Ninja 250 2010 where to start?

[adidasguy]

Gravity fuel feed. Pinching line and more gas makes me think torn peacock diaphram.
Just learned problem came on suddenly. So test peacock first. Will update later.

Will get spools on swing arm and bike on rear thingy to check oil. These bikes have no center stand and spools were optional ... But does have mounting for them.

[werase643]

it is way too late most likely....
fuel in exhaust.....
fuel in  oil.......

check the plugs.... most likely wet and or black sooty

clean the carbs..... they is  a problem with them

they are just like GS carbs with a couple differences.......

[mustangGT90210]

Sounds like you should start by taking the carbs fully apart to see whats up in there, whether its gummed up, something is ripped, etc. Clean 'em up real good, get the hoses routed right, and put it back together

From what I've learned on my GS, trying to troubleshoot the carb without taking it apart is like bringing a noodle to a sword fight

[adidasguy]

Crankcase is completely full. Like 3" fuller than the oil level window.
Crap in airbox is same color as what I see in the oil level window: milky yellowish so it is oil/gas.
Friend called and now has the service manual so we will drain the gas/oil mixture. Refill. Clean carbs and should be OK.
Today is crappy so no work.
Tomorrow should be the last dry day of the year and last first dry day for a couple weeks so no work --- one last ride of the year.
So work will resume Monday or Tuesday. I'll report what is found.

[xunedeinx]

Flush the oil a few times with some cheap junk oil from the dollar store. You don't want anything not oil left in bearings.

[burning1]

The overseas Ninja 250s get fuel injection, and have a fuel pump. My wife's race bike is a 08 250, so I know a little bit about them.

US Ninja 250s are gravity fed carbureted bikes. No fuel injector. Like the GS500, they have a vacuum operated petcock. Unlike the GS, they do not have a user accessable fuel shutoff valve. The vacuum petcock on ours leaked. Would not be surprised if yours is the same.

Carbs usually have a breather tube that connects the float bowls to the air intake or vaccuum chamber, to normalize the pressure. If the floats overfill badly enough, fuel goes out that breather and into the airbox.

The 08-11 Ninja 250 carbs are a complete pain in the butt to work on. The airbox is very difficult to remove from the frame, and the carbs are difficult to remove without pulling the airbox. GS500 is a dream in comparison.

We settled on loosening up the airbox, and pulling it back far enough to get the carbs out.

Ninja 250 can be a little cold blooded. I suspect a carb rebuild will fix all your issues.

[jestercinti]

Curious to see if there was any work done in the last week on this...

[adidasguy]

No work until the owner shows up with fresh oil.
Soon it will be moved from inside the cave to outside in the car port unless he gets off his butt.
When helping someone for free - they have to do their part.
I'll update as soon as he comes through with oil and spends some time helping.

[jestercinti]

Cool.  I had a 2001 Ninja 500 once.  PITA to work on.  Sold after 1000 miles cause the wife chose not to ride anymore.

[jestercinti]

BUMP!

Been over a week.  Anything?  Curious to see what it was.

[BockinBboy]

A buddy of mine is selling his red 09 for $2000... Going to Afghanistan and running out of time. It still has warranty and is super clean.

- Bboy

[adidasguy]

We drained the gas out of the crank case. WOW! That stuff really poured out fast. Gas is a lot thinner than oil.
Fresh oil will go in next. Also will disconnect hose to carbs and dump in pure SeaFoam. Let that sit and then tap the carbs a little to see if the floats/needles get un-stuck.

If that doesn't work, we will have to remove the carbs.

Goal right now is just get it operational again. Fill clean up & tune up will come later.

Once it runs, we'll change the oil again with some good stuff (Oh, let's start another oil thread!)

[Zethioth]

Once it runs, we'll change the oil again with some good stuff (Oh, let's start another oil thread!)

Castrol 4T!! Lol 

[adidasguy]

Once it runs, we'll change the oil again with some good stuff (Oh, let's start another oil thread!)

Castrol 4T!! Lol 

You're not going  to draw me into another oil thread because I'll be using the best there is in the world: Amsoil. If not that then the cheapest crappy oil from the back door dumpster of KFC. all the same stuff, anyway.

[Zethioth]

Hey now, I only had 3 choices at my Auto Parts store, at least 3 that were specified for "Motorcycle". Castrol was the only one that didn't say synthetic, as I have no idea what was ran in my bike before. I think he told me Rotella, not sure.

I feel safer using an oil product that is branded for motorcycles than other oil products, or KFC's oil.

[adidasguy]

Well, changed the oil. Gave it a try and still floods.
I really HATE the Ninja. You can't even get at the spark plugs without removing the gas tank. What an insane design! I wanted to look at the plugs to see which side was the one at fault.

It will slowly idle with a little gas in the tank. Any throttle and it dies.

Thinking I'll drain the carbs then force some SeaFoam in there. If there is dirt in the float needles, then that should force it out  or un-stick them.

Hopefully warmer this coming weekend so I can work on it.

So glad I didn't buy a Ninja 500. These things are a real pain to work on. It makes me really love the simplicity of the good 'ol GS500.

[adidasguy]

Bike going to a shop.
Here's why:

I don't mind helping people but for god's sake show some interest.
He won't come over. never asks about the bike.
Obviously this person doesn't care about the bike. So why should I?
If you come over, I'll help you any way possible. if you can't be bothered, neither can I.

Here we have a bike with a bad owner. Nice guy, but feels if a 1940 Plymouth can start after sitting 20 years, why bother doing work on a bike?
Pretty sad. This bike will fall apart due to neglect. Combine that with what he paid. $4k for a 2010 Ninja Special Edition that had already been dropped. Paid about $2k too much. Never has ridden it. Doesn't even have motorcycle endorsement. I was told he would start it occasionally. I'm sure the carbs are crap die to neglect for the past 10 months.

So the fairings go back on and a friend of ours with a truck will  take it to a shop.

The good thing is that I am renting parking space at the Bike Cave to a noob with a 2012 Ninja 250. He has learned a lot about his bike by seeing this 250 without the fairings. He will help put the fairings back on. Then he will know how to take his off and on to put on sliders and an air horn. Now here is a new owner that loves his bike and is fun to have around the Bike Cave. The only other person to have a key to the Bike Cave in West Seattle. $1 a day is all it costs.

[weedahoe]

Sad indeed but I guess no different than all the other bikes we find for sale with really low miles so they obviously were never ridden? Why buy it there? A good deal for the next buyer in most cases but I never understood why people buy a bike and ride it 1000 miles over 5 years

[xunedeinx]

If he doesn't want it, tell him to ship it to me. Cheaper than a shop repair, and it'll have a good owner and a warm garage.

[yamahonkawazuki]

He came by with more info after delivering the bike to the Bike Cave.

Ran fine.
Sat for 3 months
Sort of fired up but any throttle would kill it.
Now, 6 weeks later, won't fire up and gas dripping
Did get fresh gas and oil change
That's all that has been done so far.
Friend is a noob at bikes so I'm going to help.

I think to start:
1. Pull fairing off
2. Check plug - for crud and wetness
3. Check oil for gas and change oil or if looks/smells OK, still change oil when we get it to fire up.
4. Turn off gas at tank or pinch off fuel lines. Try to start bike with just what is in the carb. If it does start and run until carb empty, probably stuck floats.

If no go, then will have to pull carbs for a cleaning.
......edit: CARB singular, it has one cylinder so should be easy.

Could be as simple as the valves needing adjusted. Or the idle / pilot jet being clogged, and it's pumping too much gas into a cold cylinder to fire.

Probably right on carbs. With 1000 miles, valves are probably OK and considering was running perfect before 3 months of sitting - probably carbs.

i usually pull carb/s after a bikes been sitting to be on the safe side. what youve described to me sounds like dirty carbs