Help me fix my 250 please :)

[.blue]

I've searched the st out of this but can't find anyone else on the internet with the same problem as me.

My Ninja 250 lost power and came to a stop while riding last week. The gear change lever keeps going up and down for as many times as you push it. It then just didn't start up - no attempts to turnover - nothing happens when you press the starter button.

The clutch (cable) seems to have the same tension as before and the cable seems to be moving freely at the clutch lever as well as where it connects to the engine. You can even see the plate(?) or something moving inside the engine (under the top you take off to put engine oil in) so I don't think it's the clutch.

The bike moves around freely but the Neutral light is never on. Electrics are fine (horn, sidelight, indicators all work).

Any ideas?

[.blue]

lindrup119 said:

Does the bike have to be in neutral to start? If yes that might be that problem.

I can't remember if it has to be in neutral or if it can be in gear with the clutch in.

If it has to be in neutral maybe that's it... that would suggest the clutch system is fine and it's something gearbox related.

The bike isn't starting at all and not even trying to turn over at this point.

The kill switch is fine.

When I bump it - i.e. wheel it around and try to change gear - it seems to go into gear as in the bike then stops being able to be pushed but the engine stll doesn't start even with clutch in.

Edited by .blue on Tuesday 23 August 07:40

[.blue]

Chipchap said:

Check the oil level. I suspect that it has seized.

Engine oil? Definitely not. Checked myself and bike was serviced a few months ago.

[.blue]

Thanks for the replies.

My main question in this...

If it's an electrical problem (starter switch, kill switch etc.) what is causing the gear shift lever to go infinitely up or down? I.e. it doesn't bottom out (in 1st) or top out (in 6th) it just keeps going up or down as many times as you push it.

That's the thing I'm trying to get my head around right now.


Then the question is why isn't pulling the clutch disengaging for the bike to start? Someone suggested perhaps the 250 doesn't let you start in gear even if the clutch is pulled in. if this is true, this makes sense. But if it's not then

[.blue]

Given that the 250 should start in gear with the clutch pulled in this leads me to believe:

1) Problem with the clutch system even though it seems to be working fine after a visual check

2) Two sepearate problems - one gearbox related and one electrical/starter related.

Will investigate over the weekend and post back if I manage to find what's to blame.

Thanks for the help all.

[.blue]

SteelerSE said:

This.

It just sounds like the gear shift is loose/worn. This happened on my old X7. Was the gear change sloppy before this happened?

It might just be a simple case of tightening a bolt or it may be worn out.

Do the electrics work at all? Lights etc? If they do then it's almost certainly the above IMO.

Yes it did. THe gear change felt really light/easy for a few days before.

But what I don't understand is if the gearchange is at fault, why doesn't the bike start when the clutch is pulled in?

According to the ninja250 wiki link someone posted earlier, the bike should start in gear while the clutch is in.