Help Diagnosing Electric start

ScooterLou · Post by **ScooterLou** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:56 pm

I am posting this youtube video in the hope that someone will know exactly what is wrong with my electric starter. Scooter will kick start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yscf717EJ4k

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 12:22 am

Charge your battery, or have it tested. You may need a new one.

ScooterLou · Post by **ScooterLou** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:06 am

new battery last year. Seems like with low battery you normally get just a click or failure to turn over

avescoots1134 · Post by **avescoots1134** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:59 am

Have your battery tested. If that isn't the problem, your starter may be shot. If power is getting to the starter, that's the only two things that can be wrong.

ScooterLou · Post by **ScooterLou** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:46 am

Roger that. Thanks

ScooterLou · Post by **ScooterLou** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:04 am

Yup , the battery was the culprit. Tried it in my other scoot, same issue. Hate to think a battery is only good for one season

ModernMike · Post by **ModernMike** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 9:46 am

ScooterLou wrote:new battery last year. Seems like with low battery you normally get just a click or failure to turn over

Just curious, Endicott Mass.? Was it cold this winter? Did you have a battery maintainer connected. Unless it's left depleted in cold weather or very hot, it's rare a battery should go bad in one year. Sentiment could settle to the bottom and short the plates if it's older and stationary. What do you think happened?

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 3:27 pm

ScooterLou wrote:Hate to think a battery is only good for one season

Two things to consider. There are some poor quality off brand batteries out there. And it sounds like you do not have a battery tender. Anyone who's bike sits for extended periods would be smart to connect a tender to the scooter. It is easy with Buddy's as the tender can be connected through the 12V outlet (be sure the model of tender has a setting of 1A or less).

bigmike7801 · Post by **bigmike7801** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:29 pm

Dooglas wrote:
ScooterLou wrote:Hate to think a battery is only good for one season
Two things to consider. There are some poor quality off brand batteries out there. And it sounds like you do not have a battery tender. Anyone who's bike sits for extended periods would be smart to connect a tender to the scooter. It is easy with Buddy's as the tender can be connected through the 12V outlet (be sure the model of tender has a setting of 1A or less).

I believe this is the connector you're referring to: http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-De ... B003CJ927I

This is much better option than having to lift the floor mat and remove the battery cover each time!

Snap · Post by **Snap** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 11:23 pm

I just use the standard quick disconect that comes with the Tender.
It looks like this: http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-08 ... an+Adapter

Permanently attached to battery post screws ans sticks out underneath through a hole in the undercarriage plastic bodywork.

That way We don't need a cigg socket on the bike(s) and the tender can be moved between vehicles.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 4:29 pm

Snap wrote:That way We don't need a cigg socket on the bike(s) and the tender can be moved between vehicles.

All Buddys from '07 on already have the 12V outlet. And many tenders come with the adapter. (yes, you can certainly wire in a quick disconnect for scooters which do not have an OEM 12V outlet - my tenders use both)

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:12 pm

Get a battery with a good warranty. I had one go bad within a year of purchasing it, they replaced it no questions asked.

As for causes: cold, sitting idle, only very short rides, leaving the ignition in the on position (even if not running), having accessories that drain the battery... or just a bad battery to begin with.

My stories:

I had a newer car battery die from letting my car sit too long (I was always using the scooter).

I have the heated gloves that plug into the scooter battery during winter. I had a very short commute that turned out not to be enough to recharge the battery while powering the gloves. Even though I rode everyday, that killed the battery.

Now that I park in my boyfriend's garage... he has been known to move my scooter, leave the keys in the ignition and the kill switch on... It's not running, but I go out in the morning to a dead scooter.