September 5th, 2011, 12:04 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Andrew
Location: Boston
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My bike broke down this morning...
My 2004 Ninja 250 broke down this morning...
I had been riding for about 20 minutes and was stopped at a red light. When the light changed and as was accelerating in first gear a quick puff of white/grey smoke flew up in my face and the engine tone changed to a deep hollow growl...it then just died. I managed to roll into a parking spot (I was riding in downtown Boston) and tried to start the bike but I wouldn't although it turns over. Engine temp seems normal and there is some gas in the tank. Does anyone have ideas about this? - A |
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September 5th, 2011, 12:19 PM | #2 |
wat
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smoke is never good... i would start by checking to make sure you have coolant and a radiator and it didn't just all drop out or something... make sure its not drenched in oil from something busting through, or out of your engine or something... take a look at your spark plugs and make sure they're still there... still got gas? does it make any backfire when you try to start it? does the exhaust smell of gas when you try to start it? any odd electrical issues when you flick the bike on? was it raining that morning? was your bike wet? could there be water in the airbox?
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September 5th, 2011, 01:06 PM | #3 | |
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Quote:
I don't see any leaks of oil, coolant or anything else. There is a gas smell and the exhaust sounds lound and very "poppy" sort of like a back fire. It hasn't rained around hear for a few days and i haven't noticed any strange electrical issues. |
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September 5th, 2011, 01:14 PM | #4 |
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there could be a ton of water in the gas tank that got sucked in all at once. if the gas tank is nearly empty, it might be a good idea to just drain it and put in fresh gas
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September 5th, 2011, 01:23 PM | #5 |
wat
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i'm wondering how/why the smoke got blown up into his face though... water through the engine would come out the exhaust... only water or something else onto the outside like the engine casing or radiator would blow smoke up to the rider... i would think... unless it came out the wrong stroke through the carbs and out the airbox...
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September 5th, 2011, 01:50 PM | #6 | |
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September 5th, 2011, 01:54 PM | #7 | |
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I have a feeling one of the cylinders is not functioning... By the way after the initial puff of smoke I have not had any recurrance...no white smoke from exhaust or any where else. |
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September 5th, 2011, 01:57 PM | #8 |
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good point on the smoke...
just for kicks, check that all the hoses on your carbs are connected properly. If the vaccum hoses come disconnected they can cause some issues with both cylinders functioning properly. ask me how i know... |
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September 5th, 2011, 01:59 PM | #9 |
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another quick check. check the coolant level for sanity's sake
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September 5th, 2011, 02:05 PM | #10 |
wat
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the sound of an engine usually gives the problem away. are your headers attached securely?
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September 5th, 2011, 03:52 PM | #11 | |
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I can't get my fingers in there to reconnect them...how do I get at this? |
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September 5th, 2011, 03:54 PM | #12 |
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September 5th, 2011, 08:55 PM | #13 |
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so the big black tubes that connect the carbs to the engine are loose?? is this what you're talking about?
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September 5th, 2011, 08:57 PM | #14 |
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so the big black tubes that connect the carbs to the engine are loose?? is this what you're talking about?
those are called the boots. to get those back on, take off the tank and kinda use the carbs and a free hand to wiggle the carbs and the boots back together that would explain the bike running like crap, but not all that steam. and i don't think it would explain the weird sounds |
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September 6th, 2011, 05:59 AM | #15 | |
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Have you come across a good Youtube video, or instructions for removing the gas tank? It seems pretty simple except how to prevent gas from spilling all over the place. Is there a shut off valve on the gas tank to allow for removal? I got the initial puff of steam but nothing afterwards. |
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September 6th, 2011, 06:49 AM | #16 |
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take off the seat, turn the petcock (fuel selector knob on the bottom left of the tank) to the "off" position disconnect the tubes from the bottom. Be careful, because the larger-diameter has fuel in it. take out the 4 bolts that connect the fairing to the tank, and take off the side panels (1 screw each and a few friction fittings that hold it on). Take out the two bolts that hold the tank to the frame. tank should be ok to take off. lay it in an old tire, or lean it up against a bucket, just make sure it's not going to slip and fall on the petcock and there's not weight on the petcock while it's sitting. This should give you full access to the carbs.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_...l_tank,_etc%3F this link has instructions and pictures. faq.ninja250.org is a good site to use for reference whenever working on your bike *edit* and this video looks like it's got the basics covered http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRcehizOSN8 */edit* |
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September 6th, 2011, 06:51 AM | #17 |
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When you do get to the carbs, loosen the clamps, then wiggle the carbs and boots and wrestle them back together. be sure to tighten the clamps that hold them on once you're done.
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September 6th, 2011, 06:58 AM | #18 | |
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Quote:
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September 6th, 2011, 06:59 AM | #19 |
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September 6th, 2011, 11:47 AM | #20 |
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tell us how it goes.
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September 6th, 2011, 12:04 PM | #21 |
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September 8th, 2011, 04:54 AM | #22 | |
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September 8th, 2011, 09:35 AM | #23 | |
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Quote:
The odd "poppy" noise is coming from the cylinder that's still working. The EX-250 engine will run (at least idle really badly) on one cylinder and because you're used to what it sounds like on two cylinders it's very noticable and strange-sounding. The gas smell is coming from the cylinder that's not firing. The carb is still putting fuel into the cylinder, but it's not getting burned so it's really going to stink. |
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September 8th, 2011, 12:59 PM | #24 |
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Air Filter Ducts - Blow Out
This is a follow up to a thread I posted on Sunday after my bike suddenly died in downtown Boston.
I had been riding around the city when suddenly I found myself in puff of gray smoke from the motor and the bike sounding like a broken Harley. The bike quickly stalled out before I managed to roll it into an open parking spot. Thanks to a couple good suggestions from members of this forum it was discovered that the two duct's that connect the airbox to the carb were partially disconnected at the carb. Its as if they just popped off under pressure. This weekend I will hopefully have the time to reconnect the ducts. Hopefully this will fix the problem. Has anyone had this happen to them before? Thank you! |
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September 9th, 2011, 05:59 AM | #25 |
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Youch! I hope that does fix the problem.
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September 9th, 2011, 06:12 AM | #26 |
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Ummmm... The broken Harley sound is scaring me. I'm pretty sure that won't be just an airbox disconnect...
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September 9th, 2011, 06:16 AM | #27 |
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Right, it's hard to tell if that was the actual issue, or a symptom of a larger problem. Original thread here.
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September 9th, 2011, 06:29 AM | #28 | |
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September 9th, 2011, 07:18 AM | #29 |
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Thanks I will check that out. One thing that I forgot to mention is that there has been no more white/gray smoke since that initial "event".
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September 9th, 2011, 07:30 AM | #30 |
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Keep us informed.
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September 11th, 2011, 07:43 AM | #31 |
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Can't Re-install Spark Plug...
Last week I submitted a few posts as my bike broke down on Sunday.
It turns out that in addition to the duct from the airbox to the carb being disconnected, one of the spark plugs had popped out...which was probably the real problem. Anyway I have been trying for several hours to reinstall the spark plug but I can't seem to catch the threads. I have tried looking down the hole where the spark plug goes and can't seem to se any obstructions. Is there any trick to installing the spark plug? Is it possible the threads were damaged when the plug initially popped out? Thanks! |
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September 11th, 2011, 08:43 AM | #32 |
Resident Old Guy
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If the spark plug won't catch the threads, then there may not be any left in the head. (That would be why the plug blew out in the first place.)
Sorry, but it sounds like you have bigger problems...
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September 11th, 2011, 08:56 AM | #33 |
KThanksBye
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Well does the spark plug have threads left on it?
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September 11th, 2011, 09:22 AM | #34 |
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I think you're probably right. I have no clue what to do except take it to a shop as taking the header off is above my pay grade!
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September 11th, 2011, 09:23 AM | #35 |
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September 11th, 2011, 09:25 AM | #36 |
KThanksBye
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****... yeah looks like the problem is a little bigger then you thought. Its not too hard to take the engine apart if you have the tools
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September 11th, 2011, 09:35 AM | #37 |
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September 11th, 2011, 09:38 AM | #38 |
KThanksBye
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Shoot Ninja250 a PM, hes done my valves and I believe he did a video on the forum that shows how to take it all apart
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September 11th, 2011, 12:16 PM | #39 |
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The spark plug blowing out was definitely the cause of that noise; the airbox disconnect may or may not have had anything to do with it.
Now is the time for helicoil or something similar to create new/stronger threads in the head. It's not a terribly complicated job, but it's not something that you want to get wrong either, so getting a second set of eyes on it might not be a bad idea.
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September 11th, 2011, 05:24 PM | #40 | |
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