Been looking for a while now how to fix my chinese 125cc atv. I have 2 125cc chinese ATVs. One was leaking gas, so I replaced the carb. Worked great and still starts on one push and purrs like a kitten. The other, was fine, until suddenly, I had no crank over. I bought new batteries (for both) and exchanged them etc. Got the 2nd ATV to start. Ran great for a while, put it away, and next time I tried to start, same thing. Couldn't get it to crank over. After charging and replacing the battery AGAIN, got it to run a second time. Had fun, then same thing. Now I can't get it to turn over at all. I ordered a new solenoid, replaced that and get same result. I tried removing the starter, and this is where I get very confused. I understand, there is one positive wire running to the starter, I tried going straight from the battery terminal to this to see if I could override the solenoid. I got a pop, and nothing. Brake light is bright, seems my battery is great, tried 2 of them. Anyhow, I understand (if correctly) there is a starter chain that prevents me from removing the whole assembly. This is where I'm stumped, do I need to basically take apart the engine (and body so I can have access) so I can get the darn starter out? I took the 3 main bolts out but I can tell I can't get it out with that chain attached. Or am I supposed to remove the outer starter assembly. Sort of hard to explain in words. I'm so frustrated, as it's ran great, I just can't get her started now.

I see from this thread that the starter is a pain to pull, so I guess I do have to remove the engine cover? I don't have a user manual and I see someone posted they had a somewhat vague one. I'd like to get a copy of that too if possible! Any help is greatly appreciated, nice to finally arrive to a site that has these discussions.

 

it almost sounds like the battery has a slow drain/pull on it pulling the charge out of it. going to ground? hmmm. anyways, if the key switch won't turn it over, do these steps: take ohm meter/volt meter and check current voltage of battery. load check the battery while cranking for voltage. if low, charge the battery.
if battery is up on voltage and key won't turn over/crank engine, use a screwdriver and jump the soleniod post to post. please remember, quads are like cars/pickups. if they don't start, you don't immediately start replacing parts do you? of course not, troubleshoot first, then replace.
anyways, if jumping solenoid cranks the engine, then we can replace the key switch OR figure out which wires are bad.
you need to keep the battery going to the solenoid. also, check the hot/red/positive side of the battery cable to see if you have an inline fuse. some quads have them. if so, see if it has "popped"/tripped.
i've never messed with your style quad starter so i don't know. i'll leave that advice to the experts.

 

I'm thinking along the same line as Jaster94. It works for a while then doesn't. Replace the battery and it works for a while then doesn't. Sounds like the battery is going dead.

Putting that aside for a moment, does the solenoid "click" when you try to start the quad?

If you jump the quad battery to your car using jumper cables (please get the polarity right) does the starter turn?

Assuming the starter doesn't turn, after holding the start button in for 5 seconds feel the connections and all the wires to the starter, and the ground return wires and connections. Is anything getting hot? If you find a hot connection look carefully at the connection quality right there.

Do you have a volt meter? Measure the voltage from the starter motor input terminal to the starter motor case while trying to start the quad. What voltage do you measure?

To remove the starter motor I think you need to remove the engine cover on the other side to release the gear holding the starter chain. I've never done this - I'm only repeating stuff from other posts I've read.

Send me you email address by private message and I can send a couple light weight maintenance manuals by return email. They do not cover removing the starter motor however.

 

How'd this turn out? I recently replaced the starter on my daughters quad, had to pull the stator cover to access the chain holding the starter. Remove the two bolts holding the starter in place and out it popped. Still having problematic starting, clicks every time I press the ignition switch. Only engages the starter every so often. I have replaced the battery, I've also jumped the ignition with a car battery with the same results. Doesn't want to engage the starter. Any ideas? I have a volt meter, but really know know nothing about electrical. I read in the posts about testing the voltage, but don't know how to do it. Where does the red lead go? Where does the black go? What marking on the meter should I be turning the meter to? Someone really has to dumb it down for me to get it right. 110cc Jetmoto

 

Try this: Follow the heavy gauge red wire from the positive battery terminal to the input screw post on the starter solenoid. Then find the other screw post with a heavy gauge red wire down to the starter motor. Turn on the ignition.

Set the parking brake, and make sure your quad is in neutral. You're about to bypass all safety interlocks, and you want your quad to stay put if it starts up.

Take a screwdriver and use the shank to short those two screw posts above together. Don't mind a few sparks. Does the starter turn at normal speed when you do this? If the starter engages everytime when shorting across the starter solenoid screw posts, and doesn't engage every time when pushing the start button (and also hearing the solenoid go "click"), then your solenoid is bad.

If shorting the solenoid doesn't help then get a meter and set to measure DC Volts on the 20 volt scale. While attempting to start the quad (i.e. solenoid is "clicked"), measure the voltage righ on the battery teminals (red on positive, black on negative). What do you read?

Now measure the voltage right on the starter motor. Red on the starter motor input post, black on the starter motor case. Again these reading must be taken while you are attempting the crank the starter motor (solenoid is "clicked"). What do you read?

The first meter reading tells whether your battery is holding up to the heavy load current to the starter. The second reading measures the voltage drop along both cables from the battery and the ground return part back. This will help determine what direction to go next.

 

Thanks Lynn, I'll give it a shot. It has been starting better lately. Gremlins I think!! I start it every day hoping whatever happened in the first place will magically reverse itself. I know wishful thinking.