Engine Flooding Only When It Rains

[Coreyfersure]

Howdy folks,

I've got my baby 2002 Ninja 250 that I replaced the air intake with twin pod filters and had up the main jets up 3 sizes to 117s (I think, I forget right now), BUT I am running into a problem that the bike is flooding after a rain.

Symptoms: Morning after a rain, bike has sat out without a cover (I know, shame on me) - engine will turn over and eventually *click* and stop turning. Hydrolock? I think so. Check oil level, super high and smells like gas.

BUT the petcock was in the off position the whole time. Dafuq man?

I am ordering a float rebuild kit and ready to change out the petcock (or rebuild) but how is gas getting through it when it's "off?"

Other side notes, I have fought with this problem for a little over a month now but have found that as long as I turn the petcock off after a ride, then I am good the next day... unless it rains now.
Most engine/carb parts are stock other than the pilot and main jets, air intake, and performance stickers (+50 horsepower from those at least )

[ducatiman]

" but how is gas getting through it when it's "off?"

You're confusing an ongoing, pre-existing condition with effects of rain. (BTW...nothing will kill a bike as quick as leaving it exposed to elements)

Gas infiltrated oil with high level was ongoing, you are correct to deal with carbs and petcock as needed.

Good luck, but going forward please garage or, at minimum ,cover the bike!

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by Coreyfersure

Howdy folks,

I've got my baby 2002 Ninja 250 that I replaced the air intake with twin pod filters and had up the main jets up 3 sizes to 117s (I think, I forget right now), BUT I am running into a problem that the bike is flooding after a rain.

Symptoms: Morning after a rain, bike has sat out without a cover (I know, shame on me) - engine will turn over and eventually *click* and stop turning. Hydrolock? I think so. Check oil level, super high and smells like gas.

BUT the petcock was in the off position the whole time. Dafuq man?

I am ordering a float rebuild kit and ready to change out the petcock (or rebuild) but how is gas getting through it when it's "off?"

Other side notes, I have fought with this problem for a little over a month now but have found that as long as I turn the petcock off after a ride, then I am good the next day... unless it rains now.
Most engine/carb parts are stock other than the pilot and main jets, air intake, and performance stickers (+50 horsepower from those at least )

You don't need to go 3 sizes up for pod filters. OEM 108s are plenty rich. EDIT: We ran 108s in our Ninja with pods and a leaky stock exhaust, and it ran great. I thought 108s were stock in our 1995 model, but per ducatiman 105s are.

Your petcock and float valves are leaking and filling the cylinders, and oil, with gas.

Both the carbs and the petcock need to be serviced (as ducatiman suggested) and oil changed.

[ducatiman]

117 (or actually 118) are 5 sizes larger than OEM supplied 105's.

"carb parts are stock other than the pilot and main jets"

So what size pilot jets you got in there?