KX 125 locked up when riding? kick start broken?

[magicmerlinAA]

Hello to all I am new to this forum and very happy to have found it. I just recently purchased a 1998 KX 125. The motor was rebuilt with a new LA sleeve and pro X piston and ring set and all new gaskets. I just started breaking it in and something sounds funny. I'm not sure what though. The place I got the bike from is telling me it’s the new piston and sleeve breaking in. I have never owned a Kawi before but many CR 125’s and they didn’t sound like this... they said the con-rod and crank were fine. I started riding it had about 20 minutes of slow easy riding and then got it going and was in 4th gear going about 30 to 40 mph and the bike locked up and shut down..... Felt Like piston seized up I got bike back home and well it fired up was not the top end, I ripped the head and jug off and it was MINT... So I just noticed that the kick start seems to be acting funny, like missing a tooth or it is just not grabbing if I kick to fast and hard. I removed right side clutch cover to see if any teeth or fragments of something was broken in there and well nothing. I did not remove the whole side case and water pump. So what could this be? Trans mission? Kick start issues?? I'm really nervous to ride the bike for the fact that it might lock up again while I’m tearing up the trails and I wipe out. I have ridden it for about 10 minutes since putting it back together and installing new gaskets… getting it in to 3rd gear and nothing happened. Any help would be some much appreciated and also glad to be a new member of this forum

[Polar_Bus]

Originally Posted by magicmerlinAA

Hello to all I am new to this forum and very happy to have found it. I just recently purchased a 1998 KX 125. The motor was rebuilt with a new LA sleeve and pro X piston and ring set and all new gaskets. I just started breaking it in and something sounds funny. I'm not sure what though. The place I got the bike from is telling me it’s the new piston and sleeve breaking in. I have never owned a Kawi before but many CR 125’s and they didn’t sound like this... they said the con-rod and crank were fine. I started riding it had about 20 minutes of slow easy riding and then got it going and was in 4th gear going about 30 to 40 mph and the bike locked up and shut down..... Felt Like piston seized up I got bike back home and well it fired up was not the top end, I ripped the head and jug off and it was MINT... So I just noticed that the kick start seems to be acting funny, like missing a tooth or it is just not grabbing if I kick to fast and hard. I removed right side clutch cover to see if any teeth or fragments of something was broken in there and well nothing. I did not remove the whole side case and water pump. So what could this be? Trans mission? Kick start issues?? I'm really nervous to ride the bike for the fact that it might lock up again while I’m tearing up the trails and I wipe out. I have ridden it for about 10 minutes since putting it back together and installing new gaskets… getting it in to 3rd gear and nothing happened. Any help would be some much appreciated and also glad to be a new member of this forum

The kickstart will have nothing to do with your engine locking up. When the engine locked up were you trying to kick start the engine in neutral ? If so that means either the piston sufferend a partial seizure or the crank siezed, it has to be either or. You might possible have trashed rear wheel bearings, but that's getting extreme.... You commented you pulled the cylinder and everything looked fine? This really tells me your have a bad crank

[magicmerlinAA]

Hey Polar_Bus,

I was riding the bike in 4th gear about 30 to 40 mph and rear tire locked up. I am in the middle of breaking in a new piston adn sleeve. The place i bought the bike from told me the crank and conrod were in great shape. So there was no need to replace teh bottom end. They may have been lying but no matter the bike fired right back up adn drive after I inspected teh topend by remove head and jug. I didnt think even if the kick start gears went bad that it would cause this, One of my buddies thinks it might be a ba gear in teh tranny. I wish I knew as this bike is about 75% replaced, plastics, many parts...

[Polar_Bus]

Originally Posted by magicmerlinAA

Hey Polar_Bus,

I was riding the bike in 4th gear about 30 to 40 mph and rear tire locked up. I am in the middle of breaking in a new piston adn sleeve. The place i bought the bike from told me the crank and conrod were in great shape. So there was no need to replace teh bottom end. They may have been lying but no matter the bike fired right back up adn drive after I inspected teh topend by remove head and jug. I didnt think even if the kick start gears went bad that it would cause this, One of my buddies thinks it might be a ba gear in teh tranny. I wish I knew as this bike is about 75% replaced, plastics, many parts...

Usually with internall transmission issues, the motor locks up and STAYS locked up. The fact your engine siezes, than starts again, is telling me either too tight a psiton/cylinder fit, or like I said above, a bad crank. It's really hard to diagnose your problem sitting behind a computer over the internet, and not actually seeing and hearing your engine...

[magicmerlinAA]

OK kewl so most likely NOt tranny issues.... very starange.... well when I took the top end off it's all MINT!! like I said the sleeve and psiton are brand new and the guys I bought the bike from are pretty stand up, adn they said the botom end was tite. I really appricate teh help thus far.... I know it's hard to diag issues like this, thus why i am tring to give the best discriptions as possiable.

[Polar_Bus]

Originally Posted by magicmerlinAA

OK kewl so most likely NOt tranny issues.... very starange.... well when I took the top end off it's all MINT!! like I said the sleeve and psiton are brand new and the guys I bought the bike from are pretty stand up, adn they said the botom end was tite. I really appricate teh help thus far.... I know it's hard to diag issues like this, thus why i am tring to give the best discriptions as possiable.

I notice you live up near lake Winni, well this might be your lucky day. I live about 1 hr south In newton NH 03858, if you are skunked about what is up with your bike, throw it on your trailer/truck and bring it down to my house, i'd be glad to have a look at it, then i'm SURE we could figure it out.

[magicmerlinAA]

Originally Posted by Polar_Bus

I notice you live up near lake Winni, well this might be your lucky day. I live about 1 hr south In newton NH 03858, if you are skunked about what is up with your bike, throw it on your trailer/truck and bring it down to my house, i'd be glad to have a look at it, then i'm SURE we could figure it out.

WOW... Really cool, It's raining and mixxed snow/ rain here right now I have a few things to do when is a good time? to swing by?

[Polar_Bus]

Originally Posted by magicmerlinAA

WOW... Really cool, It's raining and mixxed snow/ rain here right now I have a few things to do when is a good time? to swing by?

The weekends will be best, preferrably in the morning.

you can email me at richkay228@Hotmail.com

[magicmerlinAA]

Hey Polar_Bus you still avaliable to meet up? I can not find your email or numbers, I ahve been working alot and new postion im training alot and time is very sourt for me currently, I am off the weekend thankfully adn would love to be able to head on over see if you had an idea? The dealer told me bring it in of course after i got done orer 200 in parts and picking some stuff up as well right then and there.. Nice of them anyway let me know brother, and if anyone else has a quick idea on this issue, please post it