Engine ticks over but stalls under load

[MarkW]

Hi guys

Just wondering if anyone could offer a bit of mechanical advice

One of my neighbours just popped round to see if I could help with his scooter. It's a '59 plate TGB 202 Classic (whatever that is - I know nothing about scooters) and before he bought it a few days ago it had been sitting unused for 12 months. He fitted a new battery and filled the empty fuel tank, and it ran fine for a few days. It's now on its second tank of fuel, and has developed a problem.

I've just been round to take a look, and it starts fine and can be revved without any problems. But as soon as he gives it any throttle on the open road it splutters and dies.

My first thought was that he's possibly sucked a whole load of rust and sludgy crap out of the tank into the fuel filter, and that whilst enough fuel gets through at tick-over it's getting starved when it's under load. Does that sound like a possibility? Should be easy enough to check by disconnecting the fuel filter and seeing if it runs OK I guess.

Other than that I'm not sure. What sort of things would cause it to run fine at idle but conk out on the road?

Really grateful for any suggestions folks, not least because I fully intend to pass off your wisdom as my own expertise and make him think I'm a mechanical genius

[eastanglianbiker]

yep filter could well be the problem also check the tank isnt creating a vacuum due to blocked breather

[RicKsTa]

My guess is filter.. change it for a couple of quid and see

[MarkW]

Thanks guys.

The fuel filter looked clean when I took it out, and joining the fuel line back together with a plastic connector didn't fix the problem. My next thought was some sort of carburettor issue, but the service history shows that it was stripped and cleaned less than two years ago.

The bike has plenty of fuel, and the oil reservoir is almost full. I did get to see the problem as it happened: it fires up just fine and goes for a few minutes before stalling. I forgot to check the tank breather hose (duh!) but I'll have a look later.

Thanks for your help!

[mealexme]

he didn't put diesel in did he?

[MarkW]

I know you'll all have been on the edge of your seats waiting to know what the problem was, and I was too busy being a rock star at the Yorkshire Show last week to update you.

Turns out it was the carburettor, and it runs very nicely now!

[Craig 8150]

Just read this thread ..with interest as I am changing my two fuel filters as one is not flowing good at all it drips every 7 seconds and I limped home because of what seemed a fuel starvation problem just like your mate what was the carb issue in the end

[MarkW]

Sorry mate - only just seen this!

The carb and the fuel hoses were full of crap, which was surprising given that the carb had been serviced and the old fuel filter was clean. Swapped out the hoses, cleaned the carb, and all apparently is now running as it should be.