Can't get scooter winter-ready: won't start By nivanov (Read 640 times)

[nivanov]

Hey guys,
I live in Massachusetts, so I have no intention of riding my TaoTao ATM50-A1 2013 during the winter. A friend of mine that rides a motorcycle told me that it's best to start the scooter, let it run for a few seconds, then turn it off, pump out all of the fuel, start it again and let it run until it dies. This way, there will be minimal fuel left in the system during the winter.

I've been very busy the last few weeks and didn't get a chance to do this before the weather got cold. I tried this on two different occasions, and on two different occasions the scooter won't start. The first time I tried it, it was 25F outside, so I figured maybe it's just the temperature. I probably should mention that last time I rode the scooter, it worked perfectly - started right away, didn't stall etc.

I waited until today, when it was 34F outside, had a freshly charged battery, tried again, and still nothing. The electric started cranks but the engine won't start. I tried kick-starting it as well, but no luck there. Tried to start it until the battery started to die.

Here's my question. How bad is it to leave the scooter in the condition it is in until it gets warmer? I bought this scooter with intention of learning to work with motor vehicles, so I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but I'd rather not work on it when it's near freezing outside.

In case you guys don't recommend leaving it the way it is, should I try something first? I guess something cold-weather specific? I've changed the spark plug, the CDI module, vacuum lines and fuel lines, and also unsealed the carb and adjusted the mixture so it doesn't run quite as lean. I could check all those listed above, but if there's something I should try first that could help get it started in cold conditions, please let me know!

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I recently did an oil change and a gear change for the first time, right before 300km. I used Rotella T 15W-40 for engine oil. I've read somewhere that this oil is pretty viscous and with temperatures dropping, it's probably even thicker now. Could this be the issue?

[twowheeler]

Oh no! Its already winter and you waited too long lol!

WIll it start with the throttle opened up some?

Drain the gas out of the tank and carb at least. Shouldnt be any worse off.

Try moving it into the house overnight see if that helps. Might be a loose connection somewhere that id effected by the temp change, contraction etc.

[kz1000st]

Yes, actually. I'm having sort of the same problem with Rocket. It kills the battery because of the drag of the 20W-50 I run. Fortunately it has a real kickstarter so I can start it that way. I don't believe in the drain method. I just toss in a few ounces of Seafoam, fill the tanks to the top and say, "Sleep well, my scooters" and never have trouble in the spring. Emptying a tank just sets you up for rust. I would leave it alone until warmer (50*+) and then try.

[Bashan]

There's many schools of thought on winterizing your bike. Certainly KZ and Twowheeler have been up and down the pike enough to offer valid options. I'm not sure Twowheeler qualifies for the old fart club yet but he's close.

I'm in the drain it school of thought, if that molecule ain't in there, it can't react. The carb drain is the hose hanging off of the left side of the bowl. That will drain the float bowl and any gas in the system up to the fuel valve. If it's manual, just turn it on and let gravity do it's work. If it's vacuum put a slight vacuum on the valve with a syringe or pull the hose off north of the valve.

I'm not sure why your friend said start it and then kill it right away. That would pull gas up through the carb and the auto-choke. That gas can then oxidate and evaporate (why do I feel like Jesse Jackson all of a sudden?). Just drain it and be done with it.

The guys are right, the cold greatly compromises the battery's ability to crank the engine. If it's the OEM battery forget it. I'm going to catch flak for this.....I buy my scooter batteries from Batteries Plus. YES...they're expensive....but YES they have a killer warranty....and YES their batteries keep a charge. I like TW's suggestion about getting it inside and see if it won't crank warm. Also, check your spark by holding the electrode of the plug on the valve cover and cranking it. Make sure your kill switch is set to run. You did do that before trying to start the bike didn't you? Hmmmmm?.....you did didn't you?

[nivanov]

Thanks for responding guys! It looks like it was just too cold for it to start. I took the battery in and charged it up. I also moved the scooter into the back stairwell - there's heat there. After letting it warm up, and it probably helps that it's 55+F outside, itstarted right away. I pumped all the fuel out and now im running it until it dies. 25 minutes and counting, but at least I know it's not dead!