2002 Ninja 250 - issues (spark pugs, dirty carbs, won't idle, etc?)

Pocket Sprocket · April 15th, 2013, 06:48 PM

Hey gang,

Long time reader, infrequent poster.

I posted a video to YouTube and here it is, can anyone tell from the sound what is wrong with it?
Have some assumptions/best guesses...

Would idle at about 4-5k rpm with full choke. Can roll off choke and on throttle to keep it above minimum rev's to keep it on. Can't rev above about 7k rpm, it just.. won't.

Full disclosure, bike sat for 18 months with some stabilizer.
This weekend; Replaced the battery; added a quarter tank of fresh gas, most is old though; Did oil change, running synthetic now...

Trying to avoid local shops, etc. and figure this thing out.

Any thoughts/insight please?

Thank you!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U1So3Ja6Ec

beren · April 15th, 2013, 06:53 PM

No expert here, but i vote for clean the carbs and check valve clearence.

quarterliter · April 15th, 2013, 06:54 PM

#1 4-5 idle is much to high even with full choke.
#2 don't rev it in neutral to 7k.....
#3 you have ancient gas and it should be drained and replaced with some new ethanol free 87
#4 I think your carbs are gunked up so remove them and
clean all the jets and passages.

Kevin

Pocket Sprocket · April 15th, 2013, 06:55 PM

Appreciate the feedback. Really do.

quarterliter · April 15th, 2013, 06:56 PM

Do you know where the idle speed adjustment is at?

Pocket Sprocket · April 15th, 2013, 06:58 PM

yep left hand down.

quarterliter · April 15th, 2013, 06:59 PM

After you clean the carbs I'd set the idle when fully warm at about 1700.

Pocket Sprocket · April 15th, 2013, 07:03 PM

Sorry, yes definitely. I don't want it at 4k I know it's bonkers to be that high. That's got to be a symptom of something (dirty carbs apparently), it's got to be the least of my worries with this thing I'm sure. I didn't idle that high before, and in time, it won't again. It'll be in the ballpark of what you said. That is correct.

I've got my M2 exit in July, then I'll have full license and won't have to worry about it expiring, woohoo! Paid insurance, refresher safety course, and now learning some new stuff about the machine, coud be worse.

csmith12 · April 15th, 2013, 08:05 PM

I would have to agree that you sir have a set of dirty carbs, specifically the idle jets. A good cleaning should do you well.

1700 seems a bit on the high side. 1300-1500 sounds a bit more tame.

Good luck and let us know.

quarterliter · April 16th, 2013, 05:34 AM

Well oil pressure at low rpms with the ninja wasnt great and with racing cams for the ninja they say dont let it idle for the first 15 minutes below 2500rpm for adequate lubrication. So I figured bump up the idle to help with that. Mine runs about 1800rpm when full warm.

Lychee · April 16th, 2013, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quarterliter

Well oil pressure at low rpms with the ninja wasnt great and with racing cams for the ninja they say dont let it idle for the first 15 minutes below 2500rpm for adequate lubrication. So I figured bump up the idle to help with that. Mine runs about 1800rpm when full warm.

Nothing wrong with that. Although stock is 1300-1400.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pocket Sprocket

Would idle at about 4-5k rpm with full choke. Can roll off choke and on throttle to keep it above minimum rev's to keep it on. Can't rev above about 7k rpm, it just.. won't.

Is the bike new to you? Typically when cold and choke on the idle can go as high as 5-7k. You can reduce the choke incrementally to lower the idle. A suggested idle speed to shoot for when cold is 3000-3500. The choke requires a little finesse. That said, your loss of top end is a clue that you may need to clean your carbs.

Pocket Sprocket · April 16th, 2013, 08:21 AM

Carbs have to be cleaned, very consistent comments. I'm good with the choke/cold stuff, dealt with that in the cooler times.

It's not new to me. This will be summer #5. I didn't insure it last year. So from fall 2011 to spring 2013 it sat dormant, really regretting it. Lesson learned.

Pocket Sprocket · May 17th, 2013, 11:13 AM

Just thought I'd finish the thread off... serviced at Kahuna, all good, been riding to work
oil in the gas (or vice versa), shrunken air gasket (dried out), carbs cleaned, fresh gas, drive train service, something else I'm sure.. back on the road.

Point of interest, having to repair it after letting it sit was more than the dollar value of a year of insurance (I'm 30 yr old, ninjette 250).. insurance this year is $410, repairs was about $550, plus the tow to the shop = should have just insured last year.

April 15th, 2013, 08:05 PM	#9
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	I would have to agree that you sir have a set of dirty carbs, specifically the idle jets. A good cleaning should do you well. 1700 seems a bit on the high side. 1300-1500 sounds a bit more tame. Good luck and let us know. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

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April 15th, 2013, 06:48 PM	#1
Pocket Sprocket ninjette.org member Name: Steve Location: Torontoish Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2002 Posts: 10	2002 Ninja 250 - issues (spark pugs, dirty carbs, won't idle, etc?) Hey gang, Long time reader, infrequent poster. I posted a video to YouTube and here it is, can anyone tell from the sound what is wrong with it? Have some assumptions/best guesses... Would idle at about 4-5k rpm with full choke. Can roll off choke and on throttle to keep it above minimum rev's to keep it on. Can't rev above about 7k rpm, it just.. won't. Full disclosure, bike sat for 18 months with some stabilizer. This weekend; Replaced the battery; added a quarter tank of fresh gas, most is old though; Did oil change, running synthetic now... Trying to avoid local shops, etc. and figure this thing out. Any thoughts/insight please? Thank you!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U1So3Ja6Ec

April 15th, 2013, 06:53 PM	#2
beren ninjette.org member Name: John Location: dallas Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 181	No expert here, but i vote for clean the carbs and check valve clearence. __________________________________________________ Shhhhh, don't tell Jiggles I am using the [ you ] tag.

April 15th, 2013, 06:54 PM	#3
quarterliter ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: Madison Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465	#1 4-5 idle is much to high even with full choke. #2 don't rev it in neutral to 7k..... #3 you have ancient gas and it should be drained and replaced with some new ethanol free 87 #4 I think your carbs are gunked up so remove them and clean all the jets and passages. Kevin

April 15th, 2013, 06:55 PM	#4
Pocket Sprocket ninjette.org member Name: Steve Location: Torontoish Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2002 Posts: 10	Appreciate the feedback. Really do.

April 15th, 2013, 06:56 PM	#5
quarterliter ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: Madison Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465	Do you know where the idle speed adjustment is at?

April 15th, 2013, 06:58 PM	#6
Pocket Sprocket ninjette.org member Name: Steve Location: Torontoish Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2002 Posts: 10	yep left hand down.

April 15th, 2013, 06:59 PM	#7
quarterliter ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: Madison Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465	After you clean the carbs I'd set the idle when fully warm at about 1700.

April 15th, 2013, 07:03 PM	#8
Pocket Sprocket ninjette.org member Name: Steve Location: Torontoish Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2002 Posts: 10	Sorry, yes definitely. I don't want it at 4k I know it's bonkers to be that high. That's got to be a symptom of something (dirty carbs apparently), it's got to be the least of my worries with this thing I'm sure. I didn't idle that high before, and in time, it won't again. It'll be in the ballpark of what you said. That is correct. I've got my M2 exit in July, then I'll have full license and won't have to worry about it expiring, woohoo! Paid insurance, refresher safety course, and now learning some new stuff about the machine, coud be worse.

April 16th, 2013, 05:34 AM	#10
quarterliter ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: Madison Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 Posts: 465	Well oil pressure at low rpms with the ninja wasnt great and with racing cams for the ninja they say dont let it idle for the first 15 minutes below 2500rpm for adequate lubrication. So I figured bump up the idle to help with that. Mine runs about 1800rpm when full warm.

April 16th, 2013, 08:21 AM	#12
Pocket Sprocket ninjette.org member Name: Steve Location: Torontoish Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2002 Posts: 10	Carbs have to be cleaned, very consistent comments. I'm good with the choke/cold stuff, dealt with that in the cooler times. It's not new to me. This will be summer #5. I didn't insure it last year. So from fall 2011 to spring 2013 it sat dormant, really regretting it. Lesson learned.

May 17th, 2013, 11:13 AM	#13
Pocket Sprocket ninjette.org member Name: Steve Location: Torontoish Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2002 Posts: 10	Just thought I'd finish the thread off... serviced at Kahuna, all good, been riding to work oil in the gas (or vice versa), shrunken air gasket (dried out), carbs cleaned, fresh gas, drive train service, something else I'm sure.. back on the road. Point of interest, having to repair it after letting it sit was more than the dollar value of a year of insurance (I'm 30 yr old, ninjette 250).. insurance this year is $410, repairs was about $550, plus the tow to the shop = should have just insured last year.