08 Ninja 250R dies if throttle closed, will not idle

[ruhil]

Hello Maestros.

Greetings from a returning noob who is pretty sure you know the answer to my moto woes ...

1. Bike sat for a few years without being ridden at all.
2. Got a new battery, charged it up, hooked it up, and off we go to start.
3. Runs but dies without choke on. Idles in the 1300\1400 range, good with me.
4. Removed and cleaned the carbs, put them back on the bike, and added new fuel.
5. Now bike starts without choke, but I have to open the throttle to get it going. If I release the throttle, bike dies. Tried adjusting the idle but has not helped.

My inexperienced guesswork leads me to suspect that either

(a) I messed up with the idle cable when I cleaned the carbs but I cannot see how that would have happened since I did not mess around with the idle screw at all. Jets and bowls, yes, but not the idle screw. OR
(b) When I reconnected the throttle cables I somehow set them up to be at "zero" throttle and so unless I open it up even a fraction, the engine dies? Not sure if this even makes sense mechanically but what do I know!

I have the manual and the usual array of 50+ forum messages and youtube DIY videos bookmarked but if any of you gods and goddesses have clues as to what might be going on and how I could get at fixing it, may the pantheon of gods from the House of Kawasaki bless you to eternity!

Gracias

Ani

[Triple Jim]

Originally Posted by ruhil

5. Now bike starts without choke, but I have to open the throttle to get it going. If I release the throttle, bike dies. Tried adjusting the idle but has not helped.

My guess is that something is letting too much fuel through at idle, so it's running so rich it stalls. The starting without using the enricher is why I say this. Possibly the float valves are leaking or the float level is wrong, or the floats aren't moving freely, etc..

If the idle speed setting is too low and causing this, just adjust the idle speed with the black plastic knob, assuming newgens have them.

@ducatiman will probably have more and better ideas.

[ducatiman]

@ruhil posted "Runs but dies without choke on. Idles in the 1300\1400 range, good with me."

Before commenting....some conflicting input here...def needs some clarification...one or the other....which is it?

[ruhil]

Sorry for the confusion @ducatiman ...

Post carb cleaning it starts up without any choke so long as I open the throttle while hitting the starter button. The minute I release the throttle fully, the engine stops running.

Usually releasing the throttle would have resulted in the engine idling at whatever idle speed had been set. Now that is not the case ... throttle has to be held open to keep engine going.

[Triple Jim]

Originally Posted by ducatiman

@ruhil posted "Runs but dies without choke on. Idles in the 1300\1400 range, good with me."

Before commenting....some conflicting input here...def needs some clarification...one or the other....which is it?

As I understand it, that was before he cleaned the carbs and got his current symptoms.

[ducatiman]

did you upset, remove, readjust the pilot *screws* within your clean efforts?

Kneejerk reaction....readjust the idle speed screw inwards.

[ruhil]

I did clean the pilot jet but am not quite sure what you mean by "adjust" so pardon my ignorance there @ducatiman. I will look up that term.

I'll fiddle with the idle crew and see what results. Thank you for that suggestion!

[ducatiman]

subject was pilot *screws*....evidently you did NOT remove. As a result, your carbs are far from properly cleaned. The 13 year old orings will require replacement, as will bowl gaskets.

[ruhil]

Thank you! I am writing via your website to see if you have any bandwidth to take on this carb

Fingers crossed

[ducatiman]

not bloviating, but yes, of course I can. All parts needed are in stock. I'll shoot you a PM. I can be reached at gordon@customcarbservices.com anytime.

[ruhil]

Bless you

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by ruhil

Sorry for the confusion @ducatiman ...

Post carb cleaning it starts up without any choke so long as I open the throttle while hitting the starter button. The minute I release the throttle fully, the engine stops running.

Usually releasing the throttle would have resulted in the engine idling at whatever idle speed had been set. Now that is not the case ... throttle has to be held open to keep engine going.

Something did not get assembled correctly in the carbs.

Are the "collars" protruding up in the center of the venturi? They will fall out as you disassemble the carb, and occasionally get misplaced.

Collars - https://faq.ninja250.org/images/e/eb/Jim_carb_2.jpg

Seen here, below the slides. Needles drop into them - https://faq.ninja250.org/images/9/91/Carbs.jpg

[ruhil]

Thanks @jkv45

[DannoXYZ]

https://faq.ninja250.org/images/e/eb/Jim_carb_2.jpg


Also note that those collars can face 2 different ways. Look inside them and you'll see one end has tapered hole. This tapered end should face away from main-jet and towards carb-venturi and needle.

[ruhil]

Gracias @DannoXYZ.