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My GN 125 has packed up after my first ride

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crewzer
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PostPosted: 14:47 - 11 Apr 2016    Post subject: My GN 125 has packed up after my first ride Reply with quote

Apologies if this is just boring and impossible to remedy via a forum but I'm a complete newbie to bikes and I want to give as much detail as possible.

I bought a suzuki gn 125 '02. The seller brought it round to my house on a trailer, my boss (who knows his bikes) tried starting it up, it cut out a few times but he adjusted the throttle at the carb, gave it some choke and within a minute he was riding it around with no problems.

Later that night I started it up first time as it was already warmed up and took it for a ride. It was my first time on a geared bike, I kept stalling it, nearly flipped it into a parked car and rode around too much in first and second waking up the neighbours. After stalling it on my street for the twelfth time I gave up and rolled it home.

The next day I couldn't get it started. At this point I didn't even know where or what the choke was so I sat trying to get it started for a bit then gave up.

The following day I'd learnt about the choke so tried that but just flooded the engine and it kept popping loudly. I turned the choke off, the popping stopped but I still couldn't get it started. Gave up.

The following day I learned how to bump it but that didn't work either.

Today I charged the battery, took out the spark plug and cleaned it up with some sandpaper. Tried it again, it sounds better but still won't tick over.

My boss had a look and thinks the sparkplug and/or battery need replacing so I've ordered new ones but I find it hard to believe they just happen to of packed up after my first day with no problems.

So in the mean time (as I wait for my plug and battery) does anyone have any other ideas as to what the problem might be?

Thanks for reading.
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gerg
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PostPosted: 14:53 - 11 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

first thing to do is check the spark plug is sparking. Unscrew it, turn the engine over and see if you can see it sparking.

If it was running the other day it will probably run again fairly easily. I wouldn't worry too much.
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 15:04 - 11 Apr 2016    Post subject: Re: My GN 125 has packed up after my first ride Reply with quote

crewzer wrote:
my boss (who knows his bikes) [...] thinks the sparkplug and/or battery need replacing

Why?

Is there any chance that he just rattled off something to make him look like Billy Big Bananas, rather than admitting that he had no idea?

If you're going to be doing anything electric, I'd strongly advise buying a £5 multimeter as it will save you a lot of time and money.

Changing the spark plug, well, that's a couple of £££, so fair enough. It could have been badly fouled from riding it, but that would mean the fuelling is off.

The battery, is it a wet cell? Does it have "min" / "max" level markers on it, and if so, is the fluid inside between those markers in each cell?

I'd change the oil and clean the air filter as a matter of course.

As gerg said, if it was running, and you haven't gone in ham fisted and changed anything radical, then chances are that it will work again.

Can you show us a picture of the current spark plug?
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Last edited by Rogerborg on 07:54 - 12 Apr 2016; edited 1 time in total
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jaffa90
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PostPosted: 23:39 - 11 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some boss as said, a multimeter will test all without just guessing.
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 09:13 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

I topped up the levels in the battery but it will still only charge to about 90%. I put my multimeter on it, I get the correct 12v but it drops to about 10 when I hit the starter which my boss said is quite bad. To be honest I'm not sure how to test the amps with my meter but I'm buying a new battery later regardless.

I got a new spark plug, it sparks better and the bike sounds better when I try and start it up but still no joy.

A friend of mine came round and took the carb to bits. He's knows what he's doing but he's not overly familiar with 4 strokes and a couple of little spouts had him perplexed, one he said is an overflow but he has a hunch that a pipe might be missing from the other, I'm going to Google that now.
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andyscooter
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PostPosted: 09:38 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

battery should be about 12.5 sat without bike running

and drop to about 11.5to 12 under load
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mudcow007
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PostPosted: 09:43 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, if you boss was able to ride it around for a bit, I will assume the bike is ok-ish with nothing major missing

To me it sounds like you have flooded the plug, which is now wetter than a ducks bum in a pond.

remove said spark plug, check what colour it is (bets are its blacker than a witches hat) dry all the fuel off an wipe any blackness away

refit, turn choke to full, dont touch the throttle see if it starts off the button

if not try a bit of throttle this time

as soon as it fires turn down the choke a bit as it will run at about million revs, piss your neighbours off an waste fuel

enjoy
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 09:55 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://g02.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1YQVBLpXXXXbuXpXXq6xXFXXXF/Super-performance-MIKUNI-26mm-Motorcycle-Carburetor-Carb-For-Suzuki-EN125-GS125-GN125-moto-carburador.jpg_640x640.jpg

Aha! My friend was right there are 2 tubes missing from the carb! we assumed the seller had been fiddling with the carb as all the nuts were pretty loose and he must not have refitted the tubes properly and they have fallen off whilst I was riding it.

Only question now is, what are these tubes and where do they go? I'm assuming one is the overflow and it's not overly important. [/img]
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Holdawayt
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PostPosted: 10:11 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just to check, as you're new to bikes...

Have you turned the fuel tap to the "on" position? If it was delivered on a trailer I'd assume the fuel would've been turned off. It would still run for a bit but it would soon start cutting out and eventually not start at all.

Please tell me you've checked this first.
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 10:17 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Holdawayt wrote:
Just to check, as you're new to bikes...

Have you turned the fuel tap to the "on" position? If it was delivered on a trailer I'd assume the fuel would've been turned off. It would still run for a bit but it would soon start cutting out and eventually not start at all.

Please tell me you've checked this first.


Yeah it's not that but thanks anyway.
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P.addy
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PostPosted: 11:10 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

One is fuel going on, one is overflow.

Where are you based?
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 11:41 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy. wrote:
One is fuel going on, one is overflow.

Where are you based?


I'm not with the bike at the moment but I'm pretty sure the fuel pipe is on the other side. I know it's getting fuel so i can't be missing the fuel pipe and overflow. What else could it be?
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mudcow007
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PostPosted: 12:07 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

where are you based?

There maybe someone on here who is local who can give you a hand...
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 14:37 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've got a new battery currently on charge. I'm not sure if it's the root of my problem but it needed replacing anyway, so did the spark plug which I've done too.

I've done a bit googling about these carb hoses. I think what I'm missing is a vacuum hose. Would this explain my problem? Where does the other end of the vacuum hose go?
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Polarbear
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PostPosted: 14:44 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy. wrote:
One is fuel going on, one is overflow.

Where are you based?


mudcow007 wrote:
where are you based?

There maybe someone on here who is local who can give you a hand...


Are you a bit retarded or is 'Where are you based' a bit difficult to understand?

You will be amazed at how helpful people on here can be and you will also be amazed at how quickly you can piss off people.
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 15:08 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Polarbear wrote:
Paddy. wrote:
One is fuel going on, one is overflow.

Where are you based?


mudcow007 wrote:
where are you based?

There maybe someone on here who is local who can give you a hand...


Are you a bit retarded or is 'Where are you based' a bit difficult to understand?

You will be amazed at how helpful people on here can be and you will also be amazed at how quickly you can piss off people.

I'm in Nottingham, I didn't reply to that because a) I don't want to resort to paying anyone just yet and b) I wouldn't feel comfortable asking a stranger to drive round to my house in his spare time and get his hands dirty trying to fix my bike and not have anything to offer in return. That would be very nice and I'm very appreciative of the time you guys spend reading and replying to my problems but I'd feel that was asking a little to much. Hope you understand I'm not being a dick.
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 15:27 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does it have fresh petrol in it?

If you haven't put any in, do you know how long it was unused before being delivered to you?

Petrol can go stale even in a couple of months. They don't run well on stale fuel.

Quote:
A friend of mine came round and took the carb to bits. He's knows what he's doing but he's not overly familiar with 4 strokes and a couple of little spouts had him perplexed, one he said is an overflow but he has a hunch that a pipe might be missing from the other, I'm going to Google that now.


Suggests to me that he actually does not know what he's doing. 2-stroke and 4-stroke carbs work in the same way. I'd probably keep him away from it. The last thing you need is an enthusiastic but under-skilled teenager* buggering up the carburettion.

*An educated and slightly cynical guess that it's a mate of yours who pisses about with scooters. Based on years of experience on this forum. He'll be suggesting you drill holes in your airbox any minute.
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 15:43 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:
Does it have fresh petrol in it?

If you haven't put any in, do you know how long it was unused before being delivered to you?

Petrol can go stale even in a couple of months. They don't run well on stale fuel.

Quote:
A friend of mine came round and took the carb to bits. He's knows what he's doing but he's not overly familiar with 4 strokes and a couple of little spouts had him perplexed, one he said is an overflow but he has a hunch that a pipe might be missing from the other, I'm going to Google that now.


Suggests to me that he actually does not know what he's doing. 2-stroke and 4-stroke carbs work in the same way. I'd probably keep him away from it. The last thing you need is an enthusiastic but under-skilled teenager* buggering up the carburettion.

*An educated and slightly cynical guess that it's a mate of yours who pisses about with scooters. Based on years of experience on this forum. He'll be suggesting you drill holes in your airbox any minute.

He knew what he was talking about and was showing and explaining to me what does what, it just looked a bit different to his aprilla rs carb. Plus he was right, there are missing hoses, one of which I believe is some sort of vacuum hose but I'm still trying to get to the bottom of that.

It came with a little bit of petrol, not sure how old. It ran ok on that, then I put fresh petrol and redex in and it ran ok on that too, the problem occurred the following day.
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mudcow007
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PostPosted: 15:53 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

How come you put snake oil in.....sorry Redex?

Unless it went bang, I cant see how it was working A-OK one min then the following day its flat as a witches tit?

How is fuel fed to the carb, is that your missing pipe (vac pipe to the fuel tap)

Is the plug wet after you have tried to start it?

Can you get fuel to flow from the over flow? (small screw on the bottom of the carb bowl) - this proves fuel is getting to the carb

bikes only need fuel an air to run - oh an a bit of tender love, have you tried stroking it?
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Minty
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PostPosted: 15:57 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

mudcow007 wrote:
bikes only need fuel an air to run


And one of those bright blue hot flashy things that come from the spark plug - I forget what you call them.
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Holdawayt
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PostPosted: 16:03 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

If it's a missing hose that's preventing it from running how do you explain the fact it was running well the day before your issues started?

Did someone steal your hoses? Have they both fallen off?

Nope.

Crank it over for a bit, remove the plug and see if it's wet. If it's not then you've got a fuelling issue. If it's wet, test the plug for a spark. If you have no spark inspect the ignition system. If you have both fuel and a spark then it must be an air delivery issue although this is highly unlikely given the design of the GN carb.
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mudcow007
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PostPosted: 16:08 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Minty wrote:
mudcow007 wrote:
bikes only need fuel an air to run


And one of those bright blue hot flashy things that come from the spark plug - I forget what you call them.


well i suppose that helps aswell..... Laughing
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 16:13 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

mudcow007 wrote:
How come you put snake oil in.....sorry Redex?

Unless it went bang, I cant see how it was working A-OK one min then the following day its flat as a witches tit?

How is fuel fed to the carb, is that your missing pipe (vac pipe to the fuel tap)

Is the plug wet after you have tried to start it?

Can you get fuel to flow from the over flow? (small screw on the bottom of the carb bowl) - this proves fuel is getting to the carb

bikes only need fuel an air to run - oh an a bit of tender love, have you tried stroking it?

I know people always say bikes only need fuel, air and a spark to run but it's not that simple is it, they also need loads of components and hardware to be working correctly and adjusted accordingly etc.

The carb is getting fuel, I've seen it come through the fuel hose, out of the overflow and I've also got the spark plug wet, yes I cleaned and dried it.

Can anyone shed any light on this other hose please, it's not the fuel hose or overflow.

I put redex in because it does what redex supposedly does. I guess everyone's going to tell me it's bike poison now?
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Minty
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PostPosted: 16:17 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe give your boss a punch in the nuts?

A bike delivered on the back of a truck with immediate fuelling issues and subsequent tendency to drop into first gear of it's own accord?

But at least he knows his bikes, eh? Just how much has this bundle of joy set you back?
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crewzer
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PostPosted: 16:43 - 12 Apr 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Minty wrote:
Maybe give your boss a punch in the nuts?

A bike delivered on the back of a truck with immediate fuelling issues and subsequent tendency to drop into first gear of it's own accord?

But at least he knows his bikes, eh? Just how much has this bundle of joy set you back?

We've both rode it with no problems though, the gear problem is only causing me minor inconvenience and it may be easy to solve if the previous posts are anything to go by. My boss wasn't wrong about the spark plug despite that not bring the root of my problem and he wasn't wrong about the weak battery but my new one is still charging I haven't tried it yet.
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