New to me project

JPaganel · September 19th, 2024, 05:12 PM

I am in no way new to bikes, or old beatup bikes.

I have never had a Ninja 250 before, though. Did have a 500.

I picked up this one earlier this summer for the princely sum of $600. The only reason I paid that much was that all the pieces were there and the title was clean. It's getting harder to title bikes with no papers around here.

It looked a mess, cracks in all the fairings, some Frankensteined with the hole/zip tie stitching, and some stuff in a box.

Once I got started, more previous owner gloriousness became apparent. The fairing stay was broken and missing pieces, dashboard was broken, the stuff in the box was carbs, and the air filter was nowhere to be found.

So far, I have found a new bracket, fixed the dash, made sure it turns over (magically the battery is good). Like they say, "she's got good bones".

Carbs are a mess. Clean, but I don't see how they can work - the floats can't be adjusted to anywhere near the right height. It's almost like it has the wrong needles. I am trying to decide what to do.

Meanwhile, I am going to check valve clearances and change oil and plugs. Plugs are rusty, and oil is suspiciously overfilled. And keep working on the plastic.

With any luck I will get this done by winter. Just in time to put it away...

JPaganel · September 19th, 2024, 05:19 PM

On a side note - anyone know why I can't see anything in the wiki? I tried turning off my ad blocker, made no difference.

Triple Jim · September 19th, 2024, 07:39 PM

I don't know about the wiki... I can't get to it either. I hope it comes back. If it does I may mirror it to my hard drive.

If you want the carbs restored to new condition quickly, talk to Ducateman here. He does excellent work.

Triple Jim · September 20th, 2024, 07:58 PM

I found the Wiki. It looks like it was moved a little. It's under "Technical and Repair Info":

https://ninja250.info/wiki/Ninja250_Howto

Snake · September 22nd, 2024, 03:34 PM

Hello and welcome!

JPaganel · September 23rd, 2024, 11:33 AM

Thanks, guys!

JPaganel · September 30th, 2024, 01:15 PM

Well, the further I get into this thing, the more fun stuff I find...

Drained the oil - seems way too much of it. Probably gas leaked into it.

Set the valves. Exhausts were tighter than a skydiver's butthole on the first jump. No clearance. Intakes had something like .03 clearance, so not much better.

Sent carbs off to Ducatiman. I can do that, but it really is about number 3527 on my list of favorite things. He said quite a few things were out of whack, should be all better now.

Found coolant seeping out the o-ring on the head. That o-ring turned out to be trash. Not really surprising. So, drained coolant, too. Looked OK, but given everything else gonna guess it hasn't ever been changed.

The silver lining in all this is that given the state of valves and carbs it most likely wasn't being run with that gas in oil...

Also found that oil had been dripping from the valve cover for a while. I already ordered a new valve cover gasket, I don't trust old valve cover gaskets on principle. It just showed up.

About time to start putting it back together and refilling fluids.

ducatiman · October 1st, 2024, 05:59 AM

a few inconsistencies documenrted via pics.

wrong (too small) float valves on L installed in both carbs, RH side correct shown for comparison
the white stuff (?) was found consistent within the set
only 1 pilot jet was present (as found)
1 choke plunger frozen in place

they'll be good runners now as all was corrected/cleaned

ducatiman · October 1st, 2024, 11:13 AM

and a final pic, after wet and air testing

Triple Jim · October 1st, 2024, 12:24 PM

I guess you're given up wondering how carbs can get put together like this.

ducatiman · October 1st, 2024, 12:58 PM

right you are, TJ.

missing 1 pilot jet? frozen choke plunger? immersed in white stuff? incorrect float valves?

They would have never been runners as found, not a chance.

JPaganel · October 1st, 2024, 04:12 PM

I have seen worse carbs than this, but not often.

The most memorable ones that were all green, and with a hole in one of the bowls.

Have also seen the reverse - perfect carbs on a bike with oil leaks everywhere and half the wiring eaten by mice. At least I think it was mice.

BoBO · October 1st, 2024, 06:11 PM

welcome

September 19th, 2024, 05:12 PM	#1
JPaganel ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Minnesota Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	New to me project I am in no way new to bikes, or old beatup bikes. I have never had a Ninja 250 before, though. Did have a 500. I picked up this one earlier this summer for the princely sum of $600. The only reason I paid that much was that all the pieces were there and the title was clean. It's getting harder to title bikes with no papers around here. It looked a mess, cracks in all the fairings, some Frankensteined with the hole/zip tie stitching, and some stuff in a box. Once I got started, more previous owner gloriousness became apparent. The fairing stay was broken and missing pieces, dashboard was broken, the stuff in the box was carbs, and the air filter was nowhere to be found. So far, I have found a new bracket, fixed the dash, made sure it turns over (magically the battery is good). Like they say, "she's got good bones". Carbs are a mess. Clean, but I don't see how they can work - the floats can't be adjusted to anywhere near the right height. It's almost like it has the wrong needles. I am trying to decide what to do. Meanwhile, I am going to check valve clearances and change oil and plugs. Plugs are rusty, and oil is suspiciously overfilled. And keep working on the plastic. With any luck I will get this done by winter. Just in time to put it away...

September 19th, 2024, 07:39 PM	#3
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	I don't know about the wiki... I can't get to it either. I hope it comes back. If it does I may mirror it to my hard drive. If you want the carbs restored to new condition quickly, talk to Ducateman here. He does excellent work.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

October 1st, 2024, 12:58 PM	#11
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	right you are, TJ. missing 1 pilot jet? frozen choke plunger? immersed in white stuff? incorrect float valves? They would have never been runners as found, not a chance. __________________________________________________ Custom Carb Service

October 1st, 2024, 06:11 PM	#13
BoBO ninjette.org guru Name: Genesis Location: Paradise Valley Village, AZ Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): SC28 Fireblade Posts: 467	welcome __________________________________________________ 94 900RR 04 BMW Z4 2.5 M Package 01 R170 AMG Sport Package

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September 19th, 2024, 05:19 PM	#2
JPaganel ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Minnesota Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	On a side note - anyone know why I can't see anything in the wiki? I tried turning off my ad blocker, made no difference.

September 20th, 2024, 07:58 PM	#4
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	I found the Wiki. It looks like it was moved a little. It's under "Technical and Repair Info": https://ninja250.info/wiki/Ninja250_Howto

September 22nd, 2024, 03:34 PM	#5
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Hello and welcome!

September 23rd, 2024, 11:33 AM	#6
JPaganel ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Minnesota Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	Thanks, guys!

September 30th, 2024, 01:15 PM	#7
JPaganel ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Minnesota Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	Well, the further I get into this thing, the more fun stuff I find... Drained the oil - seems way too much of it. Probably gas leaked into it. Set the valves. Exhausts were tighter than a skydiver's butthole on the first jump. No clearance. Intakes had something like .03 clearance, so not much better. Sent carbs off to Ducatiman. I can do that, but it really is about number 3527 on my list of favorite things. He said quite a few things were out of whack, should be all better now. Found coolant seeping out the o-ring on the head. That o-ring turned out to be trash. Not really surprising. So, drained coolant, too. Looked OK, but given everything else gonna guess it hasn't ever been changed. The silver lining in all this is that given the state of valves and carbs it most likely wasn't being run with that gas in oil... Also found that oil had been dripping from the valve cover for a while. I already ordered a new valve cover gasket, I don't trust old valve cover gaskets on principle. It just showed up. About time to start putting it back together and refilling fluids.

October 1st, 2024, 12:24 PM	#10
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	I guess you're given up wondering how carbs can get put together like this.

October 1st, 2024, 04:12 PM	#12
JPaganel ninjette.org newbie Name: Mike Location: Minnesota Join Date: Sep 2024 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 5	I have seen worse carbs than this, but not often. The most memorable ones that were all green, and with a hole in one of the bowls. Have also seen the reverse - perfect carbs on a bike with oil leaks everywhere and half the wiring eaten by mice. At least I think it was mice.