Buddy 50 lost power mid-ride and now won't start, please help
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2022 6:38 pm
Tldr: first ride of the spring, Genuine Buddy 50 (2 stroke) seemed fine for a couple miles, faltered the next few miles, and then stalled twice and then wouldn't start. Cleaned the carb twice, still won't start. I don't know what to do, please help!
I have a Genuine Buddy 50 (2-stroke, about 4 years old). About a month ago I took it out to do some spring maintenance. Last time it ran was probably late October, and then sat in a shed with sta-bil mixed in a full gas tank over the cold New England winter. I replaced the air filter and the v-belt, as per the maintenance schedule. I turned it on and let it idle 5 minutes, it spewed some smoke at first (typical after overwintering), and then rode it up and down the road a few times. All seemed fine. I didn't clean the carb because it seemed to be running okay and max speed was normal.
Today I decided to actually ride it a bit further, for my commute. About a mile and a half in of mostly WOT driving, the engine starts losing power. It kind of wavers between slowing down and revving, despite keeping the throttle consistent. My cruising speed isn't totally shot but it's definitely concerning. I go another mile like this and decide to head back home before it's too late. I pull into a driveway to make a U-turn and put it on the kickstand for a second. Idle speed sounds/feels fine. Revving (tire off the ground) seems acceptable but i don't push it too long.
I get back on and it's more of the same, wavering in the top end, for a little while, but soon it gets worse. Top speed is affected significantly and I'm pulling over for cars to pass. At one point with the throttle open, the engine stops wavering, steadily slows down, and then just stalls. My momentum carries me into another driveway.
I am able to start the engine again (electric) and now fully opening the throttle feels like the engine is going to stall. If I go about 50-75% throttle I hear the engine get power but immediately start slowing, so I have to keep applying and releasing the throttle. Each time I open the throttle, the engine seems to get a small burst of power but then rapidly loses it. I'm pulling and releasing and pulling and releasing the throttle continually. I can only go like 15-20 mph or so like this.
I make it back to my driveway, barely. In front of my garage the scooter stalls, and I can't turn it back on, electric or kick. I'm really lucky that I made it to here!
From past springs I know the carb can get gunked up over the winter so I figure that's the problem. I open it and spray everything with carb cleaner, remove 2 jets and clear them out, reassemble it, and it still won't start. I do it a second time, making extra sure there is no wet cleaner in the carb still. Engine won't turn with either electric or kickstart. I have plenty of gas in the tank. The electric starter sounds ok so I don't think it's the battery, but the engine won't turn.
So I guess it doesn't seem to be the carb, but I'm not experienced enough to know what else could cause this or what I should do. Please help me!
I have a Genuine Buddy 50 (2-stroke, about 4 years old). About a month ago I took it out to do some spring maintenance. Last time it ran was probably late October, and then sat in a shed with sta-bil mixed in a full gas tank over the cold New England winter. I replaced the air filter and the v-belt, as per the maintenance schedule. I turned it on and let it idle 5 minutes, it spewed some smoke at first (typical after overwintering), and then rode it up and down the road a few times. All seemed fine. I didn't clean the carb because it seemed to be running okay and max speed was normal.
Today I decided to actually ride it a bit further, for my commute. About a mile and a half in of mostly WOT driving, the engine starts losing power. It kind of wavers between slowing down and revving, despite keeping the throttle consistent. My cruising speed isn't totally shot but it's definitely concerning. I go another mile like this and decide to head back home before it's too late. I pull into a driveway to make a U-turn and put it on the kickstand for a second. Idle speed sounds/feels fine. Revving (tire off the ground) seems acceptable but i don't push it too long.
I get back on and it's more of the same, wavering in the top end, for a little while, but soon it gets worse. Top speed is affected significantly and I'm pulling over for cars to pass. At one point with the throttle open, the engine stops wavering, steadily slows down, and then just stalls. My momentum carries me into another driveway.
I am able to start the engine again (electric) and now fully opening the throttle feels like the engine is going to stall. If I go about 50-75% throttle I hear the engine get power but immediately start slowing, so I have to keep applying and releasing the throttle. Each time I open the throttle, the engine seems to get a small burst of power but then rapidly loses it. I'm pulling and releasing and pulling and releasing the throttle continually. I can only go like 15-20 mph or so like this.
I make it back to my driveway, barely. In front of my garage the scooter stalls, and I can't turn it back on, electric or kick. I'm really lucky that I made it to here!
From past springs I know the carb can get gunked up over the winter so I figure that's the problem. I open it and spray everything with carb cleaner, remove 2 jets and clear them out, reassemble it, and it still won't start. I do it a second time, making extra sure there is no wet cleaner in the carb still. Engine won't turn with either electric or kickstart. I have plenty of gas in the tank. The electric starter sounds ok so I don't think it's the battery, but the engine won't turn.
So I guess it doesn't seem to be the carb, but I'm not experienced enough to know what else could cause this or what I should do. Please help me!