Starting problems/shutting down when running...

[danharrill]

Hey guys, first post here, or at least the first time I haven't found what I needed already posted...

So my 07 Ruckus is having some problems starting up. When I use the electric starter there is nothing, not even the little clicking noise. It kick starts on first or second try and runs fine as long as I've got the throttle pulled, but as soon as I stop at a red light the lights dim and the whole thing will shut down after about 30 or 40 seconds.

If it was just not starting I would think that the starter was broken, but I don't think that would shut it off after its on the road...Could it be the battery? It's only a year old with 1600 miles and the first thing I did was charge it and it took long enough that it must have ben holding something. Doesn't seem like the battery could go that fast.

Any ideas before I give up and take it to the mechanic?

Thanks
-Dan

[jedisabre7]

did you buy it new, and do you have any modifications to the engine or starting system?

[danharrill]

It was used and about 3 months old with 300 miles when I bought it. No modifications. And no problems up until now.

-Dan

[jedisabre7]

did it sit for any extended period of time?

[danharrill]

I've been riding it everyday to school and then work for the past 4-5 months so I'm sure thats not the problem.

-Dan

[Dandy Dan]

It sounds like you have two problems:

1) Your battery is dead
2) Your idle is set too low

Take a phillips (star) screwdriver and reach it through the hole in the floorboard under the seat to adjust the idle. Tighten the screw maybe 1/2 turn and your scooter will idle a bit higher would should stop the stalling. When the idle is set too low normally it takes a bit to stall. It gets slower and slower until finally it stalls which sounds like what's happening to you.

Regarding the battery, when a Ruckus battery is too low to start the Ruckus then you get the clicking sound but when it's stone cold dead you get nothing. Either your battery is stone cold dead or you have a bad connection at one of the battery terminals so the connection is broken. If it's just dead, then it's not likely that it's permanently wrecked yet since it's pretty new. Your Ruckus should be charging it as you drive so if you avoid trying it for a few rides then it should come back. It would be even better if you could toss in on a charger to bring it back up to charge right away though. If you have a bad connection at one of the battery terminals then you need to remove the battery box cover and check to make sure the wires are bolted tightly to the terminals. I had this happen to me once and it's happened to a few others.

[varroa]

dandydan said:

Take a phillips (star) screwdriver and reach it through the hole in the floorboard under the seat to adjust the idle. Tighten the screw maybe 1/2 turn and your scooter will idle a bit higher would should stop the stalling.

DD, what exactly does that operation accomplish? as i looked at that screw, all it does is it "pre" loads the throttle cable. it has the same effect as if you just ever so slightly rotated the throttle, right?

[chanito]

Yes, that is to control how much air can sneak into the engine at idle, if there were no air supply the engine would not idle and just die, by adjusting that screw you are preventing the throttle plate from choking the engine and by keeping it slightly open you can control the idle speed

[danharrill]

I finally got around to looking at my Ruckus today.
You guys were totally right, turned the idle up and stalling stopped and the battery connection was really loose and once tightened the electric start came right back to life.

Thanks!

[Dandy Dan]

Great to hear!