1995 ninja 250r won’t start, will crank

Mwilson8 · September 9th, 2024, 02:48 PM

Hi all, I’m new to motorcycles with a 1995 ninja ex250/250r being my first.
I just replaced stator/rectifier, new coils, new spark plugs, and cleaned carburetor. Still no start, spark plugs look to have good spark and seems to have good compression. Carb is in decent shape, I bought a carb rebuild kit and replaced everything that came with it. I have a petcock rebuild kit as well, but I haven’t got to draining my tank and trying to replace it.
A couple months ago it started bogging down in early gears, had to open the throttle to start, and couldn’t let it idle without stalling. Got it home and it wouldn’t start the next day, first step was coils and plugs, then clean carb, and then a buddy told me to replace stator and rectifier, so I did.
I appreciate any help.

Triple Jim · September 9th, 2024, 02:57 PM

Hi Mike, welcome!

Carb kits get a lot of guys into trouble. They contain aftermarket jets, including the needles, that do not match the originals. Clean and use the original jets and needles. You can use the float needles from the kits.

These carbs are not easy to get truly clean. Here's some information about it:
https://n4mwd.blogspot.com/2013/10/s...-passages.html

You can check the petcock flow by taking off the hoses, sucking on the vacuum port, and letting it run into a container. A short spare hose on the vacuum barb makes it easy.

The stator and rectifier keep the battery charged. If you had spark, they weren't the non-start problem.

Mwilson8 · September 11th, 2024, 09:27 AM

Thank you for the fast reply TripleJim!
I tried cleaning and replacing the original carburetor parts, still no start. It seems like it wants to with some starting fluid. I’ll test the vacuum on the petcock next and see if that could be my issue. I’m not sure what’s next after that though.

ducatiman · September 11th, 2024, 10:15 AM

i take it that within your cleaning process, you cleaned the idle ports entirely?

Beyond jets, the ports are multiple.... longer/winding (can not be done simply using wire) and difficult to attain a totally clear state. Strong compressed air in conjunction with carb cleaner spray is the WTG.

And I take it you removed and cleared the (similar) choke circuits as well?

Both these circuits contribute to starting/idling.

Mwilson8 · September 11th, 2024, 04:51 PM

I gave the carb as good of a cleaning as I could manage, but I will take it apart again and try to be more thorough, a buddy of mine has an air compressor so I will try that this weekend and see if maybe that works. Thank you for the input! I will get back with results when I have them.

Triple Jim · September 11th, 2024, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mwilson8

I gave the carb as good of a cleaning as I could manage, but I will take it apart again and try to be more thorough, a buddy of mine has an air compressor so I will try that this weekend and see if maybe that works. Thank you for the input! I will get back with results when I have them.

Did you see my link above about the passages in the carbs?

Mwilson8 · September 11th, 2024, 07:45 PM

Yes, I tried as best as I could to get all of those passages clear. I tried getting a wire into the lower choke intake, but that may be clogged, I’m hoping an air compressor and some more carb cleaner will do the trick.

Mwilson8 · September 12th, 2024, 02:26 PM

I have cleaned all of the passages in the carb cleaning link, the lower choke intake seems to be clogged, I tried carb cleaner, air compressor, and a pin needle. It doesn’t seem to want to be unclogged.

jkv45 · September 13th, 2024, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mwilson8

Thank you for the fast reply TripleJim!
I tried cleaning and replacing the original carburetor parts, still no start. It seems like it wants to with some starting fluid. I’ll test the vacuum on the petcock next and see if that could be my issue. I’m not sure what’s next after that though.

That's a sure sign of carb issues.

As TJ mentioned, you can't trust aftermarket (cheap) carb kits.

I would recommend sending the carbs to Ducatiman.

Too bad you went and replaced all the ignition stuff before coming here for help.

September 9th, 2024, 02:48 PM	#1
Mwilson8 ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Ohio Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 1995 ninja ex250/250r Posts: 5	1995 ninja 250r won’t start, will crank Hi all, I’m new to motorcycles with a 1995 ninja ex250/250r being my first. I just replaced stator/rectifier, new coils, new spark plugs, and cleaned carburetor. Still no start, spark plugs look to have good spark and seems to have good compression. Carb is in decent shape, I bought a carb rebuild kit and replaced everything that came with it. I have a petcock rebuild kit as well, but I haven’t got to draining my tank and trying to replace it. A couple months ago it started bogging down in early gears, had to open the throttle to start, and couldn’t let it idle without stalling. Got it home and it wouldn’t start the next day, first step was coils and plugs, then clean carb, and then a buddy told me to replace stator and rectifier, so I did. I appreciate any help.

September 9th, 2024, 02:57 PM	#2
Triple Jim 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	Hi Mike, welcome! Carb kits get a lot of guys into trouble. They contain aftermarket jets, including the needles, that do not match the originals. Clean and use the original jets and needles. You can use the float needles from the kits. These carbs are not easy to get truly clean. Here's some information about it: https://n4mwd.blogspot.com/2013/10/s...-passages.html You can check the petcock flow by taking off the hoses, sucking on the vacuum port, and letting it run into a container. A short spare hose on the vacuum barb makes it easy. The stator and rectifier keep the battery charged. If you had spark, they weren't the non-start problem.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

September 11th, 2024, 10:15 AM	#4
ducatiman ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Gordon Location: new york Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): '95 DUCATI 900SS/SP '07 DUCATI SS800 '19 HONDA CBR650R Posts: A lot. MOTM - Nov '18, Mar '17	i take it that within your cleaning process, you cleaned the idle ports entirely? Beyond jets, the ports are multiple.... longer/winding (can not be done simply using wire) and difficult to attain a totally clear state. Strong compressed air in conjunction with carb cleaner spray is the WTG. And I take it you removed and cleared the (similar) choke circuits as well? Both these circuits contribute to starting/idling. __________________________________________________ Custom Carb Service

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September 11th, 2024, 09:27 AM	#3
Mwilson8 ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Ohio Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 1995 ninja ex250/250r Posts: 5	Thank you for the fast reply TripleJim! I tried cleaning and replacing the original carburetor parts, still no start. It seems like it wants to with some starting fluid. I’ll test the vacuum on the petcock next and see if that could be my issue. I’m not sure what’s next after that though.

September 11th, 2024, 04:51 PM	#5
Mwilson8 ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Ohio Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 1995 ninja ex250/250r Posts: 5	I gave the carb as good of a cleaning as I could manage, but I will take it apart again and try to be more thorough, a buddy of mine has an air compressor so I will try that this weekend and see if maybe that works. Thank you for the input! I will get back with results when I have them.

September 11th, 2024, 07:45 PM	#7
Mwilson8 ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Ohio Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 1995 ninja ex250/250r Posts: 5	Yes, I tried as best as I could to get all of those passages clear. I tried getting a wire into the lower choke intake, but that may be clogged, I’m hoping an air compressor and some more carb cleaner will do the trick.

September 12th, 2024, 02:26 PM	#8
Mwilson8 ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Ohio Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 1995 ninja ex250/250r Posts: 5	I have cleaned all of the passages in the carb cleaning link, the lower choke intake seems to be clogged, I tried carb cleaner, air compressor, and a pin needle. It doesn’t seem to want to be unclogged.