Buddy 125 not starting up - here's my story

[Dewtron]

Oh boy. So I bought a 125 early last month. Shipped from Missouri to Texas. It's a 2008, and it's been sitting in the seller's garage since 2009. Under 200 miles on it.

I've had it locked up in my apartment parking lot for the better part of a month while I did my certification, got my license, etc. Due to a hectic schedule (6 days of work a week, was sick for a week, and hey, I got married!) I haven't been able to get the ball rolling sooner. I've ridden it around the parking lot a few times without hassle, then this morning happened.

There I am, ready to hit the gas station, take it to a mechanic for an oil change and a state inspection (a must in TX), and my last stop would be the tax collector to get my plates. I put the key in the ignition, hit the switch, and "HRRR-HRRR-HRRR." Nothing. Wait 30 secs, then "HRRR-HRRR-HR...HR....HR...HRRRrrrrr..." Nothing.

What to do? There's gas in the tank, not a lot, but it's in there. Then again, it's 2009 gas. I already knew I needed to replace the oil filter and get an oil change, but am I that screwed I can't even make it to the mechanic (1/2 a mile away)?

Do I walk up to the gas station and fill up a canister? Buy a little 2T oil and quench the Buddy's thirst?

Any help would be appreciated. I'm a total newbie. I traded in my bicycle for a scooter, and I'm rearing to go.

Thanks!

[PeteH]

Hi, and welcome to MB.

I know you were able to run it and putter around the parking lot, but with gas that old and sitting for a long time, it really sounds like plugged-up jets in the carb. Perhaps a bit of gunk in the tank finally made it down to your carb bowl and jets. Most of these old-gas stories end that way.

There are some photo-guides to cleaning up your carb in the Technical section of the forum - it's not a terribly hard job. Once you do get it running, it would't be a dumb idea to run a few (maybe 2-3oz/tank) ounces of SeaFoam through it - it works as a pretty good fuel-system cleaner.

[DeeDee]

It's pretty easy to pull the gas tank and empty it. Rinse with a little fresh gas and dump again. The carb is easy to take off and take apart. Buy a can of carb cleaner. You can use a high e guitar string to clean the jets. Read up on the air fuel screw, count the number of turns. Be careful on the big vacuum diaphragm. It's easy to tear the rubber. Your metal slide
is probably glued in place with the old fuel. Add 4 oz of seafoam to a fresh tank of gas an ride away.

[jrsjr]

It's pretty easy to pull the gas tank and empty it. Rinse with a little fresh gas and dump again. The carb is easy to take off and take apart. Buy a can of carb cleaner. You can use a high e guitar string to clean the jets. Read up on the air fuel screw, count the number of turns. Be careful on the big vacuum diaphragm. It's easy to tear the rubber. Your metal slide
is probably glued in place with the old fuel. Add 4 oz of seafoam to a fresh tank of gas an ride away.

And take a photo clearly depicting each step then post it here in this thread to earn our undying gratitude and a mention in our General Maintenance Forum. Bonus Points awarded. for a Youtube video that clearly depicts the entire process!

P.S. Welcome to Modern Buddy!
P.P.S. Be careful with that guitar string even if it comes from a set of Ernie Ball Extra Slinkies. You don't want to scratch up the inside of the jets even a little and they're made of pretty soft material. Best to clip that part of the string before you install it on your vintage Stratocaster.

[agrogod]

... and hey, I got married!)...

Oh no! Let the pain begin...

[Mr Stiffy]

Buy a little 2T oil and quench the Buddy's thirst?
Thanks!

Don't do that