Honda cg125 Mystery

[sosborne]

Hi all, my CG has been in a garage for the best part of 4 months and they have still not been able to get it started so I thought I'd take it home and do my best. I'm now at a stage where she will start flawlessly, run for roughly 10 seconds (sounds good), however will then cut with no warning. Fuel has been drained and replaced, carb has been cleaned and checked, plug has been cleaned and is getting a strong spark, any ideas?

Two things I have noticed the garage has done since taking it out: What is this red nut (it seems like some kind of sensor), and is there any significance of the open hole gushing out air? Any help with either of these would be greatly appreciated.

Apologies for any naivety, this is a first for me. Thanks.

[Mark65]

Hole gushing air out-Crank case breather?
Red Fitting-Preheat on carb?
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Rogerborg]

Are you starting it with or without choke?

What colour was / is the plug tip?

Is fuel flowing freely from the petcock into the carb?

If you shut off the petcock immediately when it stalls then drain the flow bowl, how much comes out?

Is that a remote choke cable? Is that original? Actually, is that carb original?

Red thingy, no idea. Looks unnecessary and over-complicated.

The cone filter won't be helping. Honda-san fitted an airbox for a reason.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[sosborne]

Thing is, since taking it back from the garage, I can no longer find the choke lever. I'm not entirely sure if I'm being very stupid or if the garage has done something there.

Plug was initially a dry, sooty black which I believe was causing it not to start. I cleaned it up yesterday and it now starts fine.

I checked fuel last night and it is indeed running freely.

I'll check the flow bowl later today if I can, thanks.

The carb is original as far as I'm aware.

With the crank case breather would it be acceptable to attach a hose to stop water and what not getting in and leave it or do I need to get my hands on a filter?

[Meatybeaty]

Hi what year is your cg, you could put a brand new carb on for £25-30, airbox off e-bay £10, a connecting pipe from crankcase to airbox or a small breather cap, at least with a new carb all seals are with it, but take advice from Rogerborg he knows his stuff on these

[sosborne]

It's a 2001 I believe, I'll look into a breather cap now, cheers.

[P.]

Put it back to standard, it'll run.

[smallfrowne]

On my cg there is a hose over the breather hole that just flops behind the engine.

The carb could well be original, there were a few fitted with an accelerator pump like that. Maybe the choke lever wasn't put back properly if they were just fettling with the carb, trying to get it to work - trace the cable, might have to take the tank off if it's hiding under there.

I'd go with Rogerborg's idea of checking the float bowl for fuel when it cuts out. Does it restart straight away? Might need the carb settings putting back to vaguely original settings if it's been fettled all out of whack.

In fact I'd start by checking the float bowl height which is easy with a bit of clear tube, like for fish tanks, and you don't have to take anything apart.

https://www.google.com/search?q=float+bowl+height+tube

(google link 'cause I'm too lazy)
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'90 VFR750; '89 NC30; '95 DR650; '89 CD250U; ~'82 CG125; ~C90

[Rogerborg]

[Commuter_Tim]

As above the red thing is a carb bowl heater to prevent icing, shouldnt make a difference unless its VERY cold outside, and even then it has no immediate effect.

It is a sign that your carb isnt an exact model for your CG though, or someone ripped the wiring out.

The CG carb models only seem to vary in wether they have an accellerator pump or carb heater, that one has both.

Everyone is right, replace the bits back to what you know as standard, new filter about £30, carb off Ebay, about another £30-50, learn to take it apart yourself and double check the carb jets inside have the right numbers for your bike, learn to adjust cabling, job jobbed.
They're simple devices on these bikes, I recommend buying a Haynes manual too.
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[sosborne]

Thanks for all the replies.

The bike recently starts straight away after stalling every time.

I'll try check the float bowl and choke later on.

[Commuter_Tim]

I am genuinely curious about the open air filter being wrapped in tape though, is this some sort of "performance" mod?
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[sosborne]

I'm as curious as you are, it came back from the garage with it so I just assumed it was there for a reason, I doubt I'll be taking it back there in the future.

[Commuter_Tim]

I'm sure there is some ridiculously bodgerific "reason" for it, but my thinking is with the direction of wind flowing at you, at best all it will do is trap dirt in behind the tape.
BTW standard CG's have enclosed air boxes, again can be had on ebay.

Anybody with half a brain and some hand eye co-ordination can pickup mechanics.
The mechanic I used before I did stuff myself didn't even know the name for the accelerator pump let alone how to set it up. (this is unlikely your issue however as that is mostly kicking in when you turn the throttle)

Oh yeah, with that crank case breather being open to the environment, drop your engine oil and put in fresh stuff (any 10w40)
As above it is supposed to have a rubber hose attached to drain down under the bike, who knows what crap has been getting in there.
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[WD Forte]

I'm astounded by this

"my CG has been in a garage for the best part of 4 months and they have still not been able to get it started"

Whaaaat?
What sort of mechanic cant get a simple CG sorted out or at least identify the problem?

I mean, if it were multi cylinder computerised EFI lump festooned with sensors you'd maybe cut them some slack, but a CG?
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bikers smell of wee