Carbs not working... I think

[NZDaniel]

Hi all. I have a 1990 Bandit 250 that is having problems. Now I'm really not mechanically inclined at all so maybe it's obvious, I dont really know.

Anyhow, I been riding the bike for a while before having to leave it for about 6 months. I just left it sitting, fuel tank half full with a rusting tank. Yes i know thats not good. About a week ago I was able to get to my bike and so naturally, tried to fire her up but to no avail, changed battery and now the dash lights up. But when i press the starter it just makes a sound of ding ding ding ding really fast as per normal when you start any bike or car but does not seem to try to 'catch' or 'fire up' if you know what I mean. I pulled the tank and air box off and found that the carbs, where the air goes in there are those slider things that normally go up and down really fast but instead they just stay still.

Im assuming that this is the problem but how do i fix this?
Can anybody please help me? Like I said I'm not exactly a mechanic. Thanks in advance!

[blue eyed savage]

bump
i got a 1997 250 bandit and its runing rich, any info on turning carbs would be much appreciated

[erik]

The carb slides aren't supposed to move when you twist the throttle with the engine stopped. The throttle only moves the butterfly further down the carb throat. When the engine is running, the vacuum makes the carb slides open and close.

Maybe the fuel has escaped from the float bowls (I'm not entirely sure if it can or not). If the fuel tap on the bandit 250 is the same as the bandit 400, then it only lets fuel through when the engine is running (and a bit when being cranked over by the starter). So if the carb bowls are dry, cranking it over can flatten the battery before it gets enough fuel in the carbs to run. Try removing the single screw in the face of the fuel tap, then turn the tap past where the screw was to prime the carbs. Crank it over with the tap in that position and if it doesn't start, then it must have some other problem and maybe someone else can offer a suggestion. Don't forget to put the tap back to the normal position because otherwise the carbs might flood if you leave it on prime.

[Squiggles]

Start by emptying the tank, and putting some fresh fuel in

also drain the carbs, there should be a screw on the bottom of each of the carbs, undo it enough and the fuel in the float bowl will come out, just let it flow out.

Then try again...

[NZDaniel]

I put new fuel in it and have a new battery. The trouble is that i am not at my dads often and thats where the bike is, as soon as I get it working bike comes with me. My fuel tap is broken and basically just stays on Reserve the entire time. Annoying but yeah... my luck. I will probably be at my adds in the weekend or monday so i will try draining the carbs then. Cheers for that, hope this works!

EDIT: Carbs were not dry at all there was a lot of fuel in them. Is there a possibility that there was too much or something? I feel so dumb!

[Katman]

As has already been said, drain the carbs. The fuel will be stale.

[MIZXR]

Oh come on Katmn fuel take years to go stale no months shit the same old leaded fuel started and ran my BSA after 15 + years, the new unleaded fuel is in their now which went in around the change over happened and it still fires up easy enough.

Now are you sure the batery is still in good nick that would be more likely to cause problems.

[lostinflyz]

check your spark plugs. just cause you can. and im just assuming u have compression.

are you sure the carby float bowls were full?? twist the drain screws on the bottom.

often i find the starter motor too shit to start a bike thats been sitting for a bit. go for a push. If it doesn't fire up at all something not right.

If youve got a fucked fuel tap make sure fuel is getting to the carbs too.

all my bikes take a bit to get going if i leave them around for a bit.

[Katman]

Oh come on Katmn fuel take years to go stale no months shit the same old leaded fuel started and ran my BSA after 15 + years, the new unleaded fuel is in their now which went in around the change over happened and it still fires up easy enough.

You clearly are short of a few clues.

[surfer]

All been said really;

1. Clean the spark plugs
2. Drain the carb bowls, prefereably into a container so you can spot any water droplets and rust in there. Drain screws are at the bottom of each carb bowl.
3.If you have bits of rust might be that your jets are blocked so these need removing from the carbs and blown out. Don't poke wire into the holes or you will damage them.
4. Treat your tank to some meths if there is water in the fuel. Or replace and put new fuel in.
5. If you have a rusty tank you might want to put an inline fuel filter on the fuel hose to catch rust before it makes its way to the carbs. Get an inline fuel filter from Reco really easy to fit, cut the line and slide it on remember to fit hose ties to clamp the end of the fuel line to the fuel filter. Pick and unobtrusive place to put the filter.
6. Check the battery voltage and make sure you have 12.5 volts charge with engine not running. If not charge the battery with a battery charger.
7. With the fuel tap on reserve the whole time I would check the oil in case you have fuel mixed in with it. Chances are you have done this. Check it by feel, if it feels gritty it has fuel mixed in. So drain oil and put new oil in.
8. Make sure that anything you took off the bike has gone back exactly as before so you don't add to any problems.

I suspect that with the reserve on all the time you may have flooded the carbs. doing the above should sort that out. If not post again. Good luck.

[Ragingrob]

I know it's said each time....but killswitch? My CBR starter still goes when the killswitch is off, it just doesn't fire.

[NZDaniel]

Thanks everyone I will print this off and try everything said hopefully in the next couple of days. If it still doesnt work i will post again thanks everybody

EDIT: I dont think its the battery because it is new, not the killswitch either already checked that, and I do have a fuel filter between tank and carbs already

[NZDaniel]

Oh boy. Today is NOT my lucky day.

So first off, I discover there is no longer any fuel left in the tank. Turns out I have a leaky carby. (Explains the reason why the garage always smelt like petrol) Now I put in fuel, waited a while and tried to fire her up but to no avail. So I decide to take off the tank and airbox and then decided I didnt know what I was doing so I went to change the oil instead. I tried to take that plug thing off (to let the oil drain out) but I couldn't as the shop had put it waaaay to tight. I then give up and reach for the fuel can to put it away and surprise I got clumsy and it fell right onto the carburators and fuel got in there (where the air box connects). Stupidly enough I tried to fire it up again but I heard a weird gurgling sound from the carbs for a second then a grinding noise. Now all it does is make that same grining noise. I hope I didnt do anything bad to it. Oh and to top it off I couldnt figure out how to get the spark plug out of the rubber thing where it connects to the engine inside. So yay now I'm worse off than before.

What a horrible horrible day. Tomorrow will be better it gotta be!

So yeah... MOAR HELP PLEASE!!!!!!