Was the gas stabilized (Stabil added)? If not, drain the tank, refill with fresh gas, add some carb cleaner (Sea Foam works great) and run that through the engine. There may be some white smoke/steam while the Sea Foam is working its way through the carbs and combustion.
Ninja starts, but dies when I open the throttle?
Hey everyone so let me give you a bit of background.
2007 Kawasaki Ninja 250. It's only got about 4,000 miles on it. I left at the Very end of December for Missouri for Army Basic Training and my job training. So I just came back now, May so it's been about 4 months.
I had my brother taking care of my bike while I was gone, he'd ride it once every week or two and start it up almost every day, or so he says.
Now when I get back and I start it up, it starts fine, but when I put it into first gear while holding hte clutch, or when I give it some throttle in nuetral with or without the clutch pulled, the bike dies.
I've tried adjusting idle and that didn't do anythign. I'm not too mechanically inclined so I'm kinda stuck. My buddy who rides dirtbikes says it could be that the gas is 4-5 months old, and it's not working right in the engine or it clogged somethign while it was sitting in there.
Any other ideas? I NEED to ride! Haha :headbang
2007 Kawasaki Ninja 250. It's only got about 4,000 miles on it. I left at the Very end of December for Missouri for Army Basic Training and my job training. So I just came back now, May so it's been about 4 months.
I had my brother taking care of my bike while I was gone, he'd ride it once every week or two and start it up almost every day, or so he says.
Now when I get back and I start it up, it starts fine, but when I put it into first gear while holding hte clutch, or when I give it some throttle in nuetral with or without the clutch pulled, the bike dies.
I've tried adjusting idle and that didn't do anythign. I'm not too mechanically inclined so I'm kinda stuck. My buddy who rides dirtbikes says it could be that the gas is 4-5 months old, and it's not working right in the engine or it clogged somethign while it was sitting in there.
Any other ideas? I NEED to ride! Haha :headbang
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
New gas and carb cleaner! Also check your air filter
Alright cool, I'll try that this week, thanks!
Once the cleaner is in there try gently giving it gas. I.e. just a hair less than it would take to kill it. That'll help get gas flowing through the dirty parts. Eventually you'll give it more and more gas and it'll clear through.
I had a bike in exactly this situation and it helped to get it going as fast as possible using the idle, gun the throttle, then let off before you've almost stopped and it dies. Repeat until whatever's clogged busts through and the bike has power again. Might take a day or two for the seafoam to do its trick.
I had a bike in exactly this situation and it helped to get it going as fast as possible using the idle, gun the throttle, then let off before you've almost stopped and it dies. Repeat until whatever's clogged busts through and the bike has power again. Might take a day or two for the seafoam to do its trick.
Well, I had the bike started, it seemed to be working good, but then I had problems with the idle...it'd run well and i could even ride it with the choke on, but when I turned the choke off, the bike would die.
I googled a crap load and I could not find which way to turn the choke...I'm assuming clockwise is to increase idle, counter clockwise is to decrease idle, but I tried both ways, and it wouldn't do anything.
Now I can't get the bike to start, so I figured I flooded the engine. I googled how to fix it, and it said hold the throttle 1/2 open and hit the starter, it should start and rev real high for a bit. Well it didn't start.
So I tried cranking it a few times, and now my battery is dead...
Grrr:chair
I googled a crap load and I could not find which way to turn the choke...I'm assuming clockwise is to increase idle, counter clockwise is to decrease idle, but I tried both ways, and it wouldn't do anything.
Now I can't get the bike to start, so I figured I flooded the engine. I googled how to fix it, and it said hold the throttle 1/2 open and hit the starter, it should start and rev real high for a bit. Well it didn't start.
So I tried cranking it a few times, and now my battery is dead...
Grrr:chair
Now it makes a "grinding noise" and does nothing...outstanding I'm about to throw it in the bed of my truck, go dump it off a cliff and buy a 600...and that's no joke...I don't have the time or money to waste on this POS...
Let me know what cliff and ill meet you there...we can transfer it from your truck to mine!
Let me help
You need to back up here, your creating your own problems. Fuel was probably the first cause, also I'm sure by now you have fouled the spark plugs running it with the choke on, and at a low idle for a long time. Carb cleaner can be good or bad. You may have passed some dirt into a area of the carb that won't clear itself. First though, check your plugs, and put in a fresh set. It sounds like at this point it would also be a good idea to pull the carbs and clean them.(very simple to do) Sometimes thats the only way to get the system clean. If I lived closer I would give you a hand. Sorry
Hope this helps:beer
You need to back up here, your creating your own problems. Fuel was probably the first cause, also I'm sure by now you have fouled the spark plugs running it with the choke on, and at a low idle for a long time. Carb cleaner can be good or bad. You may have passed some dirt into a area of the carb that won't clear itself. First though, check your plugs, and put in a fresh set. It sounds like at this point it would also be a good idea to pull the carbs and clean them.(very simple to do) Sometimes thats the only way to get the system clean. If I lived closer I would give you a hand. Sorry
Hope this helps:beer
Forgot to add
Charge the battery, the noise your hearing is due to low current going to the starter system, It will make a grinding noise on some bikes that try to turn the starter over with low voltage.
Charge the battery, the noise your hearing is due to low current going to the starter system, It will make a grinding noise on some bikes that try to turn the starter over with low voltage.
Just throw the bike in neutral and hook a charger up to the battery. With the charger hooked up the grinding noise should disappear. Start the bike and let it idle. I'm having the same problem, my bike was sitting for over a year. Once you start riding again it will get better and better and hopefully the issues will go away soon. Just keep giving it enough throttle to keep the engine going and eventually it will rev right up. And add some carb cleaner to the next few tanks, like everyone has been saying. Good luck.
My bike was running really rough, it just needed a good carb cleaning. But what really did the trick was some NEW NGK spark plugs. I got the iridium 9 series, but you can just get the cheep-o ones for now. They will work fine!
all of this work and i have to leave for the army again in 2 weeks...time just keeps passing and passing and I won't get to ride it again...I made a new thread because I didn't see that anyone had responded to this one...
the bike starts now, i changed the gas and charged the battery, the bike starts and runs with the choke on, but when i turn the choke off, the bike immediately dies...and i can't start the bike without the choke, even when the engine is warm...I don't know if it's my idle (that i've been playing with for what seems for ever and the idle doesn't change a hair) or if my carbs are all dirty or screwed up.
the bike starts now, i changed the gas and charged the battery, the bike starts and runs with the choke on, but when i turn the choke off, the bike immediately dies...and i can't start the bike without the choke, even when the engine is warm...I don't know if it's my idle (that i've been playing with for what seems for ever and the idle doesn't change a hair) or if my carbs are all dirty or screwed up.
just do it
No offence dude, but stop complaining. Everyone here has suggested a fix. Changing out the gas prob wont do that much. Did you buy sea foam and run it though? Did you change your spark plugs. Changing your spark plugs is prob one of the easiest things to do. It will only take you 1/2 and hour and you will back up and riding in no time if it's that easy fix. The fact that you have been running the bike WITH THE CHOKE ON, may have fowled the plugs. In fact, I almost grantee you fowled the plugs. Im not expert, but I have seen this a few times. And for 16 dollars and some change, you can be back up in riding. Your bike came with all the tools "most likely" to change out the spark plugs and do most everything else.
My bike when I bought it salvage had the same exact problem. So, I did everything first but change the spark plugs. Guess what, it was the spark plugs.
If it's not your spark plugs, cleaning the carbs is actually very easy. There are TONS of good articles about doing it and it prob only takes a few hours. Maybe not even that long if your 1/2 way mechanically inclined. Im a computer programmer/networking guy by trade and I was able to do it.
If your in the army, im sure you can handle a carb.
Just take the gas tank off, the carbs sit right on top of a rubber boot. The boot is pliable but stiff at the same time. There is a mettle O ring clamp that sits around the boot. there is a screw on that O ring clamp that loosens and tightens the clamp. You just need to loosen those on each carb. Just unclip any sensor you may have, or any tube. Most of these will be easily taken off with a pair of pliers, or if you have strong hands, those will work too.
When the O ring clamps are loose, and by loose I mean you can push them and the spin pretty freely, you know its time to pull the carbs off.
To do this, straddle the bike like your going to sit on it, pull on each side of the carb, "grabbing it on the left and right side". You should start to feel it budge, they shouldn’t be that hard to pull right off. Just pull, if you have to, rock from side to side slightly. But for the most part, they should pull right off. If you feel like something is keeping it from pulling off, you probably did not loosen the O ring clamps enough. Loosen those a bit more then your ready to try again. Pull them off and once you have them off, disconnect the choke cable and the throttle cables. I had to loosen my hand grip with the 2 screws at the top of my handlebar and undo the wire up there first so I could move it enough to unwrap it and pull it out of its eyelit.
ITS REALLY NOT THAT HARD!!!!!! I figured most of it out by myself!!! And I am only mediocre with this kinda stuff. I also have never worked on a bike much before, except for changing the sparkplugs, and a friends fuel injectors.
That’s what I like about this place, if you get stuck on a step and you just take a picture, ½ the people will know what to do to fix the problem. But sitting there spinning around in your seat really wont do anything for ya. When you get a time slot where you have 2 – 3 hours free, just try these things. Really, they are not that hard!!!!
You will appreciate your bike more, now that you sorta know how the insides work. Very COOL!
:bitchslap
all of this work and i have to leave for the army again in 2 weeks...time just keeps passing and passing and I won't get to ride it again...I made a new thread because I didn't see that anyone had responded to this one...
the bike starts now, i changed the gas and charged the battery, the bike starts and runs with the choke on, but when i turn the choke off, the bike immediately dies...and i can't start the bike without the choke, even when the engine is warm...I don't know if it's my idle (that i've been playing with for what seems for ever and the idle doesn't change a hair) or if my carbs are all dirty or screwed up.
No offence dude, but stop complaining. Everyone here has suggested a fix. Changing out the gas prob wont do that much. Did you buy sea foam and run it though? Did you change your spark plugs. Changing your spark plugs is prob one of the easiest things to do. It will only take you 1/2 and hour and you will back up and riding in no time if it's that easy fix. The fact that you have been running the bike WITH THE CHOKE ON, may have fowled the plugs. In fact, I almost grantee you fowled the plugs. Im not expert, but I have seen this a few times. And for 16 dollars and some change, you can be back up in riding. Your bike came with all the tools "most likely" to change out the spark plugs and do most everything else.
My bike when I bought it salvage had the same exact problem. So, I did everything first but change the spark plugs. Guess what, it was the spark plugs.
If it's not your spark plugs, cleaning the carbs is actually very easy. There are TONS of good articles about doing it and it prob only takes a few hours. Maybe not even that long if your 1/2 way mechanically inclined. Im a computer programmer/networking guy by trade and I was able to do it.
If your in the army, im sure you can handle a carb.
Just take the gas tank off, the carbs sit right on top of a rubber boot. The boot is pliable but stiff at the same time. There is a mettle O ring clamp that sits around the boot. there is a screw on that O ring clamp that loosens and tightens the clamp. You just need to loosen those on each carb. Just unclip any sensor you may have, or any tube. Most of these will be easily taken off with a pair of pliers, or if you have strong hands, those will work too.
When the O ring clamps are loose, and by loose I mean you can push them and the spin pretty freely, you know its time to pull the carbs off.
To do this, straddle the bike like your going to sit on it, pull on each side of the carb, "grabbing it on the left and right side". You should start to feel it budge, they shouldn’t be that hard to pull right off. Just pull, if you have to, rock from side to side slightly. But for the most part, they should pull right off. If you feel like something is keeping it from pulling off, you probably did not loosen the O ring clamps enough. Loosen those a bit more then your ready to try again. Pull them off and once you have them off, disconnect the choke cable and the throttle cables. I had to loosen my hand grip with the 2 screws at the top of my handlebar and undo the wire up there first so I could move it enough to unwrap it and pull it out of its eyelit.
ITS REALLY NOT THAT HARD!!!!!! I figured most of it out by myself!!! And I am only mediocre with this kinda stuff. I also have never worked on a bike much before, except for changing the sparkplugs, and a friends fuel injectors.
That’s what I like about this place, if you get stuck on a step and you just take a picture, ½ the people will know what to do to fix the problem. But sitting there spinning around in your seat really wont do anything for ya. When you get a time slot where you have 2 – 3 hours free, just try these things. Really, they are not that hard!!!!
You will appreciate your bike more, now that you sorta know how the insides work. Very COOL!
:bitchslap
Your injectors might have clogged up. Grab a can of seafoam and throw some in the tank and pour some into the intake. I bought a bike that sat for like 2 years and I had the same symptoms. Seafoam cleared it all out. If you need to know exactly how to do it I can walk you through the procedure, its pretty simple.all of this work and i have to leave for the army again in 2 weeks...time just keeps passing and passing and I won't get to ride it again...I made a new thread because I didn't see that anyone had responded to this one...
the bike starts now, i changed the gas and charged the battery, the bike starts and runs with the choke on, but when i turn the choke off, the bike immediately dies...and i can't start the bike without the choke, even when the engine is warm...I don't know if it's my idle (that i've been playing with for what seems for ever and the idle doesn't change a hair) or if my carbs are all dirty or screwed up.
You might also want to take the fuel line loose just before the carbs and make sure you have a good flow of gas getting to the carbs.
I have the same year bike and I had the same problem. It's your idle. Unscrew the idle screw all the way and then start screwing it back in little bit little and try to start the bike. Eventually you'll dial it in correctly.all of this work and i have to leave for the army again in 2 weeks...time just keeps passing and passing and I won't get to ride it again...I made a new thread because I didn't see that anyone had responded to this one...
the bike starts now, i changed the gas and charged the battery, the bike starts and runs with the choke on, but when i turn the choke off, the bike immediately dies...and i can't start the bike without the choke, even when the engine is warm...I don't know if it's my idle (that i've been playing with for what seems for ever and the idle doesn't change a hair) or if my carbs are all dirty or screwed up.
I second the sea foam. If it will run on idle, just put the foam in and let the bike run till the fan comes on....try hitting the throttle to work that foam into your jets.....there's prob gunk in there that needs to come out.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
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