Saw in classifieds: What is likely wrong with this motor?

CZroe · March 6th, 2012, 05:02 PM

I was cruising the classifieds and came across this bike for cheap:
"My 2003 Ninja 250 just had a engine failure and I am not going to fix it. It starts but makes a serious clunking noise inside. It is a bike for parts or repair by you. 8K miles. Overall in good shape. New rear tire and good front tire."
If it still starts, I'm not entirely sure that would be "engine failure." What is likely to be the problem with this engine?

FrugalNinja250 · March 6th, 2012, 07:56 PM

Sounds like a connecting rod bearing failure due to lack of oil. Top end parts likely to be fine. If plastics and tank were undamaged I'd offer $300 for it.

95XL · March 7th, 2012, 03:18 PM

I'd say it depends on what he's starting it with. Last season the vaccuum hose fell off the petcock on my GF's 250. It wouldn't start, but it had been sitting for a while, so I figured the gas had just evaporated out of the carb bowls. I decided to spray some starting fluid in the airbox to start it and see if it would re-prime itself (not knowing about the vaccuum hose). When running on the starting fluid it made a horrible knocking noise, to the point where I thought a connecting rod was blown. So, if he's just pulling it out for the season and trying to fire it on starting fluid, there might not be anything wrong with it at all! (Once I found out about the vaccuum hose, I re-attached it and it fired right up and ran fine!). I'd say it's worth taking a look at, if he fires it on starting fluid for you, buy it in a heartbeat. But even if the lower end is trashed, if it's never been laid down, there are still a lot of useable parts on it if he's asking the right price.

CZroe · March 7th, 2012, 05:36 PM

The plastics do not match the tanks but they are in great condition. Even so, that indicates that something happened to the original plastics and it was likely laid down. I'll be contacting with questions.

Skippii · March 8th, 2012, 12:58 AM

If you check the "hades" and "pistons" threads here, you'll see pics a bike that starts, but makes a horrible cluncking sound because a hole burnt through one piston and scratched the cylinder walls. (my bike).
Posted via Mobile Device

CZroe · March 8th, 2012, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippii

If you check the "hades" and "pistons" threads here, you'll see pics a bike that starts, but makes a horrible cluncking sound because a hole burnt through one piston and scratched the cylinder walls. (my bike).
Posted via Mobile Device

Yeah, I saw those, but only mention of a weak sputter with directly applied fuel. It starts? Also: Any luck?

Skippii · March 8th, 2012, 10:59 AM

I returned to the side of the highway a day later and it fired up on one cylinder for me. The next day it wouldn't do it for my mechanic.
Posted via Mobile Device

March 6th, 2012, 05:02 PM	#1
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	Saw in classifieds: What is likely wrong with this motor? I was cruising the classifieds and came across this bike for cheap: "My 2003 Ninja 250 just had a engine failure and I am not going to fix it. It starts but makes a serious clunking noise inside. It is a bike for parts or repair by you. 8K miles. Overall in good shape. New rear tire and good front tire." If it still starts, I'm not entirely sure that would be "engine failure." What is likely to be the problem with this engine?

March 7th, 2012, 03:18 PM	#3
95XL ninjette.org member Name: Joe Location: Fulton, NY Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): '04 Yamaha FZ-1, '05 Ninja 250 Posts: 30	I'd say it depends on what he's starting it with. Last season the vaccuum hose fell off the petcock on my GF's 250. It wouldn't start, but it had been sitting for a while, so I figured the gas had just evaporated out of the carb bowls. I decided to spray some starting fluid in the airbox to start it and see if it would re-prime itself (not knowing about the vaccuum hose). When running on the starting fluid it made a horrible knocking noise, to the point where I thought a connecting rod was blown. So, if he's just pulling it out for the season and trying to fire it on starting fluid, there might not be anything wrong with it at all! (Once I found out about the vaccuum hose, I re-attached it and it fired right up and ran fine!). I'd say it's worth taking a look at, if he fires it on starting fluid for you, buy it in a heartbeat. But even if the lower end is trashed, if it's never been laid down, there are still a lot of useable parts on it if he's asking the right price. __________________________________________________ "Live Fast, Die Young"

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March 6th, 2012, 07:56 PM	#2
FrugalNinja250 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Frugal Location: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Several Posts: A lot.	Sounds like a connecting rod bearing failure due to lack of oil. Top end parts likely to be fine. If plastics and tank were undamaged I'd offer $300 for it.

March 7th, 2012, 05:36 PM	#4
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	The plastics do not match the tanks but they are in great condition. Even so, that indicates that something happened to the original plastics and it was likely laid down. I'll be contacting with questions.

March 8th, 2012, 12:58 AM	#5
Skippii Milkshake Drinker Name: Skippii Location: Richmond, Va Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Orange DRZ400-S, 2005 Ninja 250 & Custom Thundercunt Dirt Chopper Posts: A lot.	If you check the "hades" and "pistons" threads here, you'll see pics a bike that starts, but makes a horrible cluncking sound because a hole burnt through one piston and scratched the cylinder walls. (my bike). Posted via Mobile Device

March 8th, 2012, 10:59 AM	#7
Skippii Milkshake Drinker Name: Skippii Location: Richmond, Va Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Orange DRZ400-S, 2005 Ninja 250 & Custom Thundercunt Dirt Chopper Posts: A lot.	I returned to the side of the highway a day later and it fired up on one cylinder for me. The next day it wouldn't do it for my mechanic. Posted via Mobile Device