Frequently Asked Questions
Why
won't my scooter turn on?
Why won't my scooter start?
My scooter is all powered up, but I'm not going anywhere. What's going on?
My rear tire
is dragging when I ride. What should I do?
My scooter keeps making this "popping" noise when I accelerate. What's going on?
The website says my electric scooter should ride for 12 miles on one charge, but
it is only lasting for 10 miles tops. Was this a misprint?
I'm plugging in my scooter, but it won't charge. Is my charger broken?
How do I adjust my brakes?
How do I adjust my
brakes? (Alternative method)
My alignment is slightly off, so when the scooter is traveling on level pavement
in a straight line, the handlebars are slightly askew. Can I fix this?
Why does my chain keep falling
off?
Why is my engine sluggish?
My gas
scooter isn't going as fast as it should. What's going on?
My engine starts all right, but then it cuts out in the middle of riding? How do
I fix this?
I need to
replace my spark plugs. Which ones should I use?
When should I change my motor oil and what type of oil should I use?
What kind of 2 stroke oil
should I use?
My scooter makes a loud noise, then stalls when I'm riding it. What's happening?
My scooter will barely
run. What should I do?
I think I have a fuel
leak. How can I fix it?
Why
won't my scooter turn on?
First, double check that the power switch is turned "ON". I know it's silly,
but check anyway. Then, check that your fuse is installed properly. Locate and
open the fuse compartment on the left hand side of scooter. Make sure that a
fuse is present. Re-insert the fuse and tighten the fuse compartment cap. Then,
check your battery. If it is disconnected, open the cover and connect the
battery. If it is drained, charge the battery. Check all of the electrical
connections and make sure everything is in connected properly. There may be a
fault in the electrical system that can be fixed by restoring a connection.
Why
won't my scooter start?
First make sure you have the proper gas and oil mixture before trying to start
the scooter. Then you have to pump the primer bulb on the underneath side of the
carburetor. Pump until you can see that gas has reached the carburetor. Try and
start your scooter. Don't pull the cord more than 4-5 times. If the scooter
doesn't sound like its about to start then turn the throttle a bit while pulling
the cord. Try this 4-5 times. Check to see if you have a clogged gas filter.
Replace if necessary. If you attempt to start the engine too many times, there
might be excess fuel in the cylinder. Remove the spark plug and allow the excess
fuel to evaporate. Replace the spark plug. Make sure that the gap between the
spark plugs is 0.6 mm - 0.7 mm. Then, check the spark plug and wiring to make
sure all connections are in order. Check the stop switch to see if has short
circuited. Finally, connect the spark plug guide line and pull the start grips
to see if it produces a spark. If you still are not started, then your
carburetor may need adjusting.
My scooter is all powered up, but I'm not going anywhere. What's going on?
First, turn off the power and wait for 5 seconds. The circuit breaker might be
tripped. Then, check your brakes. If your brake is pulled or too tight, the
wheels can't spin. You may need to adjust the brake system. Then, check if the
electrical connection to your accelerator is disconnected, especially around the
accelerator handle bar. If it is, restore the connection and try accelerating
again. If the accelerator handle bar is broken for some reason, you may need to
replace it.
My rear tire is
dragging when I ride. What should I do?
Your rear brake may be too tight, so you will need to adjust the brake system to
relieve the pressure on your rear tire. You also may need to adjust the drive
chain system. See the next question for more details.
My scooter keeps making this "popping" noise when I accelerate. What's going on?
It sounds like your drive chain needs adjusting. You will need to do this
periodically to maintain proper tension. Adjusting the drive chain is easy.
First, disconnect the battery power to prevent accidental starts or shocks. Then
loosen the rear axle nuts until the tire can be moved easily. Then, change the
tension of the chain by adjusting the rear tire through its adjusting screw.
Check the tension by rotating the tire by hand. Be sure that the tension of the
chain is proper. If it is too tight, it may be easily broken. It should be
parallel to the axis of the tire and the motor. Tighten the axle nuts and check
the chain tension one more time.
The website says my electric scooter should ride for 12 miles on one charge, but
it is only lasting for 10 miles tops. Was this a misprint?
No, the range is right on the website, but there are several things that can
cause your scooter not to go the distance like it should. If your battery is
consistently low on juice, you will wear down the battery's capacity. Or if your
tire pressure is low, the friction will cause you to use more energy than you
should when you ride. Is your scooter also making a "popping" noise when you
accelerate? If so, your drive chain may be too loose. See the previous question
to learn how to adjust your drive chain system.
I'm plugging in my scooter, but it won't charge. Is my charger broken?
Your charger may be broken, but before you buy a new charger you might want to
check two things. First check that your outlet is working and everything is
connected properly. Then, make sure that the auto disconnect function of the
charger hasn't kicked in. Remove the charger from the outlet. Plug the charger
into the scooter FIRST and then plug it into the wall. If this doesn't work, you
probably need a new charger.
How do
I adjust my brakes?
Easy! Pump the right brake lever while watching the left side of the front
wheel, and you will see a lever moving. There's another lever just like it on
the left side of the rear wheel connected by a cable to the left brake lever.
Through this wheel lever, there's a threaded rod (which is the end of the cable)
with a nut on it. Tighten this nut until the wheels lock up when pushing the
scooter and the handlebar levers are pulled in to about 1'2" from the handlebar
grips. The cable adjustment nut fits a 14mm wrench, but you can probably adjust
it close enough with just your fingers.
How do I adjust my
brakes? (Alternative method)
You will see an adjustable screw next to your brake lever. Turn it
counterclockwise until brake is how you want it. If brake still doesn't work
good enough then you need to adjust the wire where it connects to the caliper or
drum. Loosen the nut that holds the wire. Pull the wire tighter and tighten back
the nut.
My alignment is slightly off, so when the scooter is traveling on level pavement
in a straight line, the handlebars are slightly askew. Can I fix this?
Yes you can straighten them out, but you have to remove the headlight cowling to
get to the pinch-bolt on the steering column. It takes about 1 hour to do the
job at a leisurely pace. Tools required are a good #3 Phillips screwdriver, a
good #2 Phillips screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a 14mm combination
wrench (or, two 14mm combo wrenches would be better). Remove the headlight
assembly (3 screws total, two #2 and one #3), disconnect the headlight
connector, and set the assembly aside in a safe place.
Behind the wiring harness, about 5 inches below the handlebars, you'll find the
14mm pinch bolt. Loosen it just enough to realign the handlebars with the front
wheel. Remember how when you were a kid, you did this to your bike by holding
the wheel steady with your feet while twisting the handlebars? You do it the
same way, (only this time make sure the pinch bolt is tight when you're done so
you don't have to do it again every time you hit a bump!). Take a short test
ride, and if you're satisfied with the result, put it all back together. Don't
forget to plug in the headlight connector!
Why does my chain keep falling off?
This can be caused by a bent chain or a chain that isn't aligned properly.
First, you want to make sure the rear tire is straight. Just eyeball it and you
should be able to tell if its straight or not. If it is not, loosen the nuts
that hold the wheel in place. Adjust the tension screws until wheel is straight.
If your chain still looks crooked, then you need to adjust the motor. To adjust
the motor simply lay the scooter on its side so you can get to the bottom of the
motor. You will see 3 screws. Loosen all 3 screws just a little. Straighten the
motor until the chain looks straight and your chain will never fall off again.
Why is
my engine sluggish?
If you engine is sluggish, there is probably a blockage that is keeping the
system from running smoothly. Check if the vent on the fuel tank cover is
blocked. Check if the fuel line has precipitate or a leakage. Check if the fuel
filter is blocked by dirt. Fix or replace the parts as needed.
My gas
scooter isn't going as fast as it should. What's going on?
First of all, the maximum speed advertised on the website is the speed under
ideal conditions and may be slightly lower in actuality depending on the weight
of the rider and the surface that you are riding on. However, if your speed is
significantly lower or if it has suddenly stopped reaching the speeds that it
used to, there are a few things you should check. See if the choke is open.
Check if the fuel line is free. And adjust the air oil density screw if
necessary.
My engine starts all right, but then it cuts out in the middle of riding? How do
I fix this?
There may be a blockage in the system. Check if the air filter is clogged or if
the silencer and fuel line are blocked. If nothing is blocked, then try to
adjust the idling speed screw.
I need to
replace my spark plugs. Which ones should I use?
Here is a list of commonly available spark plugs that will work. You may find
one brand works better than another for your particular scooter. The following
should all work with most gas scooters:
NGK - BP6HS, BPR6HS
ND - W22FPR-U
AC - R42CFS
Champion - QL82YC
ACCEL - 453
When should I change my motor oil and what type of oil should I use?
You need to change your motor oil after the first 300km, and then every 1000km
thereafter. On all of our 2 stroke gas scooters, use 300 ml to 450 ml of
seasonal grade motor oil. Using more than that can make a mess of the
centrifugal clutch. You just need enough to keep the drive chain and gears wet.
In this case, the cheaper stuff is probably better since you want to avoid
synthetic oils with friction modifiers that can also have an adverse effect on
the clutch.
What kind of 2 stroke oil
should I use?
Please don't be afraid to spend some money here! The higher quality oil you can
get, the better. Some scooter owners complain about too much smoke, oil fouled
spark plugs, and black oily discharge from the tailpipe. What I usually find in
their oil tank is a dark green or blue "Premix" type of 2 stroke oil that is
better suited for chainsaws and leaf blowers. This type of oil is generally
petroleum based, and is supposed to be mixed with gasoline in the fuel tank.
Although the scooters usually run fine with it, it tends to be smoky, dirty, and
smells nasty. A much better choice is a synthetic or semi-synthetic blend of
"injector" oil, which is vegetable based rather than petroleum based. These oils
are virtually smoke free, very low in residual carbon content, have superior
lubricating qualities, and actually smell rather pleasant. They're also a lot
friendlier to the environment. These 2 Stroke Injector Oils can be found at most
Motorcycle and Marine shops. They are more expensive than the Petroleum Premix
oils, but remember that a gallon will probably last you a year, and they are
definitely worth the expense in making your 2 stroke scooter more pleasant to
ride. The quantity of oil you will use depends on how you ride. Just top-off the
oil tank to within ½" of the neck of the tank - DO NOT OVERFILL!
My scooter makes a loud noise, then stalls when I'm riding it. What's happening?
You're flooding the engine out. Read the manual and break it in before doing
full throttle runs. After the scooter has been properly broken in, you can
accelerate to the speed you wish to ride, then back off of the throttle to
maintain the speed. If you hold the throttle wide-open, it will flood the engine
and stall the scooter which may cause damage. Remember to follow the proper
break-in procedure on your gas moped scooter, otherwise you may void your
warranty.
My scooter will barely
run. What should I do?
First check the spark plug gap. There should be a gap of 0.6 mm to 0.8mm. The
wider gap provides a larger, more reliable spark, and is less prone to fouling.
If your scooter still won't run properly, you probably need a carburetor
adjustment. Click here to learn how to do a carburetor adjustment on your gas
moped scooter.
I think I have a fuel
leak. How can I fix it?
It's important that you don't operate your scooter if it leaks fuel or oil. Have
a professional work on it if you are not familiar with small engine repair.
These tech tips assume you have some mechanical ability. Checking for fuel leaks
are simple. Just find the wet area and fix the problem. Make sure the lines are
connected to the carburetor. Check all of the lines from the fuel tank to the
carburetor and make sure they are tight. A common problem is fuel leaking from
the clear over flow line. This is caused by one of two things. One, the choke is
stuck, replace the carburetor with a new unit. Or two, the screw at the bottom
of the bowl is not tight. Tighten it.