Can't get my 2001 apriliaRS 125 Started...help please!

[frenchy]

Just bought a 2001 rs125 from my mate. it was in bits and has been sitting in his kitchen for a few months. Its not running, i reconnected the carb etc.

Bt the bike wont fire.
-checked the spark plug, its sparking (white spark)-shouldnt the spark be blue? if so, this leads me to think there is an issue with the coil?...can anyone confirm this?
-engine is not siezed, piston moves freely, can also be turned by hand with a spanner.
- electrics work, display works, light works, horn works.
-wasnt sure if petrol was getting in so replaced the tank with a squeezy bottle to force petrol into the carb and ensure it is going in.
-the starter motor makes a wierd rattling noise as if its having trouble engaging, but if you take spark plug out and try start the bike, you can see the piston moving, so it must be engaging?-it turns the motor over, it just will not fire.


Anyone got any ideas/info?
-i know the spark plug is sparking and ive set it to 0.5mm but this could be different under compression, right? or wrong?

Any help/suggestions/info would be massively appreciated... can't wait to get this bike going, need it to commute to uni in september

[stirlinggaz]

hi,
take the spark plug out... & chuck it.
go buy a couple of new plugs (there only about 4 quid for a br9eg/es)
then get the battery charged up, fully.
dont beleive the lcd screen, it lies, so either charge it up or get a multi-meter on it.
fresh fuel, a fully charged battery & a new plug should get you started.(providing theres nothing more serious wrong with it)
rs's can be a pig to get runing if they have been sitting for any length of time.
even bump starting them can take a few attempts.
oh, + check the compressio while your at it.......
cheers,
GAZ

[frenchy]

hey thanks alot for the replying.
I'm ordering a new spark plug, but according to halfords i need a
NGK-Br10EG for a 2001, de-restricted rs 125, so ive gone for that; hopefully i'll get it tomo and the bike should start, fingers crossed...but ill let you know.

With respect to the battery, its brand new. I replaced the old one cos i thought that was the problem :S but, ive put it on trickle charge again just to make sure its fully charged.

[stirlinggaz]

hi,
try puting a little bit of petrol down the hole, when your fitting the nnew spark plug.
i usually find that its getting the thing started is the main problem + a br9 is a better plug for this, & the little squirt of petrol might help get it to fire.
or try some "start ya bastard" (seriously, thats what its called,lol) or easy start.
might be an idea to get a compression test done 1st?
cheers,
GAZ

[frenchy]

will do, where abouts can i get a compression test done and how much do you reckon it would cost?

[stirlinggaz]

Hi,
if you intend keeping the rs, or any other 2 stroke, i suggest you buy a compression tester & definately learn how to do the compression test yourself.
it takes 5mins.
even if you dont know what the readings mean, you could do the compression test & post the results on here?.
the gunson one is decent enough for diy use. (just make sure you buy the one that fits your bike! or get the one with all the different sized adapators)
the one type with 1 adaptor will cost £20, the kit around £40 (each adaptor costs a tenner though)
any garage will do a compression test, though expect to get fleeced.
it literally takes 10mins MAX.
tank up, spark plug out.
screw in tester & hit starter button (whilst holding throttle wide open).
do this 3 or 4 times & get an average.
less than 90psi : something seriously wrong
90-110psi : time to think about looking at the top end, might get away with new piston rings only.
120psi + should be what your looking for. (ideally over 150psi)
cheers,
GAZ

[Frost]

Compression might be the issue, but its a good idea to check other things first.

When was the bike last run? Fuel goes bad after a little while, and it can take a long while to pump the fresh fuel through unless you use the drain screw on the bottom of the carb.

As said above, spark plugs are very important on a 2 stroke, and they are cheap so throwing a new plug in it is usually the first thing to try.

[Amreet]

have you tried a bump start? I think it could be the starter motor being week. Remember, when you took the plug off to watch the piston there was no compression, so no resistance on the starter motor, but if it was faulty, then the resistance from the compression when you put the plug back on could mean that its not strog enough to turn the engine over. A bump start should isolate or exclude tnis. Good luck!

[Frost]

Yeah i too would give bump starting a go. Just remember to put it in gear and push the bike backwards still it stops. Take it out of gear and either roll down a hill, get a mate to push you and paddle as fast as you can and kick it into 1st.

[big d]

okay this isnt the best thing for the bike but make sure the battery is fully charged, youve got the new plug in ( and its gapped correctly), then take of the air box and squirt a bit of brake cleaner into the air inlet, hit the starter button and (watch your hand just incase you get a flame from the inlet).... this isnt an ideal way to start the bike but it does wonders and generally will get it started if its not been running for a while dan
____________________
September 22nd 2007 cbt passed......Pass A2 asap
Present: 2007 Yamaha YBR125, 2004 Kymco Super9 50cc.....Dream Garage : 08 BMW GS650, 04 Gix6, 2000 R1, maybe 08 Superduke.

[frenchy]

Cheers for all the suggestions and info.
Recieved my new spark plug today, put it in after making sure it was gapped correctly etc. bike still wouldnt start bt seemed to be getting closer.
After a gd few attempts at bumpstarting the bike, it FINALLY fired up, woop....however, it was ticking over fine after bump starting it, but didnt seem to want to rev :S Also, couldnt leave it in neutral to tick over, it cut out
plus, i cannot get it started from the ignition, only success has been through bumping it. any ideas?

Does anyone know a gd method of telling that oil is definately getting to where it needs to be?sometimes the oil light flashes on, even though there seems to be a fair bti oil in.

The bike has been sitting a few months prior to me buying it i was told, so the oil and fuel will be old bt as its fired up, im assuming this isnt that much of an issue?

I think the compression test is the next step for me. Really want to get it starting from the switch and nt bump so if anyone has a plan, please share it
(wish they had kick starts!)

[N cee thirty]

well the oil light sender unit would be in the 2 stroke tank so if thats full theres nothing to worry about.


is the battery fully charged ? maybe your batteries knackered and so doesn't give the starter enough to kick it over.

if the bikes been stopped for abit,you'll need to clean out the carb and all the jets,maybe thats why it didn't want to rev/idle

also check the air filters decent
____________________
'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[stirlinggaz]

have you charged the battery up yet?
most of the issues you have described could be as a result of a flat or dud battery.
the rs wont start unless it has a decent charge in the battery.
either connect a multi-meter to the battery & see whats happening or charge the battery up!
as for not idling, this could be either : the idle screw needs adjusting or perhaps someones been playing around with the carb settings?
either way, return the carb to stock settings (air screw 2 1/2 turns out) & adjust the idle via the black plastic knob on the side of the carb.
& most rs's dont like to sit & idle for long periods, as this will foul a plug. (especially if its a BR10, which is why i recommended a BR9 earlier)
cheers,
GAZ

[Digitalize]

Were you as gentle as possible with the throttle, rising it very very delicately?

If you can get it to start revving, just take it out on the road and use it, should be fine.
____________________
1998 CB600F Hornet

[frenchy]

ye battery is brand new, checked it, its full and also got a trickle charger to top it up.
Spark plug is also brand new.

I think i definately need to check the carb out, when i got the bike, it was in bits and the carb was disconnected, so really i shouldve cleaned it and checked it before i re-attached air box etc etc.

Anyone got any opinions on why it wont start from button, bt will after bump starting? considering the battery, spark plug is all brand new and fully charged.

Something makes me think that the carb is not standard, and is possibly a 32mm, althought i could be wrong and will confirm this. From memory, the bike has been destricted.