Weird clutch issue

[nitzer]

After sloshing the tank around, it would have at least been stirred up...

[fixxervi6]

Well that's a good sign.

You can pull the bowls off the carbs without pulling them if you have one of those 90 degree screw driver thingies, so that's an easy check too.

[Rhino]

Sounds like a fuel issue to me too. It's not a problem with the clutch, it's that the engine is really barely running so any load makes it stall.

But the engine is running at like 6k when the clutch was released. I would say that is far from barely running...

6k doesn't mean anything. If the engine is firing badly, or only firing on one cylinder, there's just not enough oomph to get the bike rolling unless you get WAY high in the power band.

I had a Ninja 500 that got one pilot jet plugged with gunky gas. It behaved exactly like you're describing. If I revved it WAY up, it was running through the main jet and would take off just fine. But when the revs were lower, it was only firing on one cylinder so it just didn't have enough power to get moving.

[Fender943]

[DarcShadow]

Sounds to me like you need to load it up on Sea foam and then ride around at top speed for a few hours.

Might also check the fuel filter, it could be all clogged up.

[fixxervi6]

Sounds to me like you need to load it up on Sea foam and then ride around at top speed for a few hours.

Might also check the fuel filter, it could be all clogged up.

Unless one was added, I don't think it has one.

The petcock has a screen, and the carb has bowls, that's about all the filtration the 250's in this house have, and one of them is newer than my GSXR.

[nitzer]

Sounds to me like you need to load it up on Sea foam and then ride around at top speed for a few hours.

Might also check the fuel filter, it could be all clogged up.

Tried that....LOL

[fixxervi6]

Well, sounds like you have a few options:

1. Pull the fuel system apart and start cleaning (not as bad as it sounds, just takes a while)
2. Take it to a pro
3. Just keep putting sea foam in it and hope for the best
4. Sell it as is and let the buyer know

But the consensus appears to be, no one believes this is a clutch issue.

[Fender943]

I would buy it

[nitzer]

Well, sounds like you have a few options:

But the consensus appears to be, no one believes this is a clutch issue.

FINE! Be that way, don't believe that's its a clutch issue.

BTW, thanks for the input guys/gals.

I would buy it

No way you could go from that 1000 back to a 250, but in this case my 250 will definitely outrun your 1000 that doesn't run... I'm still planning to have a convo with the wifey. Now that she got what she wanted for mother's day maybe she will be a little more receptive...

[Telomere]

Sounds like what my bike was doing until the needles were shimmed. It would drive me nuts!! I wanted to when it did this. It was worse on days when it was colder or if I was not letting it "warm" up long enough. It would almost always stall on me, guaranteed, three times before I got out of my neighborhood. I remember once not too long ago (back at the Pour House) when she stalled on me trying to pull out into traffic from me notting letting her warm up before take off. Problem fixed now.

[U-Turn]

To understand - you start up cold in the AM, no issues. After shes been warmed up, then left for a little while, issue the 1st time you try to take off. After that it's "normal".
What oil you running ~ is it a wet clutch do ya know?

[nitzer]

Sounds like what my bike was doing until the needles were shimmed. It would drive me nuts!! I wanted to when it did this. It was worse on days when it was colder or if I was not letting it "warm" up long enough. It would almost always stall on me, guaranteed, three times before I got out of my neighborhood. I remember once not too long ago (back at the Pour House) when she stalled on me trying to pull out into traffic from me notting letting her warm up before take off. Problem fixed now.

Who did the work or did you do it yourself?

[Telomere]

Fixxer shimmed the needles for me...my husband

[nitzer]

Fixxer shimmed the needles for me...my husband

Yeah well...the same kind of payment wouldn't work for me.... Even if he wanted it too.

[Telomere]

Fixxer shimmed the needles for me...my husband

Yeah well...the same kind of payment wouldn't work for me.... Even if he wanted it too.

ummm... yeah I don't think he is into that either He added washed to it...you'll have to ask him, if he doesn't get on here soon and respond...I will tell him.

[fixxervi6]

Added a washer to the needle to richen up the lower end, that may help you but I don't think that is your problem your having at the moment.

[nitzer]

I'm just going to bite a bullet and drop it off at a pro.

[Telomere]

I'm just going to bite a bullet and drop it off at a pro.

You most likely got a good deal on the bike. It is probably just a little carb issue or the fuel system needs cleaned (if the previous owners let it sit too long) or something little like that. Don't fret over it. I know my daughter's 250 is at Cyclewerkz right now. They are going to adjust the carbs on it.

[nitzer]

250 miles on it all last year. The girl who sold it could never get the "shifting thing" down.

[nitzer]

OK, it was nothing to worry about. I guess there is a kickstand sensor and although the stand has been up every time this has happened, it must be faulty. The guys over at the 250 Ninja forums clued me in. I just tested it a couple of hours ago. Sure enough, when the stand was down it acted exactly like it did the other day. Then I rode the bike to Wallyworld, picked up some B-12 (with toluene), dumped a generous amount in with a fresh tank of gas, and went riding until just now. Wanted to work some of it into the carbs overnight. I tried to work it in as best as my virgin skills could handle. At one point I was rounding a 20mph turn rolling on the throttle and felt the rear wheel slip a little. Luckily I was into the throttle pretty heavy and the bike just pulled through it. We'll see if this B-12 helps since the Seafoam didn't seem to do much, but it seemed to help a little. Solving one problem at a time...

[fixxervi6]

B-12, the vitamin?

[nitzer]

Uhhhh, yeah. Works great, you should try it.

[Telomere]

B-12, the vitamin?

No, the jet! You know, "The plane, the plane"?

[fixxervi6]

Ok B-12 chemtool, never heard of it, had to google it.

After the nos energy drink episode I had to be sure.