Multiple Issues: Starting & Running

lilbud055 · September 19th, 2013, 11:40 AM

Apologize in advance for the lengthy post, Ive got a few issues.....
So I bought an 01 ex250 about a month back with 51xx miles on it and had been running fairly well up until about a week or two ago. I was headed home running about 50-55mph when it started chugging. I pulled of, threw it in neutral and it reved and ran fine. Back into gear--same deal. Limped it to the gas station (it was low, but not out), filled up and spent 5 minutes trying to start to no success. Loaded it in the truck to get it home. A few days later tried to start, same thing, turn over all day but wouldnt run. That afternoon i tried jumping the starter relay...nothing. Pulled the starter off and it was toast!! Probably self inflicted from the cranking. Replaced it, bike fired right up. Took it out for a spin and after it warmed up i lost ~40% of my power, just felt bogged down. It revs fine in neutral but no power in gear. I had checked the plugs when i replaced the starter and they looked fine. Over the next few day i had trouble starting again, sometimes it would hit on the first try, other times not at all, come back in an hour or so and it would start right up!?!?!? So this is where i am now, its a hit or miss start, and after its warm it loses power... Suggestions/comments/smacks to the head, they"re all welcome!!

csmith12 · September 19th, 2013, 11:48 AM

Welcome Bud! Anything in the aribox and air filter in good working order? Do you know when the last time the carb was cleaned?

lilbud055 · September 19th, 2013, 11:59 AM

Thanks, airbox is good, I did have to reconnect the 2 breather hoses to the back side of the carb (i saw that when i bought it), the air filter isnt the most beautiful thing but you can see daylight when you look through it and no obstructions in it. According to the guy i bought it from, the carbs were cleaned just a few hundred miles ago (<200).....

Lychee · September 19th, 2013, 12:11 PM

check for adequate flow of fuel through petcock. Also check 2 inline fuel filters between gas tank and carburetor for obstructions. Thirdly, drain carburetor float bowls of possible water buildup.

Motofool · September 19th, 2013, 12:33 PM

Welcome to our site, Bud !!!

Drain the carbs bowls looking for water in those.
If water was found there, drain the fuel tank with the petcock in reserve position.
If no water is found, then check that the fuel is flowing freely into the carbs: sometimes the filters are clogged (in-line and inside the tank), some times is the vent of the tanks' cap.
If the petcock still needs vacuum to work, check that the vacuum hoses are leak-free and properly connected.

lilbud055 · September 19th, 2013, 01:01 PM

@ motofol and lychee, im heading out to check those things, thanks, just to ad to the list it now has no power all the time, to the point of bogging down until it quits, will not restart...

quicklooker · September 19th, 2013, 01:47 PM

When was the last time the valves were adjusted?

lilbud055 · September 19th, 2013, 03:27 PM

So far... inline filter(inside hose going from petcock to carbs) was virtually crushed, blowing the line, i got brown dust...
went to the carb bowl drains, got nothing, took a piece of wire and poked into the screw inlet and got very nasty gas with small trash from both carbs...
Just to see, i put it all back together, cranked and ran with ease.
So i guessing the best best is pull the carbs off and do some serious cleaning and soaking??
As to the valves, i have no idea if and when theyve been adjusted, honestly if ever. Its only got 51xx miles, however I really dont know what the suggested milage points are to check and adjust valves? Anybody know that?

csmith12 · September 19th, 2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilbud055

So i guessing the best best is pull the carbs off and do some serious cleaning and soaking??

If you have a complex for that sort of thing then yea. Otherwise, do not fix what is not broken.

Motofool · September 19th, 2013, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilbud055

.............As to the valves, i have no idea if and when theyve been adjusted, honestly if ever. Its only got 51xx miles, however I really dont know what the suggested milage points are to check and adjust valves? Anybody know that?

Good that you solved that mystery; .....next, charge that poor battery overnight.

Here is the schedule of service for your machine:
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Service_Schedule

lilbud055 · September 20th, 2013, 10:07 AM

Thanks guys for the input, I think im going to run a good bit of gas through the whole fuel system and see if i can hold off on pulling the carbs. Motofool, preciate the maintenance schedule. Also, i pulled out the inline filter (in the hose) and im thinking of going with a 'normal' inline filter, just splicing the hose and adding one....Any recommendations/hesitations for good gravity fed filter??

Lychee · September 20th, 2013, 12:28 PM

A spliced inline filter is a very good idea. Choose something clear so you can see into it.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_...fuel_filter%3F

lilbud055 · September 22nd, 2013, 10:11 AM

Ok ill check into that, thanks

September 19th, 2013, 11:40 AM	#1
lilbud055 ninjette.org newbie Name: Bud Location: Auburn Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Kawasaki ex250 Posts: 6	Multiple Issues: Starting & Running Apologize in advance for the lengthy post, Ive got a few issues..... So I bought an 01 ex250 about a month back with 51xx miles on it and had been running fairly well up until about a week or two ago. I was headed home running about 50-55mph when it started chugging. I pulled of, threw it in neutral and it reved and ran fine. Back into gear--same deal. Limped it to the gas station (it was low, but not out), filled up and spent 5 minutes trying to start to no success. Loaded it in the truck to get it home. A few days later tried to start, same thing, turn over all day but wouldnt run. That afternoon i tried jumping the starter relay...nothing. Pulled the starter off and it was toast!! Probably self inflicted from the cranking. Replaced it, bike fired right up. Took it out for a spin and after it warmed up i lost ~40% of my power, just felt bogged down. It revs fine in neutral but no power in gear. I had checked the plugs when i replaced the starter and they looked fine. Over the next few day i had trouble starting again, sometimes it would hit on the first try, other times not at all, come back in an hour or so and it would start right up!?!?!? So this is where i am now, its a hit or miss start, and after its warm it loses power... Suggestions/comments/smacks to the head, they"re all welcome!!

September 19th, 2013, 11:48 AM	#2
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	Welcome Bud! Anything in the aribox and air filter in good working order? Do you know when the last time the carb was cleaned? __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

September 19th, 2013, 12:11 PM	#4
Lychee sail away Name: Jon Location: San Jose Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): gixxer (sold), ninjette (upgrade!) Posts: 964 Blog Entries: 8	check for adequate flow of fuel through petcock. Also check 2 inline fuel filters between gas tank and carburetor for obstructions. Thirdly, drain carburetor float bowls of possible water buildup. __________________________________________________ Unregistered found this post helpful. Track Day Preparation Checklist 1. Financial 2. Mental 3. Physical 4. Gear / Bike

September 19th, 2013, 12:33 PM	#5
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	Welcome to our site, Bud !!! Drain the carbs bowls looking for water in those. If water was found there, drain the fuel tank with the petcock in reserve position. If no water is found, then check that the fuel is flowing freely into the carbs: sometimes the filters are clogged (in-line and inside the tank), some times is the vent of the tanks' cap. If the petcock still needs vacuum to work, check that the vacuum hoses are leak-free and properly connected. __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

September 20th, 2013, 12:28 PM	#12
Lychee sail away Name: Jon Location: San Jose Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): gixxer (sold), ninjette (upgrade!) Posts: 964 Blog Entries: 8	A spliced inline filter is a very good idea. Choose something clear so you can see into it. http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_...fuel_filter%3F __________________________________________________ Unregistered found this post helpful. Track Day Preparation Checklist 1. Financial 2. Mental 3. Physical 4. Gear / Bike

September 19th, 2013, 11:59 AM	#3
lilbud055 ninjette.org newbie Name: Bud Location: Auburn Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Kawasaki ex250 Posts: 6	Thanks, airbox is good, I did have to reconnect the 2 breather hoses to the back side of the carb (i saw that when i bought it), the air filter isnt the most beautiful thing but you can see daylight when you look through it and no obstructions in it. According to the guy i bought it from, the carbs were cleaned just a few hundred miles ago (<200).....

September 19th, 2013, 01:01 PM	#6
lilbud055 ninjette.org newbie Name: Bud Location: Auburn Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Kawasaki ex250 Posts: 6	@ motofol and lychee, im heading out to check those things, thanks, just to ad to the list it now has no power all the time, to the point of bogging down until it quits, will not restart...

September 19th, 2013, 01:47 PM	#7
quicklooker ninjette.org member Name: J Location: Dallas Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R '07 Posts: 81	When was the last time the valves were adjusted?

September 19th, 2013, 03:27 PM	#8
lilbud055 ninjette.org newbie Name: Bud Location: Auburn Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Kawasaki ex250 Posts: 6	So far... inline filter(inside hose going from petcock to carbs) was virtually crushed, blowing the line, i got brown dust... went to the carb bowl drains, got nothing, took a piece of wire and poked into the screw inlet and got very nasty gas with small trash from both carbs... Just to see, i put it all back together, cranked and ran with ease. So i guessing the best best is pull the carbs off and do some serious cleaning and soaking?? As to the valves, i have no idea if and when theyve been adjusted, honestly if ever. Its only got 51xx miles, however I really dont know what the suggested milage points are to check and adjust valves? Anybody know that?

September 20th, 2013, 10:07 AM	#11
lilbud055 ninjette.org newbie Name: Bud Location: Auburn Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Kawasaki ex250 Posts: 6	Thanks guys for the input, I think im going to run a good bit of gas through the whole fuel system and see if i can hold off on pulling the carbs. Motofool, preciate the maintenance schedule. Also, i pulled out the inline filter (in the hose) and im thinking of going with a 'normal' inline filter, just splicing the hose and adding one....Any recommendations/hesitations for good gravity fed filter??

September 22nd, 2013, 10:11 AM	#13
lilbud055 ninjette.org newbie Name: Bud Location: Auburn Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Kawasaki ex250 Posts: 6	Ok ill check into that, thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Starting Issues	FvnnyL3tt3r1ng	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	12	January 22nd, 2015 10:33 AM
Issues with starting	arieon69	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	15	September 7th, 2012 06:38 PM
Issues starting up	Maielstrom	General Motorcycling Discussion	2	August 8th, 2012 08:35 AM
Starting issues	Gorilla25	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	14	September 22nd, 2011 09:20 PM
Starting Issues	mikkel	General Motorcycling Discussion	4	July 30th, 2009 01:40 PM