Carb Cleaning?

[shanedman]

So my bike is still running for now....
but it has been having issues...

1. Wont idle off choke 75% of the time.
2. Died on me going down the highway the other day at about 75-80 mph. Pulled over and eventually got it restarted and it got me home.

I have tried putting a can of SeaFoam thru it and i dont really knoe if that helped or not.

So far, the input i have gotten is that the Carb probably needs to be cleaned.
If a mechanic does it, probably about $300-400ish from what i have been quoted.
I would rather do it myself to save the money and to learn, but i have zero knowledge when it comes to working on bikes.
Would love to find someone in my area that is willing and has time to help.

[tomf16]

Not in your area, but YouTube is your friend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U3a_...e_gdata_player

Howto: Remove Ninja 250 carbs in under 10 mins - YouTube

Howto: Remove Ninja 250 carbs in under 10 mins - YouTube

[bronco78]

Originally Posted by shanedman

So my bike is still running for now....
but it has been having issues...

1. Wont idle off choke 75% of the time.
2. Died on me going down the highway the other day at about 75-80 mph. Pulled over and eventually got it restarted and it got me home.

I have tried putting a can of SeaFoam thru it and i dont really knoe if that helped or not.

So far, the input i have gotten is that the Carb probably needs to be cleaned.
If a mechanic does it, probably about $300-400ish from what i have been quoted.
I would rather do it myself to save the money and to learn, but i have zero knowledge when it comes to working on bikes.
Would love to find someone in my area that is willing and has time to help.

If your interested in coming to Kempner, we can figure something out...

Cleaning jets is a iffy deal.... some times it works, many times not, and lots of times folks do more damage then good, sticking wire or other things in them.

You also need to sync those carbs after re-installing them.

[lddane]

I have rebuilt carbs for many years and it isn't all that difficult if you are methodical and patient.
If you don't separate the bodies, you can usually get away without sync'ing them, but it is a good idea to do it anyway.
The not idling is most certainly a plugged idle jet. Happens all the time especially with this freakin ethanol in the gas.

Dying at speed is probably not in the carbs. Might be a failing electronic pickup for the timing or something like that.

I am currently having the same idle problem on my ST1100, which has 4 carbs and I REALLY do not want to pull them out again. I've done it too many times already.

The other day, I drained the old gas, added 4 gallons of Chevron (with Techron) and added a second dose of Techron to the gas.

I start it, and run it for 20 minutes keeping the idle as low as I can.
First time it wouldn't idle without about half choke when I started. I have now been through 4 sessions and I will idle at about 800 rpm with no choke. It's still a long way from cleaned out, I can hear it missing, but it gets a little better every time I run it.

You might try that, it frequently works and is a lot easier than rebuilding the carbs,

Good Luck
Dane

[shanedman]

Originally Posted by lddane

I have rebuilt carbs for many years and it isn't all that difficult if you are methodical and patient.
If you don't separate the bodies, you can usually get away without sync'ing them, but it is a good idea to do it anyway.
The not idling is most certainly a plugged idle jet. Happens all the time especially with this freakin ethanol in the gas.

Dying at speed is probably not in the carbs. Might be a failing electronic pickup for the timing or something like that.

I am currently having the same idle problem on my ST1100, which has 4 carbs and I REALLY do not want to pull them out again. I've done it too many times already.

The other day, I drained the old gas, added 4 gallons of Chevron (with Techron) and added a second dose of Techron to the gas.

I start it, and run it for 20 minutes keeping the idle as low as I can.
First time it wouldn't idle without about half choke when I started. I have now been through 4 sessions and I will idle at about 800 rpm with no choke. It's still a long way from cleaned out, I can hear it missing, but it gets a little better every time I run it.

You might try that, it frequently works and is a lot easier than rebuilding the carbs,

Good Luck
Dane

I was almost empty yesterday when i was running it anyways, so i had the idea about the Chevron/Techron idea also.. so i filled up at Chevron... but havnt run it much since... ill go idle it for a bit then ride and see if it gets any better

[chaissos]

I'm in Cibolo (just North of SA), which is a little ways from you, but I have all the tools and everything you'd need to diagnose the carbs, electrical, and balance them after (mercury balance tool).

I have several things happening over the next few weekends, but I"m sure we can work something out, if you can get it down here. Run it with the Chevron/Techron stuff, and hopefully it'll get better. If it doesn't, I don't plan on moving any time soon.

[shanedman]

Originally Posted by chaissos

I'm in Cibolo (just North of SA), which is a little ways from you, but I have all the tools and everything you'd need to diagnose the carbs, electrical, and balance them after (mercury balance tool).

I have several things happening over the next few weekends, but I"m sure we can work something out, if you can get it down here. Run it with the Chevron/Techron stuff, and hopefully it'll get better. If it doesn't, I don't plan on moving any time soon.

Im gonna run it for now.... hoping for the best over next couple days that it doesnt totally crap out on me....
And i may just rip it apart and do what i can. If nothing else it will be a learning experience.
But i will definately keep you in mind, if all else fails. I appreciate it.
I will try and update this post also once i got it figured out or if i need further assistance.

[WoodButcher]

I'm in Austin and have the tools and skills, but i'm pretty tied up with work then on vacation and off to Arkansas for the long weekend. So probably can't help until the following weekend.

[shanedman]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher

I'm in Austin and have the tools and skills, but i'm pretty tied up with work then on vacation and off to Arkansas for the long weekend. So probably can't help until the following weekend.

Actually i work night shifts...so i will be off as of wed morning...which is when i was planning on doing it...if that would work for you?(any time Wednesday)

[WoodButcher]

It's going to take a little bit of time, so an evening wouldn't be enough. Plus, I'm supposed to be prepping to go to Arkansas. However, that ride may wash out due to Issac. So I may be around some this weekend. I'll let you know if I am.

[shanedman]

In case anyone was wondering....Here is an update on the carb situation....

I ended up procrastinating doing the carbs.... and was riding every day, until this past week when the bike finally decided it didnt want to start up anymore.
I dived head first into this project knowing nothing more than what i watched in a few videos...
***Success: I was able to easily get the fairings and gas tank removed, as expected. I got all of the clutch/throttle/vaccuum lines disconnected from the carbs.
***Failure:Then when it came to pull the carbs out, i found out that i need to move/remove the airbox, as it is blocking the needed space to be able to pull the carbs from the frame.
NOTE: apparently you have to remove alot more stuff from the tail of the bike to do this.
The videos i had watched showed someone that had apparently replaced the stock airbox with a pair of "air pods", so i did not anticipate this issue.
I gave up on the project that day, due to the fact i was having back issues, and honestly was a bit frustrated.
I intend to get back on it as soon as i can find a legit video and my back isnt giving my problems.

So currently the bike sits, carb disconnected, but still on the bike.... fairings and gas tank replaced since i dont have the space.(i live in apartments, have no garage.)

[shanedman]

Update:
got the carbs out... ripped them apart...
looked sparkling clean inside...
cleaned them anyways since it was such a pain to remove them... removed/cleaned the jets also...

Bike wont start now... theory of mine is that maybe the seafoam i ran through the bike has gummed up the oil.

So im gonna do an oil change, and maybe spark plugs, if those arent too hard.

Running out of ideas.... and know how....
If these next couple things dont fix, i may give in and get professional help
Just in case, anyone know a good quality and non-rip off bike mechanic in North Austin?

[JMZ]

Originally Posted by shanedman

Update:
got the carbs out... ripped them apart...
looked sparkling clean inside...
cleaned them anyways since it was such a pain to remove them... removed/cleaned the jets also...

Bike wont start now... theory of mine is that maybe the seafoam i ran through the bike has gummed up the oil.

So im gonna do an oil change, and maybe spark plugs, if those arent too hard.

Running out of ideas.... and know how....
If these next couple things dont fix, i may give in and get professional help
Just in case, anyone know a good quality and non-rip off bike mechanic in North Austin?

I don`t think the seafoam is your problem. Did you take the jets out of the carbs or just spray cleaner on them ? You really have to have patience when cleaning carbs !!! trust me ,I have learned the hard way.

[shanedman]

Originally Posted by JMZ

I don`t think the seafoam is your problem. Did you take the jets out of the carbs or just spray cleaner on them ? You really have to have patience when cleaning carbs !!! trust me ,I have learned the hard way.

no i actually removed them and cleaned them out. Made sure all the little holes werent blocked.

[JMZ]

Are you getting fuel to the carbs ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RollingJ]

The air and fuel passageways in the carb are just as important to clean as the jets.

[shanedman]

Originally Posted by JMZ

Are you getting fuel to the carbs ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

as far as i know.

[bronco78]

At this point... it's a hard deal to help with.

An experienced wrench with no specific on THAT bike can likely get one running in no time... under the assumption that when it comes apart it is assembled correctly and with all parts present.

The problem is,,, it's been apart, and assumption make life hard, diagnostics difficult and time wasted great.

A wrench experienced in THIS bike, can look and find a problem easily normally, even if other hands have been into the bike.

Lack of experience can mean you have overlooked something or changed something not related to the crabs, and IT is causing the issue, your mistakenly attributing to the work you did on the carbs.....

A loose wire, loose vac line or misplaced, carb not seated, fuel line kinked.

Bottom line, get a second set of eyes on the bike before throwing in the towel. Someone else may "See" a problem you do not.

Have a truck or a car and trailer? load it up and bring it up to Kempner, happy to help.

Erik

[VRoss]

THe fact that it died at 70-80 points at something else, rather than carb issues IMHO. I would look at fuel pump/filter issues. Filter first, then pump if new filter would not fix it.

[shanedman]

Originally Posted by bronco78

At this point... it's a hard deal to help with.

An experienced wrench with no specific on THAT bike can likely get one running in no time... under the assumption that when it comes apart it is assembled correctly and with all parts present.

The problem is,,, it's been apart, and assumption make life hard, diagnostics difficult and time wasted great.

A wrench experienced in THIS bike, can look and find a problem easily normally, even if other hands have been into the bike.

Lack of experience can mean you have overlooked something or changed something not related to the crabs, and IT is causing the issue, your mistakenly attributing to the work you did on the carbs.....

A loose wire, loose vac line or misplaced, carb not seated, fuel line kinked.

Bottom line, get a second set of eyes on the bike before throwing in the towel. Someone else may "See" a problem you do not.

Have a truck or a car and trailer? load it up and bring it up to Kempner, happy to help.

Erik

Wish i had truck/trailer, but no such luck, or i would gladly bring it wherever necessary.
Honestly i am a bit frustrated and lacking in knowledge when it comes to engines. I have the willingness to do most of the basic stuff and even some of the more in depth stuff, as i did with removing carbs... taking apart engines has never been something i have had experience doing.
Bottomline is i just want to RIDE AGAIN!!!!