94 Elite (SA50) suddenly died

[BobbyD]

I recently purchased a 94 elite with approx. 2,400 miles. She ran great for about 100 miles; no problems. Then a few days ago, the oil light came on when I started it. It only took about 4 oz to top it off, and the oil light went off and it ran fine. Since then, the oil light has come when on when I turn the scooter on, even though the oil is full. After it ran for a few minutes, the oil light would go off. Always started on first try. Same thing today (oil light came on and then went off), except after riding for about 1/2 hour, she just died (started slowing down with throttle open, then sputtered to a stop). Now she won't start.

Advice would be appreciated. Do you think this is related to the oil light? Where would you start with troubleshooting?

[Bear45-70]

My Aero 80 does that and I've learned to ignore it. I drained the oil tank and the light does come on when the oil is low on my scooter. I just can't crank up the energy to worry about the light coming on at startup, when I know the oil isn't low.

[BobbyD]

Bear, sounds like you are saying that the motor dying has nothing to do with the oil light issue. Any ideas on why it died? Suggestions?

[Bear45-70]

Well, I would start troubleshooting with a compression test as it will eliminate the oil issue.

While you are at it change the spark plug. They are cheap and can cause this.

Check for spark. No spark, disconnect the start/run switch and check again. Then disconnect the ignition switch and check again. If that doesn't do it, disconnect the CDI and check for ground on the black and white wire. No ground then you go to the stator.

Ohms check the stator per the manual. It good.............

The ohms check the ignition coil.

If it is good and you have a spare CDI, swap it in.

If it isn't any of those then the fuel system gets checked.

[toad772]

Check to see if one of the wires going to the cdi broke.(it happened to me)

[Bear45-70]

Check to see if one of the wires going to the cdi broke.(it happened to me)

Now there is a one in a million occurance, but it never hurts to check.

[BobbyD]

Thanks Toad. I'll check that out along with Bear's suggestions. However, I'm somewhat of a noob working on scooters. I honestly don't know a capacitor discharge ignition from a flux capacitor. Where is the CDI? I have a service manual for the SA50, but only found one reference to the CDI in sections 14 and 15 ("The CDI ignition timing is not adjustable".). No photo (unless it has another name).

[Bear45-70]

CDI stands for Capacitive Discharge Ignition. The AC voltage from the stator (alternator) is fed to the CDI box where it is rectified (half wave) and used to charge a capacitor. The sensor or trigger tells the CDI when to fire and send the voltage in the capacitor to the coil. The coil boosts the voltage to about 50,000 volts and fires the plug.

Basically an electronic magneto, but with no moving parts.

[Munstah666]

Since it's an oil related issue, I would check the compression first before changing anything. GL!

[Bear45-70]

Since it's an oil related issue, I would check the compression first before changing anything. GL!

And just how do you know it is an oil related issue? Because he had an oil level light come on? Even though physical verification said there was no oil level issue. So how does the stopping from starting say oil related problem? The light has nothing to do with anything but oil level and if the tank has oil in it then the light system (probably the float switch) has an issue. There is no proof at this time there is any oil delivery issue. I told him to do a compression test already but your assumption that this is oil related has no backing in fact as yet.

[BobbyD]

She runs! Thanks guys. All it took was a new spark plug. However, it will only start (cold or warm) with the air screw turned all the way in. I hadn't fiddled with the adjustment screws until it died. Then, when I tried to adjust them in order to get it to start, I noticed that the air screw was closed all the way. Ideas on what might be the problem? Should I be concerned or just ride it as is?

[Bear45-70]

The air screw all the way in means the fuel supply at idle is too lean. Either partial plugged fuel passage or float level too low. In either case you need to fix it.

[BobbyD]

Bear, thank you again for the advice. What you are suggesting is beyond my limited wrenching abilities, so I'm going to have to take it to a mechanic. At least I can give him some direction.

[Bear45-70]

Bear, thank you again for the advice. What you are suggesting is beyond my limited wrenching abilities, so I'm going to have to take it to a mechanic. At least I can give him some direction.

You can do it. There is a guide in Wikispreegia with pictures.

http://hondaspree.net/wiki/index.php5?t ... r_Cleaning

http://hondaspree.net/wiki/index.php5?t ... ture_Guide

[BobbyD]

Thanks for the links. Will I screw up the engine if I ride it as is for a month and then work on it in November (when, if I mess it up and it takes some time to get it back together, I won't feel so bad about not riding)?