[JCORDON]

I have a Kawa. Ninja 250, my chick let it sit for 2 yrs. Tried to run it, obviously it didn't. I took the carbs off and cleaned them, i replaced the battery. I then gave it a go and i got a half-ass puff of white smoke out of the exhaust. So then i got a bit happy, changed the oil and took the carbs off once again, cleaned them thoroughly and made sure every hole was free of gunk. Placed the carbs back on, topped off the oil, connected the battery. Gave it a go and all i get is this chatter on the right side of the bike, is my battery dead!? (it shouldn't be, it's brand new) I have no clue what it can be, i checked the hoses, i checked my petcock and it flows, it does though leak when it is off for some reason. So no clue, if you have a Kawa 250 ninja, could you send me or post images of the your carb connections (i.e. tube connections, i may have plugged one or two in wrong) that is all i can think of for now. Pleeeeeeeeaaaaseee Heeeeeeeelllp

Thank you
Much

 

[enos]

So did it crank or not?
It seems that you're saying that the starter wasn't cranking the engine, which sounds like a dead battery. Jump it with a car.
Lead acid batteries don't like being completely discharged. They'll also discharge themselves when they sit and a bike battery can be dead in 1-2 months. Doesn't matter how new.


Main Page - Ninja250Wiki

 

[JCORDON]

it cranked the first time but quickly shut down, so after i changed the oil and cleaned the carbs for the second time, all it did was that chatter. I the battery out after im done working on the bike, it doesnt sit in there connected. I can try jumping it with my car, thanks, and ill keep you updated.

Anyone else with suggestions please feel free to respond. Ask if you have any questions as-well.

 

[JCORDON]

The other thing is, for some reason when i took my carbs off the second time. There was no fuel in the float bowls, should i be worried about this?

 

[RayOSV]

The other thing is, for some reason when i took my carbs off the second time. There was no fuel in the float bowls, should i be worried about this?

Yes, it sounds like the carbs may not be connected to the fuel line properly or your petcock isn't flowing gas. Does your petcock have a Prime setting?

Was the new battery fully charged when you first installed it? Some new batteries have to be charged for several hours.

 

[Nightfall]

The EX250 doesn't have a prime, just off, on, and reserve.

I'd double check all the lines making sure they're connected where they're suppose to be, this problem sounds wierd, but that usually means it's something stupid simple.

Oh yeah, and about batteries, I left my Yuasa battery on a trickle charger for roughly 24 hours for it's initial charge, you can't speed charge them when you first charge them because it lessens the life and even the amperage you get from the battery.

 

[enos]

it cranked the first time but quickly shut down

i.e. it cranked at first then died?
It's dead, Jim. A dead motorcycle battery may or may not be reliable after a recharge. Learn to pushstart or get a new battery after the bike runs fine again.

Without the prime setting on the petcock you'll have to crank it for 15-30 seconds for the carbs to fill. Your petcock is vacuum operated. There's a hose going from the top front of one of the carbs to the petcock. When the engine is running (or just cranking) there will be a low pressure in the carbs and that hose which opens the petcock and lets fuel into the carbs. When the engine is off the fuel is shut off.

It's pretty hard to hook the carbs up incorrectly. There's the fat fuel hose and the thinner vacuum hose. As long as they go to matching nipples on the petcock, everything is fine. Just make sure the other carb nipple (if there is one) is plugged, all the clamps are tight with no air leaks, and that when you set the tank down you don't pinch any hoses.
There's also the vent hose which should be clear and not hooked up to anything.
Much easier to screw something up inside the carb than outside.

 

[LDS]

They have a vacuum operated fuel supply valve, but it takes a ridiculous amount of cranking to initially fill the float bowls on the carbs. If you have an Easy Vac or something like that, you can pull a tiny bit of vacuum (and I mean tiny - like an eighth of a squeeze on the tr***** or less) on the vacuum line going to the carbs and turn the valve to the ON position to fill the float bowls. Let me overemphasize tiny bit - too much can damage the diaphragm in the valve.

 

[JCORDON]

alright so to reply to all of you at once.

I checked all my connections and hoses, took apart the petcock, cleaned it. The battery was brand spanking new, i tested it and it was fully charged. Next step is to have it checked again to see if i drained it from trying to turn the engine over, and charge it if necessary. The one thing that bothers me is that chattering that goes on on the right hand side of the bike after a few cranks, is that normal?

 

[enos]

So first you say that it doesn't crank then you say it does.

When you press the starter button, name EVERYTHING that happens. Does the starter turn. Does the whole engine turn. Does the whole engine turn quickly. If the answer to those is yes, and say so if it is we're not psychics:
Is the choke on.
Do you smell gas in the exhaust when it cranks for >10 seconds.
Does it sputter.
Does it have good (blue or white) spark.
Have you tried jumping it. Sometimes you'd be amazed what a strong crank can overcome.

I've heard something resembling chatter on shutdown on several bikes. Sounds to me like something inside is still spinning for a second after the engine stops, appears normal.

 

[LDS]

Yes, you've drained the battery.

 

[Honda East Toledo]

it cranked the first time but quickly shut down, so after i changed the oil and cleaned the carbs for the second time, all it did was that chatter. I the battery out after im done working on the bike, it doesnt sit in there connected. I can try jumping it with my car, thanks, and ill keep you updated.

Anyone else with suggestions please feel free to respond. Ask if you have any questions as-well.

Be sure the car is not running when you jump it! It will fry your bike.

 

[Nightfall]

Any updates? have you by chance checked your sparkplugs?

 

[Liquids]

uhhh yeah, you need to charge the battery, that's the starter solenoid chattering. leaving a battery dead for any length of time is very bad for it

 

[JCORDON]

So the update, and thank you everybody for your replies. The battery is probably the problem right now, i took it to get tested and it's at 11.26. So charging it is my best bet right now, or i can just jump it while the car is off of course. If this is not it, ill be picking your brains once again.

As for Enos, it turned over once and quickly shutoff, to get that cleared up. After that i wasn't able to get it to turn over again, hence my questions.

Thank you

 

[enos]

11.26v is low, but resting voltage doesn't tell you the whole story. I had a battery that gave 12.4v when sitting there, but press the start button and it's at 1.2v. Just because it appears charged doesn't mean it's good. A good battery will keep up its voltage even under load, but even then you're not sure of its capacity. The best way to test it is to take it to Autozone or other such place and have them load test it.


What quickly shut off? So the engine fired up then died? Or the starter died?
The term "turned over" is used is different ways on the internet, sometimes meaning the engine "turned over", i.e. the starter turned it over, sometimes it means it fired up.
If you meant the former, just jump it already. I bet it starts.

 

[chinmay]

ninja issue

Hey guys....K i read this thread n just thought to thorw some of my tiny brainy advice...lol
K in all the discussion I saw nothing about the AFR setting so far. Please mention about what setting you have kept for fuel screw? and plug color including whether they are dry or wet..