Idle problems (cable won't adjust)

kvgeorge1 · July 5th, 2017, 08:10 PM

Hello everyone! I am both new to this forum AND a new rider. I just purchased a 2008 EX250J (Ninja 250R) from a friend, that had it parked for almost 6 months. Needless to say, the carbs needed a good scrubbing. Once I did that, everything was AWESOME - until tonight. Take off speeds are really slow and it appeared to bog-down when throttling it up, so I tried to adjust the idle using the idle control knob. Now it idles at about 2500K, but I cannot make it go back down (it is as far to the left as the knob will turn). Also, the knob is really hard to turn.

Any ideas how to fix this so I can get it back to around 1300-1350?

Triple Jim · July 5th, 2017, 08:59 PM

Complete and thorough carb clean and valve clearance check.

Hello Ken, welcome to the board!

kvgeorge1 · July 5th, 2017, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple Jim

Complete and thorough carb clean and valve clearance check.

Hello Ken, welcome to the board!

So, I already cleaned the carb very well. The fact that the knob won't move easily has me concerned (does this mean that I have to lubricate it)? Can you help me to understand how to adjust the valve clearance?

Triple Jim · July 5th, 2017, 09:29 PM

Valves:

https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do..._the_valves%3F

Your sudden change in running points to dirt in the carbs. There are lots of little passages that need to be clean, all jets removed, etc.. Are you sure you really did the whole job?

Air leaks in the intake system can also cause high idle speeds.

DannoXYZ · July 6th, 2017, 01:13 AM

Welcome to the dirty-malfunctioning-carb club!

First, let's address your idle-adjuster. Most likely you have cross-threaded the adjuster cable at the carb end. If it wasn't cross-threaded, it would continue to unscrew and fall off.

Second, did you completely disassemble your carbs down to every last nut and bolt to clean like this? If not, you have crud hiding in tiny crevices and passageways.

kvgeorge1 · July 6th, 2017, 05:54 AM

I didn't break-it down as far as that (removing the needles from the boots, but I did remove the jets and clean them, along with the gasket areas, and the metal housings).

Interesting about the idle adjustment. I will go back and make sure it is not cross-threaded.

jkv45 · July 6th, 2017, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvgeorge1

I didn't break-it down as far as that (removing the needles from the boots, but I did remove the jets and clean them, along with the gasket areas, and the metal housings).

Interesting about the idle adjustment. I will go back and make sure it is not cross-threaded.

Did you remove the caps and idle mixture screws when you cleaned the carbs? Did you set them at 2.5 turns out after cleaning the passages?

Another possible issue is the gas tank - is it clean inside? If there was gas left in it while it sat it should be completely drained along with the floatbowls.

You may have cranked on the idle speed knob too hard. If the idle mixture passages are plugged it's not going to want to idle, which would account for why you needed to increase it with the idle speed adjustment.

kvgeorge1 · July 6th, 2017, 07:03 AM

I did completely drain the tank and drain the float bowls. The mix screws are covered and I don't know how to remove the caps (drill them out maybe???).

It sounds like the idle cable/screw from all the previous posts. I still need to check that.

jkv45 · July 6th, 2017, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvgeorge1

I did completely drain the tank and drain the float bowls. The mix screws are covered and I don't know how to remove the caps (drill them out maybe???).

It sounds like the idle cable/screw from all the previous posts. I still need to check that.

That's the first thing that needs to be done when working on the carbs.

Here's some general carb info - https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Intake

Here's info about removing the caps - https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Removi...re_screw_plugs

After cleaning the passages and confirming the o-rings are in good condition and in the proper spot, adjust the idle mixture screws - https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do...dle_mixture%3F

kvgeorge1 · July 6th, 2017, 10:08 AM

Great news! I got it working again!!! Turns out that the screw at the carb looked a bit "dry", so I lightly sprayed it with Slick 50, and now it works like a champ and I was able to correctly set the idle.

I love this site - you guys are a wealth of information!!!

July 5th, 2017, 08:10 PM	#1
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	Idle problems (cable won't adjust) Hello everyone! I am both new to this forum AND a new rider. I just purchased a 2008 EX250J (Ninja 250R) from a friend, that had it parked for almost 6 months. Needless to say, the carbs needed a good scrubbing. Once I did that, everything was AWESOME - until tonight. Take off speeds are really slow and it appeared to bog-down when throttling it up, so I tried to adjust the idle using the idle control knob. Now it idles at about 2500K, but I cannot make it go back down (it is as far to the left as the knob will turn). Also, the knob is really hard to turn. Any ideas how to fix this so I can get it back to around 1300-1350?

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July 5th, 2017, 08:59 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	Complete and thorough carb clean and valve clearance check. Hello Ken, welcome to the board!

July 5th, 2017, 09:29 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	Valves: https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do..._the_valves%3F Your sudden change in running points to dirt in the carbs. There are lots of little passages that need to be clean, all jets removed, etc.. Are you sure you really did the whole job? Air leaks in the intake system can also cause high idle speeds.

July 6th, 2017, 05:54 AM	#6
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	I didn't break-it down as far as that (removing the needles from the boots, but I did remove the jets and clean them, along with the gasket areas, and the metal housings). Interesting about the idle adjustment. I will go back and make sure it is not cross-threaded.

July 6th, 2017, 07:03 AM	#8
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	I did completely drain the tank and drain the float bowls. The mix screws are covered and I don't know how to remove the caps (drill them out maybe???). It sounds like the idle cable/screw from all the previous posts. I still need to check that.

July 6th, 2017, 10:08 AM	#10
kvgeorge1 ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: houston Join Date: Jul 2017 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 47	Great news! I got it working again!!! Turns out that the screw at the carb looked a bit "dry", so I lightly sprayed it with Slick 50, and now it works like a champ and I was able to correctly set the idle. I love this site - you guys are a wealth of information!!!