bike start problems!

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Hi,

I have a kmx 125 (offroad - kickstart).. (woooh i hear you say), but it is sketchy on starting. Most times i have to bump it. Then when it warms up it kicks fine!

I checked the battery and there is a wire connected to the (-) side and nothing whatsoever connected to the (+) side..Is this right??

Your help would be appreciated..

Zepf

Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

No, there should be something from the starter connected to the +. Check it's not fallen off
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

There is absolutely no loose wires kicking about..

The bike dont have a starter. It is just kick start now..

Does this make a diff?

TiN · Pocket Tin Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Karma :

I don't think that my CRM has a battery at all, so the lights etc won't work until the engine is running. Is it the same with the KMX? (assuming that you have lights).
____________________
TiN
dotgems.net

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Yeah, i have lights. But the engine must be running before they can come on..

I need to get this starting problem sorted asap. As i want to sell the bike.

Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

Check the spark-Plug, it could not be firing properly
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

I will check, cheers..

It's just it has been working fine. Then one morning it wouldn't start!..It has been sketchy ever since..

Also, why is there a wire attached to my (-) terminal of the battery??

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

I just had a look. The wire that comes off the (-) terminal goes to this slim black thing, one side of this thing goes to the spark plug and the other side goes to this square shaped black box and this goes to the light switch and then the on/off switch...

My bike must be using the battery as (when it does fecking run) if you put the switch to off the bike stops and it WONT start again til the switch is flipped back to on..

AND, i remember now..The lights DO work when the engine is off, but right now they wont work!!..So do you reckon i just need a new battery??...

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

In order for the electrics (lights etc.) to work while the engine isn't running there HAS to be a connection to the positive terminal of the battery to make a circuit, you're missing a lead.

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

see. that's the thing. When i bought the bike, the guy had the lights running with the engine off.

Now the lights wont work when the engine is off!..so where is this missing wire gone/come from??

Also, i just kick started the bike and it is being a bitch..it is barely going then i have to keep messing with the throttle to try keep it alive then it dies!!..

Why is my bike being a bitch???

Please help, as i need to sell this as i'm going to uni..

Zepf

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

surely someone has a KMX 125 and can go check where the wire to the positive terminal is going/coming from.

As this is hassle, i really need to get the bike sorted so i can sell it for a PC..(need one for going to uni)

Regards,

Zepf

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Not got a KMX. However it is likely that you will have 2 wires going to the battery. One going into the main loom and one coming from the regulator / rectifier unit. They both may go through the loom, but it you are lucky they are tied together and you can follow the wires from the regulator / rectifier unit.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Hi,

I'm not sure what the components of the bike are. But the wire coming from the (-) terminal is two wires joined together (soldered). There are taped with electrical tapes and go to the negative terminal.

This is coming from a slim longish shaped black thing, one side of this thing goes to the spark plug. If you know what this thing is..

Obviously the two wires that are soldered and go to the negative terminal have always been that way..so i still dont know where the wire tot he plus terminal is meant to come from!!??

Zepf

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Think the bit you mention is the coil. There should be a wire probably coming from the frame and then to the -ve terminal, then most of the electrics can earth through the frame.

The regulator / rectifier unit is probably a small box, about 1.5" x 2" x 3/4" with a load of metal fins on it.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

so what wire is meant to connect to the positive terminal??..Where does this wore come from?

Cheers..

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

The +ve terminal provides the power. It also needs to receive power from the charging circuit. You will have a load of wires going from the alternator up to the regulator / rectifier unit (probably 3 yellow wires), maybe an earth wire (likely to be black and yellow) and another wire going from the regulator / rectifier unit up to the battery. This wire will probably be red or maybe white. There may well be another wire as well, but not sure what for (charging light, to show you when the bike isn't charging maybe).

There will also be another wire going from the battery to power the electrics on the bike (such as lights and indicators), probably going up to the ignitions switch. The wire to the ignition switch will again probably be red or maybe white, and when the ignition is turned on it will connect this wire up to another to actually allow the lights to turn on. The wire out of the ignition switch may well be pink or maybe brown and white

Wiring colours are educated guesses (either what I am used to , or what it shows in the wiring diagram for another Kawasaki)

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

there is two wires going to the negative terminal. They are green and have been soldered together.

What i actually need to know is what wires should be attached to the positive side of the battery?

Cheers..

Zepf

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Afraid I have already put (in the above message) as much as I can work out as to which wires go to the +'ve terminal.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Found a wire from the damn thing with the fins on it..It works now. but not quite!!

It starts, chug chug chug (you know) then it cuts out..i keep kick starting it struggles to stay alive then dies.!!..why is this?..It was fine last time i used it, now this!

Zepf

Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

Have you checked the Plug?
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

Zepf · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

The plug is fine. It hasn;t changed in a 3 days..

Zepf

johnnyd · L Plate Warrior Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Karma :

I have a kmx 125 and have exactly the same problem that it fires up and then immediately dies. I was wondering if you found out what the problem was and can help me out, as it is driving me mad!!!

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Welcome to last year. Rolling Eyes

baldy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Karma :

Is the battery flat? I used to have an old yamaha 400 and when the battery was flat it used to fire up and then die out. Maybe this is the problem Question

____________________
One day i will rule the world, just not today.

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Right i have a KMX200, a bit knackered, but it runs. Ill check later on exactly where the positive and negative wires are routed from the battery. It will likely run without a battery if the loom was wired accordingly, as the CDI has a self generating current supply from the stator, as well as a seperate charging coil, which i assume is the same as on most 2 strokes. I have a new KMX Haynes manual if you want me to check on anything for you. I cant scan any pages atm tho. As for starting im trying to compare to my KMX. It starts fine from cold with one or two kicks, but you need to keep the throttle slightly open 2-3k rpm for a few seconds on full choke. The KMX has a spring loaded choke, so if you release the lever and walk away, it will die if the motor is not warm enough to run without it. mine is very annoying as it starts, and after about 10-20 seconds of choke it will tick over on its own for a few min, but it always dies again before ive got my helmet and gloves on and shut me garage door lol! If its generally a bad starter, id firstly check the plug, and the HT lead, as they do fail from time to time. The coil should be ok, it either works or it doesnt. Theres no timing adjustment on the ignition, its all done by the CDI. If not maybe checking the carb is a good idea, the cold start circuit might be blocked or not operating correctly. It seems that everyones KMX is not behaving, mine suffers an annoying misfire at low to medium revs, and i did a full strip of the carb, blowed out all the jets etc, and fitted a fuel filter. Still does it though. The carb i think is well worn on mine and theres some screwdriver inflicted damage around the mainjet holder, hopfully thats the problem, as i aint brilliant with electrical faults lol!