Bought this machine used yesterday, started and ran fine when I looked at it. I stopped at the car wash to clean it on the way home. Now it won't start and has no spark. It has the brake on start feature, but in only turns over. I didn't get a manual with it so I'm at a loss.
Help!!

 

Sounds like you may have gotten water in a connector when you washed it. Check the spark plug cable and see if it is cracked, if it got wet and the insulation is cracked it will probably short. You will probably hear the spark shorting to ground if that is the case. If not, start looking at the cdi and related wiring.

Is it possible they sold it because every time they rode in wet conditions it died?

 

Ok, going to get some wire drier today and go to town.

 

wire drier

 

Removed all the plastics, unplugged every connector and sprayed with WD40 and she fired right up. A little dielectric grease in all the connectors hopefully will keep it from happening again.
Thanks for the suggestions.

 

That dielectric grease is the way to go. On a side not the connections that get hammered to most are the ones up under the front plastic as the hase of the steering column. The plastic funnels mud/water onto them and they sometimes move when you turn sharply.

If you use a pressure washer you have to keep in mind that if it will peel stickers off and such it will easily put water into electrical connections and worse around seals on axles/bearings. So be mindful of the pressue, angle and the length of time it is there.

You can even do this with regular water pressure and the right nozzle on the hose.

SJ