How to Maintain a Scooter
Keep Your Scooter Trouble FreeVintage and modern scooters are definitely trendy these days. While they are a fun reliable form of transportation, they do require some upkeep and maintenance. Performing scheduled annual and winter maintenance will keep your scooter running for years. So what needs to be performed?Check your engine oil level. Without oil your engine will die. Keeping track of the oil is especially important with 2-stroke scooters. Most 2 strokes have a bubble that lets you know how much oil is left in the oil tank. Four stroke scooters don't consume oil like 2 strokes so they are more forgiving.Check the crankcase hub oil level. This shouldn't be an issue but you never know. Check the dipsticks for your engine oil and crankcase. They can shake loose and they seem to be a theft item.Check your tire air pressure. This will improve your gas mileage and extend the lifespan of your tires. Tires lose air over winter and can result in unstable cornering.Loose screws and bolts. With their tiny wheels, scooters are prone to lots of shaking. Hit some pot-holes and things definitely shake loose. Check your scoot every spring and fall for missing screws.Check for fuel line cracking. Some scooters are notorious for needing annual fuel line replacement. If you see a puddle of gas on the garage floor, check your fuel line from the fuel tap to the carburetor. Fuel line can be obtained from the local scooter shop or online.Keep the carburetor clean. Pour a little Seafoam in the gas tank every other fill-up. It will keep your scooter purring all year.Check the seat lock screws if you own a Vespa. These are notorious for coming loose and then the seat lock just spins and spins. It's a great way to get locked out and not be able to put gas in your tank.There are annual maintenance items. Change your oil and your oil filter annually or every 1800 miles. Use a good quality oil that meets the manufacturers specifications. Don't use lawn mower oil in your 2 stroke scooter. It clogs up your exhaust and then you'll need to buy a new one. You'll need to clean or replace your air filter annually too.Items do wear out on your scooter. The scooter shop is not trying to rip you off by replacing unnecessary parts. If they say it's worn out, it's worn out. Things that tend to go first are the drive belt, rollers, spark plug, brake pads, and the tires. If you have a 2 stroke scooter, ask the shop guys how to replace the spark plug. You'll go through several over the summer.Keep the battery charged. If you aren't going to use your scooter for a month, hook it up to a Battery Tender Jr. Your scooter will start and it will prolong the battery lifespan.Keep your scooter maintained and it will never let you down. Look stylish everyday of the year.
