2006 Ninja 125... Only running on one cylinder?

SV_Hadder · January 18th, 2011, 09:46 PM

My dad and I were out riding 2 days ago, and one of his cylinder shuts off for about 2 miles. His bike is a 2006 with only 4,000 miles and it's bone stock. His bike did this to me while I was riding it a few months ago, back when it only had about 2,500 miles on it. To our knowledge the valves have never been adjusted, nor have the spark plugs been changed.

He said he was running about 10k and all of a sudden one cylinder just stopped running, and it proceeded to run like that for 2 miles, and then finally the second cylinder came back to life. The one time that I rode it and the bike shut down one cylinder, it was only for a 1/4 mile tops.

The bike runs perfect at all times; except for these two incidents.

It sounds like some sort of electrical issue rather than a fuel or carburetor issue. Anyone have any ideas?

kkim · January 18th, 2011, 10:35 PM

pull the plugs and see what they look like. that will tell you what's going on inside the cylinders. could be as simple as a whiskered plug.

I highly suggest a valve adjustment if it's due.

FrugalNinja250 · January 19th, 2011, 09:10 AM

Next time it is running on one cylinder, and you'll know it because it'll take full throttle just to maintain speed, pull over and blip the throttle to keep it from stalling. Stick your hands in through the fairing openings and wiggle the coil connectors. If that changes the way the engine runs then you have problems, either corrosion in the terminals (they're not water proof in the least) or the wires are broken where they're crimped into the terminals. I had this problem last year, it took forever to track it down.

mrlmd · January 19th, 2011, 11:14 AM

Also clean the carbs by putting some Berryman's or Seafoam in with the gas.

SV_Hadder · January 20th, 2011, 10:46 PM

Thanks guys, those were all the things I was going to check, just wanted to see if there was some well-known history of such an issue.

Frugalninja250, I know exactly what you are talking about.... On my 2001, I went to change the spark plugs for the first time as its new owner, and the plug wire just fell right out of the plug cap. I had no ignition troubles, but I'm glad I caught the issue before I was left stranded.

I will check the plugs, install new ones, pour in some seafoam, and check the ignition wires/coils.

BTW, does anyone know if berryman's B12 is any less effective than seafoam? Around my area, seafoam is about $10-11 a bottle, while the B12 is only about $4.

mrlmd · January 21st, 2011, 07:53 AM

I've used Berryman's in my bikes, lawnmower, boat, jetski, cars, and it works fine. On many forums it's preferred over Seafoam, they say it works better. And it's much less expensive.

FrugalNinja250 · January 21st, 2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV_Hadder

BTW, does anyone know if berryman's B12 is any less effective than seafoam? Around my area, seafoam is about $10-11 a bottle, while the B12 is only about $4.

Neither is going to really clean the carbs if carb problems are causing the issue. Only a full dismantling and cleaning with compressed air and a good solvent will do that. Additives like this are only really useful as a preventative, and even then if you're going to be going months without riding it's better to drain the gas from the tank and carbs and use it in another vehicle. Modern fuels go bad with time even if in sealed containers; I'd consider 6 months to the the absolute tops on age, even with something like Stabil added to it.

n4mwd · February 6th, 2011, 02:41 PM

I seriously doubt that this was a carb problem. Intermittent problems like the one described by the OP scream electrical. Specifically, I would check the low voltage coil connections and clean them. It could also be a faulty coil or igniter, but bad coil connections are more likely. Bad plugs wouldn't be my first guess because plugs don't go bad and then magically fix themselves.

Jinx250 · February 7th, 2011, 10:31 AM

Since the problem is intermittent, that would absolutely seem to be an electrical connection issue.

As far as effectiveness of B12 vs SeaFoam, I've used both for maintenance (running in a tank to keep things clean) and as a cleaner for soaking jets that are 100% clogged. Get whichever you prefer.

January 18th, 2011, 09:46 PM	#1
SV_Hadder ninjette.org member Name: Zach Location: Raleigh, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250 Posts: 94	2006 Ninja 125... Only running on one cylinder? My dad and I were out riding 2 days ago, and one of his cylinder shuts off for about 2 miles. His bike is a 2006 with only 4,000 miles and it's bone stock. His bike did this to me while I was riding it a few months ago, back when it only had about 2,500 miles on it. To our knowledge the valves have never been adjusted, nor have the spark plugs been changed. He said he was running about 10k and all of a sudden one cylinder just stopped running, and it proceeded to run like that for 2 miles, and then finally the second cylinder came back to life. The one time that I rode it and the bike shut down one cylinder, it was only for a 1/4 mile tops. The bike runs perfect at all times; except for these two incidents. It sounds like some sort of electrical issue rather than a fuel or carburetor issue. Anyone have any ideas? __________________________________________________ "Nicole" - Pirelli Diablo's front and rear, Two Brother's Exhaust, Apex Custom SS lines , 15 T, UNI Air filter, Fiamm El Grande horns, EX500 fork springs, EX250J rear shock, Fender eliminator.

January 20th, 2011, 10:46 PM	#5
SV_Hadder ninjette.org member Name: Zach Location: Raleigh, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250 Posts: 94	Thanks guys, those were all the things I was going to check, just wanted to see if there was some well-known history of such an issue. Frugalninja250, I know exactly what you are talking about.... On my 2001, I went to change the spark plugs for the first time as its new owner, and the plug wire just fell right out of the plug cap. I had no ignition troubles, but I'm glad I caught the issue before I was left stranded. I will check the plugs, install new ones, pour in some seafoam, and check the ignition wires/coils. BTW, does anyone know if berryman's B12 is any less effective than seafoam? Around my area, seafoam is about $10-11 a bottle, while the B12 is only about $4. __________________________________________________ "Nicole" - Pirelli Diablo's front and rear, Two Brother's Exhaust, Apex Custom SS lines , 15 T, UNI Air filter, Fiamm El Grande horns, EX500 fork springs, EX250J rear shock, Fender eliminator.

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January 18th, 2011, 10:35 PM	#2
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	pull the plugs and see what they look like. that will tell you what's going on inside the cylinders. could be as simple as a whiskered plug. I highly suggest a valve adjustment if it's due.

January 19th, 2011, 09:10 AM	#3
FrugalNinja250 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Frugal Location: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Several Posts: A lot.	Next time it is running on one cylinder, and you'll know it because it'll take full throttle just to maintain speed, pull over and blip the throttle to keep it from stalling. Stick your hands in through the fairing openings and wiggle the coil connectors. If that changes the way the engine runs then you have problems, either corrosion in the terminals (they're not water proof in the least) or the wires are broken where they're crimped into the terminals. I had this problem last year, it took forever to track it down.

January 19th, 2011, 11:14 AM	#4
mrlmd ninjette.org sage Name: Marc Location: Crawfordville, Florida Join Date: Jan 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Suzuki S50, 2006 Kawasaki Ninja EX250F, 1990 Honda PC800, 2000 Yamaha TW200 Posts: 848	Also clean the carbs by putting some Berryman's or Seafoam in with the gas.

January 21st, 2011, 07:53 AM	#6
mrlmd ninjette.org sage Name: Marc Location: Crawfordville, Florida Join Date: Jan 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Suzuki S50, 2006 Kawasaki Ninja EX250F, 1990 Honda PC800, 2000 Yamaha TW200 Posts: 848	I've used Berryman's in my bikes, lawnmower, boat, jetski, cars, and it works fine. On many forums it's preferred over Seafoam, they say it works better. And it's much less expensive.

February 6th, 2011, 02:41 PM	#8
n4mwd ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: D Location: Palm Beach, FL Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250R, 2007 EFI Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	I seriously doubt that this was a carb problem. Intermittent problems like the one described by the OP scream electrical. Specifically, I would check the low voltage coil connections and clean them. It could also be a faulty coil or igniter, but bad coil connections are more likely. Bad plugs wouldn't be my first guess because plugs don't go bad and then magically fix themselves.

February 7th, 2011, 10:31 AM	#9
Jinx250 Smoker Name: Bob Location: SoCal Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): Guess.... Posts: 556	Since the problem is intermittent, that would absolutely seem to be an electrical connection issue. As far as effectiveness of B12 vs SeaFoam, I've used both for maintenance (running in a tank to keep things clean) and as a cleaner for soaking jets that are 100% clogged. Get whichever you prefer.