Suzuki GZ 125 starting issues

[GeordieChambe...]

Hi there everyone I'm a complete newbie to biking and have purchased a 53 reg Suzuki GZ 125 for £250 and I already knew it had starting/battery issues. I was told by the seller that it would probably need the battery recharged (which I had a feeling off the price was a load of **** ).
Anyway I've had the battery fully recharged but when I started the bike with the electric start (no kick start ) it made a coughing and spluttering noise then finally started so I duly set off but 20mins later after I stopped, it took ages to start then after riding another 30 mins and stopping it refused to start (so I had to bump her).
I've got her safely in my house now but when I have the ignition on and in neutral she refuses to start and just makes a clicking sound from the right hand side next to my seat (looks like a plastic relay???). The lights dim slightly when I press the button but no engine or any sort of starting noise, also my headlight, rear light and indicators all work perfectly so in my mind in can't be the battery (but I'm new so I could be wrong). Any help with this would be really appreciated as I would rather learn to do all my bike repairs myself (within reason of course) than fork out taking it to a garage. Cheers, David
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[stoke-gaz]

Sounds like a starter motor issue to me mate, try connecting the battery direct to the motor, +ve lead to the connection on the motor, -ve to the motor body.

If it spins its a wiring issue somewhere between the solenoid and the motor, if it doesnt spin its buggered.....

HTH...
____________________
Gaz.
Ex: GZ125HS, Current: Yamaha xv535 virago, Suzuki GSF600.
CBT: passed 30/09/2012 Theory: passed 02/02/2013 MOD 1: 27/03/2013 MOD 2: 18/04/2013.......CAT A LICENCE IS MINE!!!!

[GeordieChambe...]

Thanks for the quick reply Gaz . Do you know where my starter motor would be located on the bike mate?????
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[stoke-gaz]

No probs mate, front of the engine behind and below the horn, IIRC two 10mm bolts holding it on.

____________________
Gaz.
Ex: GZ125HS, Current: Yamaha xv535 virago, Suzuki GSF600.
CBT: passed 30/09/2012 Theory: passed 02/02/2013 MOD 1: 27/03/2013 MOD 2: 18/04/2013.......CAT A LICENCE IS MINE!!!!

[GeordieChambe...]

Cheers Gaz sure I've found it, looks like a circle tube in front of my oil reservoir How would I make the positive connection though, as my battery lead isn't long enough to get there???? Take the starter motor out????
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[stoke-gaz]

Take out your spark plug, and connect starter motor to batter with a set of jump leads, or take the motor off and connect up, just make sure your foot is on the motor, they dont half have a kick with power through them....
____________________
Gaz.
Ex: GZ125HS, Current: Yamaha xv535 virago, Suzuki GSF600.
CBT: passed 30/09/2012 Theory: passed 02/02/2013 MOD 1: 27/03/2013 MOD 2: 18/04/2013.......CAT A LICENCE IS MINE!!!!

[GeordieChambe...]

Thanks Gaz just done that and the starter motor is totally dead not even making a sound Is there anything that could have caused it to fail or is that just general wear and tear? (the bike has 16,494 on the clock and the starter motor looks like the original, i.e blistered and worn casing)
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[stoke-gaz]

Have you tried another battery, just to make sure its not that thats dead?

Motor brushes can go over time, tbh i'm not sure how long they should last.

If it still doesn't turn with a different battery, time to get the multimeter or continuity tester out and check the wire between the battery and solenoid and solenoid and motor connection.
____________________
Gaz.
Ex: GZ125HS, Current: Yamaha xv535 virago, Suzuki GSF600.
CBT: passed 30/09/2012 Theory: passed 02/02/2013 MOD 1: 27/03/2013 MOD 2: 18/04/2013.......CAT A LICENCE IS MINE!!!!

[GeordieChambe...]

I haven't tried another battery yet (which I should have today as I was out riding with a friend when this happened ) but I will first thing in morning when my friend pops up . I'll post back to let you know how it went Gaz. Thanks for the help you've gave me now though mate, I'm glad I joined this place now
____________________
Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[stoke-gaz]

no worries mate, will keep an eye on this thread tomorrow.

Definitely a cracking bunch of guys on here, always ready with help, advice and piss taking where needed

____________________
Gaz.
Ex: GZ125HS, Current: Yamaha xv535 virago, Suzuki GSF600.
CBT: passed 30/09/2012 Theory: passed 02/02/2013 MOD 1: 27/03/2013 MOD 2: 18/04/2013.......CAT A LICENCE IS MINE!!!!

[Efes123]

You can always open it up, and have a look at the bushes. Hope it doesn't look like this;

https://gallery.dogfriendlysuffolk.com/albums/BikePics/Suzuki/normal_Suzuki-starter.jpg

Seriously though, it's rare for a starter motor to fail on a 12 year old bike, at least a 12 year old Jap bike. Sounds like you got a good bargain if that and the battery are the only things wrong with it though. Let's see some pics.
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[GeordieChambe...]

Right lads I've tried another battery and that hasn't solved the issue and also opened the starter motor up and it looks fine albiet a little dirty but thats been cleaned up and I now stuck on where to check next. Loaded some pics of the bike up though.
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[Efes123]

Two things to try; if the starter is off the bike, then try connecting it up to a battery and see if it turns. Be careful, it gives a hell of a kick when it starts so it'll need either standing on, or best, put in a vice.

If the starter is on the bike, then check the charge to it using your multimeter.

When you try to start it, does it make a single click, or multiple ones?
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[GeordieChambe...]

I'll check them now but click wise it makes one click when I press the electric start then another when I depress (like an on/off click)
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[GeordieChambe...]

Checked the starter with the multimeter and thats fine. Completely at a loss now haha
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[Efes123]

[GeordieChambe...]

Yeah there's power there, when I press the start button I can hear it whirring after the click but then dies out
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[Efes123]

[GeordieChambe...]

When I say die out I mean it makes a slight whirring noise as if it is going to kick in but then fades to silence then I'm just left with that dumb clicking lol
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[GeordieChambe...]

Right now the bike is sounding weird, when I'm pressing the start button its sounds like the starter motor and the battery are squealing but it won't fire up ???? wtf????
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[Efes123]

Could be your solenoid is toast. Try shorting it e.g. place a screwdriver across the terminals and push the starter button. You may get a few sparks, don't worry.
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[GeordieChambe...]

And now it's just completely died off and is not even making a click from the start button this is really getting annoying now lol tried the solenoid and it sparks when I place my screwdriver over both heads.
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[Efes123]

OK, now I'm afraid I'm running out of ideas. This is really simple mechanics, but it's not making sense. Have a look at this youtube video, one of the best to explain how it all works;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGem9YsjCRQ

I'll have a think...

EDIT: Sorry, I'm a bit stumped, it could be the solenoid, or it could be the starter, or it might just be something else all together

You did try starting it with the solenoid shorted?
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[GeordieChambe...]

Right after much brainstorming and after inspecting each part about 20 times over I've finally realised that the starter motor was on it's last legs this morning and has packed in completely. I'm sure that it must have shorted my solenoid as well as I'm not getting a reading on the side that is linked to the starter. Does that sound about right to anyone????
____________________
Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[Efes123]

Just a thought, have you tried bump starting it?
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD