Ninja 250 Carb issues-Seafoam maybe?

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Blue_Goose

Blue_Goose

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Well I gotta admit that the issues with bike is my fault for not winterizing it properly...it is an 06 Ninja 250 that maybe has only been ridden a few times in the last 11 months...same gas in the tank since April of last year....put some Stabil in the tank in December I think and it has been sitting since then..battery went dead so I charged it up and attempted to take it for a ride (want to sell this spring).

With choke on it will run and idle ok (albeit a little rough though)...anytime that I turn the choke off even after being warm, the bike dies....from what I have gathered this may because the idle or pilot jets are clogged or gummed up? Bike rides fine with choke partially open but once you close it, stall city.

I did add a bit of Seafoam yesterday in hoping that may help a bit but another think I read was that with the choke open it bypasses these jets....so does that mean that the Seafoam is not getting to where it needs to get?


In any event, trying to avoid a 300 bill from the shop to tear the carbs apart and cleaned but afraid this may be the route I need to go.

Any hits or tips on ungumming these jets? Unfortunately I don't have the the time to tackle something like this myself...
frown.gif


Thanks


Goose
 
Clean, one can barely see through the pilot jets. I've never seen an additive that can clean out a pilot jet that is clogged.

It would be different if there was some fuel flow through them, but there isn't, so an additive won't get through them.

That's my experience.

When I have those problems, I usually just replace the pilot jets rather than hoping for a solvent to clean them 100%. Might be $10 in parts for the jets. I will not use aftermarket jets either as they often don't meter exactly like the Kehin or Mikuni manufactured jets.

Getting to them takes time.
 
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You can try a 'shade tree' fix.
If you can get to the intake throats of the carbs, spray some strong cleaner into those two or three small ports in the front/intake of each carb; let soak for a while, spray again; soak and then try starting ritual again.
Gumout is NOT a strong cleaner.
Get something stronger-professional strength
 
In all honesty, probably not. In order to degum carberators, I would recommend that you disassemble the carbs and manually clean out the jets. In your earlier post, you asked how to clean those small holes in the pilots. My recommendation would be to find somebody you know that plays guitar and use a high "e" string to clean out those tiny holes. Believe it or not, the diameter of the high "e" string is just perfect enough to clean out those holes.
 
fwiw I was able to get the bike to idle on it's own without having to use the choke today. Wasn't able to ride(pouring out) except for some 10 foot rolls in 1st gear but the important part was it didn't stall without the having the choke open. Looks like the Seafoam did it's job to a point! I'm thinking a fresh tank of gas and taking it for a decent couple of spins and I might be back in business...


I mean yesterday this thing sounded like it was on death's doorstep...would absolutely not hold an idle without the choke open to save it's life...today after sitting with the Seafoam in it overnight it had a miraculous recovery! Did all the things peeps said Seafoam would make it do(pour smoke out of the exhaust for a bit) but then it cleared up.

2 thumbs up for this stuff! Never would have believed it until I saw it myself

What is the idle of a Ninja 250? 1000-1500?
 
"Berryman B12 is the strongest cleaner I know of that works great. "

I haven't tried that or even seen it around here.
I have a brand that's available around here that may be just as strong or stronger. K&W . The spray is professional grade and disolves the engine paint when I over did it a bit.
Only found it at a local auto parts store. Cleaned out the carbs on a Suzuki that sat for four years and wouldn't run at all.
I did pull the carbs apart for that job.
FUN FUN FUN!!
 
Got the bike out for a ride yesterday..I gotta say that this Seafoam must be the juice of the Gods...bike still seemed to rev higher without the speed to match when I was riding it..especially in first and 2nd gears but 3/4 of the way through the ride that even seemed to almost totally clear up..I am truly impressed by Seafoam..I never would have believed that a cleaner could be so dramatic...wow

This very well could have saved me a 300 dollar plus carb cleaning job



Goose
 
Off topic but how would you recommend a 250 Ninja for a first bike? (well, relearning after awile anyway). Looking to not kill myself and get some good mpg on my commute. I'm a bigger guy, around 240lb but not concerned with speed too much. I've limited myself to looking at less than 600cc but wondering if 250cc would be too small. Thanks.
 
The Ninja 250 is one of the most popular starter bikes known to man. It's very forgiving, easy to handle and very easy to work on. I first rode a friend's brand new one in 2001 and finally bought one of my own (used 1994) a few weeks ago. It's not the best highway bike in the world, as it only weighs a little over 300lbs dry and runs high rpms at highway speeds, but for a commuter or in-town runabout, it's hard to beat. It's pretty much allowed me to leave my car in the garage and get 60mpg driving to work, running errands, etc. The 2008's are a complete re-design and they're beautiful. When I get a few bills paid off, I'm getting a new one.
 
Great bike...only reason I'm selling is that I moved on to the CBR F4i 600. Around town the 250 is more fun to ride as you can rip through all the gears without going to jail lol. CBR much better bike for the highway...since I do 100 mile a day commute I give up the 20 mpg as the Ninja is a little hairy next to those semi's Not saying it can't be done as I've seen others do it but not for me


As far as forgiving...yeah..the 250 saved my bacon a few times... I pulled some brain dumps on the Ninja that may have killed me on the CBR. great starter bike that looks pretty cool(not a Rebel etc) and also for just tooling on country roads etc it can't be beat..can flick it any where you want it to go



Goose
 
If you are that big, I would think a 250 would get small REAL fast.
Some 750 Cruisers are easy to handle and you won't outgrow it quickly.
Plent of them out there as well.
I know several women who ride those, and one learned on it.
Fast enough for freeway use too.
 
Personally, I'd go bigger than a 250. Actually, I did. Jumped straight on a 400, and even at my 140lbs, it's not too much bike to hang on to. Besides... larger guys look a little funny on a crotch rocket. Wait... everybody looks a little funny on a crotch rocket :p.

That's why I looked at early-80's bikes, as they were nice street bikes that weren't heavy cruisers, but at the same time not uncomfortable rockets. Still plenty fast for me :)
 
Yeah I would be a little scared myself on a 250 maybe on the highway. BUT if you are on the highway and drive sensibly you can get 50-60MPG + on a 250. If you are thinking about getting it strictly as a commuter then I wouldnt have too many worries about it. The $ saved in gas would make me feel better.

I can get 45mpg riding somewhat sensibly on the highway on mine
 
Thanks for the responses. I'm planning on taking a motorcycle safety class at the local community college this summer so we'll see after that. I'm considering a 250 because my commute is 22 miles of 2-lane country roads and I rarely go above 60mph. I've never seen a semi on these roads. Perfect for a bike but I'm hesitant to do it because 95% of the time I'm going to/coming from work, it's dark out. I work 10pm-6am. Not a lot of traffic but I worry about hitting a deer.
 
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