Motorcycle Repair: Piaggio 125 skipper, piaggio 125, full tank

Question
Chris,

The tank is  8 ltrs and the spark plug is clean but smell heavilly of fuel.

Hope this helps

Paddy
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Followup To

Question -
Chris,

I put in a new spark plug and it started first time, however, after riding it once it then would not start again, any thoughts?

Thanks
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Followup To

Question -
Chris, i wonder if you can help, i only seem to get around 45 miles out of a full tank of petrol.  The automatic choke seems to work ok and was wondering what else it could be.

Thanks

Paddy

Answer -
Hi Paddy.

Two things.  One; how big is the tank, and two; is the bike running rich?  You should smell fuel when you ride if it is running rich, as well as the bike running very badly and the spark plug being fouled.

It could be that the needle valve in the carb is out of position and allowing too much fuel into the system.

Let me know what you find.
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON

Answer -
Hi Paddy.

You still haven't told me what I really needed to know to help you;

One; how big is the tank, and two; is the bike running rich?  You should smell fuel when you ride if it is running rich, as well as the bike running very badly and the spark plug being fouled.

Based on the fact that the bike ran once with a new plug, I would guess that the bike is running rich.

What was the condition of the old plug when you pulled it?

Answer those questions for me and I can help you more.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON

Answer
Hi Paddy.

That's what I needed to know.  It looks as if you have one or two possible problems.

1) The carb needs work.  It may be running rich due to a malfunction of the carb internal mechanism.

2) There is a fault in either the the ignition coil or the ignition circuit has a short.  It could be running rich due to  insufficient spark.

It could be either or both of these issues.

Check them out and see what you find.
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON