125 needs bumpstart when cold

[vcrmoss]

Good day

here's the problem: my Gilera Cougar 125(engine from CG) will now only let me ride it from cold if i bumpstart it.When it gets form t pretty much changes its mind and starts just fine in normal way.I checked the battery and its fully charged and in good condition.Spark plug has also recently been recently changed.Had a bit of an issue with the fuel system couple of weeks ago but thats been sorted out as well.( incorrectly adjused carb after cleaning)

So what should I be looking at?

I've been suggested that it could be alternator or water in the carb.Also i need to mention that I'd been riding the thing in the rain a lot lately (never before as i only had it for 2 months)so not sure if this could have affected the wiring.

Thanks in advance for anything at all that might spring to your mind and perhaps save me a lot of time once again.
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Im new to the game and loving it Big Time......... current ride: Gilera Cougar 125 (cruiser style Italian Honda CG)

[P.]

if it was water in the carb, bumping wouldnt help it.

Might be the same as friends BMW..might not though.

Does it try to crank over then you hit the starter, or does it just not move?
Could be dodgy starter motor, that frees up when it gets warmer..

Aside from that, the rain would kill it, wouldnt allow to bump start and electrics would certainly be dodgy.

Are you using alot of choke to start it when cold?

[GSF Jamie 600]

Your choke cable snapped?
My 125 was difficult to start when cold and had to bump it quite alot, then realised the choke cable had snapped lol
Replaced choke cable and it started 1st time every time

[Odie]

[Odie]

What "EXACTLY" does it do if you try to start it when cold?
turn over?
not turn over?
spark?
not spark?
come on, need a bit more info.
Had experiance of these bikes due to my wife having one, not a lot to keep them running, in fact they are a piece of piss to keep on the road
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You are so ugly when you were born the doctor said "I?m gonna drop it, if it falls is a rat, if it flies is a bat."

[vcrmoss]

[P.]

a click could mean flat battery.. or not enough to turn the starter..but could be a stuck starter.

Try charging overnight, failing that check the fuse on the solenoid... trace the clicking sound to find it

Also to loosen the starter... put in gear.. like 5th... and shunt the bike hitting the starter button.
Free'd up my mates BMW this week doing that

[vcrmoss]

[Odie]

Could be the battery or the relay, as i said the relay is also in the charging circuit.
Charge the battery, then see what voltage its giving out when the bike is running.
You should have a reading of between 12.5 and 14.5 volts, outside of this range and its the reg / rec thats gone (i have a spare one that works).
Also, locate the silver relay on the left hand side of the bike (under the tank at the rear near the frame rail by the choke).
Pull it off the connector, strip it (carefully pull the silver plastic cap off) and clean the contacts inside as they corrode.
if it is knackered one from a ford car will fit (need to take your old one with you to a car scrap yard and pull out the relays from the fuse box to check) as its cheaper, a lot cheaper than getting one from Gilera!
Any probs pm me
Odie
____________________
You are so ugly when you were born the doctor said "I?m gonna drop it, if it falls is a rat, if it flies is a bat."

[barnhatter]

If it does not turn over it is either the battery, relay od starter motor. I would imagine its the battery once a small charge goes into it it will be okay till the next morning. Is it 12v if so attach a jump cable to a car and see if it starts then. If it okay connecting with another battery then the battery is suspect. If it is clicking then the relay should be okay, Starters usually just fail not become intermittent.
Looking at all the possibilities I suggest the problem is the battery. They are not that reliable, can fail to hold a charge overnight and come to liife once the moter is running.

[vcrmoss]

spark plug holder check...fine

battery voltage reading when running....fine (had to get a multimeter from local MDS,only £6 but saved me about £ 30 for the new battery which I also bought in case and then returned)

stripped the starter motor to pieces and found a lot of black crap inside it so cleaned throughout....

as it was getting late in the day i gave up on working on the relay (literally removed it from its holder and put back) and......"The mighty One" as I call it started again!!!!! OMG Odie thanks for this....as it turns out I will need to give it a proper clean as its really dusty etc.

In regards to cleaning which is the next level of bringin my baby back to its former glory I will be creating another post in new bikers section I think as im not entirely sure about few things (how to get rid of the old grease and where can i use water under pressure for instance) but as i said thats another issue and i will include some photos as well.

Once again thanks a million Odie,top man for your tip!!!!This dude knows what hes talkin about.

An d for anyone else dealing with similar starter motor problems heres couple of links you might find handy.....

video on how to remove and clean starter motor on Honda CG:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oovP9hJT6Y

another informative post on BCf in regards to the same topic...


https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=1951878

to finish this off here's a photo of my ride among its bigger cousins which i bumped into couple of days ago [/img]
____________________
Im new to the game and loving it Big Time......... current ride: Gilera Cougar 125 (cruiser style Italian Honda CG)