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ZR250 Balius non starter

Discussion in 'Kawasaki 250cc In-line 4's' started by adam.balius, Aug 5, 2014.

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  1. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    Hi I am a new member and have just bought my first bike. It's a 1994 Balius ZR250 (ZXR250C engine I believe). Anyway im trying to get it going.

    The previous owner had the valve clearances adjusted and the carbs cleaned and float heights set. I checked to make sure it has spark on all 4 cylinders and it does (new leads and plugs). Im pretty sure the problem is related to fueling, spraying starter fluid into the carbs makes it start momentarily.

    The fuel line isn't kinked or blocked either. So ive got good valve clearances and good spark, surely the issue must be fuel related. It's like the carbs aren't spraying fuel???

    If anyone has any idea what the problem might be or if there is anything else i should check please tell me, any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
    adam.balius, Aug 5, 2014
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  2. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Does the fuel tap have a PRI (prime) position on it?
    If it does, put it on that and if it starts then turn it to ON
     
    GreyImport, Aug 5, 2014
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  3. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    Yes the fuel tap has PRI i tried using it to fill the float bowls (left it on prime for 2 mins), also tried starting it on PRI but to no avail. There is fuel in the float bowls (checked by opening drain screw).
     
    adam.balius, Aug 5, 2014
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  4. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    So has it run at all? .... like since the carbys were 'done' ?
     
    GreyImport, Aug 5, 2014
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  5. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    yes it ran but then just died while i was riding it the other day. Despite all the cranking involved in trying to get it to start it didn't flood, pulled the plugs and they are dry and clean
     
    adam.balius, Aug 5, 2014
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  6. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    hey adam, ave you tried running it with the fuel hoses off the petcock ?
     
    kiffsta, Aug 5, 2014
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  7. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    yeah ive tried with the tank off completely so no petcock, just trying to make it drink from a fuel can. No change
     
    adam.balius, Aug 5, 2014
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  8. Wade Wilson

    Wade Wilson Beaяs Premium Member

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    Check your pilot screws, they might be turned in a bit to much and not allowing fuel in.
     
    Wade Wilson, Aug 6, 2014
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  9. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    I will check the pilot screws today, the stock setting is 2.5 turns out from fully in correct?
     
    adam.balius, Aug 6, 2014
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  10. Wade Wilson

    Wade Wilson Beaяs Premium Member

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    Yeah, 2.5 turns out.
     
    Wade Wilson, Aug 6, 2014
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  11. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    Just checked the pilot screws, they were all set differently so i returned them to 2.5 turns out but it didn't make a difference. A bit stuck now not sure what to check next but thanks for the help so far.
     
    adam.balius, Aug 6, 2014
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  12. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Are you using any choke ?
     
    kiffsta, Aug 6, 2014
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  13. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    yes ive tried with and without choke
     
    adam.balius, Aug 6, 2014
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  14. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Yea Ive been racking my brain all day trying to think wat it might be.

    Did it cough and splutter then die while u were riding?

    Are u positve the bowls are filling/full? ..... drain them totally then let them refill.

    If theres a blockage in 1 carb then it still should cough and splutter and maybe run.

    Are all the external linkages , throttle cable etc working all the carbs in sync?

    Is the idle screw set to 1-2000rpm?

    If you have been cranking continuously then make sure the battery has full power

    Maybe even drain all fuel from carbs and tank and put in some new fresh stuff from another source.

    :idk:
     
    GreyImport, Aug 6, 2014
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  15. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    When it died it just kind of lost power over 10 or so seconds then stopped. I've tried charging the battery and even a brand new battery. All carbs are in sync. I will drain the float bowls and refill them and report back.
     
    adam.balius, Aug 6, 2014
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  16. Th3_Huntsman

    Th3_Huntsman Senior Member Contributing Member

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    a zxr will actually start and run on the choke on 2 cylinders, i know from both mine so a balius should as well. It might be time to explore in the carbs themselves to check the pilot and main jets for blockages, any rust in the tank? inline fuel filter? if you don't have an inline filter and the tanks is rusty rust may have clogged all your jets.

    Previous owners sometimes clean the carbs without cleaning the tank which leads to dirty carbs again it actually sounds to me like that could be the problem even with the initial loss if power.
    In saying that i am basing it on you saying that there is fuel in the float bowls. out of curiosity can you hit it with some starting fluid and some throttle and see if it fires and revs at least abit??
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2014
    Th3_Huntsman, Aug 6, 2014
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  17. Wade Wilson

    Wade Wilson Beaяs Premium Member

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    This sounds vaguely familiar.

    check your coils, When the plugs are outside of the bike and you test them, they'll give a good spark, but under load they can fail.

    Also check the small fuel filters inside the carbs.
    [​IMG]

    If that's clogged, you might as well not have any fuel in the carbs.
     
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    Wade Wilson, Aug 6, 2014
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  18. adam.balius

    adam.balius Member

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    Giving it some starting fluid just makes it burble momentarily. I will look into the coils (and a method of testing them properly) as well as clearing those filters. cheers
     
    adam.balius, Aug 6, 2014
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  19. Wade Wilson

    Wade Wilson Beaяs Premium Member

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    You can test with a multimeter, I can't remember the specs off the top of my head, but the resources section does have a bunch of manuals.

    I think the Balius Coils would be the same as the ZXR coils. also check to see if your jets/tubes are clogged.
     
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    Wade Wilson, Aug 6, 2014
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  20. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Might be time to pull the carbs off, I would be paying special attention to your main jets and pilot jets and making sure there are no blockages, as stated above, also check those filters as they block up from time to time
     
    kiffsta, Aug 7, 2014
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