June 19th, 2020, 01:28 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brandon
Location: Albuquerque New Mexico
Join Date: Jun 2020 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki Ninja EX250 Posts: 39
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Hello from a new Ninja 250 owner
Hello all! I just purchased a 1999 Kawasaki Ninja 250 for what I thought was a good price (650). The PO said that he got it running after it being stored for a few years. He said it would idle fine but if you hit the throttle it would die. So I figured it would only take a tune up and a carb cleaning. First thing I did was clean the tank and petcock. That should have been the warning for what was to come. The petcock was frozen and couldn't be turned to either on or reserve. The strainers at the top of the petcock straws were rotted away and probably what clogged and froze up the petcock. So I repaired the petcock back to usable condition but I will probably be replacing it. So on to the carburetors. I removed the carbs with no issues but when I removed the intake boots I noticed that one was installed backwards. I started disassembly of the carbs and inside the diaphragm housing there were some sort of leaves under the diaphragm. The inside of the bowl was trashed! I've cleaned some really dirty carbs before but this one takes the cake! The floats were frozen to the hinge pin, the float needles were stuck in place, fuel adjustment screw o-rings were missing and the collar that belongs under the emulsion tube was installed from the top. When I changed the oil I didn't know what to think when I saw 2 stroke oil drain from the pan!! Then when I removed the oil filter I noticed that the spring and washer was missing. The bike has 25,000 miles and will need tires, carb rebuild kits, oil filter spring and washer, and other odds and ends. My question is- will it be worth it to get this bike back to a safe and well running condition? What other things should be addressed to prolong the life of the engine.
Last futzed with by Dieseldog; June 19th, 2020 at 01:30 PM. Reason: To add a picture of the carburetor |
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June 19th, 2020, 01:43 PM | #2 |
Vintage Screwball
Name: B
Location: Washington
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '16
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Dieseldog! Glad to have you aboard...
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Goin' fast on slow bikes! |
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June 19th, 2020, 01:46 PM | #3 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
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Hello Brandon, welcome to the board. If I had a carb problem like that I'd send them to our @ducatiman for a complete rebuild to new spec.
What makes you think the engine oil was 2-stroke oil? |
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June 19th, 2020, 02:36 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brandon
Location: Albuquerque New Mexico
Join Date: Jun 2020 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki Ninja EX250 Posts: 39
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I'm not 100% sure about the oil but it was a greenish blue color and smelled like 2 stroke oil. It was also very clean the oil filter almost looked new. My theory is that the PO got the bike for cheap or free and it was his first bike. He probably tried to clean carbs by only spraying the inside of the bowl and not completely disassemble and clean. He probably thought that 2 stroke oil is used for all motorcycles. And the oil filter spring and washer might have either been missing to begin with or discarded with the old filter when it was changed. I think he used starting fluid to see if it would run and then told me that it would idle but die out with throttle. I thought it looked very well taken care of when I first checked it out.
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June 19th, 2020, 04:35 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: C
Location: Hawaii
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 472
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Welcome
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"It ended up being the loose nut behind the wheel" |
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June 26th, 2020, 07:40 PM | #6 |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '15
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Welcome
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June 28th, 2020, 11:26 AM | #7 |
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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Welcome!
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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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July 22nd, 2020, 01:42 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Rob
Location: GTA Southern Ontario
Join Date: Apr 2020 Motorcycle(s): 2011 250R, 2000 ZRX1100C4, 1978 KZ650C2 Posts: 87
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Welcome
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August 20th, 2020, 10:30 AM | #9 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16
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Welcome!
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August 20th, 2020, 01:26 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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Greetings & Salutations!!!
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November 15th, 2020, 08:40 AM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14
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I’m a little late but ....hello and welcome !
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