'Flooding?' problem? By lobsterman72 (Read 3,048 times)

[lobsterman72]

I have a 2008 50cc Rockta scooter. Has about 3300 miles on it. I haven't used it much lately do to DMV hassels. I am considering selling it but after this winter I put the battery back in and tried to drive it around the block and it seems to flood it self. Also when first started it acts like a motor that hasn't been started for a while, it is okay unless you turn the throttle and it bogs down but if you play with it, it will rev up but then it want's to die/ not idle after. Like an old 1970's car, but unlike a car after you gas the heck out of it and get the gremlins out the scooter doesn't get better.
I emptied the gas and put in new hi-test (I always use hi-test) and it was better, but I get about EXACTLY 1/4 mile and then if I throttle down for a turn it will stall and I need to wait 5-10 or so minutes of letting it sit and some random attempts to start it and then it will run, but at full throttle it sounds like it's getting flooded again.
I have been very good with oil and gear oil, using synthetic and changing it often, it uses so little.
I got a new plug and it doe's the same as the old one. The plug doesn't look fouled or anything. I inspected the hoses and such and they look okay. I also used carb spray to attempt to clean the carb, but nothing changed. Besides it looked like new anyway.
The only other thing I can add is that when I was using it all the time, short runs to the store I had slightly the same problem, if I went 1/2 a mile it would sometimes give me a problem restarting, but if I went 40 miles it never had a problem.
Any help would be appreciated.

[Bashan]

A few things come to mind, the first is that your gas cap vent is plugged and you're building up a vacuum in the tank until it dies. Loosen the cap if it has a vented cap and see if it improves. If you don't have a vented cap you'll have a vapor canister/check valve/pollution crap. Loosen your gas cap and see if it improves, if it does the crap was clogged. Third, you say your carb looks okay, on the inside too? Maybe it needs a strip down cleaning, I know I do. Sitting all winter gunks up the carb, tank, filter, whether you have high test or not. Premium gas has a lot of stuff in it to retard detonation, they all have detergents, you needed Sta-bil. Try those things I mentioned and get back, Rich

[sprocket]

First... don't use hi-test in these engines... use 87 octane in the U.S. or RON 92 in the rest of the world.

Don't use synthetic oil in these engines... it leaks...eventually. I also think it makes the crank seals brittle but I have no proof of this yet...

Restating problems when hot are 95% of the time related to lack of valve gap... you need to adjust the valves.
.004 INCH (intake top) .005 INCH (exhaust bottom)

If the scooter was stored with fuel in the tank without running for a few months the carburator jets are likely plugged. You need to remove the carb and the jets and physically clean them by running a wire through them.

Using carb cleaner doesn't work well on these carbs... the jets are tiny and plug very easily...

[skooter]

Check the fuel petcock/tri-valve. Mine was leaking the thin diapraghm was bad and it leaked into the carb.

[lobsterman72]

Time passes.... I finally took apart the carb. and cleaned everything out, wire through the jets etc. The only thing that I found is a small amount of a clear substance in the bowl area. It was almost like adhesive residue gum/snot like.
I only took it up the street but it's much better! If I do develop problems I'll move onto the valve gap.

Thanks everyone!

[scootsterz]

The clear substance is water. The ethonal in fuel attracts water and water is heaver than gas. Good job man Them rokketa's can be tricky. And Dont use high test it wont make you faster. Use what your commpresion will allow. And Try to get your hands on some k100 it is pretty good stuff don't seperate like stabil plus the water in the gas is turned to H3O witch is hydrogen and makes it burnable!