Why won't my 250 Bandit start?

[turner]

i bought a bandit about 6 weeks ago or so as a non runner, it needed a new battery and cdi which i bought and it then ran, had a few goes up and down the driveway and engine sounded really good, come to it the next day and wouldn't start, i have taken the carbs to a specialist and he has looked at them and cleaned them up, spark plugs are near new. petrol is getting into the bowls from the tank but isnt gettin into the engine. very annoying. i had a chat to a mate of mine who is good with engines and he said it may be a 'vacuum problem' so it myt not be sucking the petrol into the enigne but i carnt understand why it isn't doin it. also i see there are two pipes coming from the carbs which connect together and then go into a small black box and i have no idea what this is for or if there should be something inside it.

would really appreciate any suggestions. thanks

[Blinkwing]

Lines could be blocked with gunk, fuel tap also.

[Fast Eddie]

you've come to the wrong place for helpful advice.. haha

Take air filter and air box off and squirt a bit of fuel manually into the carbs as you crank the motor and see if it runs like that for starters. If it does then you know you do have a fuelling problem and will have to trace it back, fuel lines, fuel tap, carb jets. If it doesn't run then probably not a fuelling problem and you will have to start diagnosis for everything. Or seek a bike shop and a bill..

engine will have to have, air, fuel, timing and spark.. hopefully you get some decent advice from someone that knows a bit more... unlikely on KB

[DrunkenMistake]

Fuel pump?
Or Vacuum hose could be split depending which you have.

[turner]

ye i have had the bike running by squirting fuel into the carbs and does run for a few seconds sometimes, already had the carbs cleaned at a carb shop, as said i have had the bike running before so with it all put together so its got fuel, air, spark and timing. but does anybody know what the box above the carbs is for?

[oneofsix]

ye i have had the bike running by squirting fuel into the carbs and does run for a few seconds sometimes, already had the carbs cleaned at a carb shop, as said i have had the bike running before so with it all put together so its got fuel, air, spark and timing. but does anybody know what the box above the carbs is for?

Air cleaner perhaps? A big black box with a sponge inside?

[Paul in NZ]

Check the fuel filter and tap. Prob has a vacuum tap and they can be difficult.

This would not be the first 250 bandit that has had 'issues' starting once something gets stuck in the tap

[turner]

Air cleaner perhaps? A big black box with a sponge inside?

haha, no its a lot smaller than that, almost the size of a rubix cube with a pipe coming out from it and , will try and get a pic up soon

[turner]

[Fast Eddie]

Find a workshop manual for your specific model. Thats going to be the most help man. If the bike runs with u squirting fuel into the carbs manually (of course it will only run for a few seconds unless u keep squirting more fuel in) then you have a fuelling problem. If you are sure the carbs are sweet then think about blockages in the fuel lines or the fuel tap or the tank itself.

definitely not uncommon to have blocked fuel tank/taps/lines.

no idea what the black box is you have. its not on either of my 2 carb'd bikes I just had a quick peek under the tank. so best to find a workshop manual for your engine/bike.

[Fast Eddie]

Check the fuel filter and tap. Prob has a vacuum tap and they can be difficult.

This would not be the first 250 bandit that has had 'issues' starting once something gets stuck in the tap

^^ yip, if you have a a dodgy tap or tank its very tricky - I personally had an issue of fuel starvation in a CBR250R and the final solution was to replace the tank with a new item. Prior to replacement tank we had tried cleaning the tap and internal fuel pickup lines in the tank with no success.. and it had even had 2 over night stays at the honda dealership and they couldn't fix it. So new tank it was in the end.

[turner]

thanks for the input so far guys but the fuel tank or line from the tank to the carbs isnt the problem, its seems to be gettin the fuel from the carbs into the engine, squirting fuel directly into the carbs will make the spark plugs wet but when fuel is in the carbs even with the tank on the plugs are dry

[unstuck]

Is it sparking?

[blackdog]

Have heard of 250 bandits having problems with the fuel tank too full.

[Hopeful Bastard]

Cant say i've come across this situation before. Sorry..

But does anyone know what damage can be caused by having water poured down your exhaust?? Wankers...