Bike only runs on full choke!!

UjaasG35 · May 13th, 2012, 05:06 PM

I crashed my bike last year, but there didn't seem to be any massive damage.

I started my bike up after a year, and it only rides on a full choke. if its not on full choke, and i open the throttle the bike engine shuts off

I did a little research and people say it is most likely a jammed carburetor due to the gas just sitting in the tank for a year

I called up a mechanic and he quoted $140 just to clean the carburetor, is this a fair price?

Anyone know anyone in the central jersey area that could clean the carb?

what if the carburetor is clean, could there be anything else wrong with it?

NJ Ninjette · May 13th, 2012, 05:17 PM

I let my KTM sit with gas in the carb and cleaned it multiple times just to get it where it runs on the choke. Once it gets warmed up though, you have to turn the choke off and it won't idle.

You figure shop rate is around $60 where we are, $140 doesn't sound unreasonable. You could try running some carb/engine cleaner first, like Sea Foam (beat Jiggles to it).

UjaasG35 · May 13th, 2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJ Ninjette

I let my KTM sit with gas in the carb and cleaned it multiple times just to get it where it runs on the choke. Once it gets warmed up though, you have to turn the choke off and it won't idle.

You figure shop rate is around $60 where we are, $140 doesn't sound unreasonable. You could try running some carb/engine cleaner first, like Sea Foam (beat Jiggles to it).

so your saying just buy something like:

http://www.iboats.com/Motor-Treatmen..._-Seafoam-_-NA

and pour it into the gas tank?

Stingray1000 · May 13th, 2012, 06:55 PM

I was gonna recomend seafoam as well i just picked a can today myself.

gilmorec61 · May 13th, 2012, 07:15 PM

Its the carbs. If you have the tools to do it, do it yourself. I wouldnt pay anybody a penny to work on my carbs, much less just clean them out. Do like they said, and start with some seafoam and see where that gets you. Cleaning out the carbs can be said in done in -/+ 2 hours. Definently not worht $140.

Alex · May 13th, 2012, 08:57 PM

Seafoam isn't going to work for a bike sitting for a year with no prep for storage. The carbs will almost certainly need to come out.

Jiggyfly · May 15th, 2012, 11:55 AM

Replace pilot jets.

thurt88 · May 15th, 2012, 12:16 PM

Carbs are indeed dirty. Had the same issue with mine (sans the wreck) but it WAS CAUSED by Seafoam. Do yourself a favor and don't use that crap.

edxmon · May 15th, 2012, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurt88

Carbs are indeed dirty. Had the same issue with mine (sans the wreck) but it WAS CAUSED by Seafoam. Do yourself a favor and don't use that crap.

How can you be so sure?

I've used SeaFoam in my car for years and it does notthing but good things. I've also started using it on my new littlelest ninja.

I've always followed the instruction on the back and used the right amount per volume of fuel and never put in in and not used the vehicle.

ARc · May 15th, 2012, 01:17 PM

If it dies when you apply throttle, you're gonna need to clean your carbs.

alex.s · May 15th, 2012, 02:29 PM

2 hours labor is fair. 70$ an hour for labor is not a terrible price if its a good mechanic. $140 for a full carb clean / sync is fair.

tell your mechanic $150 for the carbs cleaned, synced, chain and cables lubed, and check the brakes and all the axles and engine bolts since it was in an accident. all of it wont take much extra work while the bike is apart for the carbs.

RaceBikeRentals · May 15th, 2012, 06:05 PM

Your pilot jets are clogged. This is a good time to learn how to pull your carbs and clean them, because you're going to have to do it again at some point

DaBlue1 · May 15th, 2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UjaasG35

so your saying just buy something like:

http://www.iboats.com/Motor-Treatmen..._-Seafoam-_-NA

and pour it into the gas tank?

Or Star Tron Fuel Treatment.Pour it in the tank along with some fresh gas. Run the bike a little then let it sit. Then try to re-start it again. If either one of these products does not work then a manual carb cleaning is in order.

thurt88 · May 15th, 2012, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBlue1

Or Star Tron Fuel Treatment.Pour it in the tank along with some fresh gas. Run the bike a little then let it sit. Then try to re-start it again. If either one of these products does not work then a manual carb cleaning is in order.

+1 thats what I use ever since my Seafoam ordeal.

edxmon, there was a thread or two about what happened when I used seafoam. I guess some ppl swear by it but i'll never use it again.

May 13th, 2012, 05:06 PM	#1
UjaasG35 ninjette.org member Name: Ujaas Location: Princeton Jct. Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r Posts: 31	Bike only runs on full choke!! I crashed my bike last year, but there didn't seem to be any massive damage. I started my bike up after a year, and it only rides on a full choke. if its not on full choke, and i open the throttle the bike engine shuts off I did a little research and people say it is most likely a jammed carburetor due to the gas just sitting in the tank for a year I called up a mechanic and he quoted $140 just to clean the carburetor, is this a fair price? Anyone know anyone in the central jersey area that could clean the carb? what if the carburetor is clean, could there be anything else wrong with it? __________________________________________________ 2009 Black Ninja 250r w/ Two Brothers Slip-on

May 13th, 2012, 06:55 PM	#4
Stingray1000 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jon Location: Newark, De Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	I was gonna recomend seafoam as well i just picked a can today myself. __________________________________________________ http://www.facebook.com/groups/DeMdNjPagrouprides/ I live my life a quarter mile at a time! Who is affraid of the big bad jiggles???? LOL

May 13th, 2012, 08:57 PM	#6
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Seafoam isn't going to work for a bike sitting for a year with no prep for storage. The carbs will almost certainly need to come out. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

May 15th, 2012, 01:17 PM	#10
ARc Revolver Wario Name: Jeffrey Location: La Palma, CA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Ninja 250 Posts: 198 Logo Dude	If it dies when you apply throttle, you're gonna need to clean your carbs. __________________________________________________

May 15th, 2012, 02:29 PM	#11
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	2 hours labor is fair. 70$ an hour for labor is not a terrible price if its a good mechanic. $140 for a full carb clean / sync is fair. tell your mechanic $150 for the carbs cleaned, synced, chain and cables lubed, and check the brakes and all the axles and engine bolts since it was in an accident. all of it wont take much extra work while the bike is apart for the carbs. __________________________________________________

May 13th, 2012, 05:17 PM	#2
NJ Ninjette ninjette.org member Name: Joe Location: NJ Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R, 2007 Husky TE 250, 2002 KTM EXC 250r Posts: 217	I let my KTM sit with gas in the carb and cleaned it multiple times just to get it where it runs on the choke. Once it gets warmed up though, you have to turn the choke off and it won't idle. You figure shop rate is around $60 where we are, $140 doesn't sound unreasonable. You could try running some carb/engine cleaner first, like Sea Foam (beat Jiggles to it).

May 13th, 2012, 07:15 PM	#5
gilmorec61 ninjette.org guru Name: Chris Location: Newnan, G.A. Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 347	Its the carbs. If you have the tools to do it, do it yourself. I wouldnt pay anybody a penny to work on my carbs, much less just clean them out. Do like they said, and start with some seafoam and see where that gets you. Cleaning out the carbs can be said in done in -/+ 2 hours. Definently not worht $140.

May 15th, 2012, 11:55 AM	#7
Jiggyfly ninjette.org member Name: Shon Location: Columbia, sc Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250 Posts: 132	Replace pilot jets.

May 15th, 2012, 12:16 PM	#8
thurt88 ninjette.org guru Name: Tommy Location: Missouri Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Honda CRF250L, 2010 ninja 250r Posts: 413	Carbs are indeed dirty. Had the same issue with mine (sans the wreck) but it WAS CAUSED by Seafoam. Do yourself a favor and don't use that crap.

May 15th, 2012, 06:05 PM	#12
RaceBikeRentals Pimpin Name: Richard Location: Ninja 250 Whorehouse Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Bunch of em Posts: 973	Your pilot jets are clogged. This is a good time to learn how to pull your carbs and clean them, because you're going to have to do it again at some point __________________________________________________ -Richard MotoList.com <<<List your stuff!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Significantly more power with full choke?	Boogab	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	5	March 4th, 2013 02:13 PM
2008 ninja only runs on choke at idle	Klondike1020	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	5	September 6th, 2012 09:00 AM
Is full choke on a cold engine bad???	KawiKid860	General Motorcycling Discussion	6	February 4th, 2012 12:42 PM
Help!! Bike not running without choke	gaby	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	11	October 12th, 2011 07:15 PM
What RPM with full choke?	CmichRider	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	9	October 1st, 2011 08:33 AM