HELP! Kymco Zing 125 will start off kick but not button.

khedden79 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Karma :

I am a newbie biker and about to sit my cbt on Saturday. I bought a W plate Kymco Zing 125cc from a local man the other day. It started first time from the electric ignition and from the kickstart. I went out to it the next day to charge the battery (they said it needed a charge as it had been replaced) and I couldn't get it to start at all. The electric ignition is turning over so it can't be the starter motor. The guys can kickstart it but as I am a young female, I don't have the strength. We have changed the spark plug and it is sparking from the kick start, but not the electric. The coil has been replaced, so it isn't that. The engine runs like a dream once it is kickstarted but as I said, I can't make it start from the kickstart so the bike is useless to me unless I can get the electric to work. He has cleaned all kinds of wires, checked the coil, re-earthed the battery but he is totally lost how there could be a spark from the kick but not the button. Please help, someone! This is my first bike, I love it and I don't want to hand it back. It can't be a clanger cos they just keep coming back out...HELPPPPPPP!

MickC · Spanner Monkey Joined: 27 May 2011 Karma :

A starter motor will drain power from the battery which is normal, however if the battery is dud or defective it will not leave enough voltage for the ignition system (you say it will kick start). Get the battery load tested at a garage. Just because someone says the battery is new doesn't mean that it is. Check to make sure the starter motor is actually turning the engine over(just because it makes a noise don't mean its moving the piston), they have a 'clutch' that disengages it from the engine when it fires up,that could be sticking, tap it with a hammer it may loosen it up. The only other thing i can suggest is go right back over the ignition system with a multimeter to see if it is shorting out anywhere.
Hope that helps and best of luck with the test
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khedden79 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Karma :

I charged the battery myself...and all the lights etc are coming on....

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

You say that you`re getting sparks on the plug when you use the kick-start and the engine runssweetly once started on the kick-start.
So that rules out an ignition problem and indicates that the problem is with the starter motor and or the button on the handlebars?
so is the starter motor spinning when you press the button?
Is the starter motor engaging with the engine when you press the button? (Can you hear the piston going upand down?)
does the battery have enough oomph in it to spin the starter motor and the engine?
So if the battery does`nt have enough oomph in it, it could possibly be either a dud battery or your charging system is`nt giving the full charge to your battery.

I`m sure someone wiser than me will be along shortly and give you some proper advice ...... but those are the things I would look at if that bike was mine
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

MickC · Spanner Monkey Joined: 27 May 2011 Karma :

Don't mean squat. The battery is designed to deliver a certain ampage and voltage, the load on the battery is at its most when throwing over the starter and providing power to the ignition system to start the engine, the only way i know of eliminating the battery is to have tested.
I had one in the past where if i put it on charge it would charge up fully but it couldn't start the engine, got it tested (my bike shop did it for free) and it was duff, it had volts but bugger all amps.
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Previous: CG125,XS250 (converted to 400),Z250A, GPZ550, Norton Commando, XS500, 78 Laverda Jota, GPZ1100,Harris bonneville, XV750 (mono shock),TR1

cb1rocket · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jan 2010 Karma :

jump start it with a car battery, if it starts then you know the battery is crap!

khedden79 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Karma :

starter motor is spinning as you would expect. No sure about the piston moving: newbie, remember!!

tried jumping it from car and it worked.
am at a loss....guys just said they wouldn't refund me either Sad

Button area on handlebars wiggles around a bit. Is it worth taking it off and giving it a clean/spray with WD40?

khedden79 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Karma :

starter motor is spinning as you would expect. No sure about the piston moving: newbie, remember!!

am at a loss....guys just said they wouldn't refund me either Sad

Button area on handlebars wiggles around a bit. Is it worth taking it off and giving it a clean/spray with WD40?

MickC · Spanner Monkey Joined: 27 May 2011 Karma :

If it jump starts from the button then it sounds like your battery is duff. The starter button will wiggle around a bit that is normal
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XX XXXx
Previous: CG125,XS250 (converted to 400),Z250A, GPZ550, Norton Commando, XS500, 78 Laverda Jota, GPZ1100,Harris bonneville, XV750 (mono shock),TR1

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

The battery may just need a bit more charging. A flat battery on a bike charger may need 14 hours to charge (7Ah battery charging at 0.5A). Leave it on charge overnight, then see if it will start on the button.

the95th · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 15 Dec 2010 Karma :

next time, my advise, as much as ill sound like a d*ck.

Buy a more reliable bike, like a yammaha or honda.

on a lighter note, sounds like your batteries had it. Make sure you get the rest of the bike checked over carefully, if somones willing to lie about a 20 quid battery they probably have screwed you over further.

sorry to bear the bad news.
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2004 Rieju Rs2 Matrix 50cc, 1982 Honda CG125, 1986 Honda Cm125, 1982 Honda Cb125..... I kill a lot of 125's

The Artist · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Karma :

Don't mean to sound rude but a mate of mine bought one of these and has had many troubles with it, I suggest you sell that bike while it still works and look for a decent Japanese make.

Suzuki
Honda
Yamaha

There are a few others which are decent, just post on here about them and people will tell you if they are any good.

Avoid Chinese! Kymco is the best of a bad bunch.

cb1rocket · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jan 2010 Karma :

there ain't that bad, its usually how the previous owners have looked after it.

Kymco is Taiwanese so they are ok. Best bunch above all the chinese crap.

stirlinggaz · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Karma :

my votes on the battery.
its probably still got the same cr*p chinese battery it came supplied with.
these should be swapped out at the earliest opportunity, along with the piss poor stuff they call oil & the downright dangerous spark plug
cheers,
gaz.

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

Take some comfort in the fact that once you have learned how to fix this bit of your bike, you will feel a little more confident if it goes wrong again Thumbs Up

Being a newbie to bikes is a steep learning curve and you have just started.
when you`re out riding your bike you will forgive it for causing you heart-ache Thumbs Up

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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!