GN 250 Problem

[apteryx_haasti]

OK, so this is a total bummer. I needed to go into work today in Wellington, so I thought "Great time to ride into town without too much traffic, and then be all ready for the commute tomorrow."

Bike would start and idle, but every time I tried to actually take off, it would lose power and conk out. Would restart ok, and idle with choke out (at first) then choke in. Throttled OK in neutral. Then, when I'd decide - seems OK/warm now...and try to start off, blah.

Any advice? I am going to ring Wgtn Motorcycles (where I got it) tomorrow and see if they can come and pick it up and check it over, but I am totally bummed because this week's weather actually looked pretty good for commuting!

Some facts - it stays under cover (ish) - it's in a carport and kept under a motorcycle cover. Possible that it still gets a bit wet in heavy rain through water bouncing off the ground.

Last rode it 2 weeks ago on that beautiful Saturday in Wellington - went about 50kms.

Gas stats - shouldn't be a fuel problem. Done 127 kms and since last gas.

WHat gives? ANd is it worth getting WMC to come and get it and give it a check up? My poor baby :crybaby:

Thanks in advance for any advice - and now I am off to work the boring way...by cage...

[paturoa]

First thing to do this time of year is drain the float bowl, could be water sitting there and when you open the throttle and the needle lifts up it starts sucking the water.

Stick a clear container under the drain tube and hve a look. If there is any water there you should see it.

If there is then you may also have some in the tank.

[twinkle]

check the fuel strainer too, It takes a 10mm spanner from memory.
A little grey bowl that screws into the bottom of the fuel tap with a square base. It collects water and dirt before it gets to the carburettor. Water doesn't mix with petrol so if there is any in there you will be able to see it.

[paturoa]

check the fuel strainer too, It takes a 10mm spanner from memory.
A little grey bowl that screws into the bottom of the fuel tap with a square base. It collects water and dirt before it gets to the carburettor. Water doesn't mix with petrol so if there is any in there you will be able to see it.

... and turn the tap to off before...

[Smokin]

Yep, What they said.

[twinkle]

haha yeah :eek: lucky you mentioned that

[apteryx_haasti]

Thanks guys - I forgot to mention that I may have also left my fuel tap on for the last 2 weeks - I don't know if that is bad or not. I usually turn it off when parked. The biggest bummer is that I was really looking forward to the ride - It's a pretty nice day here in Welly. No wind and not raining.

Sigh.

[crashe]

Its a brand new bike, it shouldnt be having any problems....

[James Deuce]

I'm with Crashe. You have a warranty, so WMCC should be doing backflips to sort it for you.

[Turtle]

Yeah wat they said plus id check the primary jet...doesnt take much to block it & would have the symtoms you describe...gud luk

[apteryx_haasti]

Thanks everyone! I called WMC today and spoke to Hamish (helpful!) - he told me a couple of reasons the bike might have been acting up and suggested I try it again when I got home (but said they were happy to come and pick it up to look at today if I wanted). I decided to wait until I got home and try it again.

So - got home, geared up and started her up. As yesterday, she started fine. Unlike yesterday it didn't crap out when I started off! Hooray! Went for about a 45 minute ride (you know, just to make sure) and so I've capped off the day with my first ride in the rain.

Now my chrome is dirty - how do I clean it?

Anyway - thanks again for all the helpful hints.

[paturoa]

Thanks everyone! I called WMC today and spoke to Hamish (helpful!) - he told me a couple of reasons the bike might have been acting up and suggested I try it again when I got home (but said they were happy to come and pick it up to look at today if I wanted). I decided to wait until I got home and try it again..


.... and what were they?

[apteryx_haasti]

.... and what were they?

Oh yeah, sorry!

One was that it might have been a choke issue - apparently new bikes can be pretty finickity with the choke and it might have just been throwing a wobbly (not sure about this one, since I did get it idling without the choke yesterday)

The other was the possibility of the petrol being a bit stale and just needing to get fuel circulating to flush the engine (or something like that, I'll play the "girl card" here)

Anyway, I figured it didn't hurt to try - seemed much happier today, so perhaps it was the fuel thing and all the idling yesterday managed to clear the problem?

Sounds OK, goes OK...that's OK!

[ducatilover]

Its a brand new bike, it shouldnt be having any problems....
its a gn...its made in china:angry:

[crashe]

Now my chrome is dirty - how do I clean it?

When the bike gets all wet and yukky, as soon as you get home while she is still wet dry her down with a dry soft towel... the chrome will look shiney again... and so will the paint job....
Also dry the wheel rims as well....


Auto-soul CHROME polish is great after washing her on all the chrome bits.
Spokes - Use a toothbrush - grab packet of 5 from the $2 shop.



So keep a few old torn up towels out in the garage for when you get home in the rain.

[paturoa]

Oh yeah, sorry!

One was that it might have been a choke issue - apparently new bikes can be pretty finickity with the choke and it might have just been throwing a wobbly (not sure about this one, since I did get it idling without the choke yesterday)

The other was the possibility of the petrol being a bit stale and just needing to get fuel circulating to flush the engine (or something like that, I'll play the "girl card" here)

Anyway, I figured it didn't hurt to try - seemed much happier today, so perhaps it was the fuel thing and all the idling yesterday managed to clear the problem?

Sounds OK, goes OK...that's OK!

excellent news

- choke, maybe but I doubt it as you point out it was idiling OK
- stale petrol is a good one - lol - not ("girl card" is banned at my place - been replaced with "haven't learnt that one yet" card)

You've probably got it right with idiling as this could clear things slowly, probably never know.

[sunhuntin]

cleaning: go to super cheap and in a fluro yellow tin is a product called "brite shine" or similar. use that on all chrome and also on the engine where muck gets in. also can be used on mirrors and light covers. avoid paint with it though.
for paint, i use pledge furniture clean....but the last can i bought has a fucked up sprayer and sprays everywhere BUT the rag :angry:
for muck that doesnt shift with easily, i spray a bit of cleaner on the chrome cleaner and use that.
also a big tin of good ol elbow grease! i love cleaning my bike and consider it a bonding time, where i see whats changed and things like that.

next time the bike is sitting for a period, start her at least once a week. ive had mine sitting for a week at the longest, and started her once...she struggled, but got there in the end. ive never had troubles like what you described though....next service, get her checked thoroughly [sp?]

[Shadows]

Now my chrome is dirty - how do I clean it?


Chrome plate is usually only 0.25 - 0.5 microns thick and highly porous. If it is not properly cared for it will flake from the nickel and / or copper plate beneath it, and after that the steel beneath will soon rust through to the surface. And as for polish, most polish removes a thin layer from the surface being polished, and a thin layer is all you have!
Keeping it dry is not sufficient, the air (full of moisture/salt/oxygen) can still get at it. Always keep a thin coating of oil on it like CRC Longlife or CRC Marine (Normal CRC 5.56 or WD40 is a little too thin though). Spray it on and wipe it around with a soft rag, eventually the rag will be saturated, just keep on wiping.
Don't get it on your tyres or brake discs though!
The stuff gets into all the nooks and crannies normal cleaning/drying will never reach, it will actually drive out any moisture, and because it doesn't allow the air to get in, there is really no way the metals can oxidise.
It does attract dirt, but it just wipes off with the next application. Nothing will stick to the bike.
Buy it in bulk 4 or 5 litre packs, not in cans, a mechanical spray bottle full of the bulk stuff is heaps better to use than the canned crap and is cheaper in the long run. I found one spray can would only last about one and a half cleans especially on the first applications. Mind you, I basically cover my entire bike in it, not just the chromed parts, of which I have few.

And remember the right hand side of the front wheel makes a great little water trap at the bottom when your bike is on its side stand. The right side of the front rim is normally the first bit of chrome to start going bad as a result. You'll find with a chain driven bike that the chrome around the rear wheel rim will last the longest (though on most bikes you'd never guess) as it is always covered in chain oil, which, although it looks like shit, protects the chrome quite nicely. :yes:

[apteryx_haasti]

UPDATE - rode in from Eastbourne to Wellington this morning - excellent ride and a cage even let me into their lane when I was merging from the petone on ramp.

I do like the petone overbridge on a bike as opposed to a car -

Bike - go up the middle - sneak over to the rhs - merge into the motorway traffic

Cage - inch along - swear at truck that won't let you merge - finally merge - get on motorway - swear at truck that won't let you merge (repeat...)