SRX250 won't start

**jleahy23** · 14th January 2009, 00:47

Hey All,

I bought my SRX250, and opposed to what I was told it doesnt start. (Although I got it $100 cheaper than what I was originally told.)

Now, I haven't gone digging very deep yet, but basically wanted to get a basic troubleshooting list. Here's the back story.

The bike has been sitting for around 2yrs, now when I arrived there the guy had a can of "Start Ya Bastard" and we sprayed it into the air box and cranked it. Broooom... It started then died. So the engine isnt ceased and ignition etc is working.

One thing I couldn't make sense of is the fuel tap with the three settings ON, RES, PRI. I'm assuming the following RES = Reserve, ON = Main Fuel On, PRI = Prime. I had it set to ON when I was attempting to start it. I'm guessing this is correct.

Thing's I've tried.
Emptied fuel and put fresh stuff in.
Checked fuel filter - OK
Checked air filter - OK

Where should I go from here?
I was going to pull the carb off and clean it all, but if there's anything simple please let me know. Especially if there are common errors with the SRX that I'm not aware of.

Any help is appreciated.

Cheers
Jono

**LBD** · 14th January 2009, 03:02

Mate it sounds like a fuel problem, but first check that there spark. I assume there is because it ran on a can...

Loosen the drain screw in bottom of Carby...Fuel come out?

When cranking but no start, can you smell gas from exhaust? If you cannot smell gas but you have a spark, remove and clean the carb. Check float and valve working, check jets are clear then try again.

**NinjaNanna** · 14th January 2009, 08:17

Try starting it in the Prime position, also check that the fuel filter is full (my wife's little ZR250 is a bitch if it isn't and then suffers from vapour lock)

FYI: ON and RESERVE require vacumn pressure from the engine to allow fuel to flow (basically the vacumn sucks on a little diaphram in the fuel tap.

The Prime position allows the fuel to flow straight through (which with everything being equal then fills the Float Bowls of the Carb)

PS where abouts in Canberra are you (Bruce's Motorcycles in Mitchell were good when I lived there)

**Ixion** · 14th January 2009, 09:23

I would drain ALL the fuel out and throw it away. Also drain the float bowl as above. Add new fuel and put the fuel tap to 'P' (prime). Leave the carb drain plug open. Let about a cupfull of fuel run out the carb drain, then close it.

Check the old fuel for muck, if there is any you'll need to clean the fuel tap and maybe the carb.

Connect a car battery across the bike battery (like a jump start). The SRX is very sensitive to low battery voltage, and a battery that is slightly down will turn the engine happily but not start - the car battery gives you a lot more crankability.

If it won't start after a few minutes cranking you'll need to strip the carb. But I think it should be OK.

**jleahy23** · 14th January 2009, 18:00

OK...

This is what i've done.
I've emptied fuel tank (fuel seemed OK - not dirty). Filled it up with fresh stuff. Also just made sure that the fuelcock was working (which it is - my leg likes petrol on it... :P) I took the little brass screw off the bottom of the carby - no fuel came out. Anyway, put it on PRI and started cranking away, still no fuel coming out of bottom of carby. Put the screw back in, started cranking away again. Took the screw out again and guess what... NO FUEL.

So where to now guys? Carby off and clean??
- If this is the case, whats the easiest way to get the carb off??

Cheers
Tubbs

**Ixion** · 14th January 2009, 19:28

Assuming you got the right screw (it's the recessed horizontal one on the left, not the big round vertical one on the right, I had to go and look myself on that) , the inlet filter may be blocked , I have a vague memory they have a mesh filter at the carb inlet. Or the float valve may be stuck or the float may be jammed. Anyway, you're going to need to take the carb off.

Straight forward. Remove fuel lines, removes throttle cable, undo clip thingies and wriggle twist and pry . The carb is jammed into a rubbe rmanifold that is bolted to the head, you'll probably find it easier to undo the manifold bolts and remove the complete assembly.

As carbs go, there's reasonable working space.

**jleahy23** · 14th January 2009, 19:48

Thanks Les,

I got the carb off, will start pulling it down and cleaning it all out now.
- Will keep you all posted with my progress.

Cheers
Jono

**jleahy23** · 14th January 2009, 23:57

OK...
Success - Kind of...
Well it started, BUT... after about a minute of running she stopped and I couldnt get it started again.

I started it on PRI, with full choke. And left it on prime. I think it might've put too much fuel in and flooded it maybe.

Anyone got any ideas? or do you think try tomorrow.

Cheers
Jono

**NinjaNanna** · 15th January 2009, 07:52

Originally Posted by jleahy23

OK...
Success - Kind of...
Well it started, BUT... after about a minute of running she stopped and I couldnt get it started again.

I started it on PRI, with full choke. And left it on prime. I think it might've put too much fuel in and flooded it maybe.

Anyone got any ideas? or do you think try tomorrow.

Cheers
Jono

So did you release the choke??? It's pretty warm at the moment so its possible that it died simply because you left the choke on after getting it started.

Also technically you can leave your fuel tap on PRI the whole time (so long as the float valve is working correctly) but it is best to use the other positions otherwise you'll ride straight through RES and run out of fuel. If the float valve isn't working you could lose a tank of fuel through the overflow or worse through the cyclinder into your engine oil (depending on the design of the bike)

Also my first impression before considering the choke was that its run out of fuel again (ie you haven't properly sorted your original problem which was preventing fuel getting to your carbs in the first place)

**jleahy23** · 15th January 2009, 18:37

OK, have had another attempt to start it, with no luck.
I took it out the front and tried to push start it, it sounds like its half running then nothing.

Also, Have checked that there is spark at the plug.

Carb off again?

**Ixion** · 15th January 2009, 21:34

Yes. Fraid so. Remove, strip, clean, blow everything out with compressed air (I actually use the canned air from computer shops, it's easier and cleaner than the compressor - but pricey ) . Check the diaphragm on the right hand half too. If it's any consolation , you won't be the first to pull a carb off many and time again. I had to pull the carbs off my arzhole about 97 times before I finally got them clean.

If it started, that would to me probably rule out electrics. Unless you have a dodgy connection which is intermittent, but if you are seeing a spark that's unlikely. I would try a new plug though the one you have may be pretty munted. What does the plug look like ?

Have you tried ether spray again , sometimes with these situations the trick is just to get it running anyhow and let it work itself clean.

**jleahy23** · 15th January 2009, 22:52

Tried spray again - Nothing.

Plug is brand new, I replaced it last night just to rule it out.

Will play around with it tomorrow arvo/weekend and let you all know.

**jleahy23** · 17th January 2009, 18:44

OK...

Pulled the carby apart and cleaned everything, soaked it in fuel for a while as well.

Put it all back on, now its leaking fuel from the drain plug. I've checked that the O ring is still on the drain plug and everything.

Oh and by the way - still not kicking over!
Getting sick of this thing already!

**Ixion** · 17th January 2009, 18:57

OK. Ti me to dig deeper. Bikes been parked up for 2 years you said. Now, maybe there is just something as a result of the 2 years idleness. Blocked carb jet (I know, you cleaned them , but sometimes you have to do it MANY times). Stuck inlet valve,whatever. Or maybe it was parked up because it wouldn't start two years ago? There's a big difference.

Bike requires to run: spark, at the right time; fuel, in correct air/fuel ratio; compression. Give it these three and it MUST start. So one of them is missing.

Leaking fuel from the drain plug. That's a smoking gun. Either the float/shut off needle is defective, or it's maladjusted or incorrectly assembled. Fix that. Bike won't start if the fuel level is that high. Either there was something wrong there to start with (maybe wrong two years ago?) or you did something wrong in your previous carb assembly.

Then check compression. Hard to get a gauge reading on those engines the plug is deeply recessed. But pull it forward in gear get a feel of whether there is compression. You should not be able to push it in first gear with the clutch engaged.

Spark is the easiest. Check for a spark. A good blue spark. Check that it is happening in about the right place, TDC on the compression stroke, or a bit before (your finger will tell you if it's the compression stroke, mine is calibrated to +/- 1 psi , but you don't need accuracy here )