QuestionI was driving my scooter Gator 250cc to work one morning. While on the road I heard a sharp noise and the scooter even though running stopped pulling forward. I pulled it on the side on the road and tried to turned it on. The scooter will turn on but every time I tried to drive it, the scooter will cut off. I started pushing the scooter back home. About hour and 15 minutes later I tried again and after turned off once, the scooter started moving at the second tried and I drove it okay home. Can you tell me what happened please?
The scooter also has an overheating issue. Where that could come from please?
I just got the scooter a couple months ago and new
Thanks.
Kossivi.
AnswerHi Kossivi,
There are a number of things that can cause
a scooter to stop running.
One is if the fuel supply is blocked
which can happen sometimes if something
gets in the lines, the fuel filter or the carburetor.
You might check if it is the spark or the fuel
that is making it stop.
Check for spark and if it has spark to the spark
plug then try some starting fluid
in the carb or air cleaner tube
to see if it starts on that.
If it does then maybe you have
a plugged fuel supply or dirt in
the carb somewhere.
Another possibility is if it is overheating
then you could have a momentary engine
seizure. Check your hoses for leaks
and make sure all the air bubbles are
out of the radiator.
Keep the coolant bottle filled to the correct level.
If it keeps getting hot you may have to check
the coolant temperature with another temperature gauge
to see if it is really getting too hot.
It may have a faulty thermostat unit.
The thermostat is down from the top
radiator hose near the engine. It
is usually under a cap or cover with two
or three bolts holding it on.
If they stick closed the bike will overheat.
Another cause of overheating is when the
engine oil level is too low.
The engine uses the oil as a temperature cooler also.
If you find that it is the spark that stops
then you may have a loose wire plug
on the ignition unit or a loose
spark plug cap or even a faulty
switch on the kill button
or sidestand on some models.
It is often easier to find a problem once
a bike has stopped completely.
When things go off and on it can be difficult
to trace the problem.
Make sure your coolant is full and
your oil level also.
You can try some fuel additive like
"Seafoam" to see if that will help.
If it stops then check for fuel and spark.
Try to determine which one is the problem
so you can troubleshoot that one area.
It can be overwhelming to try and
check everything at once.
You can open the radiator cap when cool
and then tip the bike sideways to
get the air out of the coolant.
Fill it to the top and
it should be okay if there are no leaks.
If you have any concerns see if you can
get a bike mechanic to listen to the engine
and check the coolant temperatures.
Good luck!
Wayne S.
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