Something has taken a giant shit and it sounds expensive

[JustNick]

My curiosity has been aroused ... so I googled.

From a FZR250 forum ...

the ON position is marked at 6 o'clock, OFF at 9 o'clock and RES at 12 o'clock


An interesting link to said forum for the OP.

http://www.fzr250.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2007

These positions here are how my FZR petcock was plumbed and what I assume to be the factory positions. The fuel pump on these bikes will be noticeably louder if running without fuel e.g. turn the petcock off and turn ignition on. Are you sure you didn't just run out of petrol and get it running again when the position was changed to reserve. From memory I was getting approx 170ish kms to reserve and an additional 30kms max to bone dry.

[SNF]

Could have been the case. Still having problems, it runs rough and now bogs really badly after take off. I'm hoping it doesn't need a whole lot of carb work but its looking that way, going to have to do a complete flush and drain of the fuel system. Its been a little hesitant here and there and would occasionally bog down but now its nearly un-rideable. I can do my scooter's carb easy as but I'm assuming the ones on the bike are a lot more difficult?

[tigertim20]

carbs arent hard to remove and clean.
remove carbs with basic tools, photograph as you go so you have a reference for when it goes back together.
clean all the parts, soak the needles in carb cleaner for a while. take them down to the service station and blow out with compressed air.

I suggest you put up a post offering good company, a box of beer, and an hour with your missus to anyone with a manometer who can come and over see you removing and cleaning the carbs, then balance them for you with the aforementioned tool.

[unstuck]

Whats the air filter like????

[McFatty1000]

Could have been the case. Still having problems, it runs rough and now bogs really badly after take off. I'm hoping it doesn't need a whole lot of carb work but its looking that way, going to have to do a complete flush and drain of the fuel system. Its been a little hesitant here and there and would occasionally bog down but now its nearly un-rideable. I can do my scooter's carb easy as but I'm assuming the ones on the bike are a lot more difficult?

Have you done anything of note to it since or is this happening just with being ridden? I'd def check the air filter to start, I know my one runs a little more boggy when crud from the tank goes through the line, starves it slightly, so cleaning out and lining the tank is the next big step for me, it seems worse on some fuels from some individual service stations too, is it just this tank now or the last few?

[FJRider]

Could have been the case. Still having problems, it runs rough and now bogs really badly after take off. I'm hoping it doesn't need a whole lot of carb work but its looking that way, going to have to do a complete flush and drain of the fuel system. Its been a little hesitant here and there and would occasionally bog down but now its nearly un-rideable. I can do my scooter's carb easy as but I'm assuming the ones on the bike are a lot more difficult?

Take it (or get somebody else to take it onto a closed and private road ) ... and fucking ring it out. Learners seldom get it up to the revs/speed it was designed to do.

[SNF]

Air filter is next on my list, by the looks of everything I've replaced I'll say it'll clogged. All I have done is change the spark plugs, given it a new fuel filter (it is on the right way). Was going to say fuel system cleaner but I cant find the bottle.

First tank of fuel, after I changed plugs/fuel filter it was alright, bogged only once, hesitated once or twice literally at higher (12,000 + ) RPM at motorway speeds.

This tank its done it more often and at lower speed. Revs easily at idle but at about 11-14,000 it gets a little rough/fluttery and then comes right. To take off it needs at least 5,000 RPM otherwise its just bogs and stalls/wanks about/makes cagers want to hit me. I gave it red line in second gear out of anger and it seemed okay. On the motorway once I also wound out third I think (not anger just pushing limits ;p). Wasn't speeding but yeah it got up to speed pretty quick!

Its a bit of a bastard really. Its brilliant WHEN it works. Also discovered the temp gauge jumps around if i rev it out it goes higher, if I turn the lights on it'll rise and lower if I dip them. Starts easy cold but I think it needs a battery too, if it stalls while hot it acts like the battery is flat, can see the tacho moving in time with the indicators etc.

Stuff it. I should do this properly - I'll get a new air filter and battery and get the tank flushed out once I use all the fuel.
If it still does it it'll be carb cleaning time I guess.....

[McFatty1000]

I'd go with cleaning the carbs, air filter, everything all at once, saves you the hassle of taking everything apart again.

Yeah, I found that when I went over to the coast, some tanks of fuel had bits of hesitation in them and it bogged more easily, others were fine - I think it might be the more fresh fuel/or when its go a little gunk in it going through the system from some of the smaller less busy stations, on top of other things like needing to clean out the tank entirely - had one tank where it was bogging all over the place, filled it up at my usual station (was only half empty) and its been sweet since

Also, when was the last oil change? I know it seems out there but mine does much better all round with clean oil

[FJRider]

Its a bit of a bastard really. Its brilliant WHEN it works. Also discovered the temp gauge jumps around if i rev it out it goes higher, if I turn the lights on it'll rise and lower if I dip them. Starts easy cold but I think it needs a battery too, if it stalls while hot it acts like the battery is flat, can see the tacho moving in time with the indicators etc.

Signs of electrical issues. (A bad earth) Check for obvious shorts by starting and running in the dark. It sounds silly I know .. but shorts will be then obvious. Failing that ... take to an auto sparky.

Also check the tank again ... if it is flaking on the inside ... the tank may need relined. Fit an inline filter if you haven't already. They are small and easily fitted. And save many issues.

[unstuck]

Yeah, sounds like there could be electrical issues as well as fuel/air issues.

[SNF]

Found the short! Its the fan. Tugging on some wires made it come on. Looks like someone's had a go at fixing it and now and it runs permanently on and the connection is loose. Tacho now doesn't flash with indicators etc, but needs a proper fix, think the temp sensor is stuffed.

Looked in the tank and its generally okay, smallest ever flake of rust at the bottom and a few tiny bits at the bottom, which could be why its doing what its doing. Getting it flushed once its empty I don't want chance it.

Going get an air filter today.

Someone asked me when I did the oil, I had a mech do it about 500 odd Km ago when I first got the bike. Thank you guys very much for being patient and helping me out.

[unstuck]

orsum..........

[McFatty1000]

Awesome, its nice to hear when things actually start going well.

Let me know if you manage to get the air filter for a cheap price, last I was quoted was ~$150 from a number of places, ended up going aftermarket while using the original surround

[SNF]

$150!? Holy fuck! Getting a genuine Yamaha one ( I think, I can remember the guy saying there was nothing aftermarket) From Red Baron for about $72. Hopefully it'll be in this afternoon. Not holding my breath that it will fix everything but if it does I'll be happy.

[SNF]

New filter in - seems alright. Somewhat hesitant at low revs, but then again it was cold and I wasn't pushing it hard. Seems like it starves of fuel at random, especially on hills but also does it on the flat too. Still haven't managed to empty this tank of fuel. I read somewhere about fuel pick up lines around the petcock/fuel tap getting clogged so once I run dry I'll have look at them. Also read about carb balancing - rev it to 4,000 and hold it steady, so I tried it and they seem fine.