Modern Buddy

So I drive my Buddy even in the winter if the roads are okay. Rode it this winter well into december. When the major snowfalls hit, I hooked it up to a battery maintainer. Today it's beautiful weather out. Went to start up the scoot and it wouldn't start. When I turn the throttle and press the ignition, I get nothing but a click. It's the solenoid clicking. Anyone have any ideas? Motorcycle friend says the battery is toast.

Have you tried kick starting it?

yes, still nothing.

Can you post a video of the sound it makes when you try to start it from the switch and from kick starting?

I would test the battery using a volt meter when not connected to the scooter. I would then test it when you press the starter button. It sounds like a dead battery assuming you parked and it was running.

The voltmeter registers 12.6 when out of the scooter. Drops down to 12 or below when I try to start scooter.

Here's the video of me trying to start. Didn't film the kickstart. no sound other than the kicker moving.
http://youtu.be/CMYp8dn0FB0

Off topic, but do you have any pics of your sccot? I like the look of your passenger foot rests!

Dead battery.

trying to upload pics, but not working. I custom painted my buddy.

Would love to hear the steps you took to paint yours and how it turned out.

I'm thinking about doing mine either this summer or after summer during the rainy season.

Sounds like a dead battery. The battery is weak in your two tests (although, I would think it would start with those readings) but the video makes me think a dead battery. Have you charged the battery? I would charge the battery overnight at 2amps and try to start it in the morning. I bet you'll have different results If you get nothing, I would replace it. You can find a good battery online at amazon or ebay for $20-$30 with free shipping. Or you can spend $50+ at Wal-mart or a local auto parts store.

If it was running fine when you parked it, it almost has to be a battery issue.

Better yet--- If the scooter on the right will start with electric start, I would switch batteries (have to be 12v) and try it.

FYI---I was advised not to jump start the scooter with a running vehicle.

the scooter on right just got a new battery and just so happens to be the same kind. I'll have to try that tomorrow. Off to work, sans scooter

So I just put the new battery in and nothing. The scooter doesn't even try to turn over. Just the click of the solenoid.

Are you able to jump (bypass) the solenoid with a screwdriver?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRlRinL-N-8

Service manual---http://www.modernbuddy.com/pdf/buddy125 ... manual.pdf

On page 105 it explains the starting system--

sugarchef73 wrote:trying to upload pics, but not working.

You probably need to resize (downsize) your photos before posting. Most digital photos are quite large files these days.

bigmike7801 wrote:Are you able to jump (bypass) the solenoid with a screwdriver?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRlRinL-N-8

What year is your Buddy? My money says it's an 09.

There really isn't a solenoid to "jump"...it's not an old Ford but you can bypass the relay.

The amount of power needed to turn the motor over is too much for the starter switch on the bar to handle. When you press the starter button it tells the relay to send power directly to the starter from the battery. You can by pass the relay by disconnecting the positive from the battery and the positive from the starter. Get a jumper cable hook it up to the positive on the battery and touch it to the positive on the starter. If it turns over it's a bad relay. The good news is that part is inexpensive.

If it doesn't turn over it's probably the starter. The starter is an easy swap but be aware that only an OEM starter will fit. If that's it I would replace the relay at the same time as a "might as well as long as I'm in here" item.

Let us know what happens and we can go from there.

sugarchef73 wrote:yes, still nothing.

Four strokes can be a real pain to kick start.

Also may want to check the engine ground wire. The solenoid clicking is sending the positive to the starter, but the engine must be grounded to the negative to complete the circuit.

So my friend that works on motorcycles stopped by while I was at work and got it kickstarted, but he says he's sure the starter is bad.

anyone know of a video showing how to change the starter motor or a detailed written description on how to do it?

Deleted

I tried both left and right brakes handles.

Yeah, sugarchef, sorry about that. I went out to the garage and realized it will turn over even without grabbing the brake handle. But it won't start without grabbing it.

Try cleaning your battery terminals. < Nevermind.

Just read the rest of the thread and realized you swapped out the battery. So that isn't the problem.

I agree it sounds like a bad starter.

Brand New Battery

Have you tried to bypass the starter relay. Here is a video--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o7HUitlpfE

Yes, I tried that also.

sugarchef73 wrote:Yes, I tried that also.

Yeah then it's the starter. Make sure that you order an OEM starter. A generic GY6 starter WILL NOT FIT. What year Buddy is this?

sugarchef73 wrote:anyone know of a video showing how to change the starter motor or a detailed written description on how to do it?

Once you get the new starter you will see that it is a strait forward swap. Disconnect the battery, remove the pet carrier, and take the wires off the starter. If you need to... wrap a piece of tape around each wire and mark it saying where it goes.

I think I needed to remove one body panel but I'm not sure. I removed the air box but realized later that I didn't have to. It's only two bolts holding the starter in. Pull them out, and pull the starter. I tried cleaning mine up to repair it but it was shot.

Put a little grease around the o ring and then just put everything back together.

Take your time.Take photos along the way..if you think you are stuck or have questions just come back here and we will walk you through it.

I would give this a 1.5 out of 5 on the difficulty scale for a novice and will probably take an hour. If your friend can helps probably a half hour. This is easier than changing belts and rollers.

I would also swap out the relay as long as you are in there.

Keep us updated!

Seafoam.

Buddyraton, it's a 2008 buddy 125. Over 13000 miles on it. I ordered a starter motor that looked exactly like the one in there. 9 pin and same mount.

Buddyraton, it's a 2008 buddy 125. Over 13000 miles on it. I ordered a starter motor that looked exactly like the one in there. 9 pin and same mount.

Krispykreme, don't know if you're being sarcastic. I do use seafoam, but don't know how that would help the starter.

sugarchef73 wrote:Krispykreme, don't know if you're being sarcastic. I do use seafoam, but don't know how that would help the starter.

I'm pretty sure he's joking. Seafoam seems to be some people's answers for every problem.

I'd have pulled the starter out and tried to see if it spins with jumper wires to any 12 volt battery.
Sometimes starter gears don't properly engage the gear on the engine, get's jambed. In that case it usually it just takes pulling it out to free the disengagement or even just a few taps with a FORD tool.

And then again, maybe the starter is bad.

Even with the new one in hand I'd test the old one just to see if I took an unneeded shortcut (spent the $$).

Snap wrote:I'd have pulled the starter out and tried to see if it spins with jumper wires to any 12 volt battery.
Sometimes starter gears don't properly engage the gear on the engine, get's jambed. In that case it usually it just takes pulling it out to free the disengagement or even just a few taps with a FORD tool.

And then again, maybe the starter is bad.

Even with the new one in hand I'd test the old one just to see if I took an unneeded shortcut (spent the $$).

This is not the case with a gy6 starter. The starter is a motor with gear on it. No bendix adsembly. It drives a one way clutch on the crankshaft.

lovemysan wrote:

Snap wrote:I'd have pulled the starter out and tried to see if it spins with jumper wires to any 12 volt battery.
Sometimes starter gears don't properly engage the gear on the engine, get's jambed. In that case it usually it just takes pulling it out to free the disengagement or even just a few taps with a FORD tool.

And then again, maybe the starter is bad.

Even with the new one in hand I'd test the old one just to see if I took an unneeded shortcut (spent the $$).

This is not the case with a gy6 starter. The starter is a motor with gear on it. No bendix adsembly. It drives a one way clutch on the crankshaft.

I don't know about our Buddy starter specifically as ours never malfunctioned.
I'm just saying that I would pull it out and find a test for it disengaged even if for nothing more than my own satisfaction and a chance to give myself a kick in the pants.
But then there is always the joy of using that hammer that I mentioned.

Got the new starter. Is there a trick to getting it back in? I can't seem to push it in.

Nevermind. BuddyRaton, you were right. OEM starter is the only one that will fit. I bought a GY6 off of ebay that looked exactly like the one in the buddy, but alas it does not fit. The OEM is $150 and will be 2 weeks before I get it. The good news is that I'm learning more about working on my own scooter.

Surprisingly expensive little thing.
Did you try to test it once it was out?
Maybe something simple to cleanup or fix like brushes?

There are a couple of 125 motors on Ebay, maybe they'd sell a starter.

Starters can be rebuilt. Check your yellow pages for electric motor companies.

sugarchef73 wrote:Nevermind. BuddyRaton, you were right. OEM starter is the only one that will fit. I bought a GY6 off of ebay that looked exactly like the one in the buddy, but alas it does not fit. The OEM is $150 and will be 2 weeks before I get it. The good news is that I'm learning more about working on my own scooter.

Well...you can't say I didn't try to tell you! As far as getting it rebuilt it's probably going to be about the same as a new starter, if they will work on something they have never sen before. I was surprised at how much they cost too.

I tried rebuilding mine and it was just shot. Not surprising since a lot of people use their scooter for short trips. The starters get a lot of use.

Exciting news! It starts and runs! I should have been more specific about my buddy who works on motorcycles. He doesn't just work on them, he builds them. Makes custom parts, too. I told him about the new starter not fitting. He asked if I still had it. I just happen to have it in the car and the old one. He asked to see them. Just eyeballing them, he said it looks like it should fit. He said he'll take them down to his shop and check it out with his spec tools. I get a text from him today telling me that he left the starter in front of my garage. I asked if he figured anything out. He said it should work now. I said, which? the old or the new? He just said, "you'll see" I get home from work and take a look at the bucket of parts he left. Looks like he put together parts from both. Put it in, and BINGO! it works! Now, I hope I can cancel my order for the $150 part.

Thanks to everyone on this board for their input. I appreciate it tremendously! I get great satisfaction working on my own scooter(not to mention saving money )

here's a link to my now running buddy:
http://youtu.be/Pq7oOyBalrI

Nice job! Now go for a ride!

It is good to have friends that can help and save you money. Those are the best type of friends. My friends always seem to cost me money