Another Honda CG125 starting problem

Bentley2210 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 05 Sep 2013 Karma :

Hey guys. I've had my Honda CG 125 ES4 for a couple of years now and it's ran great over the course.

I've had a few issues with starting in the past with your typical dead battery and the likes but this issue I have now is quite strange.

I'm quite a newbie when it comes to fault finding and repair and usually consult my Haynes or forums like this. About a week ago or so it wouldn't start up, I found that the battery wasn't an issue as it was a fairly new battery, fully charged, cells were all still pretty much topped up and when I pressed in on the ignition start, my neutral light wouldn't flicker like it did in the past when the battery was an issue.

What happens is the bike makes one click, not repeated, when I push the ignition switch. So, I had a quick look around and thought maybe it was the starter motor. Took it out, cleaned out all the build up in it and put it back in. The bike started twice, both on first attempts. Then it started happening again. So this time to get it fired up and started I knocked it into 3rd gear, give it a push forward pulled the clutch out for one compression of the engine and pulled the clutch back in, by doing that the bike started off the electric start, a little slugish, but still fired up.

This method worked for a short while until it stopped working today, in which case, i had to properly bump start it.

I'm quite baffled and I'm not sure what's going on. It's going for its MOT and service on Friday and I'm hoping I won't have to bump start it to get there and back!

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated!

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

have you put a voltmeter across your battery terminals?

it might hold a charge but as soon as you put a load onto it (try to start) it dies?

how old is the battery?

clicking could be a stuck solenoid on your starter?

unitynotsocri... · Banned Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :

flat battery or gummed up starter . Strip starter of corrosion and check replace bushes . It could be a faulty solenoid but unlikely , test by subsitution .
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nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

prawny1 · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Karma :

Remove the battery wires and clean them up along with the poles on the battery, then refit them with some electrical insulator spray or some grease to stop them furring up again.

Bad connections can cause a one click them nothing situation, it acts like you have blown a fuse but then comes back to life, you will sometimes see a little puff of smoke off the battery lead at fault.
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hellkat wrote:

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sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

I would guess from your description there was a lot of black dust within the starter motor case. If there was it would appear you need new starter motor brushes.

Bentley2210 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 05 Sep 2013 Karma :

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I found the problem...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1239718_10151650734063877_935599450_n.jpg

unitynotsocri... · Banned Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :

On the bright side ...the brushes look good ......spare brushes .
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nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

SteveZZR · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jul 2013 Karma :

Whose idea was it to stop fitting kick starts? Fuck the electric shit when it isn't needed. Given the choice I always kickstarted my moped (nothing wrong with electric, just preferred kick)

My kickstart 1990 CG has 42,000 miles and still goes like a good un Smile

Electrics are fucked though. Has a battery wired.to the horn and no lights.

Will soon be getting a bigger battery and twin dominator lights Very Happy

Mark65 · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 May 2008 Karma :

Keep the brushes from the old one, a set when I looked was £30 ish there's plenty on those brushes and they are held in by a spring that can stick so don't throw em away.
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650