Need help with service dept - won't start

[jw]

Had my 2006 Ruckus at Honda dealer (Houston area) to fix running problem....got it back Dec. 29, 2008 after paying about $210. Ruckus had only 282 miles on it. Problem was that it would start and idle, but die if your tried to make it move. We keep it at country home and use it only occasionally. Problem was supposedly carburetor caused by "ethanol".

Anyway, rode bike a few days later and parked it in shed, with 311 miles on it. Restarted it two weeks later and idled for about 10 minutes. Tried to restart again 3 weeks later....would run about 2 seconds and died...probably did this 100 times until battery died.

Recharged battery and tried again a week later....still no start beyond a few seconds.

Took back to Honda dealer yesterday (Feb. 24). Service Dept said carburetor work warranty is only for 2 weeks. He said that Ruckus has design defect with choke, but that there is no replacement to fix problem. He said ethanol was the culprit and his service dept is full of Ruckus's. He said only way to avoid problem is to ride every few days.

Anyway, I feel cheated that they want another $200+ to fix problem they obviously did not fix just 7 weeks ago. Fuel answer seems bogus....I use same gas in 2001 Honda Recon 4 wheeler with no problems. Riding every few days is also a stupid answer.

Any of you with similar problems? Suggestions on how to approach dealer? If this is a regular problem, I will sell....Ruckus is not worth the hassle. I can't afford $210 per ride. If they won't fix, Honda can kiss off me ever buying another bike, car, or boat motor. Seems like if ethanol problem is endemic, factory would have a fix?

[chanito]

It can be gas related, but i am amazed they did not advice you on the use of some fuel aditive. Get some seafoam and run it at idle and then try to get it for a ride, it will eventually clear then just add stabil and run it some more, that should take care of your only ocasional rides
And change dealership

[Dandy Dan]

The Ruckus doesn't have a choke problem....that's BS.

[scooterbill]

Check to see if positive battery cable is lose on battery. On my ruckus it would start sometimes and sometimes it would not. The positive battery cable was lose. The starter and the alternator is the same thing. The battery went dead on it because, the positve battery cable is used to charge the battery and it would not start because the positive battery cable is also used to power the starter. When you push the starter button, power goes to the starter from the battery. When it is running the starter becomes the alternator and sends power back through the positive battery cable to the battery to charge it. The ECM uses power from the battery to make the scooter run, so when the battery is dead the scooter will not start. I think with the battery cable lose, it will start sometimes and idle, but not have enough power to run, because it is not getting a good power connection.