Didn't winterize my 250!

Adrrrrianna · March 11th, 2014, 10:00 AM

Hello!
So I didn't winterize my '08 this winter. It's been sitting since October with a full tank of gas in a heated garage (I don't think it was overly affected by the Canadian winter cold). When I turn the keys all the lights turn on but I am unable to start it up. When I was riding it, no matter how warm it was outside I had to throw the choke on for a few minutes before taking off, if that means anything. I'm not very mechanically inclined.. How can I get it running again soon?

csmith12 · March 11th, 2014, 10:02 AM

Does your battery have a good charge?

kennetht · March 11th, 2014, 10:12 AM

You may need to recharge the battery. There could possibly be enough juice in it to light the indicator lights on the dash, but it will not be enough to start the bike.

Not to bash you at all, but make sure that the bike is in Neutral when you try to start it. You may have left the bike in gear when trying to start it, and that is why it is not starting. So make sure you have the bike in neutral, then hit that starter button.

In regards to the choke, that is normal, as you should always put on a little choke when first starting the bike. (unless it has only been sitting for a few minutes between rides, and is still warm)

jkv45 · March 11th, 2014, 10:27 AM

As noted, the battery will almost certainly need charging. It needs to read 12.6V after charging and setting an hour or 2 to remove the surface charge before you can get an accurate reading.

Good that you have a full tank, but did you add stabilizer? If not, you may need to completely drain it and add new gas before it will want to start.

If the gas in the floatbowls is old, and not stabilized, it won't run. If it sat long enough the fuel may have started to evaporate and varnish, and may have plugged the jets and small opening in the carb. I would open the float bowl drains and get any old gas out before even trying to start it. It does take some cranking to get the fuel to flow from the petcock to re-fill the float bowls, so you'll need a strong battery.

Your biggest problem area will be the fuel and the fuel system.

Yarhj · March 11th, 2014, 10:30 AM

Does your bike have carburetors, or is it fuel injected? If it's carbureted, did you drain the float bowls before winter? If not the carburetors are probably gummed up and need a cleaning. Cleaning the carburetors isn't that hard, but it's a bit of a pain, so definitely try charging the battery first. You could also try draining a bit of gas from the tank in case it's just condensation that's settled to the bottom .

allanoue · March 11th, 2014, 10:47 AM

if the engine does not turnover see post #3
if the engine does turn over with a strong crank but just does not fire up see post #5 but before cleaning the carbs, try putting in seafoam or TechTron as directed. Then crank the engine a bunch to get the treated gas into the carbs and let it sit overnight.

csmith12 · March 11th, 2014, 12:31 PM

This year I was a slacker... until yesterday

I didn't put stabil in my riding mower, it ran...
I didn't drain my weed whacker, it ran...
I didn't put stabil in my r6, I ran early Oct. gas at the track in Feb. but it ran.

I sold my old 98 Jeep yesterday that had been sitting beside my garage for 5yrs. After a new battery, it ran with 5yr old gas. It ran like crap... but it ran.

I am hoping for you, that all ya gotta do is charge the battery. I, on the other hand.... need to not be a slacker.

ForceofWill · March 11th, 2014, 01:13 PM

I didn't do mine either lol but its been on a tender. I'd also say try to trickle charge the battery for a while first.

dcj13 · March 11th, 2014, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrrrrianna

...When I turn the keys all the lights turn on but I am unable to start it up.

Does the engine turn over when you attempt to start it? Or is it completely dead?

Felipe the Ant · March 11th, 2014, 03:23 PM

clean the carbs

Adrrrrianna · March 21st, 2014, 03:00 PM

AHHHH thank you everyone. I charged the battery up and now it sounds like it wants to start but just can't follow through completely. On to the carbs next, I guess. Just purchased Seafoam, I've heard a lot of good things about it.

Ptdoughnut · March 21st, 2014, 03:21 PM

It was a rough winter for us Canadians this year! You're lucky you have a heated garage otherwise your battery may have been toast. How is Lloyd doing this year for the snow clearing up? P.A (sask) has been teasing me with warm weather up until today. I just wanna ride!!!

ForceofWill · March 21st, 2014, 04:47 PM

Drain the float bowls. I had to drain mine to get it to start. The gas in the tank was still good but what was in the bowls looked like good bourbon and smelled like paint thinner lol.

Started right up after I drained them.

March 11th, 2014, 10:00 AM	#1
Adrrrrianna ninjette.org member Name: Adrianna Location: Lloydminster, AB Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R Posts: 15	Didn't winterize my 250! Hello! So I didn't winterize my '08 this winter. It's been sitting since October with a full tank of gas in a heated garage (I don't think it was overly affected by the Canadian winter cold). When I turn the keys all the lights turn on but I am unable to start it up. When I was riding it, no matter how warm it was outside I had to throw the choke on for a few minutes before taking off, if that means anything. I'm not very mechanically inclined.. How can I get it running again soon?

March 11th, 2014, 10:02 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	Does your battery have a good charge? __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 11th, 2014, 12:31 PM	#7
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	This year I was a slacker... until yesterday I didn't put stabil in my riding mower, it ran... I didn't drain my weed whacker, it ran... I didn't put stabil in my r6, I ran early Oct. gas at the track in Feb. but it ran. I sold my old 98 Jeep yesterday that had been sitting beside my garage for 5yrs. After a new battery, it ran with 5yr old gas. It ran like crap... but it ran. I am hoping for you, that all ya gotta do is charge the battery. I, on the other hand.... need to not be a slacker. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 11th, 2014, 03:23 PM	#10
Felipe the Ant ninjette.org sage Name: . Location: . Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R SE GREEN! Posts: 562	clean the carbs __________________________________________________ Trust me, I'm a banana!

March 21st, 2014, 03:21 PM	#12
Ptdoughnut ninjette.org guru Name: Mason Location: Sask, Canada Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): 12 250r (sold), 2014 ZX6R Posts: 261	It was a rough winter for us Canadians this year! You're lucky you have a heated garage otherwise your battery may have been toast. How is Lloyd doing this year for the snow clearing up? P.A (sask) has been teasing me with warm weather up until today. I just wanna ride!!! __________________________________________________ They tell me I have to many hobbies! I think they don't have enough.

March 11th, 2014, 10:12 AM	#3
kennetht ninjette.org member Name: Ken Location: Central New Jersey Join Date: Oct 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 219	You may need to recharge the battery. There could possibly be enough juice in it to light the indicator lights on the dash, but it will not be enough to start the bike. Not to bash you at all, but make sure that the bike is in Neutral when you try to start it. You may have left the bike in gear when trying to start it, and that is why it is not starting. So make sure you have the bike in neutral, then hit that starter button. In regards to the choke, that is normal, as you should always put on a little choke when first starting the bike. (unless it has only been sitting for a few minutes between rides, and is still warm)

March 11th, 2014, 10:27 AM	#4
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	As noted, the battery will almost certainly need charging. It needs to read 12.6V after charging and setting an hour or 2 to remove the surface charge before you can get an accurate reading. Good that you have a full tank, but did you add stabilizer? If not, you may need to completely drain it and add new gas before it will want to start. If the gas in the floatbowls is old, and not stabilized, it won't run. If it sat long enough the fuel may have started to evaporate and varnish, and may have plugged the jets and small opening in the carb. I would open the float bowl drains and get any old gas out before even trying to start it. It does take some cranking to get the fuel to flow from the petcock to re-fill the float bowls, so you'll need a strong battery. Your biggest problem area will be the fuel and the fuel system.

March 11th, 2014, 10:30 AM	#5
Yarhj ninjette.org member Name: Will Location: Atlanta, GA Join Date: Feb 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 (2001) Posts: 135	Does your bike have carburetors, or is it fuel injected? If it's carbureted, did you drain the float bowls before winter? If not the carburetors are probably gummed up and need a cleaning. Cleaning the carburetors isn't that hard, but it's a bit of a pain, so definitely try charging the battery first. You could also try draining a bit of gas from the tank in case it's just condensation that's settled to the bottom .

March 11th, 2014, 10:47 AM	#6
allanoue ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Al Location: York, Pa Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '14	if the engine does not turnover see post #3 if the engine does turn over with a strong crank but just does not fire up see post #5 but before cleaning the carbs, try putting in seafoam or TechTron as directed. Then crank the engine a bunch to get the treated gas into the carbs and let it sit overnight.

March 11th, 2014, 01:13 PM	#8
ForceofWill Blind 250 Loving Whore Name: Tom Location: Chesapeake, VA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.	I didn't do mine either lol but its been on a tender. I'd also say try to trickle charge the battery for a while first.

March 21st, 2014, 03:00 PM	#11
Adrrrrianna ninjette.org member Name: Adrianna Location: Lloydminster, AB Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R Posts: 15	AHHHH thank you everyone. I charged the battery up and now it sounds like it wants to start but just can't follow through completely. On to the carbs next, I guess. Just purchased Seafoam, I've heard a lot of good things about it.

March 21st, 2014, 04:47 PM	#13
ForceofWill Blind 250 Loving Whore Name: Tom Location: Chesapeake, VA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.	Drain the float bowls. I had to drain mine to get it to start. The gas in the tank was still good but what was in the bowls looked like good bourbon and smelled like paint thinner lol. Started right up after I drained them.

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