First bike and it won't start

[Guest]

My first bike arrived last week, delivered by courier and bought on ebay…. & I can’t get it started

It’s a Yamaha TDR125 from 1996 the seller is being semi helpful but insists it ran perfectly before sending it half way down the country to me…

I don’t feel it’s in quite the superb condition it was advertised as being but on the whole it does appear to be in fairly good order and whilst I’m not a happy customer I don’t at this stage feel ready to accuse the seller of being straight shady.

It feels like there must be a simple problem but my minimal mechanical, riding and buying experience isn’t helping me here.

On the plus side with the guidance of google I am getting more familiar with what a motorcycle engine should actually be doing, I pulled the original spark plug and found it was a little aged so replaced it – no change. I pulled the plug and checked the spark was healthy by trying it against the engine casing – the spark and so electronic ignition would seemed to be very good. I put my hand over the opening for the spark plug and tried the ignition and the compression also appears to be good. I have not filled it up myself but I can hear the fuel swashing around in the tank so it should have enough fuel to at least start with the petcock turned to reserve right?

I have attempted a variety of variations in terms of petcock settings and choke either on or off to no avail. It’s a small simple two-stroke engine so I do feel a simple solution is probably staring my inexperienced self in the face. The battery and oil levels look good as well by the way.

I don’t personally know any motorcycle riders, which has made the whole learning, buying process up until now pretty confusing and difficult. The local car garage have been pretty helpful advice wise up until now but they don’t do work on motorcycles. Does anyone have any advice? Or in an ideal world could anyone with some mechanical experience help me out?

I am based off of Lee High road in Lewisham; my experience with all this so far has been pretty frustrating I’d really like to move beyond this so that I can begin the task of gaining some actual riding experience.

[rice-pudding]

This happened to me on a YBR, we poured fuel down the plug hole and rugged it like F#%K with the kick starter and eventually it started. A bit rough and ready but it worked. Might not be your solution though, what and see what others say!

[Joeman]

Do not do that with a two stroke engine!!!

[rice-pudding]

My bad :-/

[Guest]

thank you for the advice and thanks for countering it joeman,

do you have any alternative advice?

[Stu]

Do not do that with a two stroke engine!!!

 

a 4 stroke would be worse as you could hydro lock the engine!!

[Joeman]

Two stroke engine needs petrol and oil. Neat petrol will wash away any lubricant and damage the engine. If you ever need to pour petrol into a twostroke engine, make sure its mixed 50:1(minimum) with proper two stroke oil.

Anyway, to diagnose your problem...

What tools do you have? Need to check for a spark. Ideally you need to take out the sparkplug and with it connected to the plug lead and the other end touching the engine attempt to start the bike.

Whilst the plug is out you can check its gap and colour and see if it's dry/wet with fuel.

[Stu]

Two stroke engine needs petrol and oil. Neat petrol will wash away any lubricant and damage the engine. If you ever need to pour petrol into a twostroke engine, make sure its mixed 50:1(minimum) with proper two stroke oil.

 

 

this is true but a few ml wont hurt

do as joe says but the only thing I would do differently is replace the plug then you know for sure its good

[Mr Fro]

Do not do that with a two stroke engine!!!

Erm... Why not? I've done it plenty of times on 2-strokes. You only need a smidge - a teaspoon or so is enough.

[rennie]

there is a knack to starting most bikes, they all behave slightly differently.

2 strokes can be hard to start anyway.

Does it have a kick start?

I would put fresh petrol in it and make sure there is 2 stroke oil in the tank

(separate tank for 2 stroke?)

I would put the fuel tap to on, not reserve.

I would then put choke on full and try to kickstart a good few times

without touching throttle. If that doesn't work try half choke, no choke,

part opened throttle, fully opened throttle etc.

Is there smoke coming out of exhaust when trying?

Is the kill switch on?

Do you need clutch in? side stand up? etc. etc.

[Adam]

So what actually happens when you try and start it? Is it electric or kick or both?

My old NSR wouldn't start without a little bit of throttle so might be worth a try.

[jamesrb90]

Being your first bike I'd there s kill switch on these that maybe be switch on? Does it sound like it wants to start. Battery healthy. Have you tried pushing it down road and jump starting it. Need to check the sparks as everyone is saying though

[Fozzie]

Choke on, hold the starter down for a few seconds, then twist the throttle more than half way with the starter still spinning, give it two seconds tops and if it doesn't start just return the throttle to closed and hold the starter down for another few seconds. Do this for about 30 seconds and see what happens.

Some newbies tend to think a bike will start right on the button. But some 2-strokes require coaxing into life.

It took me about 20-30 seconds to get my RS125 started every morning, alternating throttle as I did... And sometimes it kicked into life after you let go of the starter.

[Grumpy Old Git]

The OP advised spark OK.

I would expect it to be a fuel issue.

Was / is the plug wet when you checked it?

Can you smell fuel at the exhaust?

If this bike has a carb, then check fuel is getting there - If not, suspect blocked filter (either in the petcock or in the fuel line).

If fuel injected - can you hear the pump prime when you switch the ignition on?

Bump starting usually works if all else is OK.

[Guest]

When was the bike last started? Not sure? Then I would drain & replace the fuel. If the fuels been in any longer than 3 months it starts to go off.

Had problems starting my mates bike after a year of no use, replaced the fuel and bingo! It started.