tri moto 225 no spark with electric start

[cowmilker]

Hi, new the board (been lurking for about 6months), you guys are full of it (knowledge I mean). You have helped me get my big reds running by just doing a search, most of you have had the same problems.
My new trike was given to me by a friend (84-85 trimoto 225 special, black in color), is giving me spark to the plug if I pull the rope, but when I crank it with the e-start the plug is cold. I have had it running a few times but just an idle for about 2.5 seconds. I would like to try a few more tricks to see if I can get it to run longer but bending over pulling on the rope is killing my back. It would be nice if I could just use the e-start. What is the reason for no spark with e-start? I have looked at the wiring diagrams on this board but I don't understand them too well.
Anybody have any idea?

[traxxasx]

Its probably because the battery is out and its doesent have enough juice to spin the motor fast enough. also did ya use the decompression lever?

[cowmilker]

yes on the decompression lever, I'm sure its not a battery issue, but maybe the starter motor is getting weak!
any other opinions

[Sargon2112]

Does your battery have a good charge? It's possible that the starter/battery is not turning it over fast enough to induce voltage across the magneto, resulting in no spark. My 225DX has trouble E starting when the battery is even a little low because of that very thing.

Hope that helps out...

[Sargon2112]

Try bypassing the starter button... in other words, start it by shorting out the starter relay with something metallic.

[traxxasx]

clean all terminals and connection, it may not be getting full charge from the battery also from a bad connection.

[Unclediezel]

your cdi box doesnt get energized until it sees voltage from the stator. There is a connection to the Cdi box from the starter relay.

The wiring diagrams......Take your time, look carefully , and follow only one circuit at a time ....Print it out and take it to the bike, and find the components in the diagram on the bike. It is a bit intimidating , but once you know what youre looking at it will make sense.

[troy]

My 200ERN, same thing, if the battery is anything but toped up with charge forget starting it with the electric start. BUT use the pull cord, first pluck and your off to the races. my solution was, new battery and a full 24 hour deep charge. haven't had a singal problem yet with starting it with the electric start

[cowmilker]

your cdi box doesnt get energized until it sees voltage from the stator. There is a connection to the Cdi box from the starter relay.

The wiring diagrams......Take your time, look carefully , and follow only one circuit at a time ....Print it out and take it to the bike, and find the components in the diagram on the bike. It is a bit intimidating , but once you know what youre looking at it will make sense.

This is what I was wondering about. I had seen the connection to the CDI from the starter relay (in the diagram) but I didn't understand (maybe still don't) how it works, or why it works that way.
Actualy I don't even have a battery in it now, I have been using jumper cables from a lawn tractor battery (I will be waiting for someone to tell me that this is wrong, but it is only temperary, I don't want to go spend $60 on a new battery till I know the bike will run at more than an idle).
Anyway, thanks Uncledieze, Ill go back and studdy the diagram a little more and see if it will click. (funny thing, the diagrams for the honda's don't seem so hard)

[traxxasx]

i never gad a battery on my dx so i took jumper cables hoot it to a car battrey. took the + and hooked it to the Hot wire to the elec motor. then grounded the other one out and my motor started. after 20+ years of non use.

[MIK6]

NEUTRAL SAFTY SWITCH. I had the same problem w/ my 225DR. I hot wired it and now it can start in gear. I need to get a manual out and try to remember if it needed a ground or a power.

MIK6 / Mike

[cowmilker]

NEUTRAL SAFTY SWITCH. I had the same problem w/ my 225DR. I hot wired it and now it can start in gear. I need to get a manual out and try to remember if it needed a ground or a power.

MIK6 / Mike

I just have jumpers hooked to the wires that go to the battery, it is in neurtal, I'm using the button on the handlebars.

[troy]

Or you can do like i did for the winter, get you self a nice looking tool box big enough to hold a car battery or in my case a truck battery and get your self some heavey gauge starter wire long enough to reach from the starter relay to the top of the tool box. The reason i went with this idea is because It gets some what cold here during the winter and i needed some thing with lots of cold cranking amps (about 860 CCA worth). found that the standerd ATV batterys didn't last long.

Now during the spring and summer and part of fall i use a tractor battery same as your using (for a ride on lawn mower), i just take out the truck battery and slap in the tractor battery. As a added plus i have lots of room for tools, tow rope, lttle electric tire pump, spare plugs your name it, is more then likely in that box. because like i always say you never know. i proven this once before when i was out riding and my exhaust valve adjustment came undone

[cowmilker]

I had this thing running up and down the street tonight, clutch slips a little at takeoff, and I need seat foam, and a rear handbrake cable, but I am WELL pleased with this free bike. Oh and by the way, it seamed to be the carb has more ports/ jets than just the 2 main jets, after cleaning them up and adjusting the float level (it was flooding), the "idle for 2.5 seconds" went away.
I just hope it's not stolen when I go to register it.

[Elmerfudd]

I know this is a old thread, but I have a buddy that's got the same problem, starts easy with pull start, but dead plug with battery. Turns over fine, battery has plenty of juice and I'm thinkin the cdi connection issue. Just wanna know if cowmilker ever got anywhere with that? He also mentioned that it will work occasionally but not consistantly.