Engine problems?????

[mark250ec]

Bike is a 2011 250ec. Was in a race this weekend and the bike started to have moments of bogging down. It got worse as the race went on. I stopped finally on the course and put a new spark plug in. The bike would not start. Had to push the s.o.b. across the finish line!

I have removed the exhaust and packing is clean and no obstruction in exhaust. Exhaust flapper valve is not in a bind, is free to rotate.

I disassembled the carb and thoroughly cleaned everythiing. Blew out carb vent lines.

Removed the gas cap vent line and blew it out from the cap on out.

Put in a new, oiled air filter.

Pulled the new spark plug and put the cap on it and laid it on engine and cranked and plug does spark.

And......still will not start!.....really getting pissed now

Any suggestions? Should I be heading into the ignition system? Could this be a reed valve issue?
I give up.....help.

 

[stainlesscycle]

sure sounds like reed valve. hard to start, erratic bogging, won't take throttle are all cracked/broken reed symptoms.

 

[noobi]

Reeds are definately a possibility if it sucked some crap and damaged a reed, pretty much all symptoms of bad reeds.
Also, if the timing was out then it could be very difficult to start and become erratic. Check and see if the stator plate is not loose and has moved from where it should be. Its only held in place by a few cap screws, which should be lined up with grooved on the plate.

 

[Bailey28]

Flywheel key sheared? Bad coil-worse with heat?

Fuel tank venting right? Power valve cover hose zip tie cut to allow drainage? Kill switch wire shorted out on the bars or frame somewhere?

I would check the reed valve, then do a compression test. Do a search, but from what I've read, you should see 175-ish psi on the 250. After that, start with the electrical stuff. Hopefully the warranty will be honored at your dealer.

 

[moto9]

Reed valve "yes" should have been checked when the carb was off.
But also could be a stuck ring.

 

[mark250ec]

Thanks guys, will check reed and stator plate.....but on second thought, this damn thing is less than a year old so will take it to the dealer and let them do it. I have never had a bike with such issues as this at less than a year old.
It has left a very sour taste with me for sure.
Thanks again for your responses, this is a very good forum with lots of knowledgeable people willing to help.............thanks again.

 

[TNT Cycle]

Had similar problem on my 2010 300 actually partially seized for a second during a race. Turned out to be platic shards from molding and thread area clogging petcock screen in tank. I almost always run on reserve so lower screen pulled all of the junk from bottom of tank. I know some people pull screens off there petcocks and use external filter to watch amount of debris. That happened after tanking tank off twice to clean plastic and dirt out of tank! Ohh I had starting issues also for the one ride it was clogging only fixed it when I tilted it over to run gas out of carb vent and non came out! Turned petcock to on position and it fixed it until cleaned.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[gasser]

Bike is a 2011 250ec. Was in a race this weekend and the bike started to have moments of bogging down. It got worse as the race went on. I stopped finally on the course and put a new spark plug in. The bike would not start. Had to push the s.o.b. across the finish line!

I have removed the exhaust and packing is clean and no obstruction in exhaust. Exhaust flapper valve is not in a bind, is free to rotate.

I disassembled the carb and thoroughly cleaned everythiing. Blew out carb vent lines.

Removed the gas cap vent line and blew it out from the cap on out.

Put in a new, oiled air filter.

Pulled the new spark plug and put the cap on it and laid it on engine and cranked and plug does spark.

And......still will not start!.....really getting pissed now

Any suggestions? Should I be heading into the ignition system? Could this be a reed valve issue?
I give up.....help.

First: remove your fuel line to make sure you have good fuel flow from your tank. Reinstall line.
Second: crank the bike 6-8 times then remove plug. If it is wet replace plug and try again. If second plug is wet you have an electrical problem which will probably be just a loose or broken wire. If the plug is dry gas is not getting to the engine and that narrows the problem down to the carb and intake.
I doubt it is a reed problem because the bike is too new and I've never heard of a quality problem with V Force reeds.
Sounds like you already eliminated a stopped up air filter as the cause so that just leaves the carb (if the plugs stay dry).

 

[Jakobi]

.....but on second thought, this damn thing is less than a year old so will take it to the dealer and let them do it. I have never had a bike with such issues as this at less than a year old.
It has left a very sour taste with me for sure.
Thanks again for your responses, this is a very good forum with lots of knowledgeable people willing to help.............thanks again.

Sorry to hear about the issues. The truth is that this could happen to anyone with any bike or brand. I've read heaps of issues with KTMs, Bergs, and don't even go near Husquarna..

Before you let that bad taste linger, wait and see how the dealer/manufacturer deal with the issue. For me this is the biggest part. Shit happens. Its what happens after that counts.

 

[moto9]

Sorry to hear about the issues. The truth is that this could happen to anyone with any bike or brand. I've read heaps of issues with KTMs, Bergs, and don't even go near Husquarna..

Before you let that bad taste linger, wait and see how the dealer/manufacturer deal with the issue. For me this is the biggest part. Shit happens. Its what happens after that counts.

True that!!
I have a 08 300 that get's tortured every weekend and has been since I bought it new in 08.
I'd love to get a new bike but I can't justify it because the 08 works so well.

There's 3 things needed to fire a engine, fuel, compression and spark.
If you know what to look for...sorting out your issue can usually be done within a matter minutes, hour at the most.
You said you had spark, so move on
Can you get the plug wet, if yes, then you have fuel, so move on
check compression.
There are a few other things to look at, timing, reeds, carb, pv, clogged air box, and/or pipe, flooded lower end.
But some of that stuff is more on the rare side.
Let us know what you find out

 

[swazi_matt]

do you have a cable choke (mounted like a hotstart on the clutch lever)?

If you do, check that it is not sticking open. I had a similar sounding problem and just recently replaced the cable with a std choke pull on the carb and all my probs have gone

 

[mark250ec]

Well the mechanic at the dealer says "the exhaust flapper valve is out of position and appears the power valve has moved"....unquote. We shall see when he corrects that what happens next. I asked that since this bike was so new if that would be a warranty item and so far have not got an answer, just "uh , the person I need to talk to about that is not here".
Will let you guys know the outcome when it is all said and done.

 

[Jakobi]

MOst definately should be covered under warranty. I have had some issues with the kick starter first sheering some teeth, and then the return spring binding and not working correctly (upon reassembly by dealer). Both times the RHS engine cover had to come off. Dealer/Warranty covered all expenses including labour, fluids, and parts. I very much doubt you'll have any issues.

 

[mark250ec]

Quick update, It appears to be my fault here. I was burning that crappy Castrol 927 mix oil and that really clogged my motor up! You would not believe it. So when I cleaned around the power valve area (after removing only the casings on the side of the engine), I removed one of the rods (pivot I believe) and when I put it back together I did not get the rod back thru the exhaust valve.....retard!
Well the mechanic said it damage the piston ring and caused the compression to go to around 65 psi.....that is the problem. He also said that the power valve was gummed up so bad that he could not believe the engine ran at all.

So, when I screw up I admit it, so I apologize to Gas Gas. It is a great bike, runs like a scalded dog and I intend to keep it for a long time.

Even going to get a Gas Gas trials bike this weekend!