Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Posts: 167
Likes: 2
Joined: Jun 4, 2011 10:43:50 GMT -6
|
Post by gatekeeper on Jun 22, 2011 15:53:39 GMT -6
2008 Adly 150 with 900Km. I was riding home after fueling up. When I pulled up to a Stop sign the engine stalled. Never done that. Would not restart. Started smelling gas so I got off and started looking. Saw gas running from the air box. It wouldn't stop so I walked home, got my pickup, loaded the scooter and took it home. Scooter leaked gas all of the way home. When I unloaded it the leaking stopped. Still had about a half a tank of gas. Called the dealer and he said "stuck float valve (gee you think) happens all of the time. Just bounce it up and down real hard to unstick it." I questioned him about why the fuel valve didn't shut off the flow since the engine wasn't running and he told me that sometimes once the siphon starts it will just continue until empty. Had to go to work.
This morning I tried to start it and it turned over but would not start. However, gas again began to flow out of the air box. I was able to drain the remainder into a gas can. Managed to get the body panels separated and the seat box out without breaking any tabs. Took the fuel valve off (an inline type with 4 nipples) and tested it. Put some gas back in the tank and no flow. Applied a modest amount of suction to the vacuum line and had good flow. Removed suction and flow stopped immediately. Repeated this process several times until the tank was empty again and the valve performed as it should.
I pulled the spark plug out and it was wet. I also pulled it as I have heard if you don't in these situations that the piston can seize up if you don't let the excess gas evaporate from the cylinder.
I have to get ready to go to work again so I will remove the carburetor tomorrow morning to check out the float valve. Don't want to get into it part way and have to quit.
So what the dealer said about the fuel valve, "once the siphon starts and you have a stuck float valve, the flow will continue till the siphon is broken" or words to that effect. Is that true? Or do I need a new vacuum fuel valve also? It did seem to operate correctly when I tested it.
Sorry about being long winded. Any thoughts?
|
|
Scooter Doc
Currently Offline
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 7
Joined: Jun 18, 2010 22:25:14 GMT -6
|
Post by sprocket on Jun 22, 2011 17:12:31 GMT -6
There is a bunch of crap in the fuel system that is holding the float valve AND the petcock open...I suspect
Sounds like you have the petcock cleaned...
Check that the float needle thing has a rubber tip they, often fall off...
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Posts: 167
Likes: 2
Joined: Jun 4, 2011 10:43:50 GMT -6
|
Post by gatekeeper on Jun 23, 2011 1:51:26 GMT -6
Thank you, I will look for that when I open up the carb. I should probably replace the fuel lines while I'm in there too. The name on them starts with an "F". I don't think they are very good quality.
|
|
|
Post by Bashan on Jun 23, 2011 14:19:38 GMT -6
The "F" stands for "fails a lot" . I'd replace all of the lines, you might have a crack you can't see leaking gas. That's a side airbox? Rich
|
|
Scooter Doc
Currently Offline
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 7
Joined: Jun 18, 2010 22:25:14 GMT -6
|
Post by sprocket on Jun 23, 2011 14:20:46 GMT -6
Yes, I would advise using Tygon 3/16 fuel lines... the big advantage is you can see through them... often can get them at skidoo or riding mower places.. www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/716B--5.html
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Posts: 167
Likes: 2
Joined: Jun 4, 2011 10:43:50 GMT -6
|
Post by gatekeeper on Jun 23, 2011 15:30:42 GMT -6
Yes Rich, it is a side air box. Thanks Sprocket, I had to look all over town but I finally found some. At the town's only motorcycle shop. Duh, what was I thinking! That should have been my first stop. Got to get ready for work so I'll replace the hoses tomorrow.
I did get the carburetor off and apart. It was pretty clean and the float valve seemed to operate as it should and has a nice smooth rubber tip. There was just a couple of flecks of something blue in the bowl. It did appear that the float valve was a little out of adjustment so I slightly lowered the level that the float should make the valve engage. Some of the tiny holes in the tube that the main jet screws into were plugged so I cleaned everything well.
Put the carb back together and put it back on the scooter. I will install the new lines tomorrow and see if it leaks any more.
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Posts: 167
Likes: 2
Joined: Jun 4, 2011 10:43:50 GMT -6
|
Post by gatekeeper on Jun 25, 2011 0:14:38 GMT -6
Ok, I replaced the fuel lines tonight after work. She started up and settled into a good idle. I didn't see any leaking so I went and ate dinner while I let it run. Revved it up a few times and she sounded good. Checked everywhere and no leaking gas anywhere. ;D I put the body back together and when I was done I had no left over screws and I didn't even break anything.
It was getting dark and I'd had a long day so the test ride will have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully I won't even have to play with the A/F mixture. We'll see.
|
|
|
Post by Bashan on Jun 25, 2011 4:10:58 GMT -6
|
|
Senior Clinician
Currently Offline
Posts: 167
Likes: 2
Joined: Jun 4, 2011 10:43:50 GMT -6
|
Post by gatekeeper on Jun 25, 2011 14:54:03 GMT -6
Rich, thank you for the link. Well, I'm back from my test ride. Everything seems to be Ok. It starts easy warm or cold. It idles good. It runs and accelerates smoothly at any throttle setting. No hesitation at all. I think I'm done. The only thing I might be noticing is a slight loss of top end speed. That might be due to the weather as it is rather windy out here today. I'm also running less air pressure in the tires than the last time I opened it up. I've always been somewhat good with engines of all kinds but I've never worked much on scooters before. It was easier mentally for me to tear into this knowing that I had you guys to fall back on in case I got in over my head. Thank you.
|
|
Clinician
Currently Offline
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Joined: Jun 28, 2011 8:39:30 GMT -6
|
Post by beerstop on Jun 28, 2011 10:28:17 GMT -6
I liken scooter repair to lawn equipment repair/ motorcycle repair. as the motors tend to be similar to weed wackers and such but bigger of course, then there is the drivetrain which is similar to motorcycles and some belt drive go carts. but then again i had to learn mechanical repair due to necessity of no cash for repair shops.
|
|
Scooter Doc
Currently Offline
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 7
Joined: Jun 18, 2010 22:25:14 GMT -6
|
Post by sprocket on Jun 28, 2011 10:31:00 GMT -6
The CVT trans are used on most snowmobiles...as well
|
|