having an intermittent starting problem!

davidfriend · April 10th, 2012, 03:07 PM

This morning when I went out to start my 250, it didn't start right away, I can hear a 'whirring sound' when I'm holding down the starter button (not a clicking, it sounds like the starter motor is actually turning). When I let off and try it again, it will usually then start right up!

Does this sound like a symptom of the solenoid, or the starter itself? I can make a recording of the sound if that would help!

Alex · April 10th, 2012, 03:59 PM

Try charging the battery fully and seeing if it still happens. A weak battery sometimes doesn't have enough "oomph" to even engage the starter gear properly, so it just spins (and sometimes grinds).

alex.s · April 10th, 2012, 04:09 PM

when my bike did that, the battery connection was loose.

davidfriend · April 10th, 2012, 08:26 PM

If it is really that simple, I will be a happy camper! will check it out and see!

davidfriend · April 11th, 2012, 05:53 AM

OK, I checked the connections on the battery last night and they are good, I haven't been able to put the battery on a charger, I will do that tonight. This morning I made a video of when I started it so you can hear the little 'whirring' sound that it makes, it took 3 tries on the starter button before it cranked, then all was fine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7cHJmvOI40

davidfriend · April 11th, 2012, 03:39 PM

tonight I jumped the bike from my car battery (leaving the car turned off), and it still had the same problem. I've got the battery connected to a charger now, but i think I'll be taking it to a shop tomorrow.

davidfriend · April 17th, 2012, 09:19 PM

I got my bike back from the repair shop, there is no problems with the starter or starter relay etc. the problem is in the motor, something is going wrong and it doesn't want to start sometimes. To really fix it would require replacing the motor. I think I'm just going to keep riding it until it breaks, I can't see putting that amount of $ into the bike.

TnNinjaGirl · April 17th, 2012, 10:52 PM

I'm assuming you mean the starter motor... There are some places around my town that will rebuild a starter for around $50. That might be something to look into.

n4mwd · April 18th, 2012, 05:16 AM

In the video it sounds like the brushes aren't making good contact. The starter motor was not running until it actually cranked. Its probably best to rebuild it sooner rather than later so it doesn't burn through the contacts. I don't think it can be rebuilt when that happens.

Here is a link to a company that sells starter rebuild kits for the Ninja 250.
If you are mechanically inclined, you can rebuild it yourself - $33.

The starter solenoid on the Ninja is basically just a big relay and is located on the right side close to the fusebox. AFAIK Ninjas don't use a solenoid to engage a ring gear like cars do, they use an overrunning clutch and the gear is permanently engaged. So if the motor spins, then engine will also.

Just for the record, there is only one motor on a Ninja and that is the starter motor. The thing that makes the bike go is called an engine.

April 10th, 2012, 03:07 PM	#1
davidfriend David Name: David Location: North Carolina Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250r Posts: 16	having an intermittent starting problem! This morning when I went out to start my 250, it didn't start right away, I can hear a 'whirring sound' when I'm holding down the starter button (not a clicking, it sounds like the starter motor is actually turning). When I let off and try it again, it will usually then start right up! Does this sound like a symptom of the solenoid, or the starter itself? I can make a recording of the sound if that would help!

April 10th, 2012, 03:59 PM	#2
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	Try charging the battery fully and seeing if it still happens. A weak battery sometimes doesn't have enough "oomph" to even engage the starter gear properly, so it just spins (and sometimes grinds). __________________________________________________ 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)

April 10th, 2012, 04:09 PM	#3
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	when my bike did that, the battery connection was loose. __________________________________________________

April 18th, 2012, 05:16 AM	#9
n4mwd ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: D Location: Palm Beach, FL Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250R, 2007 EFI Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	In the video it sounds like the brushes aren't making good contact. The starter motor was not running until it actually cranked. Its probably best to rebuild it sooner rather than later so it doesn't burn through the contacts. I don't think it can be rebuilt when that happens. Here is a link to a company that sells starter rebuild kits for the Ninja 250. If you are mechanically inclined, you can rebuild it yourself - $33. The starter solenoid on the Ninja is basically just a big relay and is located on the right side close to the fusebox. AFAIK Ninjas don't use a solenoid to engage a ring gear like cars do, they use an overrunning clutch and the gear is permanently engaged. So if the motor spins, then engine will also. Just for the record, there is only one motor on a Ninja and that is the starter motor. The thing that makes the bike go is called an engine. __________________________________________________ My Ninja Blog Proud member of ABATE.My NYC Road Rage documentary - CENSORED!

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April 10th, 2012, 08:26 PM	#4
davidfriend David Name: David Location: North Carolina Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250r Posts: 16	If it is really that simple, I will be a happy camper! will check it out and see!

April 11th, 2012, 05:53 AM	#5
davidfriend David Name: David Location: North Carolina Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250r Posts: 16	OK, I checked the connections on the battery last night and they are good, I haven't been able to put the battery on a charger, I will do that tonight. This morning I made a video of when I started it so you can hear the little 'whirring' sound that it makes, it took 3 tries on the starter button before it cranked, then all was fine! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7cHJmvOI40

April 11th, 2012, 03:39 PM	#6
davidfriend David Name: David Location: North Carolina Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250r Posts: 16	tonight I jumped the bike from my car battery (leaving the car turned off), and it still had the same problem. I've got the battery connected to a charger now, but i think I'll be taking it to a shop tomorrow.

April 17th, 2012, 09:19 PM	#7
davidfriend David Name: David Location: North Carolina Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250r Posts: 16	I got my bike back from the repair shop, there is no problems with the starter or starter relay etc. the problem is in the motor, something is going wrong and it doesn't want to start sometimes. To really fix it would require replacing the motor. I think I'm just going to keep riding it until it breaks, I can't see putting that amount of $ into the bike.

April 17th, 2012, 10:52 PM	#8
TnNinjaGirl Ms. Personality Name: CB Location: Murvill, TN Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): Depends on the week you ask Posts: A lot.	I'm assuming you mean the starter motor... There are some places around my town that will rebuild a starter for around $50. That might be something to look into.