Choke has no effect on idle... Help.

Jono · September 8th, 2011, 06:03 PM

I have a 2006 250 that I bought used about 2 months ago. It starts up perfect every time and has a perfect idle at 1400 rpms once it gets warmed up. But here is the problem. It just now dropped into the high 50's at night. So early morning when I start up the bike it doesn't fire up on the first couple of attempts. I try to add the choke but that has no effect at all on the rpms. I checked the cable and it is working properly. It does start but only after I hit the starter button more than 3 times. SO what should I check for next? Also the bike has NO problems once it gets warmed up. Runs perfectly. I have tried Googleing it, but found no results. Anyone else ever had this problem?

MikeBudd · September 8th, 2011, 06:06 PM

My first question has to be: does the choke do anything once your bike is on/warm? If the rpm's don't raise when the choke is on (when the bike is warm), you sir have yourself a problem.

If the choke does do something, then just put it full choke (push it all the way damnnnnit), push the starter and give it a bit of throttle at the same time. It should start up fine.

choneofakind · September 8th, 2011, 06:06 PM

How are you starting it? I use the half choke method at the bottom of this page:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/What_is..._at_startup%3F

I never have any problems with my idle not jacking up with choke on.

choneofakind · September 8th, 2011, 06:08 PM

full choke isn't necessary...

Jono · September 8th, 2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBudd

My first question has to be: does the choke do anything once your bike is on/warm? If the rpm's don't raise when the choke is on (when the bike is warm), you sir have yourself a problem..

It does not do anything to the rpms. So I must have a serious problem I guess. But everything else is perfect. The previous owner did not ride to often in the winter so maybe he didn't store it right and the carbs are gunked up. But wouldn't that cause other problems?

And the weather is warming back up a bit so it started up fine this morning. I am just worried I will be running into a problem this fall/winter.

choneofakind · September 8th, 2011, 06:14 PM

try opening up the carbs and cleaning everything. if nothing else is not working outside the carbs (ie the cables and such) that seems like the next logical step that isn't expensive

Jono · September 8th, 2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

How are you starting it? I use the half choke method at the bottom of this page:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/What_is..._at_startup%3F

At first I start it with no choke to see if it will start right up. Over the summer it always started on my first attempt so I never choked it. So when it was cold earlier this week I just pressed the starter button like four times and it eventually started up with it idling at 1000rpm's. And it eventually got up to 1400rpm when it got up to temp.

choneofakind · September 8th, 2011, 06:18 PM

so are you having trouble starting it cold without the choke?? that's not surprising.

Jono · September 8th, 2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

try opening up the carbs and cleaning everything. if nothing else is not working outside the carbs (ie the cables and such) that seems like the next logical step that isn't expensive

I plan on cleaning and syncing the carbs when I do my valve adjustment. Which needs to be done soon. Haven't had time yet. I checked the choke cable and it works just fine. It slides the "bar thingy" over like it should but it just doesn't effect the idle. It's weird!

MikeBudd · September 8th, 2011, 06:21 PM

If your choke does nothing to the RPM's then the cable might not be working properly. Pull off your fairings and tank and look at the carbs. Check if linkage is correct. I'm not 100 percent sure about the 2006, but it should be similar. If it is, it should be screwed onto the carb above the head and it should move properly when the choke is engaged. If that is all connected properly, I would first run some carb cleaner through (SEAFOAM), and if that doesn't work, pull them out and clean them.

As for starting with full choke, yea, you really don't need to/shouldn't. However, I have found that if I'm having a problem starting (either with the gradual method or just at half), I just crank it up and hit the start button (possibly giving it a bit of throttle), and she starts up perfectly and I immediately turn the choke down.

choneofakind · September 8th, 2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBudd

I just crank it up and hit the start button (possibly giving it a bit of throttle), and she starts up perfectly and I immediately turn the choke down.

giving it throttle leans it. using choke richens it, and then throttle leans it back down. thats the same effect as giving half choke...

the valve adjustment will help a lot with starting. While you've got everything open to do the adjustment, cleaning the carbs could never hurt. Try adding seafoam. That's also never going to hurt in this situation

Jono · September 8th, 2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

so are you having trouble starting it cold without the choke?? that's not surprising.

If I add choke it doesn't do anything. It has only been cold a couple mornings so I haven't gotten many chances to practice my cold starting. But if the choke doesn't work I am worried about it starting when it gets colder than 50 degrees.

Jono · September 8th, 2011, 06:31 PM

Alright thanks for the advice. I will first start by getting Seafoam and trying that. If that doesn't do the trick I will yank the carbs out and clean them when I do the valve adjustment.

MikeBudd · September 8th, 2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

giving it throttle leans it. using choke richens it, and then throttle leans it back down. thats the same effect as giving half choke...

That's right

. IMHO (i could easily be wrong), but it might just give it that extra tad of richness that the bike needs to start. In my experience it's hard to judge exactly with the choke where you are for a lot of people (full/half/none) so if you just turn it up, then use a little throttle, you hit the sweet spot. Just my 2 cents.

Anyways, sorry for jacking this thread @Jono, but since the mechanism works properly, something in the carbs must not be working or it could clogged. Like previously stated use the sea foam and if it doesn't work yank them and clean everything.

Goodluck

choneofakind · September 11th, 2011, 11:46 AM

when you clean them, check these pics out. there's also a good how-to for cleaning the carbs thoroughly.

my advice is use an air compressor instead of copper wire. never seems like a good idea to me to jam metal into the jets

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Carburetor_photos

Jono · September 14th, 2011, 09:45 PM

Alright thanks. I will definitely be using those photos to help with the cleaning process. I ran Berryman B12 through a tank of gas but it didn't help with the choke issue. So I am going to have to yank out the carbs when I do my valve adjustment. Oh well, just one of the benefits of buying a used bike.

Haha

September 8th, 2011, 06:03 PM	#1
Jono ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jono Location: Memphis, TN Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Triumph Street Triple, 2009 KLX250SF, 2003 Suzuki SV650S (Sold), 2006 Ninja 250 (Sold) Posts: A lot.	Choke has no effect on idle... Help. I have a 2006 250 that I bought used about 2 months ago. It starts up perfect every time and has a perfect idle at 1400 rpms once it gets warmed up. But here is the problem. It just now dropped into the high 50's at night. So early morning when I start up the bike it doesn't fire up on the first couple of attempts. I try to add the choke but that has no effect at all on the rpms. I checked the cable and it is working properly. It does start but only after I hit the starter button more than 3 times. SO what should I check for next? Also the bike has NO problems once it gets warmed up. Runs perfectly. I have tried Googleing it, but found no results. Anyone else ever had this problem?

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September 8th, 2011, 06:06 PM	#2
MikeBudd ninjette.org guru Name: Mike Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): RED 2010 Ninja 250r Posts: 304	My first question has to be: does the choke do anything once your bike is on/warm? If the rpm's don't raise when the choke is on (when the bike is warm), you sir have yourself a problem. If the choke does do something, then just put it full choke (push it all the way damnnnnit), push the starter and give it a bit of throttle at the same time. It should start up fine.

September 8th, 2011, 06:06 PM	#3
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	How are you starting it? I use the half choke method at the bottom of this page: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/What_is..._at_startup%3F I never have any problems with my idle not jacking up with choke on.

September 8th, 2011, 06:08 PM	#4
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	full choke isn't necessary...

September 8th, 2011, 06:14 PM	#6
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	try opening up the carbs and cleaning everything. if nothing else is not working outside the carbs (ie the cables and such) that seems like the next logical step that isn't expensive

September 8th, 2011, 06:18 PM	#8
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	so are you having trouble starting it cold without the choke?? that's not surprising.

September 8th, 2011, 06:21 PM	#10
MikeBudd ninjette.org guru Name: Mike Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): RED 2010 Ninja 250r Posts: 304	If your choke does nothing to the RPM's then the cable might not be working properly. Pull off your fairings and tank and look at the carbs. Check if linkage is correct. I'm not 100 percent sure about the 2006, but it should be similar. If it is, it should be screwed onto the carb above the head and it should move properly when the choke is engaged. If that is all connected properly, I would first run some carb cleaner through (SEAFOAM), and if that doesn't work, pull them out and clean them. As for starting with full choke, yea, you really don't need to/shouldn't. However, I have found that if I'm having a problem starting (either with the gradual method or just at half), I just crank it up and hit the start button (possibly giving it a bit of throttle), and she starts up perfectly and I immediately turn the choke down.

September 8th, 2011, 06:31 PM	#13
Jono ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jono Location: Memphis, TN Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Triumph Street Triple, 2009 KLX250SF, 2003 Suzuki SV650S (Sold), 2006 Ninja 250 (Sold) Posts: A lot.	Alright thanks for the advice. I will first start by getting Seafoam and trying that. If that doesn't do the trick I will yank the carbs out and clean them when I do the valve adjustment.

September 11th, 2011, 11:46 AM	#15
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	when you clean them, check these pics out. there's also a good how-to for cleaning the carbs thoroughly. my advice is use an air compressor instead of copper wire. never seems like a good idea to me to jam metal into the jets http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Carburetor_photos

September 14th, 2011, 09:45 PM	#16
Jono ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jono Location: Memphis, TN Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Triumph Street Triple, 2009 KLX250SF, 2003 Suzuki SV650S (Sold), 2006 Ninja 250 (Sold) Posts: A lot.	Alright thanks. I will definitely be using those photos to help with the cleaning process. I ran Berryman B12 through a tank of gas but it didn't help with the choke issue. So I am going to have to yank out the carbs when I do my valve adjustment. Oh well, just one of the benefits of buying a used bike. Haha