Loud Click on Ignition - Bike Doesn't Start

[Ripp3rCrust]

Hi, I have a problem with my Honda XR125 not starting.

I normally use it every week day for commuting to and from work, however, this morning it would not start.
When I turn the key and press the ignition switch I only get a single loud click from a componenet which I found to be above the battery. The horn and rear light and still work however the front headlight no longer is powered on, although switching to full beam still works.
Pressing the ignition also makes the Neutral light fade a little.

This problem also happened to me on Saturday, however, the bike started up after a couple of minutes. Both on that occasion and today I took the bike down the path by myself (normally I have help) and there are 3 steps at the bottom which may have been taken a bit more roughly that normal as I was alone. Could this have had any effect?

Could it be as simple as a low battery? I read in other places it may be the solonoid is damaged but wouldn't know how to check that.

Any help would be much obliged.

[Usher4566]

Why not push start bike see if starts if does run for few mins turn off and try electric start if sounds better poor battery .if same check battery voltage.could be a stuck starter solenoid
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New cd200 benly owner

[Usher4566]

If stuck you can ark a screwdriver across solinoid to bypass it and stRt bike
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New cd200 benly owner

[HD]

As said, try to bump it first. I had this a while ago. It wouldnt bump either though, as the bike had flooded so the pistons wouldnt move. After I got some fuel out it started fine.

First of all try to bump it. If it will bump then as said, ride it for a while to charge the battery. Don't just let it tick over as apparently they only charge above something like 4k rpm. If it won't bump start then you could have the problem I had, I would imagine it will though.

To check the starter solenoid, you need to short the terminals. Take a screwdriver and just touch both terminals at the same time. As you join them it will spark and you will probably bump but hopefully it will turn over. Make sure the ignition is on though
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[Polarbear]

Jump start it off a car/bike/spare battery you know is good. If it starts your battery is fucked.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Ripp3rCrust]

Cheers guys, I will either bump/jump it when my dad gets home so he can help. I shall let you know how it goes, hopefully it is just the battery!

[Usher4566]

I would push start .less pudding about .less risk of mucking sumting up
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New cd200 benly owner

[Ripp3rCrust]

Alright thanks for the tip. I am just pushing it along (or going downhill) in 2nd with the clutch in and then let it out and it should start? How fast & far should I let the clutch out? Also what speed sould I be aiming to reach?

[Robby]

Charge the battery.

[HD]

[Usher4566]

That's why I would not jump off car less risk push starting .its a skill he needs to learn as a bike owner .mines a 200 and I can just briskly walk it and let the clutch out gently as if you were pulling off and it will start .but besides all this do you not have a kick start ?
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New cd200 benly owner

[Bomberman]

[Chalky.]

Battery gone.

If you've been using it regularly there's no other reason other than it's buggered.

Replace. Be about £20.

[Ripp3rCrust]

Thanks for all your responses, you have been a great help. Just been out and bump started down a hill, and it worked! So do you reckon I should get a trickle charger and try and resuscitate the battery or just buy a new one?

Ta

[HD]

Charge it overnight then see if it will start in the morning. If you get the same click then arc across the solenoid and see what that does.
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[GreenPan]

[Shillz]

I had this problem on my CBF 250. I had to get my starter motor overhauled.

Was just making a clicking noise and still dipping headlights and stuff.

But as people have said test the battery and solenoid first because thats a cheaper alternative to getting your starter motor overhauled.

Hopefully its just the battery!

[P.addy]

[Ripp3rCrust]

Hi, me again. I changed the battery on the bike last night for a new one and the lights seemed to work okay (except the main front headlight which still doeant work although I thought the bulb had just gone).
However, when I came to try and start it this morning I got the same single loud click, tried to bump start and the engine started ticking over a little and then backfires and cuts out.
Any ideas? Cheers.

[Usher4566]

Sounds to me stRter solidnoid ark a screwdriver across it .also you back firing could b flooded engine bump with no throttle at first .take plug out take pic and upload .or tell us couler dry soot .wet black .Brown .white Ect.
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New cd200 benly owner

[Ripp3rCrust]

[Usher4566]

Ime not sure how u check but I've got um working by touching a screw driver across the two termanals on top b crefull will spark .make sure igntion on
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New cd200 benly owner

[Robby]

Did you charge the battery before fitting it? Most new batteries (exceptions being expensive AGM ones like Odyssey or Autobatt) need to be charged first.

So again, charge your battery. Do it overnight using a decent quality charger like an optimate or oximiser. Even the Halfords auto battery charger is pretty good, but not as good.

Solenoids tend to give up when they get corroded. They contain a moving part, which means corrosion only tends to set in when they are unused for a long period of time (a year or more).

Being another black box with wires going into it, they are reliable and rarely give trouble. The problem is that some people automatically suspect black boxes with wires going into them when a problem comes along because they don't understand these curious boxes.

9 out of 10 electrical problems are down to a flat battery or corrosion on a terminal. Curiously, people shy away from buying a relatively cheap battery charger or some emery paper and spending an afternoon cleaning connections, and instead buying expensive and unnecessary parts trying to chase down a problem that doesn't exist.

So, your fault finding, in order:

1. Charge the battery. See if this fixes it.

2. Still clicking? Clean your connections - the terminals that connect to the battery, and anywhere that a wire earths onto the frame of the bike. This will require removing the plastics, seat, and fuel tank. Clean up both the connector and the bit of frame it attaches to with emery paper until you see bright, clean metal. Reassemble with a smear of copper grease or vaseline to slow down further corrosion. Be particular wary of any point where dissimilar metals meet, like mild steel and aluminium, copper, or stainless. Dissimilar metals cause galvanic corrosion. Same reason you should never use stainless bolts in an alloy crankcase.

3. Still clicking? Now you can look at the solenoid. Either strip it apart and clean up any corrosion with emery paper, or replace it. You don't need to get a replacement from Honda, anything that looks about right on ebay will do. It's a very simple part.

4. Still clicking? You probably flattened the battery again trying to start it in between doing all of the above. Charge the battery.

5. It works now.

[Ripp3rCrust]

Thanks again for the help guys. I am going to pop out later tonight and pick up a charger. In the mean time I have checked the solenoid with a screwdriver which has had no effect (no sparks or engine turn over or anything).
I took out the sparkplug also which was quite carbonised so gave that a bit of a clean, I have attached a picture of what it looked like.
Still giving the one click, hopefully charging the battery will work although when I picked it up in the shop they said it was charged and ready to go?!

[Usher4566]

They are dry charged but reconended to charge to extend life of battery.I can't get your pic up but dry sooty plug can cause backfire and battery could be draining on bike I think you have got to hold starter wen put screwdriver on
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New cd200 benly owner