beginner having problems!

[Chimpboy74]

HI
I am relatively new to having a lambretta and unfortunately do not have many contacts that can assist so hoped someone could help! I have an Li125 that I always had problems getting started. It would take a lot of kicking to finally get it going but when it did it was fine, no problems at all. However it quickly developed a leak (from underside) and as it was in for MOT I asked them to check it over for me. The mechanic couldn't find any leak (puddle on floor of my garage said otherwise!) but he noted that it was hard to get started and thought that fuel was flooding it. He cleaned the needle float and all seemed Ok on way home. The next time I got it out ( a few days later) it was leaking fuel badly from exhaust. I assumed a stuck needle float (? - don't know... I'm still learning!!) but due to time constraints I ran it with fuel off till it stopped and then put back in garage. I didn't have time to get it out until a few months later. When I took it out it started on second kick !! it had never done that!!! no sign of leak either from underneath or from exhaust. However it kept shutting off i.e. wouldn't idle and would only remain running if i held throttle on slightly. So I took it out for a quick run (20 mins) and stopped at local shops for no more than 10 minutes, then the thing would not start again. I ended up having to walk it home. I'm hoping to have a tinker at weekend and have been reading stickys book but hoped someone might be able to assist in narrowing down what the problem may be?

[burnside]

Certainly sounds as though you have an issue with flooding, what is the setup on your Li, in particular which carb? If a jetex these are notorious for having issues with the float sticking.

On Lambrettas running through the airbox or with a remote filter, fuel can pool inside the rubber bellows which can cause them to flood when starting from warm. Try turning your fuel off before stopping your scooter so that it runs the carb dry, and if re-starting when warm do so without turning the fuel back on, also make sure choke is off and do not touch that throttle. Once it fires up then give it the throttle a blip and turn the fuel on.

But certainly worth checking your carb, make sure all the jets haven't come loose, give it a good clean and check that the float hasn't got a leak or is sticking, maybe run some wet & dry around the seam of the float.

[Chimpboy74]

Thanks for this. I think I will need to get into the habit of running it dry each time I stop. I think I did that before I put it away before winter so might explain no leaking easy start.

I'm going to give it some checks this weekend weather permitting but I might consider getting the carb replaced if needs be.

[Covboy]

Where are you based? You might have a helpful member in your area!

[Chimpboy74]

I'm in Fife. The garage I went to for mot the owner knows quite a bit as he has a lambretta. He charges though (fair enough I guess. It is his business!) I don't mind some tinkering but if the carb is set up wrongly or faulty its probably going to be out of my league. I do know another car mechanic who rides motorbikes (can't convince him to work on mine though. Not sure why) he suggested just getting the carb replaced as it could save a lot of time and money in long run. He may be right but I hate the idea of doing that if it's a simple fix I could do myself with the right advice.

[missing lynx]

there are some easy things to check first see if your float floats put it in a dish of petrol and it should float then the needle should have a red tip if it's got a black one it needs replacing also look for rub marks in the float bowl if there are the float is sticking . Also you should always turn your fuel off when you turn your scooter off I hope this helps

[Covboy]

I was in your position 6 years ago .
Stickys book is a real help, and so is this forum. The rate at which you'll gain confidence, knowledge and experience is amazing !
As missinglynx and burnside says, I would strip, thoroughly clean and check the carb as the first point of action. It should take no more than an hour. There are very few parts inside and you can't really put anything back in the wrong place
Also check that your petrol tap actually works and the flow stops when you turn it off.

[Chimpboy74]

great thanks I appreciate the guidance

[Warkton Tornado No.1]

Welcome to the Forum & I hope we can help you.

You've already received some good advice & I'd like to add to that by suggesting that an owner with any type of carburettor can probably benefit from reading through this:

http://www.rotaxjetting.com/PDFs/Docume ... Manual.pdf

It's not just relevant to Dell'Orto.

Also there will be an exploded diagram of your type of diagram somewhere on t'internet, though we would presume it to be a Dell'Orto SH type (includes Jetex, Scootopia replicas) you do need to find out what is fitted.

(Incidentally, not all 'modern fuel proof' float needles are red tipped as Scootopia sells a black one which fits the VHB type as well as SH carbs)

[Chimpboy74]

just got back to looking at this. I havent done anything about the due to work commitments and holidays etc.


So got the scooter out turned fuel on and saw some leak out of exhaust. Kicked it a couple of times and more fuel came out (quite a bit actually), its was turning over so I turned fuel tap off to serif the leaking stopped and I still got it started and idling with a bit of gentle revving. Turned fuel back on and no leakage from exhaust. I went to ride it up and down street to warm it up a bit but as I put it in first it stalled. I started again and same thing happened. Stalled when going into first I definitely had clutch pulled all the way in. This happened a couple more times and then the kickstart decided not to spring back up and got stuck down. I checked it wasn't catching on anything and it appears to be clear of any potential obstacles. I pulled it up by hand and tried again and it was still sticking down. Has my repeated kicking perhaps damaged something or worn something out? I decided to put scooter back in garage and have a look at weekend and when I was trying to wheel it back it felt like the brake was stuck on i.e. really heavy to push. I checked it was in neutral and it was.

Do I have various things going on here? I had noticed the last time i rode it the scooter "jumped" a little going into first gear but it had never stalled before.I assumed cables perhaps needed adjusting but I've never experienced the difficulty pushing it in neutral.

The fuel coming out of exhaust seemed bad this time. Perhaps around 100ml came out in the 5-10 minutes I was getting it started (I put a container under exhaust to save my drive!). I had turned fuel off when I stopped it last time.

I'm starting to feel like I am out of my league here!!! I have just discovered that my insurance includes homestart and repair so I may call on them but Im sure I won't be covered for multiple issues!!

[coaster]

Re the kickstart, make sure it isn't something simple such as the stop bracket rubbing on the side casing. It is also possible the lever is slipping round on the splines (easy to check if you scribe it before kicking. If it isn't then you will need to remove the side casing to take a look inside. As mentioned earlier, Sticky's Spanners Guide is ESSENTIAL and will be the best £20 odd you will ever spend. It's available from most scooter shops, don't bother with the Haynes offering.

Have you checked what make of carb you have yet?

[Chimpboy74]

Thanks. No I never checked the make of carburettor. I've caved and called out homestart to check it tomorrow.

On a side note when I spoke with the call out team they were really good. We'll see what they say tomorrow.

[Meds]

try gettin in touch with some of the local clubs "wild turkeys", "Loan sharks" or "Kingdom scooter club" you might get someone to help you

[MK Monty]

Welcome to the world of Lambretta. Unfortunately you seem to have a number of problems.
Even tough the kick start sticks down does it turn the engine over eg engage with the gearbox. If it does it could be a broken spring, if it doesn't return is it catching on the tail pipe of the exhaust, a lot do look for scrapes on the pipe. if so loose a bit of the metal plate that sticks out the side.
The stalling when you select gear may be your clutch plates sticking. especially if its been standing for a while. You can try putting it in gear engine off, pull the clutch in and push it should free wheel with a bit of resistance but not a lot. I have a bike that did the same put the rear brake on and give it just a few revs as you drop it into gear it should kick free. (don't have it screaming its head off or you will be down the road so take care)
you also mentioned a puddle was it fuel or oil? if the gearbox is empty it could cause your clutch problem.
Stickys book is a god send as is joining a club. learn to tinker its half the fun as it can get very costly. Comments about simply putting a new carb on just opens up another can of worms IMO. The float will be sticking sunk or it has a black tip. These are effected by the modern additives to fuel so the leak. the floats can crack do the don't float or the wee pin that the float is mounted on can be a tight fit between the support posts, all easily checked and fixed for a few bob.
I'm a bugger and break all the rules never turn my fuel off, I find it embarrassing when I go screaming off and run out off fuel after a few hundred yards so its always on, but not bad advice
Good Luck

[Rich Oswald]

^ All good advice there Monty.

Rich'

[Chimpboy74]

Taken a long time to come back. Sorry! Took the scooter to my local garage and he said the seals in the fuel line were "mush" so just constantly leaking. All fixed now!

Another problem (not a problem as such yet but could become one) has presented. I'll start another post.