Vespa P200 won't start - electrical?

[bob burke]

Here's the history:

I bought the bike last July and it was fine, except the battery was
dead. I bought a new one, and all was cool for a few weeks. Then one
night I was trying to start it, and it took much more kicking than
usual. Finally i got it started after a few stalls, but it was really
struggling in low gears and the electrical system seemed weak. Just
like that. After that ride I had no power from the battery and it was
still harder to start and running poorly at idle and low gears. Took
it to the shop, they said everything looked good in the charging
system, so they re-magnetized the fly wheel. That did the trick.
Power from the battery, no start or idle or low speed problems. We
were fine for 3 months.

Then I let it sit for 3 weeks with no riding, outside, with some cover
(under a deck), but it is the winter here in San Francisco which mean
rain... I came back and it was similar behavior as before. No juice
from battery, chugging hard at idle and low speed. Stalling at idle.
I figured I just needed to recharge the battery and all would be fine.
After a week of riding on the dead battery (and fearing the cops
since i had no break light) suddenly it died on me in mid ride. I was
in 4th gear, probably going 25-30, and it started to slow, like it
wasn't getting gas. I knew the tank was 2/3 full, but I switched the
fuel tap to reserve anyway. Bike died. I checked the tank, plenty of
gas. Tried to restart, no luck. Not even a chug. Let it sit a few
days, still nothing. Changed the spark plug twice, still nothing.
Checked the fuel line, it's clear. Checked the fuel filter it's
clear. Can't see water in the gas tank. Recharged the battery, now
all electrical seems to work, except for the right turn signal which
is only working in the front, and flashes at twice the normal speed.
I assume this has some meaning but I don't know what, and could it be
related to my starting problems?

Is it normal for the engine to respond better when the battery is
fully charged? And are there any troubleshooting suggestions?

Thanks from this novice,
Bob

[Mike Lynch]

Before you start tearing it apart just try to break & make
a few times all the electrical connectors, also where the
fuse plugs in, the earth lead that screws on the fan
housing anywhere where some corrosion could cause
trouble.
Make sure all the connections are metal to metal.

Mike.

"bob burke" <***@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:***@posting.google.com...
Here's the history:

I bought the bike last July and it was fine, except the
battery was
dead. I bought a new one, and all was cool for a few weeks.
Then one
night I was trying to start it, and it took much more
kicking than
usual. Finally i got it started after a few stalls, but it
was really
struggling in low gears and the electrical system seemed
weak. Just
like that. After that ride I had no power from the battery
and it was
still harder to start and running poorly at idle and low
gears. Took
it to the shop, they said everything looked good in the
charging
system, so they re-magnetized the fly wheel. That did the
trick.
Power from the battery, no start or idle or low speed
problems. We
were fine for 3 months.

Then I let it sit for 3 weeks with no riding, outside, with
some cover
(under a deck), but it is the winter here in San Francisco
which mean
rain... I came back and it was similar behavior as before.
No juice
from battery, chugging hard at idle and low speed. Stalling
at idle.
I figured I just needed to recharge the battery and all
would be fine.
After a week of riding on the dead battery (and fearing the
cops
since i had no break light) suddenly it died on me in mid
ride. I was
in 4th gear, probably going 25-30, and it started to slow,
like it
wasn't getting gas. I knew the tank was 2/3 full, but I
switched the
fuel tap to reserve anyway. Bike died. I checked the tank,
plenty of
gas. Tried to restart, no luck. Not even a chug. Let it
sit a few
days, still nothing. Changed the spark plug twice, still
nothing.
Checked the fuel line, it's clear. Checked the fuel filter
it's
clear. Can't see water in the gas tank. Recharged the
battery, now
all electrical seems to work, except for the right turn
signal which
is only working in the front, and flashes at twice the
normal speed.
I assume this has some meaning but I don't know what, and
could it be
related to my starting problems?

Is it normal for the engine to respond better when the
battery is
fully charged? And are there any troubleshooting
suggestions?

Thanks from this novice,
Bob

[Populares]

Post by bob burke
all electrical seems to work, except for the right turn signal which
is only working in the front, and flashes at twice the normal speed.

Probably rear bulb is blown or lost a connection.
Regarding fundamental problems - my diagnosis is dirty carb.
But first: do you have a spark on the spark plug?

[Tony Merlocco]

Hey Bob.

The bulb is definately burned out...a flasher will double in speed when the
resistance is halved.

As far as the other problem, I would look at the wiring and check for bad
grounds or shorted circuits. An engine will not function correctly running
only on the charging system. If the battery is shorted or bad, there may
not be enough amps to fure across the plug(s). Also...the coil may be
leaking.

Just a couple of suggestions from another novice....

Post by bob burke
I bought the bike last July and it was fine, except the battery was
dead. I bought a new one, and all was cool for a few weeks. Then one
night I was trying to start it, and it took much more kicking than
usual. Finally i got it started after a few stalls, but it was really
struggling in low gears and the electrical system seemed weak. Just
like that. After that ride I had no power from the battery and it was
still harder to start and running poorly at idle and low gears. Took
it to the shop, they said everything looked good in the charging
system, so they re-magnetized the fly wheel. That did the trick.
Power from the battery, no start or idle or low speed problems. We
were fine for 3 months.
Then I let it sit for 3 weeks with no riding, outside, with some cover
(under a deck), but it is the winter here in San Francisco which mean
rain... I came back and it was similar behavior as before. No juice
from battery, chugging hard at idle and low speed. Stalling at idle.
I figured I just needed to recharge the battery and all would be fine.
After a week of riding on the dead battery (and fearing the cops
since i had no break light) suddenly it died on me in mid ride. I was
in 4th gear, probably going 25-30, and it started to slow, like it
wasn't getting gas. I knew the tank was 2/3 full, but I switched the
fuel tap to reserve anyway. Bike died. I checked the tank, plenty of
gas. Tried to restart, no luck. Not even a chug. Let it sit a few
days, still nothing. Changed the spark plug twice, still nothing.
Checked the fuel line, it's clear. Checked the fuel filter it's
clear. Can't see water in the gas tank. Recharged the battery, now
all electrical seems to work, except for the right turn signal which
is only working in the front, and flashes at twice the normal speed.
I assume this has some meaning but I don't know what, and could it be
related to my starting problems?
Is it normal for the engine to respond better when the battery is
fully charged? And are there any troubleshooting suggestions?
Thanks from this novice,
Bob