GTS OWNERS CLUB

Paivi · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Londinium

Hi all, a newbie here!

Scootaboy introduced me to this site from a Ducati one (my second bike is a Monster). I've had my GT125 for almost six years now and didn't even know of a UK based Vespa site until just now.

I've got a problem with my Vespa at the moment; I'm hoping it's just in need of a new battery, so hopefully the knowledgeable people here can put my mind at ease on that...

As I said, she's about six years old, 27.5k km (I think the gauge is in km) and a full service history (apart from a missed 27k service).

A couple of weeks ago, I did a sub-zero six-hour return trip, and the bike's never been the same since. The normal low growly engine sound is now a more high pitched one, which I hope is just that all the cobwebs have been blown off. The normal trips we do are within Central & SW London in 30mph zones, and this was the first time we got to open up. Six hours at full throttle, though, which may not have been a good idea.

A few days afterwards, it was struggling to start, making a strange 'yapping' sound, almost like a small dog, when I tried to start her up. After switching off and letting it rest for a few seconds, she started up. That went on for a couple of days, but now there's nothing. The lights come on, the oil light comes on and goes out immediately (same as before) but it just won't start.

The bike is stored in a heated underground carpark and normally starts first time, including in -4C when I left Stratford-upon-Avon to return to London a couple of weeks ago.

Slight overheating, but that's probably because of the apron, as I always have that with it. Oil light comes on at ignition and then goes out again, so that should be OK.

I haven't done anything, added any oil or coolant or anything else since 24k service, so I just hope I haven't done any damage to it, and it really is just the battery. The battery is a couple of years old, but I would have thought the trip to Stratford and back should have fully charged it.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
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Vespista non si diventa, si nasce!

jetex · Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 9:07 am Post subject:

When you switch on the ignition, the oil and battery lights should come on. You then press the start button to crank the engine, and at this point the oil light should go out as the oil pressure opens the switch. After switching on the ignition, does your engine crank when you press the button ? If it does, but spins the engine over quite freely without it starting, I think a compression check may be needed to see if you have a blown cylinder head gasket. Some further information please, as it's difficult to diagnose the fault without seing the bike.

Paivi · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Londinium

Somebody from the Ducatisti site came to have a look at it just now, and as luck would have it, it started almost immediately, after an allmighty noise.

When I bought the bike in spring 2003, I was taught to use the throttle when hitting the ignition button, but he told me not to, as it's got an automatic choke. When he started the bike up without using the throttle, it started first time, with no noise, so maybe that's what I was doing wrong on a cold day.

He thought the Stratford trip did the scoot a lot of good, as it probably cleaned the cob webs off, as the bike sounded good and crisp to him, so no worries there.

I'll just get a new battery to make sure I won't have this problem again; old battery, incorrect ignition use, cold day is not a good combination, so best get a new battery and work on the way I start her up.
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Vespista non si diventa, si nasce!

ADroste · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Germany, Hassia

Scootaboy · Inspector Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 225 Location: London

Glad its ok paivi!
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Razz

CheekyThomas · Guvernor Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 1374

The yapping noise and clonking will be the starter bendix, make sure when its serviced it gets cleaned each time if not the centrifugal mechanism gets caked in all the belt case dust and debris and slows it down, which makes it foul with the outer crank pulley causing the noise and in the end its slow death. Wink

Castle-Barber · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:35 pm Post subject:

CheekyThomas · Guvernor Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 1374

If you leave it making the noise for a long time and lots of starts, it eventually chews the bendix teeth up and kills it... and sometimes it takes the outer pulley with it so it becomes a £150 repair....

... But if you get it at the start, and get the bendix cleaned it should cure it.

You should clean them at each service, but a lot of dealers/owners dont bother with case removal when the belts not being replaced so it gets left covered in debris which builds up and builds up and creates the problem.

Case off, clean the cases out, clean the bendix, clean the case air filter, clean the clutch and drum... inspect the belt, rollers and guides... check the pulleys for wear. It should be done each service ideally...

Castle-Barber · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:32 pm Post subject:

CheekyThomas · Guvernor Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 1374

Yes its under warranty, it wont kill it for a few starts... just dont use it daily for a month making noises and then wonder why it breaks.... Wink

Warranty is 2 years unlimited mileage... (with enough clauses to last a lifetime)

Paivi · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Londinium

Thermal Mick · Sargeant Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 96

A stainless system will be cheaper and last longer and look better. Cool

Paivi · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Londinium

Thermal Mick · Sargeant Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 96