looking at buying this scoot

[ninjascoot]

OK i saw this scoot on craigslist and i want everyones view on it and if you think you know whats wrong with it , here is the post

Lotus 50 cc moped!!!! Cant get it to start!!!!!

New: Carburetor, Battery, Stater, Fuel Filter

Please email me to discuss seeing/ buying it!!!!!!

Title in hand!!!!!!!

$200

so then i emailed this guy and a few things here is that stuff

MY EMAIL
I am wanting to know a little more about the bike if you don't mind please let me know the last time it ran and does it try to start or will it start and then just die will it idle and die and etc. Just need to know a little more be for i make an offer. Thank you

HIS EMAIL
Hey, it was running and then one day stopped working while being used. I got it to start a few times before it was parked, but it would only run for a few minutes at a time. Its been parked for about two months. I tried to start it before posting and it just doesn't seem to catch. The kick start sounded like there was still compression in the engine though. Let me know if theres anything else you'd like to know, thanks!

[ninjascoot]

Here is a pic

Attachments:

[stepthrutuner]

Regardless of what's wrong with it, for $200 I can't see you getting hurt on this. I doubt that repair, regardless of what is wrong, should run over $100 altogether. I like the color. Don't see many white ones.

[90GTVert]

I agree with stepthru. A lot of these starting issues end up to be fairly small fixes.

[Deleted]

dont assume anything
ask specifically if it turns over
if not, take a battery over there and check compression
if it has 120psi or more buy it.

if it has low compression offer $100
see if the tires, mirrors and seat are in good condition and if so come up to possibly $150
thats what i would do.


here is the pattern that i am seeing:
these bikes have tight valves and most often times sealed carbs. people buy them and they run for 500-600 miles then get hard to start. they run the batteires down then let them sit. the carb sits with gas in it and gets gummed up and with a sealed carb it cannot be cleaned even if the owner did know how to do it.

I see this is the situation on these new 'sunny' style scooters every day. (tao tao, renegade, lotus and others)

he said new carb but didnt say if the valves had been adjusted. tight valves create hard starts and stalling.

if it has at least 120 psi compression i would get it right then for $200 IF the seat, tires and mirrors are good.

do you have the tools to do a compression test? it dont take much but most people dont have a compression gauge.