guitarman]

Sorry, just can't resist....

[Bashan]

I hate pulling the boot...I'm not sure why... The damn thing is always so HOT! OW! Rich

[brainpup]

Ok, here's what I did this morning: 1st tried to connect the battery back up, but as soon as I touched both wires to the battery terminals the scoot tried to start and sparks flew. So I set the battery to the side. Then I removed the seat, located the Starter Relay and pulled it out of its rubber holding grommet, slipped back the rubber covers over the wires where they connect to the terminals. I was going to dry them because I was thinking maybe they were wet because we have had a lot of rain lately and they were jumping current across, but they weren't wet, I checked if they were tight, and they were.

Ok so now I took a 16oz hammer and gave the side of the Relay a couple of BIG WHACKS !!, no not really, I just tapped it a couple of times on the side and bottom.

and then I tried to hook the battery back ...I got no spark and it didn't try to start, so I stuck my key in and held the brake lever and hit the start button and...wait for it...waaaaaaait...Vaarrooom !!

and the starter was not trying to keep running. I shut it off and tried again 5 more times with no problems. So I'm saying its fixed.

Ok Now, why did it happen ? this is a pretty new scoot, with only 2400km on it and I take dam good care of her.

Here's my thought:  ok recently I've been having an issue with my battery dying and it makes it hard to start the scoot so I've used the kick starter a few times when I've been away from home. When I get home I swap the battery with the other one I have on a charger and I'm good to go. So I always have a fresh battery or if a friend needs a spare.

  Why does my battery die occasionally ? well I'm terrible about turning off my turn signal when I pull in my parking lot...( now why that should drain my battery if my key is off, baffles me...any idea anybody ? it did it on my 2009 Jonway 150 too...)

But back to my thought: I was trying to start the scoot with a low battery and when I hit the starter button it only had enuf power to open the relay for the starter and not enuf for it to close, so the power kept flowing...sounds plausible to me....any input on that anybody ??

the battery that was about out of juice was hot to the touch also.

But for now its back to normal with a freshly charged battery and I'm good to go.

any comments anybody may have are welcome.

Thanks again, and I hope this may help somebody else one day.

Brian

[Guitarman]

How about this....
You got a bad part which happens and its time to replace it.

[Alleyoop]

SEE WHAT A COUPLE WHACKS ON THE SOLENOID DID Your welcome but that is the least of your problems READ ON.


Here is what is happening when he has a hard time starting it he cranks and cranks and gets the crap so hot and his battery dies and the contacts partly weld. He just said it got really hot. When starting you are only supposed to crank it for around 15 seconds or so and if it doesn't start you wait a bit then do it again.

Also it should start on the 1st or 2nd hit of the start button so you also have a carb not adjusted right a fuel delivery problem or tight valves. So basically you have several problems that are causing other problems due to lack of a little TLC. So you need to FIRST FIX the IGNITION
so it does not drain your battery just sitting there with it off. Then adjust your carb so it starts in a FLASH and all the crap will not happen.

Your problem is with the IGNITION, it is always making contact with the black wire that feeds everything else when it is off. That is why your battery is also draining. You need to fix the Ignition FIRST and your battery troubles will go away and not get drained.
Alleyoop

[jct842]

I hate to start some thing but.......unless the scooter wiring has been messed up there is no way possible for a starter button to stick and cause the starter to continuously run period.

There is no voltage on the button ever, not until you pull on the brake and the brake lights come on is the button energised.

As found out here the solenoid contacts were stuck. That happens when they do make normal contact and then open they arc a little and eventually get rough enough then they can stick.

[Alleyoop]

Its the cranking and cranking and cranking that heats them up is the problem. The scoot needs some little love

[brainpup]

Hey Alleyoop, I never said I kept cranking to get it to start. My scoot starts on the first push of the button. Always has. So there is nothing wrong with my ignition.

Right now everything seems back to normal as I just road across town here in Charlotte and stopped 4 times and it started back up with no problem. And on the 1st push of the button and not giving it any gas, I never have to give it any gas to get it started. when she's cold, she idles at about 3000rpm but after about a minute she drops down to 2000rpm and away I go.
I got 2460km so far ( I bought the scoot in April from a landlord that got it in exchange for past due rent from a tenant ) I've changed the oil, rear end fluid, spark plug and cleaned the air filter, it wasn't really dirty but I did it anyway.
This TaoTao 150cc EVO is just about broke in and will easily run 60+ (an I weigh 200lb) and I haven't pushed it yet.

But just to be safe, I'm going to pick up another Starter relay/solenoid...Amazon sells em for less than 10 bucks and it only takes about 15 minutes to swap one.