Valve adjustment and now bike won't stay idle

har0ld · November 12th, 2012, 06:40 PM

Hey guys. I did a valve adjustment on my girlfriend's 08 250r. Now the bike has a hard time starting and when it does it'll idle then the idle will start stuttering and the bike will start sputtering and then it dies. I am not sure what I could of done wrong. I followed the Vex's diy exactly. I am not sure if it's the timing, which i had a hard time getting it correct due the white dots on the cam sprockets would always unalign when i would bolt down the cam caps. I wanted to know if anyone had this issue before and what the remedy was. I want to know what to look for before I take the bike apart again. Much thanks in advance!

alex.s · November 12th, 2012, 06:41 PM

have you tried adjusting the idle speed?

dino74 · November 12th, 2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

have you tried adjusting the idle speed?

Did you mess with the idle screw? Shouldn't have to for a value adjustment...

Before tearing it apart again:
Are both cylinders firing? ( Both exhaust tubes hot )
Check if you put all the vacuum hoses on correctly?

cuong-nutz · November 12th, 2012, 08:30 PM

When I did my second VA, somehow I goofed on the timing and the valves weren't shutting all the way. It's easy for the crank to move if you don't have it held in place when you have the chain off and cams out. I took it apart again and checked everything over and put it back together and it worked liked it should.

har0ld · November 13th, 2012, 12:25 AM

Yep, I tried the adjusting the idle and still nothing. I think I'm going to take it apart and retime it hopefully that will solve the issue. Thanks for the advice guys. I'll keep you posted.

alex.s · November 13th, 2012, 07:45 AM

i would double check clearances and timing

LoneRonin · November 13th, 2012, 10:14 AM

A valve adjustment is something thats better left to the professionals...
I blew the topend of my engine after a failed attempt and it would have cost me thousands to fix it. Luckily I got warranty.
At end of the day pay a couple hundred dollars and have some peace of mind. It'll be better than wasting time and the countless headaches.

red5 · November 13th, 2012, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneRonin

A valve adjustment is something thats better left to the professionals...
I blew the topend of my engine after a failed attempt and it would have cost me thousands to fix it. Luckily I got warranty.

How did you manage that? The warranty repair, that is, not blowing the top end.

Chicagobob · November 13th, 2012, 12:13 PM

Poor idle is often the result of too little valve clearance, so if the valve adjustment is the only change you have made since the bike last idled well, you should double-check the clearance to be sure the valves aren't too tight. If you don't hear any clatter, this may well be your problem.

LoneRonin · November 14th, 2012, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red5

How did you manage that? The warranty repair, that is, not blowing the top end.

Took it to a well-known shop told em I what I did, they opened it up looked inside and said it was ****ed. I had extended warranty, they said stay quiet we'll send it to the dealer tell them it came in like this. Dealer took care of the rest no questions asked...
Though I did have to wait 2 months in the prime of the season with no bike because of back ordered parts...actually 1 part. A valve...

har0ld · December 9th, 2012, 04:45 PM

Ok, I finally got time to take the bike apart again. This time I made sure everything was aligned, double and triple checked it. So, right when I thought I was at the home stretch on finishing, I put the cct back in. The DIY said to use a flat head and turn it clockwise, but mine didn't seem like it could turn clockwise. So I tightened everything up. I checked the peep hole to make sure the crankshaft was still at the 2T mark and it wasn't

. So, I took the cct off again and got the crankshaft aligned again along with the cams. Then I put the cct back in and the dam crankshaft moves again. Everytime I aligned the crankshaft at 2T it gets moved when I put the cct back in. I am not sure what I'm doing wrong. Sorry for the long explanation, but any input on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

krolinked · December 10th, 2012, 07:20 PM

Do you have the service manual? In it there is a way to align it by counting the teeth on the sprockets. You should try like this.

I can try and send you the page for how to check the teeth if you dont have the manual.

har0ld · December 16th, 2012, 03:49 PM

Ok so I timed the cams but the crankshaft moves a little when I put in the CCT so I just bolted in down and put everything together. Started the bike up and it won't idle. If open the throttle a little it'll idle but once i let go of it or rev it the bike dies. I don't know what i'm doing wrong here. Please any help would be much appreciated.

har0ld · December 16th, 2012, 06:16 PM

Ok after gathering myself and screaming a few times. I got the bike to work. I mess around with the shims and found that two of them where out of spec. Fixed that problem. Now i have another obstacle. I noticed an oil leak

It's coming from under the left header. I attached a picture of an engine just to give an idea of where it's leaking and it only leaks when the engine is running. It's leaking alot and I have no clue. Anybody have any insight? Thanks

November 12th, 2012, 06:40 PM	#1
har0ld ninjette.org member Name: Harold Location: Alaska Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 ninja 250r Posts: 10	Valve adjustment and now bike won't stay idle Hey guys. I did a valve adjustment on my girlfriend's 08 250r. Now the bike has a hard time starting and when it does it'll idle then the idle will start stuttering and the bike will start sputtering and then it dies. I am not sure what I could of done wrong. I followed the Vex's diy exactly. I am not sure if it's the timing, which i had a hard time getting it correct due the white dots on the cam sprockets would always unalign when i would bolt down the cam caps. I wanted to know if anyone had this issue before and what the remedy was. I want to know what to look for before I take the bike apart again. Much thanks in advance!

November 12th, 2012, 06:41 PM	#2
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	have you tried adjusting the idle speed? __________________________________________________

November 12th, 2012, 08:30 PM	#4
cuong-nutz RIP Alex Name: Cuong Location: Houston, TX Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 2	When I did my second VA, somehow I goofed on the timing and the valves weren't shutting all the way. It's easy for the crank to move if you don't have it held in place when you have the chain off and cams out. I took it apart again and checked everything over and put it back together and it worked liked it should. __________________________________________________ HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days

November 13th, 2012, 07:45 AM	#6
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	i would double check clearances and timing __________________________________________________

November 13th, 2012, 10:14 AM	#7
LoneRonin ninjette.org sage Name: Jason Location: Mississauga Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250r Posts: 634	A valve adjustment is something thats better left to the professionals... I blew the topend of my engine after a failed attempt and it would have cost me thousands to fix it. Luckily I got warranty. At end of the day pay a couple hundred dollars and have some peace of mind. It'll be better than wasting time and the countless headaches. __________________________________________________ ”Any man dies with a clean sword, I’ll rape his f*ing corpse!”- The Hound

November 13th, 2012, 12:25 AM	#5
har0ld ninjette.org member Name: Harold Location: Alaska Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 ninja 250r Posts: 10	Yep, I tried the adjusting the idle and still nothing. I think I'm going to take it apart and retime it hopefully that will solve the issue. Thanks for the advice guys. I'll keep you posted.

November 13th, 2012, 12:13 PM	#9
Chicagobob ninjette.org guru Name: Bob Location: Chicago Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): '06 Ninja 250, 2018 Honda GL1800B Posts: 315	Poor idle is often the result of too little valve clearance, so if the valve adjustment is the only change you have made since the bike last idled well, you should double-check the clearance to be sure the valves aren't too tight. If you don't hear any clatter, this may well be your problem.

December 9th, 2012, 04:45 PM	#11
har0ld ninjette.org member Name: Harold Location: Alaska Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 ninja 250r Posts: 10	Ok, I finally got time to take the bike apart again. This time I made sure everything was aligned, double and triple checked it. So, right when I thought I was at the home stretch on finishing, I put the cct back in. The DIY said to use a flat head and turn it clockwise, but mine didn't seem like it could turn clockwise. So I tightened everything up. I checked the peep hole to make sure the crankshaft was still at the 2T mark and it wasn't . So, I took the cct off again and got the crankshaft aligned again along with the cams. Then I put the cct back in and the dam crankshaft moves again. Everytime I aligned the crankshaft at 2T it gets moved when I put the cct back in. I am not sure what I'm doing wrong. Sorry for the long explanation, but any input on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

December 10th, 2012, 07:20 PM	#12
krolinked Nerd Name: Chris Location: Tujunga Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ducati Hyperstrada Posts: 672	Do you have the service manual? In it there is a way to align it by counting the teeth on the sprockets. You should try like this. I can try and send you the page for how to check the teeth if you dont have the manual. __________________________________________________ It doesn't LOOK that steep. But you can go first...

December 16th, 2012, 03:49 PM	#13
har0ld ninjette.org member Name: Harold Location: Alaska Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 08 ninja 250r Posts: 10	Ok so I timed the cams but the crankshaft moves a little when I put in the CCT so I just bolted in down and put everything together. Started the bike up and it won't idle. If open the throttle a little it'll idle but once i let go of it or rev it the bike dies. I don't know what i'm doing wrong here. Please any help would be much appreciated.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bike Won't Idle below ~2500rpm	wsrussell7	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	15	May 14th, 2013 06:05 PM
Won't idle or stay running	haze5736	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	10	March 25th, 2012 12:49 PM
Valve Adjustment Engine Won't Turn Over.	ukie	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	86	February 15th, 2012 05:23 AM
Bike won't idle/stay running after carb removal	CmichRider	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	6	August 11th, 2011 01:26 PM
Won't start after valve adjustment	00v_Lucky	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	2	June 19th, 2010 09:35 AM