# How to wake up my scooter.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 14, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920 "2010-02-14T02:56:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/1 "2010-02-14T02:56:22Z")
A while back I developed a problem in my left knee and hip that prevented me from riding my scooter. My leg would buckle if I put any weight on it, so I parked my scooter (a Burgman 650). I hooked up a battery maintainer and went out and ran it for a while, till it was nice and warm, every week. For a while. Short story is that it hasn’t ran for maybe a year.
So, what should I do before I start it up now? I’m okay now and ready to ride again, but I don’t want to break my fun little scoot.
Thanks,
mangeorge
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### Author:  [@icbm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icbm)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/2 "2010-02-14T03:46:20Z")
I would drain out and dispose of the year-old gasoline and replace it with fresh, so as to avoid sucking varnish or other contaminants through the fuel system and carburetor.
Changing the oil wouldn’t be a bad idea. Maybe pour a teaspoon of fresh oil into the spark plug hole and turn the engine over a few times with the plug wire disconnected before starting it for real.
Check the tire pressures.
If it is chain drive, check to see if the chain is not covered in dirt. If it is, clean and re-grease it.
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/3 "2010-02-14T15:49:37Z")
> [@icbm](#):
>
> I would drain out and dispose of the year-old gasoline and replace it with fresh, so as to avoid sucking varnish or other contaminants through the fuel system and carburetor.
>
> Changing the oil wouldn’t be a bad idea. Maybe pour a teaspoon of fresh oil into the spark plug hole and turn the engine over a few times with the plug wire disconnected before starting it for real.
>
> Check the tire pressures.
>
> If it is chain drive, check to see if the chain is not covered in dirt. If it is, clean and re-grease it.
That sounds right. It’s peretty much as we used to do with auto engines back in the day.
It doesn’t have a chain, it’s a CVT. I hadn’t thought of that, so I’ll have a look at the belt etc. I’l probably change the oil after I ride it around some.
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/4 "2010-02-14T16:07:00Z")
Add half a bottle of Seafoam Green to the tank.
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### Author:  [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/5 "2010-02-15T14:14:22Z")
> [@mangeorge](#):
>
> I hooked up a battery maintainer and went out and ran it for a while, till it was nice and warm, every week. For a while.
Battery tender, good. Running on the centerstand, bad. If you’re going to run it, you need to run it under load (not just idle or unloaded high RPM) for at least a few miles to really properly cook it. A cold start generates blow-by that dumps combustion products (including lots of water and some unburned fuel) into the crankcase oil; the oil needs to not just get hot, but _stay_ hot, for a while to cook that crap out of there. If you’re not going to get it out and ride it for an extended period, your scoot will be better off if you simply don’t start the engine. My last bike weathered ten off-seasons in this manner with no ill effects.
As things stand now, you’d do well to change the oil before putting the scoot back into service. A thorough once-over on the rest of the scoot would be smart too, especially the tires.
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/6 "2010-02-15T18:15:23Z")
You should also check the brakes will not bind when released, may be worth cleaning the pistons. Also check to make sure they are not stuck on.
Make sure all the switches work, same with the lights, depends upon the environment but contacts can corrode.
Does this one have coolant system? if so you should change the coolant.
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/7 "2010-02-15T18:26:26Z")
So, um, what if you haven’t ridden your scooter for a year and it won’t start and your boyfriend thinks it’s the spark plug but you can’t find the spark plug?
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### Author:  [@retterath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/retterath)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/8 "2010-02-15T18:36:45Z")
> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> So, um, what if you haven’t ridden your scooter for a year and it won’t start and your boyfriend thinks it’s the spark plug but you can’t find the spark plug?
R.T.F.B
Read the factory book. Or wait until somebody with more scooter knowledge than me comes along. They might want to know make, model, year, etc.
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### Author:  [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/9 "2010-02-15T19:11:56Z")
Same thing happened with me and my Burgy, I just loaded it in my truck and took it to the Suzuki shop, It cost $186.oo to bring it back up to safe operation.
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-wake-up-my-scooter/528920/10 "2010-02-17T03:10:44Z")
> [@Lanzy](#):
>
> Same thing happened with me and my Burgy, I just loaded it in my truck and took it to the Suzuki shop, It cost $186.oo to bring it back up to safe operation.
That might be a good idea. The dealer here (in Vallejo) stands by his work.