01 Ninja250 not starting properly

[petersophy]

Hi so I've been having an issue with starting my Ninja250. I recently removed my gas tank for a paint job and after everything was done I go ahead and put it back but it is not starting. I assumed it was a carb issue so I decided to do a full clean and re-assembly. While stripping it down I noticed how clean it was already but went ahead anyway. When that was done the only way I get the bike to start is using full choke and continuously pressing the starter (5secs with 10sec breaks in between). After awhile it does start but only on full choke, if I release the choke or give it throttle it stalls and dies again. When this happens I try to start again and 50/50 it would start or I'm back to square one. But eventually the battery would die and I have to repeat the process. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

[petersophy]

Originally Posted by dcj13

Did you hook up the vacuum line to the fuel petcock?

Petcock's gotta have vacuum. Otherwise, the gas won't get to the carbs.

It was hooked up properly the whole time.

[cuong-nutz]

Pilot jets are probably clogged still
Plugs fouled
Carbs flooded
Gas tank Vacuum lock
Aliens.

[amad1972]

Was it starting before the tank removal for paint job? If so, something must have gotten clogged, not hooked back up, or something. Could the paint job have clogged a vent in the gas cap...although that shouldn't keep it from starting up...just keep it from running well when it can't vent after a few minutes. I assume the petcock was removed for the paint job. Could it be clogged somehow? Check the fuel filter? Could the idle mixture screws have gotten out of adjustment? Try turning them back to 2 1/2 turns out. Check your pilot jets again, also.