couple of questions from a newbie

[Frandy]

Hey guys,
been a member on this site for a while but never owned a bike until a few weeks ago.
Its just a cheap TDR 125cc off ebay.
THe day i got it i put it all together with a mate and it started first kick (after i realised a had the clutch pulled in).
I have read that it isnt good to ride with the choke on, but whenever i turned it off it would die??
Picture #1 is the choke on yes?
Picture #2 should be with it off?

I have since been on holiday for 2 weeks and when i got home the other day it wouldnt start. Iv since put more fuel in it, drained carbie and let fresh fuel flow thru it to, and i had to take off the exhaust to get to it easily.

Cant find a tool in the shed to get the spark plug out to check if its firing, but im not sure what else could be wrong with it?
How do u check if it has lost compression?

plus i tryed a roll start and all it does when i drop the clutch is lock up the back wheel....

sorry to be a pain, but it didnt seem to answer many questions when i did a search.

Francis

edit: heres pics ran out of time...

 

[$heepy]

hey mate theres no pics up...

 

[$heepy]

might be running to lean, and when you turn the choke off it just runs out of fuel. or else its just not warmed up enough. keep the choke on for a bit longer it wont do any damage.

to roll start it. put it into a higher gear. hold the clutch in, hop on it and roll it down a hill. once you get going at a bit of speed let the clutch out and it should turn the engine over. unless it has a little button under the brake lever that makes you hold the front brake on while you start it then you cant.

if you kick it over you should be able to feel if it has compression. does the kick starter just push straight down with out much effort or can you feel it grab.

 

[Andrew Aslan]

Try just leaving the choke on for about 10 minutes and then the engine will be hotter then turn off choke and see if it dosnt stall. Buy the tool for your spark plug and take it out and leave the spark plug in like the tube its in and put the spark plug next to like the exhaust pipe or somthing metal and if you get a spark then you spark plug is all good. If you dont get spark get another plug a NGK plug and if you still dont get a plug then its your CDI unit and if u get new one and still no spark then u need to check you coil then still no start up you need a new Magneto.

Pretty much all of the above is what i had to do and it was the Magneto but coz your bike is new it most probually not magneto.

Good Luck.

 

[Gawain]

You dont even need to take the plug out to check spark, just take the ht lead off and stick any other plug in and check as normal. Often much less of a pain than removing plugs. Also when bump starting jump up before you let the clutch out, only let the clutch out when the rear suspension is compressed. Also i find a slightly progressive clutch drop is more effective than just dropping it. The choke will also kill a warm engine assuming you've got it wrong.

 

[Frandy]

Thanks for the replies guys, might give what you said Andrew a go.
And i was on the bike when i tried to bump start it today, so i rekon i might try to let clutch out slower tmoz.
And it still takes an effort to kick over, so its got compression.
When i first got the bike it wouldnt even stay on without the choke even after about an hour of easyish riding??
plus iv tried to bypass the key by sticking the ignition barrel to on, did that with a nail file from my swiss.
Could that be an issue??

cheers

heres a pic of my ignition barrel

 

[corey58]

unplug the ignition barrel it not needed

 

[Frandy]

really? why do they bother with it then?
Will it think its 'on' when its ripped out

 

[rossetti]

just take ya lead off stick a screw driver in there and put it a few mm away from the exhaust or somethin and kick it to check spark. if its not idleing most likely it needs the idle screw turned up. umm why is there a nut missing on the manifold holding the carb on??

 

[LTN16]

I used to have a TDR 125 and when starting bike you had to leave the choke on for a few minutes and sort of hold the accelerator on a bit. After doing this the motor should be warm then turn off the choke and it should idle.

 

[Andrew Aslan]

Yep! You should also adjust the needle in the carby so more fuel runs while your idling so its dosnt die... Hope this helps.

 

[Andrew Aslan]

I was just looking at your pictures.. And on my bike your push the choke leaver up for it to be on..

 

[Frandy]

rossetti, which lead to u mean to pull out to check for a spark?
I dont think i am because i did a roll start today and i thought it was running, but when i added a little throttle it really seemed to put, like a sick car put put put....
and if i put the clutch in it would conk out again. So i think i might need to replace the spark plug if need be, because the tool that came with it doesnt fit to remove the spark plug.

and i had a look at the choke today, the inside of it, is that really wat its supposed to look like when the choke is off??
didnt look like it would do much ot me....

cheers guys

choke on

choke off

 

[Frandy]

plus what do the screws marked in blue change....tried to fiddle with them today, but obviously no start

 

[corey58]

haha mate your top foto is choke off you got them mix up

the screws with the blue markings are the air/fule and the idle the idle the one with the spring

 

[corey58]

undo the screw for a lil and let some fuel flow, flush the carby out

 

[Dabomb]

how good is that choke, the butterfly valve cuts air to motor to make it run with more fuel.

 

[rossetti]

i mean the spark plug lead(the coil) sorry fmust have forgot ot add that. yeah get new plug to they usuallsy put ****** ones in em. (ngk c7hsa) is what plug i use should be same for you too.

 

[Frandy]

yea already tried to flush the carby twice, and yeah relaised i mixed the two pics up, you know what i mean
i think that it could be a spark prob, ill give what rossetti said a go tmoz hopefully if i get a chance...really good to have ur feedback helps

hang on...isnt the top picture with choke on, when the butterfly is completey open? :S
and with the air fuel mix screw, should i ahve that done up tight or losse...

cheers

 

[corey58]

the choke is off in that top photo with the butterfly open when it closed the choke is on


the air fuel mixer screw you should screw it alway in and bac it off 1 and 1/2 turn see how it runs
then 1 and 3/4 turns
then 2
then 2 and 1/2

and find whats it likes the best