need input on a motor problem, thanks!

[davidfriend]

For the guys here that have dealt with motor problems I would appreciate your input! I bought my 07 250 about 1 1/2 years ago with 15K miles on it, and it now has about 22K miles. A couple of months ago, it started having trouble with starting (I was getting a whining sound when I would hit the starter button), so I took it into a local reputable repair shop (Combustion Cycles, Durham NC), and here is the text of their diagnosis:

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Bike was about .75 quarts low on oil and has ominous knock from lower RH side (lower rod bearing or balance shaft bearing)

synched the carbs, improved idle - compression is imbalanced (LH @ 145, RH @ 185 PSI)

recommend replacement of motor

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I had just changed the oil not very long ago with the correct amount, so that is pretty weird that the oil was so low! I've ridden the bike about 600 miles since the shop looked at it, and today I changed the oil, and I cut open filter to have a close look it, I can see little tiny flakes that are shiny.

Should I just ride it until the motor goes out, or does this sound like it will keep going? What do you guys think?

[choneofakind]

The knocking is likely the clutch basket, but I would have to hear it to know. All pre-gen's
knock from the rh side when in neutral with the clutch out.

The imbalance in compression will cause hard starting (ask me how I know...)
Posted via Mobile Device

[davidfriend]

I will record some audio of it running for you guys to hear

Originally Posted by choneofakind

The knocking is likely the clutch basket, but I would have to hear it to know. All pre-gen's
knock from the rh side when in neutral with the clutch out.

The imbalance in compression will cause hard starting (ask me how I know...)
Posted via Mobile Device

[davidfriend]

Here is a short youtube video I made of the bike running after it had warmed up, please take a listen and let me know your opinions, i.e. how bad does it sound?

Link to original page on YouTube.

[cuong-nutz]

Hmm sounds particularly louder than what I'm accustomed too.

Can't input any more.

[Kevin2109]

****ing a! Yeah you lost a rod bearing for sure, what color was the flakes? if its a gold color then its a bearing, if its silver you are eating parts of the motor, I would stop riding it ASAP

I'm fixing my motor now after loosing a rod bearing and then cracking a piston in half

[davidfriend]

the little flakes were silver

Originally Posted by Kevin2109

****ing a! Yeah you lost a rod bearing for sure, what color was the flakes? if its a gold color then its a bearing, if its silver you are eating parts of the motor, I would stop riding it ASAP

I'm fixing my motor now after loosing a rod bearing and then cracking a piston in half

[Kevin2109]

Originally Posted by davidfriend

the little flakes were silver

hmmm, thats really not good.... I would tear the motor down and see whats going on

[FrugalNinja250]

Does the noise change at all when you pull the clutch lever in? If not, it's a rod most likely. If so, it's the clutch basket bushings. However, metal flakes in the oil indicates bearing failure pretty much no matter what. Bearings consist of a steel shell plated with various metals such as tin and copper, so flake color depends on what part of the bearing surface is currently disintegrating.

[alex.s]

time for a new motor.

[bdavison]

You don't need a new motor....just fix the one you got.
Go get a service manual and get to work.

Seriously, the pre-gens were so easy to tear down, you can strip the motor down to crankcase in an hour once its out of the bike. No reason to replace it unless you just don't feel like fixing it or ordering parts.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by bdavison

You don't need a new motor....just fix the one you got.
Go get a service manual and get to work.

Seriously, the pre-gens were so easy to tear down, you can strip the motor down to crankcase in an hour once its out of the bike. No reason to replace it unless you just don't feel like fixing it or ordering parts.

normally i'd say the same. but these motors are really cheap. buying a whole used motor is only slightly more expensive than buying the used parts, plus if you buy a new engine, you are left with a spare for parts that you could even sell off the individual good parts to recoup your losses. plus you have about 20 hours less labour to deal with, and dont have to worry about a whole host of problems. of course, you have a whole new set of problems since you have no idea about most used engines. but if you find a good one it'll be so much less of a headache that i would gladly pay the extra $100 and not have to pay for, or do all that extra labour.

[Kevin2109]

Originally Posted by alex.s

normally i'd say the same. but these motors are really cheap. buying a whole used motor is only slightly more expensive than buying the used parts, plus if you buy a new engine, you are left with a spare for parts that you could even sell off the individual good parts to recoup your losses. plus you have about 20 hours less labour to deal with, and dont have to worry about a whole host of problems. of course, you have a whole new set of problems since you have no idea about most used engines. but if you find a good one it'll be so much less of a headache that i would gladly pay the extra $100 and not have to pay for, or do all that extra labour.

I'm with alex on this one, if I had the same problems with the 250 that im having with the 636 i would have purchased a used motor

[davidfriend]

thanks to everyone for your input on this, maybe this is a good time to find a Ninja 500

[davenay67]

Originally Posted by davidfriend

thanks to everyone for your input on this, maybe this is a good time to find a Ninja 500

Or better yet, a Ninja 650.

Concerning your 250 engine, I would be tempted to inspect the clutch to see if anything is wrong in that area. This would be easier to fix than rods for sure.

The imbalance in compression is also worrying, but this might simply be rings. Hard to tell without looking.

[davidfriend]

well, I decided I am going to just sell the 250 for what I can and let someone else deal with fixing it or replacing the motor...I bought a 2005 Ninja 500 last night, has 8800 miles and is absolutely gorgeous, paid $2400

[alex.s]

congratulations