old scooter wont start.. please help

Hi guys i bought an 04 Aprilia atlantic 125cc a while back, it had been passed from pillar to post but was apparently unable to start, after a new battery , i got it started 3 times, it did not idle well and after a minute or so cut out if not throttled, since then i cant get it started again for love nor money.. i replaced the coil and ht lead, and the plug, i replaced the fuel and fuel filter.. i cleaned the carb and even ended up replaced the carb thinking i had maybe knackerd it... and the damn thing STILL wont start !
now im thinking as it sat for so long without running, at least a year..that when i got it started, the head gasket blew ??? is this likley ? i dont have a compression tester yet so im just brain storming..

i did notice the autochoke was not working so i rewired it so there was resitance as it was an open circuit.. but NOW i also note that the power going to the autochoke is dead due to the negitive wire, however if i earth my multimeter to the crank case i get an 11v reading.. the black neg wire from the (ecu ?) to the choke is not providing an earth.. is this right ?
in any case WOULD a non working autochoke prevent the bike from starting ??
the way i see it, i would not as its open so you would get more fuel flowing if it was dead..?
but ive read online of a non working autochoke being in the list of things for starting problems..
thanks rob

 

Hi
auto chokes are the worst invention. I hate them. Remove that thing and get a manual replacement (for about two quid) and then you can forget about it and have a working scoot.
I just resurrected a Typhoon and (surprise surprise) the auto choke was bust. Replaced it with a manual - and bingo.
It's stuck open and flooding the engine. That is why it won't run.

 

cheers mate, is a manual choke conversion something i can buy off the shelf ?

 

Yessir. You just need to take the auto starter out so they give you the right one.

 

forgive my ignorance who are "they" ?
cheers

 

The nice man in the garage where you go and buy the part. It's so cheap it's not worth faffing around with the internet -
Show him the auto - he'll know what you need.

 

i think though, it would not be so cheap for me as i cant easily access the carb on my bike so i would need a cable and choke control on the handle bars, but il look into it.
cheers

 

A trap door under the seat in the 'boot' is you friend. It will also make a good security measure !

 

+1 on this. manual chokes are so cheap + easy to fit. first thing i did when i got mine.

 

You could easilly get one with a puller wire on it and have it come out under the seat - then you'd have the best of both worlds. Or a complete cable & twizzle on the bars - but that would be hell to fit. Keep it simple !