Problems with lifan 125cc.

[sevenel_mx]

Hi guys and girls.
I recently brought this.

Which runs a lifan 125cc engine.

This is the story so far

Got bike
Striped all bolts, loctited.
Ran in (riding slowly 2nd-3rd gear, half throttle) 3/4 tank
(short "run in" I know)
afew days later rode harder for about an hour

dumped oil
replaced with mobil extra 4t synthetic technology 10w-40 (though bike shop lable sais semi-synthetic.

this is where the problems start

Had first full on hard ride, took afew beginners with me so they were chomping on the kickstarter abit (softly) just had no experience. ALl was running fine

loaded bike in van and traveled home, unloaded and went to kick over to ride around the back (yes lazy)

The kickstarted started to "slipp" inside the engine, this is hard to explain, it didnt turn the motor over half the time.
Looked at it for a while and clutch started, bike still ran fine.

Researched abit and people said sometimes this happenes and it "may" fix itself.

So afew days later took it out for another ride, when unloaded from van the kickstarter was grabbing and fored 3rd kick. ROde for 3-4 min untill stall.

Kicker again slipping (this is not on the spline, it is inside)

Push/clutch started next 2 stalles (wasnt that easy to start)

Had a hard ride for about 30-40min without stopping, when resting left ideling.

Next time I stopped it was gripping again, and did for the rest of the ride where i stopped and started atleast 6-7 times.

Once again loaded up, went home (bike slightly cooling, only 5-10min trip) and again kicker slipping.

Next time I went to ride (today) neither kick starting or clutch starting worked.

We have come to the conclustion (without taking anything off) that the oil may be the problem, because it is to thick the clutch is slipping which wont allow a clutc start, and we are guessing (can anyone conferm?) that the kickstart is somehow connected to the clutch which is giving it the freeplay.
If so the oil heated up on that ride (and thinned) which is why it was kicking???

There is spark

Also I ahve heard that there is some type of cog behind the kickstarter with a split pin, if that comes off there is no connection to the kickstarter (the kickstarter os not completely free moving, it is still realativly the same pressure (maybe abit less) to compress but doesnt have the clunk clunk of the engine turning over.

Any help appreciated, thanks for listening to me ramble

-Ben

 

[crazzy #1]

sounds like its not grabbing the teeth... as you ride it the teeth spin... so when you stop and start again it may not be on a chipped tooth! thus why it will kick this is what i consider something worth will looking at

 

[sevenel_mx]

So the teeth inside? Will check that out
But that wouldnt effect clutch starting right?
We still think it has something to do with the clutch because if you drop the clutch in 2nd while running along the wheel will spin and the motor wont turn over.

 

[Custom]

Is the engine a "start any gear" (clutch throw lever on top rear of side case) or a N start (throw lever at front of side case)?
Looking at the pic i would assume its a start any gear, in which case the clutch wont affect the kick starter

 

[sevenel_mx]

Nah its a start in n bike
( if you pull the clutch in and kick in any gear the bike rocks forward)

If your talking about the lever the cluutch moves on the outside of the casing its on the front of the right hand side casing point forward and pulls up.

Also can anyone point me in a direction woth a link of any lifan engine diagrams?

 

[cass38a]

The start in netural engine could be a clutch problem. Before I did anything I would drop the synthetic oil and put a standard moto mineral oil with no friction modifers in it and run it agian. The oil can affect the operation of the clutch and it may save you having to rip the engine apart for no reason. I havent had one of these apart to tell you what else it could be but start with the oil IMO.

 

[Ingleburn]

yeah don't think synthetic oil and these engines go together real well. And make sure your in neutral when you try to kick it.

 

[themountain]

do you have enough freeplay in your clutchcable when its hot??...and next time change to mineral oil again!!

 

[lilaidstamx]

sounds like the oil to me. change to a different oil and see if that helps

 

[Fiddy@norway]

this happens to me to if I adjust the clutch to tight, as themountain said: do you have enough freeplay? try slacking the cable way loose and se if it grabs then.