April 23rd, 2013, 03:19 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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1986 ninja 250 build
Hey all, ive been around here for awhile now, thought id start a build thread!
Short story: I got this bike for free i wanna fix it and ride it this summer. Long story: I got the chance to pick this bike up about two years ago from a good friend who had kept it for 10 years without touching it. It had a blown motor and tons of pieces missing, mostly trim. I was big into bikes right out of high school, well things happened and i have to move out on my own and the bike was in storage till this past weekend when i got it back into a garage! I worked on it for a few months before i had to move out, i found some rough front fairings and little odds and ends, swapped the motor out from an eliminator 250 and ran into an electrical problem that i will still need help to diagnose. I snagged a NOS windshield on ebay which is awesome. Theres also no title to it as of now, I will have to deal with that at the dmv. I plan to take the saftey course in between spring semester ending and summer school starting. some pictures... This looks like the right place to post a build thread, if not please move it to the right place. I am new to motorcycles but not to wrenching. My job specializes in renting, preping, and track side service for Ford Spec Racers. its an awesome job that i have been doing for a year almost. some pictures of that... Im also big into bmw's My daily is a 1990 325is and im also building a 1970 2002 that will be for the track. I will be busy with these too, so this will be painfully slow but ill try my best to not make you guys fall asleep. some of that.... My plan for the bike is to first get it to run and then work on cosmetics/ upgrades and ride it any chance i get! Ill be asking a lot of noob questions so bare with me. thanks, Tony |
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April 23rd, 2013, 03:21 PM | #2 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 23rd, 2013, 03:54 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Kevin
Location: Madison
Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465
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That's awesome what you do! I am envious of your job I love wrenching and this is pretty much my dream job. I am honestly more of a Mazda guy i love the wankel rotaries. But with the blown up engine were the cams good?
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April 23rd, 2013, 03:54 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Kevin
Location: Madison
Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465
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I would buy them off ya.
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April 23rd, 2013, 04:06 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14
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Tony, welcome to the carnival. Do you own those Fords and rent them or just wrench on them. I'd love to give one a buzz around a track. Looks like fun!
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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April 23rd, 2013, 04:28 PM | #6 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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Quote:
The cams were no good. Bummer i know. I dont own them. I work for HSE racing as the head crew chief. my boss owns two of them that he rents out for an arrive and drive type deal. you bring your helmet and race suit and we take care of the rest. Fuel, service, data, ect. There are others cars at the shop that people own that we work on and provide track side service and hauling. they are awesome. just 1.9 escourt engines but only weigh 1670lbs with driver usually so high corner speeds. |
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April 23rd, 2013, 04:51 PM | #7 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Murphey
Location: Eastern Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Honda 919, 2004 Ninja 500R NAKED Posts: A lot.
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I like the design of that Ninja over the most common "pregen" model which I believe is the 88-07 models. Heck it's even got a two piece seat! except the front seat is like half of the gas tank lol. Cool bike though definitely gonna keep an eye on this thread
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April 23rd, 2013, 04:55 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Kevin
Location: Madison
Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465
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I'm hoping one day to get a mechanical engineering degree and work for some motorcycle manufacturer doing rnd for their race team. But yea bummer cams are toast
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April 23rd, 2013, 04:58 PM | #9 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14
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Quote:
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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April 23rd, 2013, 06:12 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Zach
Location: Colorado Springs
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 96 Ninja 250EX , 87 CBR 1000, 86 TRX 260R, 86 KXT 250, 84 ATC 200X, 82 ATC 250R (w/CR480) Posts: 134
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Tony.. Your a man of many projects.. Lol ... I fall into that category as well ... I really like the look of the first gen 250's .. That Beemer should be hella fun too.. Getting a title on these bikes isn't hard if you have an issue locally there are other options for you I got mine titled for 74 dollArs ... Shoot me a pm and I can let ya in on a loophole I know of to get the older bikes titled
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April 23rd, 2013, 08:08 PM | #11 | |||
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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Quote:
Quote:
I have a number in my head, but let me double check for you. We usually do thunder hill, laguna seca, and infineon mostly, this coming weekend we are going to buttonwillow, though thats only for a national race. Quote:
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April 23rd, 2013, 09:36 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
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I have 2 more to go on my ME degree. I've given up on trying to do something cool and have accepted the cruel reality that most ME's just end up in manufacturing. I'll leave the fun time for my private projects, not my work.
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April 23rd, 2013, 09:39 PM | #13 |
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.
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Are those the stock handlebars? I never looked too closely at them on other 86/87 250E models.
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April 23rd, 2013, 09:39 PM | #14 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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April 23rd, 2013, 09:42 PM | #15 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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April 23rd, 2013, 11:21 PM | #16 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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April 24th, 2013, 06:01 AM | #17 |
ManOfGod
Name: Bradley
Location: Lagrange, WY
Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): '02 Ninja 250r Scuffed and scratched blue...soon to be black, I think... Posts: 40
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Rebuild projects are the best. I will be watching this.
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"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life."-John 3:16 |
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April 24th, 2013, 06:10 AM | #18 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Anthony
Location: Marble Hill, MO
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 1975 Kawasaki KZ400D (Sold), 1989 Kawasaki Ninja 250 (sold), 1997 Yamaha XJ600s Seca II Posts: 231
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Congrats on getting started on the rebuild/restoration, sometimes just getting started is the hardest part, keep us updated on your progress.
Tony
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1997 Yamaha Seca II - mostly stock, Racetech upgraded forks, FZ6R rear shock, Oxford Heated Grips, Barkbusters Blizzard Handguards, a Scottoiler vSystem chain oiler. My Mileage Tracker Page. |
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April 24th, 2013, 10:42 AM | #19 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Kevin
Location: Madison
Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465
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I'm hoping that I'll find something that I enjoy doing for a job. Mainly engine development.
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April 24th, 2013, 10:45 AM | #20 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Eric
Location: Iowa City
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawmeracchi 350 2010 Project X Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 54
MOTM - Sep '18, Feb '16
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I have to wounded how many of those are left. The 86-87 is a different bike then the first gen. Would that be called a pre gen?
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Top speed 123.369mph. Ohio mile Worlds fastest 250 ninja |
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April 24th, 2013, 03:31 PM | #21 |
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.
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April 24th, 2013, 03:41 PM | #22 | |
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.
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Quote:
Technically, the EX250L is the current generation so now the 2008-2012 bikes are "pregen." That's why I suggest we move away from using that designation. 86/87 is E-gen (EX250E). What we formerly called "pregen" is now is 250F, F-bike, F-gen, or whatever. |
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April 24th, 2013, 04:02 PM | #23 | |
sail away
Name: Jon
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): gixxer (sold), ninjette (upgrade!) Posts: 964
Blog Entries: 8
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Quote:
Awesome bike! I hope to see it on one of the local group rides some day.
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Unregistered found this post helpful. Track Day Preparation Checklist 1. Financial 2. Mental 3. Physical 4. Gear / Bike |
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April 26th, 2013, 07:05 PM | #24 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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today i had a little time to work on the bike. Stripped the body work off of it and piled it up for a day when i want to do fiberglass work. I drained the old gas thats been sitting for 2 years. The battery still has life left in it, then i tried to sort out the electrical problem i had before i got my hands on it again.
Last time i worked on it wasn't getting spark on one of the spark plugs, so i started there. I saw that when the bike was in the "on" position, the side where i was getting spark i was getting ~9.75v from the wiring going to the coil. On the other side where i wasn't getting spark, the wiring going into the coil was 0v nothing at all. I traced the wiring to see if something was pinched or not connected right and found nothing. The power and ground both go to the igniter, do those go bad often? If im getting power to the other coil does that mean its not the igniter since they are both coming from that? what else is there that i didn't check? or did none of that make any sense, haha. pictures anyways! naked 250 stuff i need to fix/prep for paint Thanks! |
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April 26th, 2013, 07:12 PM | #25 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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April 27th, 2013, 03:57 AM | #26 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: bruce
Location: northern illinois
Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Race bikes:08 Ninja 250,11 R6,16 ZX6,SV650.3 HD-1947,2-2003,2010. 1946 Indian and a lot of dirt bikes.2 Posts: 999
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I f memory serves, you should have battery voltage at one side of the coil and the igniter ( CDI ) box should toggle the other side. That's if it's a 2 wire coil. If the ignition is on and the bike is not running one side will have battery voltage and the other side will have about the same.
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April 27th, 2013, 10:38 PM | #27 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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Quote:
any other suggestions? Last futzed with by marines2060; April 28th, 2013 at 10:49 AM. |
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May 5th, 2013, 05:36 AM | #28 |
no such thing as ninjette
Name: AP
Location: L.A., CA
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): (2) 1987 EX250E2, 1989 EL250B3, 1991 EL250E1, (3) 2005 EX250F19, 2007 EX250F7F, soon to add more.. Posts: 26
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el250 engine
Did you swap over the 1986-1987 EX250E stator rotor onto the EL250 engine?
You need to and also use its two pulsing coil pickups instead of the newer single coil pickup (found on the EL250B/E and EX250F's) if you are using the analog 1986-1987 igniter. Nice to see another of these early model being saved. I got two of them myself. |
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May 5th, 2013, 09:37 AM | #29 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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Quote:
Could you explain that a bit more? I'm using the ex250e coils and one side has spark its just the other side has no power going to the coil pack. I've swapped coils to see if the other one works, and it does. I just think the igniter isnt fully working. I should be able to look at it some more today. Wow, that's awesome man. I bet you enjoy them a lot. |
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May 7th, 2013, 09:00 PM | #30 |
ninjette.org member
Name: James
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1974 Honda CB550F, 1986 Kawasaki Ninja 250, 1975 Honda CB400F, [sold: 1999 Suzuki SV650] Posts: 30
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Nice bike and nice cars, man, and good luck on the ME.
I have an 86. Love the styling. Very impressive that you have the orig blinkers front and rear. Those are usually the first to go after a drop and then they solder on a two wire front signal instead of the orig three wire. Overall, body work (which is totally irreplaceable and much rarer than the bike itself) looks good. To my knowledge, the forks are larger on the 250F than the 250E. You'll find that many parts are just 1% different between the two and makes it 100% unusable. Just be aware before you drop 175 on an F thinking you'll have a good parts bike. good luck. |
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May 8th, 2013, 01:08 PM | #31 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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Quote:
I love the styling too, just something about how its all put together makes it awesome. I have a lot of experience doing fiberglass work so it shouldn't be a problem ffixing some of the cracks on the body work, I also have a paint guy so it should be looking good over the summer time. Yes, I have been learning here and there about things that are slightly different that don't swap over. Makes ordering parts harder but I'm getting the hang of it. Only update I have is I bought two new spark plugs and a fully working igniter for cheap, so ill see if that is the problem. Also there is 3 weeks of school left this quarter so ill be slow to update due to cramming for finals. Everyone have a good day! |
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May 8th, 2013, 01:21 PM | #32 |
ninjette.org mafioso
Name: Ben
Location: Dillon, MT
Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: 337
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I dig that red on white. Classic.
Good work, looking forward to seeing the end result. |
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May 9th, 2013, 06:57 PM | #33 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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thank you! Im liking the white, then seeing pictures of black are swaying me towards black. Im not sure if doing it white would make it too much white with the wheels? or i would need them a different color, or im just crazy. I will probably stick with the white anyways.
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May 16th, 2013, 04:46 PM | #34 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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Im stuck!
Ive spent awhile going through the no spark the past few days. Ive replaced the Igniter with a known working one, i replaced the pick up coil, the wiring was iffy at best, ive traced wires to see if there are anything broken. Nothing. What am i over looking? Again im getting spark on the left side of the bike. and nothing on the right side. Both coils are good. thanks again guys! |
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May 16th, 2013, 06:54 PM | #35 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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also, should i be getting power from the pickup coil if i disconnect it, prob the plug with the other lead to ground, and crank it?
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May 23rd, 2013, 09:29 PM | #36 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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Anybody have any idea? Taking my safety class next week! Excited for that.
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May 24th, 2013, 10:54 AM | #37 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: bruce
Location: northern illinois
Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Race bikes:08 Ninja 250,11 R6,16 ZX6,SV650.3 HD-1947,2-2003,2010. 1946 Indian and a lot of dirt bikes.2 Posts: 999
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May 24th, 2013, 11:23 AM | #38 |
ninjette.org member
Name: tony
Location: santa clara
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 kawasaki 250r Posts: 18
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May 24th, 2013, 01:40 PM | #39 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: bruce
Location: northern illinois
Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Race bikes:08 Ninja 250,11 R6,16 ZX6,SV650.3 HD-1947,2-2003,2010. 1946 Indian and a lot of dirt bikes.2 Posts: 999
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Quote:
The red wires on each coil are the positve wires coming off the kill switch. If you have power at one coil that tells me the switch is ok. The two red wires are spliced together in the harness somewhere.So, if you take a jumper wire and jump power temporarily from the battery positive to the red wire of the coil that has no power then crank the engine and check spark then youll confirm the faulty wiring. |
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May 24th, 2013, 02:00 PM | #40 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Jon
Location: California
Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 151
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