Help! How to kick start Lance 50cc? By sfscooter (Read 1,638 times)

[sfscooter]

Hi all,

I have read thru a number of threads on how to kick start a scooter but no luck so far. Maybe I'm missing a step?

What I know:
- it started fine with button last year
- there is fuel
- fuel is not cut off
- the brake light comes on

What I tried:
- with ignition off, pumped the kickstart few time to "prime"
- turn ignition on, squeeze on brake (this is what I have to do to start it electrically), throttle off
- kick as hard as I can... Few times

Nothing happens...

Can someone who is familiar with kickstarting a Lance see if I'm missing something? :/

Thanks!!

[kz1000st]

Check the kill switch, make sure it's on run. Is the battery dead? My Lance would barely pretend to start with a totally flat battery. Most of the voltage you generate when you kick goes right to the battery charging circuit.

[bintelli]

Check the kill switch for sure, that's the most common problem. You also can try pumping the throttle a few times really fast before kicking... this should put a little fuel into the carburetor. If it hasn't been started in a while it may take a good 3-5 minutes to get it kick started.

[Alleyoop]

Pumping the throttle to prime it with some fuel only works with carbs that have a pump, otherwise nothing happens.

But my question is WHY are you not using the ELECTRIC start? The Kickstarts on these scoots are just for emergency use and are not built to withstand prolong use they are quite flimsy and break.
Alleyoop

[kz1000st]

The only thing about lengthy kick start sessions is that on some Lance models the case that supports the kickstart shaft may not be up to it. Madcollie said that eventually after numerous kick start sessions the case all but shattered. Be careful. I'm sure you at Bintelli source strong side cases but that wasn't the case (no pun intended) with older Znens or most Chinese scooters.

My 50cc Lance had an accelerator pump. From what I've heard most of the 50cc scoots do.

[sfscooter]

All, thanks all for your replies. To your questions/suggestions:

- yes definitively checked kill switch
- reason why I am not using elec start is because it is not working. Don't know why. Haven't started in months so guessing it is battery is low?
- not sure if cab has pump, will check...
- did not know it could take 3-5 mins... will try again
- did not know kickstart shaft and internal could break ... Will be careful

Thanks all for the help / tips. Perhaps I will try to jump it? But I have to google that. Do I need "special" low volt jumper?

[alansd]

I use a Battery Minder type charger to keep my scooter alive when not is use for awhile. It works great, saves headaches later

[jct842]

I haven't kick started any thing since the late 60's and that was a greeves 250cc trials bike. If it doesn't start it self it needs some one besides me to ride it!

[kz1000st]

Feb 24, 2014 14:53:22 GMT -6 jct842 said:

I haven't kick started any thing since the late 60's and that was a greeves 250cc trials bike. If it doesn't start it self it needs some one besides me to ride it!

My KZ1000st came with an emergency non-folding kick starter. The first time the battery died I used it. It bolted on, you started the bike and you removed it. I went right to my dealer and bought the folding kick start lever from a regular chain drive Z and mounted it permanently.

My Fashion in the first bike I've ever owned without a kick start lever.

A Greeves!! I can understand your dislike for kickstarting. You were lucky a Villiers engine would even run, let alone start.

[fugaziiv]

Boots. If you are going to have a kick session, wear boots.


Matt

[sfscooter]

Hi all!

Thanks to everyone's help I was finally able to kickstart it! It's all thanks for everyone's suggestions.

I'm still working on figuring out why it won't start with the button. I ruled out it being a battery issue or issue with the button. It might be the Starter Motor.

I tested the battery with voltmeter and I even trickle charged it over night anyway. When I put battery back in, when I hit the button it does sputter but not enough to start the engine. In the end I still have to kickstart it.

On other news I changed the oil (never done it before) and it was quite dirty (it came out black...).

Thanks again for all thoughtful suggestions!

[davec]

Yes, you can jump it from another 12v battery.
Yes, you can jump it from a car battery, but DO NOT have the car running.
A car with a running engine and a jump to a scooter battery will fry the electrical system.
If it now turns a little, but won't start, then me thinks the battery just may be your issue (along with whatever other issues you may have)
Try jumping it, and see what happens.
(Leave the car turned OFF)

OK too late to reply to the battery issue

There are a couple 'buttons' 'tabs' 'prongs' in the starter button.
You may have to take the starter button apart, clean or bend the prongs a little to make sure they make contact.

And get a battery tender for periods of non use (I had one on my trike all winter and it started right up)

EDIT (afterthought)

You say it wouldn't do nuttin at first
Then you trickle charged it o'nite and it turned, but slowly.

That makes me think it's still a battery issue
Try jumping it and see. if it starts right up, me thinks battery
How old is the battery? If it had a chance to go completely dead, it could be a bad cell.
But, what do I know.

Thanks for reading my babble and have a great Scooter day

Dave

[kz1000st]

I'm glad you got it running. Enjoy the ride. Lance had some good scooters. Not as good as the new SYM built ones, but they weren't too bad either. The one I sold was built pretty well. I was sorry to see it go.

[jvino]

I would recommend putting a new spark plug in the bike. They are like 4 dollars and sounds like you haven't done that. Glad to hear you got your scooter running. You might be right that the starter is bad tab it with the end of a screw driver as your hitting the start button it might engage and tell you your problem possibly.

Good luck and glad to hear you got it running they like to be ran when they sit they can be harder to start I had this same problem with my scooter. But lucky me it keeps starting.