Can't start - stuck in gear

[Felginator]

Just picked up a 2001 Ninja 250, the bike is not running at the moment and I wanted to share the symptoms with you all before I tear into it.

I cannot start the bike, according to the neutral indicator, the bike is in neutral but it seems like it is in gear. The clutch does seem to operate, but I can't shift into first.

When I try to start the bike, I just get a single click. Regarding the battery, it is charged and I have done a voltage test with a multimeter while trying to start and the voltage checks out.

When trying to rotate the rear wheel, it doesn't rotate freely and cannot rotate forwards, only backwards.

Is there an issue with the tranny I should look into? I thought about the clutch being a possible issue, the cable isn't broken but I am not sure what's going on inside.

Just wanted to see if there is anything you guys recommend looking into first before I go poking around inside the transmission.

Thanks

[Dragonracer76]

Don't look at me. According to my parents I can't even get my ass in gear.

[krolinked]

It's very strange that it rotates backwards but not forwards.

I would look into that first...

Transmission I am guessing.

[Jono]

If the bike has sat for a long time(which it probably has) and it is a bit cold out then the clutch won't be very lubricated with oil. Or somethin like that. Which might explain why the rear wheel has resistance on it when you try to move it.

When I crashed my bike last year and I had the bike sitting for a few months before starting it, I had that same symptom. I though the transmission was messed up. But as soon as I got the bike started and the engine got warmed up the transmission and clutch went back to normal.

SO my advice for you is, Figure out how to get it running first, then see if the transmission/clutch still feels weird.

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by Jono

If the bike has sat for a long time(which it probably has) and it is a bit cold out then the clutch won't be very lubricated with oil. Or somethin like that. Which might explain why the rear wheel has resistance on it when you try to move it.

When I crashed my bike last year and I had the bike sitting for a few months before starting it, I had that same symptom. I though the transmission was messed up. But as soon as I got the bike started and the engine got warmed up the transmission and clutch went back to normal.

SO my advice for you is, Figure out how to get it running first, then see if the transmission/clutch still feels weird.

I disagree with this, I would probably wait for a few more responses until you think you got a good chance that the problem will go away once you've heated up the bike. I say look at the tranny first, make sure its okay. Don't try and get it started if you think something might be messed up due to the chance of messing stuff up even more.

[csmith12]

I assume you tried to start it already via the starter. Right? What did it do?

1st, get the rear in the air

2nd, Roll the rear wheel forward and backward by hand and maybe you will be able to truly get it into neutral. You know like all standards have to roll a bit sometimes to get it in gear.

3rd, Bump it over with the starter a few times just to ensure everything moves.

My first thought is the kickstand safety switch...

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Jono

If the bike has sat for a long time(which it probably has) and it is a bit cold out then the clutch won't be very lubricated with oil. Or somethin like that. Which might explain why the rear wheel has resistance on it when you try to move it.

When I crashed my bike last year and I had the bike sitting for a few months before starting it, I had that same symptom. I though the transmission was messed up. But as soon as I got the bike started and the engine got warmed up the transmission and clutch went back to normal.

This happened to my old dirt bike.

Either way it must run in order to ride and you not gunna know what your dealing with until you hear it run. Just get the rear in the air and the bike stable. so if there is any power delivered to the rear wheel it just spins.

Do you have a rear stand? Now may be a good time to get one.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by oblivion007

I disagree with this, I would probably wait for a few more responses until you think you got a good chance that the problem will go away once you've heated up the bike. I say look at the tranny first, make sure its okay. Don't try and get it started if you think something might be messed up due to the chance of messing stuff up even more.

It is super uncommon for these bikes to have transmission problems. Yes it's possible. But I highly doubt it. He just needs to get the bike in neutral and figure out how to get it started. Then go from there. No reason to tear into the engine at this point.


And like Chris said, put the bike on the center stand and make sure the rear wheel isn't touching the ground. Get it started then fiddle around with the gears.

[csmith12]

Oh!!!

Welcome Tom!

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Felginator

.........When trying to rotate the rear wheel, it doesn't rotate freely and cannot rotate forwards, only backwards.

Welcome to the site, Tom.

So, I understand that you have bought this bike although you have never seen this engine working.

Being the only uni-directional part involved, it seems to me that the starter is fried and is permanently engaged for some reason.

I would remove the starter from the engine and would check how it works by itself first.

Retest the rotation of the wheel with the starter out.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Welcome to the site, Tom.

So, I understand that you have bought this bike although you have never seen this engine working.

Being the only uni-directional part involved, it seems to me that the starter is fried and is permanently engaged for some reason.

I would remove the starter from the engine and would check how it works by itself first.

Retest the rotation of the wheel with the starter out.

lol, werd yo

I like your wording for my step #3 much better. I blame the vodka and late hours. hahahahah

[alex.s]

sounds like a seized starter motor. i dont think its an issue with the starter clutch since he can rotate the wheel backwards. sounds like the starter motor itself has actually jammed.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by csmith12

I blame the vodka and late hours. hahahahah

[Felginator]

Thanks for the welcome, guys.

I bought it knowing it wasn't working correctly, it was $300 so I was willing to take the risk.

I have it up on the center stand now, and trying to start it I just get the single click and that's it.

I didn't even think of the starter, so I am going to get it out and see if it unlocks the wheel. Fingers crossed its just that and nothing went boom on the insides.

[Kevin H]

Before you start taking it apart just try and rotate the engine manually by removing the flywheel bolt cover and putting a socket and ratchet on it. If something is jamming the engine from turning it will be very obvious. You should remove the plugs to make it easier.

[Felginator]

Quick update:

Starter is good.

I rotated the engine manually and it isn't frozen.

I am in neutral now, and I can get a quick crank before something locks the whole setup up. If I rotate the engine a bit, it will free it up and it will crank again.

So far I know the engine is not frozen and will turn over and the starter is good and not locked up.

So now it seems I am looking at a transmission issue? If the bike is in neutral it shouldn't lock up the way it does.

[Motofool]

Spark plugs out?

Retest the rotation of the wheel with the starter and plugs out.

[Kevin H]

Are you sure the battery is in good condition?

[Felginator]

Plugs were still in, the strange thing is that I can rotate the wheel freely before I try to start. That's when something locks up and the wheel can't rotate anymore.

The battery is back on the charger now, ran it down from all of the attempted starts.

[Felginator]

Originally Posted by Kevin H

Are you sure the battery is in good condition?

Positive, it holds a charge and the voltage readings were good.

[Kevin H]

My next move would be to pull the flywheel cover. Then check the starter gear and starter reduction gear.

[n4mwd]

It sounds like your transmission is fried. Not sure about the engine. Any strange oil leaks?

Try cranking the engine with the clutch pulled. The clutch separates the engine and transmission. Sometimes it sticks a little bit, but once freed, the engine can run with the clutch pulled if the problem is solely in the transmission.

Another thing that can do what you describe is a broken cam chain. You need to take the valve cover off to see that.

Try pulling the clutch to crank and see what that does.

[Felginator]

No strange leaks or anything like that. I get the same result with clutch pulled in. I can rotate the engine manually and it doesn't jam. If I crank it over it will rotate for about a second then lock up. Gonna pull the cover this weekend to get a look at the starter gear.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Felginator

No strange leaks or anything like that. I get the same result with clutch pulled in. I can rotate the engine manually and it doesn't jam. If I crank it over it will rotate for about a second then lock up. Gonna pull the cover this weekend to get a look at the starter gear.

Good, I'm interested to hear what you find. With an issue like this you need to eliminate each possible problem methodically, and not start jumping around and tearing it apart and possibly causing more problems.
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[ChaoSS]

How do you know the starter is good? That sounds a whole lot like the starter is bad to me, or some issue involving the starter at least.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Felginator

No strange leaks or anything like that. I get the same result with clutch pulled in. I can rotate the engine manually and it doesn't jam. If I crank it over it will rotate for about a second then lock up. Gonna pull the cover this weekend to get a look at the starter gear.

Before you do anything, it would help us out a lot if you posted a video on youtube showing it failing like that. Also show you turning it by hand for two full revolutions by turning the nut on the flywheel. Also make sure that you have it on the center stand and the rear wheel off the ground when you do all of that. After that, then remove the valve cover and let us look inside there.