Although your helmet and visor may take the chill off your face, your scooty might just not like it very much. [break]
For the ones who have been riding throughout the seasons, the fact that motor engines tend to give troubles in the cold will not come as a surprise, you’re a pro! The new riders, however, need extra caution.
Not to worry – Republica met with the three leading scooter brands representatives, namely Honda, TVS and Hero Honda, to help you and your scooter get rolling all through the winter.
Here are some of the commonest problems scooters show during winter along with their solutions.
Scooter doesn’t start!
This might be due to several reasons. The first and foremost thing you’ll want to do is check if your battery is charged. “There are many times when the battery runs low and so the scooter does not start,” informs Gautam Tuladhar, manager, Honda Showroom, Teku.
All you need to do is put your scooter on the double stand and kick start it a few times, he says. Tuladhar also points out that although electric start is very convenient and therefore most- preferred, once a while you should kick-start the engine.
But if your scooter has been sitting in the cold for a long time, hook it up to a battery tender to keep the battery charged.
Checking the tires
The grip of the tires might get loosened in the winter. The rubber on your tires needs to be supple even at low temperatures. This will not only ensure better grip but also lessen the chances of slipping. “All you need to do is check if the tires are intact,” says Mukesh Shrestha of the sales department at Hero Honda. The wear and tear of the tire can easily be recognized just by giving it a closer look. If your parking area is cold, try putting a wooden slab below your scooter to provide the tires insulation against the cold.
Carburetor problems
The carburetor on your scooter is a serious one requiring delicate care. The carburetor not only regulates the amount of fuel and air supplied to the engine but also forms the heart of the scooter. Tuladhar advises that mending of the carburetor should be left to a specialist. A problem in the carburetor will lead to several problems. It not only creates difficulty in starting the scooter but also slower the acceleration. Choke cables
Choke cables are imbedded within the carburetor. They open and close as you start the engine. When you start the engine, it requires more fuel in the chamber so the choke closes to start the engine. Once the engine gets warm, it doesn’t need much fuel, so the choke needs to be opened.
If your scooter does not start due to this cable, Tuladhar says, “You can pull out the cable yourself, and your scooter should start.”
However, if it doesn’t, the problem might be slightly bigger than that you can handle. Dhiraj Luitel, sales manager at TVS, Nepal, informs that the new scooty pep+ comes with an “auto choke,” and so there will be no such problems.
The above mentioned problems are the commonly reported problems with the scooter. These can be fought by simply being alert and taking care of your vehicle.
According to Luitel, the major problem is that youngsters today hasten up the speed of their scooty as soon as they kick-start the engine.
He says, “Always allow the engine to run for at least a few minutes before put yourself on motion.” This should be done every morning especially during winter season to warm up the engine. Also, it is not advisable to keep the engine unused for a long period of time; which might cause rusting and other problems. Start your scooter once or twice a day even though its not being used.
With these tips in mind, you can safely and warmly ride your sco get on with oter right through winter entering into spring. Don’t keep yourself or your scooter confined just because it’s cold, get yourself out there in that fresh, cold air. After all what did you buy the scooter for?
Keeping it safe!
- Always make sure your battery is charged. Cold weather can take the charge out of a battery.
- Check to make sure your fuel tank is full and that you are using the right kind of engine oil (Mobil) for your scooter.
- Check your tire pressure when the tires are cold.
- As for the brakes, make sure they are working. Being able to stop is always a good thing.
- Also, always be sure that your bike is washed and clean and that there are no dirt particles on the engine or anywhere else.
- Check your lights. Winter days can be dark and you don’t want people to not see you and
vice-versa while on the road.
- Make it a point to take your scooter for timely servicing to ensure a problem-free ride.
Happy riding!
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