2002 CG125 Electric Start has become Unreliable

[Ingah]

I've got a Honda CG125 2002 (that's the M1 model, produced between 2001 and 2003, manufactured in Turkey).

I've owned it for 8 months and used it constantly, and now it's developed a sudden fault, and i was wondering what's causing it, and what is likely to need replacing/fixing?

The fault is with the electric start; it doesn't always work anymore! Instead of firing up as usual, the engine may simply make a *click* noise (and that's it). Repeated attempts to start it up via electric fail. The only way to start the engine is via the kick start (which noteably works fine at this point). I then turn the engine off and try the electric start again, and it works!

This has happened twice now, today and yesterday (both times at a petrol station, for the strangest coincidence...)

I'm just rather worried about what the problem is with (as the engine isn't in great condition anyway...)

[Bill_on_a_bike]

No expert, but to me sound like your start relay may have developed some kind of issue.

Let someone else tell you better, but I'd say it'd be worth replacing that if you're going to replace anything first.

[pumilio]

I have the exact year and model CG125 and had a similar intermittant electrical problem before I got my big bike - I lived with it until parking it. It could possibly be a switch somewhere in the system like Bill suggested, or something simpler like a loose battery ground.

Does it do it while cold? Hot? Is the battery losing charge? Does the headlight get brighter when you rev it?

[Ingah]

The two times it's done it thus far:

Time1) Just been ridden ~3 miles, and engine turned off so i could blow up the tyres at the petrol station (so lukewarm engine perhaps?)

Time2) Just been about 1/2 mile, and engine turned off for a refuel (so almost cold, but not quite).

The headlight does get brighter when i rev it. But then again, it always has (and the previous owner said (he seemed trustable...) he'd recently replaced the battery with a new one when i bought it).

I'm not aware of how to check if the battery's losing charge (yes, i'm not great with mechanics - but it's more from lack of experience than from lack of enthusiasm!)

Does that help clarify things somewhat?

[Guest Hodgy]

Check the connections at the battery are tight, and follow the wires along their length and check the connection to the frame is clean and tight on the negative lead, and the connection to the solenoid is tight on the posative lead, locate the other thick wire coming from this to the starter and check the both ends of that are clean and tight

Hope that helps

[rollazuki]

poor earth on the engine. I seem to remember it should have an engine to chassis earth strap at the back of the motor, it may be missing, best bet is to ensure all engine mount bolts are good n tight, and if neccesary, fit a lead from the casing to a good earth point on the chassis. Also ensure the earth from the battery to the chassis is good.

[flipper]

poor earth, poor +ve connection at battery, starter relay or starter motor, or a knackered battery. or a bad starter relay.