Background on this bike: I got this 08 Ninja 250 cause it was abandoned and sat for at least 2 years at my complex. The engine was seized but I put some WD-40 in the spark plug holes, left for an hour and came back and cranked the crank bolt and got it loose. It now turns over just fine but won’t start.
Any ideas what the issue could be? There’s good spark with new spark plugs when I test it outside of the cylinder but it still won’t start with starter fluid directly into the throttle body (no airbox on) and the choke open. I can get it to run for a second whenever I run or ride down a hill and pop the clutch so I think there’s good compression but it dies super quick. I cleaned the carb yesterday and it has the same symptoms as it did before I cleaned it (there wasn’t much to clean though. The only thing I can think it might be is the California emissions valve on top of the engine is disconnected (got stolen off) so some vacuum leaks through the top but even when I block it with my hand I feel compression but no difference in starting. Battery is new and fully charged with battery tender. I have a new starter and starter clutch on the way but I’ll probably return them. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
Here’s a video of me trying to start it!
https://youtube.com/shorts/06EwRLKnLh4?feature=shared
It will start for a second when I bump start it though…
https://youtube.com/shorts/MklbDzh75eo?feature=shared