XR125 L5 Starting Problems

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

Hi, Sorry to make this my first post, I'll try stick around rather than get advice and run.

I've got an XR125 L5, the problem is I'm getting a clicking noise (presumably the starter solenoid?) when trying to start the bike. Out of about 10 tries pressing the ignition button it'll finally engage and start otherwise It just clicks. I'm wondering is this likely to be a battery, faulty connection, starter motor or starter solenoid problem? Is there anyway of testing voltages at certain points using a multimeter? As you can tell electrics baffle me.

Any help/ advice is appreciated.

Thanks, Ollie.

[maccy]

best place to start would be the battery. Any voltmeter will do, straight onto the positive and negative terminal, You should be getting a reading of around 12 volts. If its lower you need to get the battery charged, I would recommend something like an accumate multi stage charger.

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

Cheers Maccy, I'll check the voltage tomorrow.

[Adam]

Just to clarify what maccy said, when the bike is running it should be about 12.5v not dropping rapidly a little give or take is okay, with everything turned off it should read 13v if it's any lower put the battery on charge and check it in the morning ( leave the battery for an hour or so after charging before checking the voltage). And whilst you're at it give your connections a good clean with some wd40 and sandpaper if required the damn weather can cause havock with electrics!

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Tango]

Yep....sounds like it could be battery as the guys have already said....... Start with the easy stuff and then go from there is always my advice.......

BTW....Welcome to TMBF mate.....pop over to the Newbies section and introduce yourself when you can...... And please also put your general location in your profile.....you never know, there may be someone from the forum local to you that wouldn't mind popping over and taking a look at the bike for you......

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

Righto I'll do all the things suggested tomorrow and report back. I'll make a thread in newbies too, not that it'll be of interest to anyone hehe.

[Tango]

. I'll make a thread in newbies too, not that it'll be of interest to anyone hehe.

You never know mate......sometimes someone will spot a new member is near where they live and arrange meets and rideouts.....

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

I've checked the voltage at the battery.

Ignition on- 11.9v

Ignition off- 12.6v

Is there anything else I can be checking, I'm going to sand the connections hopefully making a better contact.

Ollie.

[Stu]

Check all connections if all good replace starter relay

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

Connections seem fine, I'm not sure if it makes a difference but when putting it in first and pushing the bike backwards and forwards in gear to turn the starter a bit sometimes works, my dad seems to think the coils could be dirty? I took the battery off and checked the voltage again and it was 13v but i've put it on charge for a bit anyway. I have a spare starter motor I'd like to try, would it be as simple as swapping them over or do you have to allign the cogs?

Thanks, Ollie.

[Lumor_uk]

did you try starting at 13v? my bike wouldn't start below 11.6v

My cbf 125 actually is at 14v odd whilst running, dropping to 13v when indicating.

sorry can't help with the starter motor. actually I'll give the manual a quick read.

for cbf doesn't mention alignment, basically same engine so slap it in. it does mention about checking continuity on the electric starter plates. worth looking for a manual to check yourself.

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

Yeah I'll check the voltage again whilst being run, I'm starting to think it's not the battery and more the starter motor/ solenoid now.

[Tango]

Could be worn brushes in the starter motor.....or maybe sticking brushes.....rocking the bike back and forwards may cause them to unstick temporarily.....

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

Could be worn brushes in the starter motor.....or maybe sticking brushes.....rocking the bike back and forwards may cause them to unstick temporarily.....

 

That's something I hadn't thought of, I'm going to swap starter motors on Sat so I'll see how that goes

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

Took the bike into the kitchen to work this weekend, don't know what I've done to fix it but I swapped starter motors (twice) and gone over all the earths with sand paper and got a hairdryer to the solenoid thinking it might be damp (i was guessing here) and it starts first or second time? Moral of the story: If you don't know how to fix something, use a hairdryer and hope it'll fix itself.