Well for some reason, the trusty old GS 125 has decided to develop yet another electrical gremlin. It won't seem to hold a charge. Twice now i've resorted to bumping it down the hill! When it first wouldn't start I got it going and took it for a 30 mile blast to charge her up. Three days later and she's flat again. The battery is nearly exactly a year old so I doubt that's the problem. I may dismantle the alternator to check if that's knackered and not properly charging the battery, but other than that i'm stumped. Anything else I should possibly check while i'm at it? Also oddly enough the brake light on the pedal doesn't work anymore either, it works fine when the front brake is used, but rear gives you nothing. Would that probably just be the switch?

Cheers.

Simple things first - check all your connections, specially the ones to the battery - not just tight but are they clean? And the earth from battery where it joins the frame, take off, clean up, put some vaseline on and tighten up again.

Have you got a charger? If so charge the battery and see if it holds the charge. It's been a very cold winter and it's only a little battery, it could be knackered even after only a year - I used to have a new battery every year on my baby bike.

Brake light - that could be just the switch needs adjusting, or again a connection.

When you know everythings connected right, that's the time to start wondering about the generator.

I think it's going to be worth your while checking the wiring on the bike. It's sounding like you've got some wires chaffing somewhere.

I'd recommend getting a volt meter too. You can use that to see how much charge is going into the battery.

I haven't got one, but a friend of mine has. I'll nab it and get it charged up. I'll also have a look for the earth and give that a look over. Cheers!



Probably is a good idea to go over the wiring. She's 10 years old now and has her fair share of electrical problems.

Well I got around to pulling it apart. I found no obvious wiring or electrical problems besides the bad brake pedal switch (Which i've ordered a new one for). Everything seems clean and together. I gave any connections a dose of WD40 and some of my automotive stash of Vaseline just to be sure. On the up side, as the tank was off I finally got around the making those valve clearance adjustments i've been meaning to do. She now purrs as much as a little 125 can, instead of sounding like an angry clock.

http://img37.imageshack.us/f/dsc00463nc.jpg/

I always tell people they should never let me near tools...

Bikes' looking nice and clean.

Good idea to use WD40.