HOME and how to join › Forum › Open Area › General Scott topics › Novices Beware – 100 ways to break your Scott
Hi all,
I’ve just learnt that apparently it’s possible to damage the Scott kickstart mechanism by starting the bike on its stand (rather than with the bike on its wheels and standing astride the bike). 😳
This got me to wondering… how many other subtle (and not so subtle!) ways can a novice owner inadvertently inflict pain on his/her Scott (and leave a dent in the bank balance)?
I’m sure any hints on how to avoid these pitfalls would be most welcome by novice Scott owners (myself included)
Pete P
1936 DPY
either fogetting to put oil in, or leaving the oil tap turned off is a two stroke owners favourite and most effective way of spending lots of money. You need to develop a starting (and stopping routine) that you follow every time, like getting into an aircraft. Something like:
1. take bike off stand, make sure both tyres are round at the bottom
2. Make sure stand clip is securely done up
3. Sit astride, check oil and fuel levels
4. set mag and air levers
5. reach down both sides of the tank and turn both taps on – this is the key behaviour you need to automate in your brain!
6. Tickle the float
7. Kick until close to collapse then place back on stand
8. Remove leather jacket and helmet which are now wringing wet with sweat
9. remove both spark plugs, lay them on the head and check for a spark
10. Pick yourself up off the ground as the piercing electric shock up your arm confirms spark is present
11. Remove crankcase doors which you can be sure are stuck fast – You can achieve discus world record distances by removing the door strap, refitting the plugs then kicking it over. The resulting back/missfire in the crankcase will propel the crankcase door either into your shin (if you are standing on that leg beside the door) or across the road
12. Pick yourself up off the floor again and retrieve crankcase door
13. Clean door, syringe or mop out all the excess fuel (see item 6 above – it said tickle, not lean on plunger for 5 mins)
14. Refit doors, refit plugs, kick into life
15. Stop engine to put back on your jacket and helmet
16. Repeat from step 1
Cheers,
Rich
@Richard Blackburn wrote:
either fogetting to put oil in, or leaving the oil tap turned off is a two stroke owners favourite and most effective way of spending lots of money. You need to develop a starting (and stopping routine) that you follow every time, like getting into an aircraft. Something like:
1. take bike off stand, make sure both tyres are round at the bottom
2. Make sure stand clip is securely done up
3. Sit astride, check oil and fuel levels
4. set mag and air levers
5. reach down both sides of the tank and turn both taps on – this is the key behaviour you need to automate in your brain!
6. Tickle the float
7. Kick until close to collapse then place back on stand
8. Remove leather jacket and helmet which are now wringing wet with sweat
9. remove both spark plugs, lay them on the head and check for a spark
10. Pick yourself up off the ground as the piercing electric shock up your arm confirms spark is present
11. Remove crankcase doors which you can be sure are stuck fast – You can achieve discus world record distances by removing the door strap, refitting the plugs then kicking it over. The resulting back/missfire in the crankcase will propel the crankcase door either into your shin (if you are standing on that leg beside the door) or across the road
12. Pick yourself up off the floor again and retrieve crankcase door
13. Clean door, syringe or mop out all the excess fuel (see item 6 above – it said tickle, not lean on plunger for 5 mins)
14. Refit doors, refit plugs, kick into life
15. Stop engine to put back on your jacket and helmet
16. Repeat from step 1Cheers,
Rich
Never a truer word was spoken.
Don’t we just love them!!
Dave
Yes, everything that Richard says but when it does start, and it may trick you by firing up first prod, check that the oil is in fact plopping through the pump before hammering off for a very short ride!
Thanks guys. This is really good stuff.
There must be more tips and tricks to help stop us Scott novices wreaking havoc though!
Can we get to a 100 tips?
-Pete P.
1936 DPY
Hi Pete,
As a Scott owner you must treat every new problem as an interesting challenge. A masochistic streak in your personality will also be helpful.
Carl
Well, I for one (as a Scott novice) am certainly enjoying the challenge of owning a Scott. Leaning about these weird and wonderful bikes is an enjoyable experience.
I would however, be nice to learn without having to cause unnecessary damage! Hence this topic…
-Pete P.
1936 DPY
Slightly off the main subject but, following my Dad’s instructions, I always stopped my Scott by choking the carb. with my gloved hand which left a rich mixture in the crankcases and which usually provided a rapid start next time. Is this procedure followed today?
Regards.
Well I certainly do. Close the air lever, rev up and hit the kill button (mag equipped Scotts) or turn off the ignition on coil equipped M/Cs.
Dave
@Roy Lapidge wrote:
Slightly off the main subject but, following my Dad’s instructions, I always stopped my Scott by choking the carb. with my gloved hand which left a rich mixture in the crankcases and which usually provided a rapid start next time. Is this procedure followed today?
Regards.
Yes that works for me.From my initial problems the bike is now a very reliable starter which i put down to familiarity with regard to control position and the glands bedding in after the engine rebuild.
One tip that obviously works for some….Leave it in the shed and just polish it and admire it…..
OR…..Always park on top of a hill !!!
Peter Scott
One final thing – don’t allow yourself to be distracted when going through your starting routine or you’ll forget something and live to regret it.