CG125 help, please!

watergypsy · L Plate Warrior Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Karma :

I own a 2000 CG125, my first bike, and it has developed a problem with the clutch. While running, if I open the throttle more than halfway, the engine revs, but is providing no power.
Is this a clutch problem, a gearbox problem, or (please, God) something silly like the clutch cable being in need of adjustment?
I am fairly clueless when it comes to engines but am hoping to do most of the work on this bike myself, as I was told they were straightforward and a good introduction to bike maintenance and repairs, and I'm willing to give anything a go, given a Haynes manual and a heated garage! Very Happy

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

That's clutch slip.
Means that the clutch-plates and or springs are worn out.
- Likely on a ten year old learner legal, with gawd knows how many newbies getting to grips with the art of fine clutch control.
Or the clutch cabe is adjusted wrong so that the clutch isn't fully engaging.
- Just as likely given a ten year old learner legal with gawd knows how many newbies using it as an oportunity to learn basic motorcyle maintenence and adjusting it up at the lever end, like they did thier push-bike brakes, rather than at the engine end, like your supposed to.
More likely the clutch plates, but still, worth giving the cabe a go.
That Haynes manual, would be a good start.
Unfortunately, they tend not to give them, (or heated grips away, or Snowtigeress would be muscling her way to the front of the queue, swinging a security chain!) but we-moto will normally get them to you within 48hours given the insentive of a credit card number.....
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

VTRkemshell10... · Spanner Monkey Joined: 22 Aug 2010 Karma :

get a new clutch cable fitted - - mine started doing this then it snapped -- works perfectly now!
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Past Rides: Sym Jet Euro X, Gilera DNA, Aprillia RS125 (Spains No1 Replica), 1991 Honda NSF, 2006 Honda CG125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, 2000 VFR800 FY-I
Current Rides: 2001 VTR1000 FIRESTORM

watergypsy · L Plate Warrior Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Karma :

Thanks for the help, will start with adjusting the cable, if that doesn't work move on to buying a new cable, if that doesn't work then I may go and sit in the corner and cry for a bit before taking a deep breath, putting on my big-girl pants and getting serious with the spanners. Confused

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

tahrey · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Jul 2010 Karma :

Don't panic! Clutch cables are usually fairly simple affairs on either car or bike.

I don't think mine was properly adjusted or lubed when I got it, I struggled on for quite a long time but it was getting difficult to make a smooth gearchange or pull away without a lurch.

A few minutes work with a pair of mole grips and an oil dropper bottle* later, plus a fair bit of working the lever (and ultimately a couple days for the oil to seep through) and things were a fair bit better. Smoother action, and the clutch actually properly disengaged, or at least as much as a wet one does...

If you're getting slip, you just need to adjust it the opposite way to what I did, in the first instance (er... I can't remember which - but for you, probably turn it clockwise (top of outer, narrower knurled screw turning towards front of bike) to lessen how much cable is pulled for a particular degree of lever pull?). If that doesn't help it even if you make a massive adjustment, ensure it's well lubricated, that the actual clutch release lever isn't sticking at the other end (down on the right-hand side of the crankcase, near the brake pedal - can lube its axle a little bit as well).

Should all these fail, then it's probably time for a replacement, which may be a home job but I'd just as rather leave the professionals having been warned off of it by others on here! There's all kinds of fiddly bits like springs and pulling the old one and making sure the new one's properly centred and... oh, just let a career mechanic deal with the training and tool cost. There are other less stressful jobs you can do yourself to save money if you're strapped at this beginner stage, and maybe learn to do that one later.

*(or you can use forceps, pliers, scissor-action bottle opener, strong and thick-skinned fingers (so long as it's not too greasy), whatever... alternative to the dropper could be a bottle of 3-in-1 bicycle oil from halfords with integrated dropper nozzle, or the cheap pack of mini-syringes they sell - whatever lets you force some random-grade oil down the cable casing)