Choke won't stay on... GPX250

**dblancer** · 13th December 2008, 16:00

Hi guys

Just brought a Kawasaki GPX 250

A general question regarding a choke cable that wont stay on.
I have to hold the choke with one hand when I start her at the moment. Holding it for about 20-30 seconds before the engine is warm enough
its not such a biggie during the summer, but i imagine during winter it will hit home

I have downloaded the service manual. It appears its as simple as simply lubricating the choke cable? does this sound like a reasonable assumption or is there something more sinister at work here. Ie "the carb"

**Katman** · 13th December 2008, 16:10

Originally Posted by dblancer

Hi guys

Just brought a Kawasaki GPX 250

A general question regarding a choke cable that wont stay on.
I have to hold the choke with one hand when I start her at the moment. Holding it for about 20-30 seconds before the engine is warm enough
its not such a biggie during the summer, but i imagine during winter it will hit home

I have downloaded the service manual. It appears its as simple as simply lubricating the choke cable? does this sound like a reasonable assumption or is there something more sinister at work here. Ie "the carb"

Lubing the cable will make it less likely to stay on.

It's really no biggie. In this day and age of unleaded fuel it's better to use your choke as little as is needed. Hold the choke out for the 20-30 seconds and then just hold the throttle at above idle revs for another 20-30 seconds.

**rainman** · 13th December 2008, 23:01

After one service I had at a place in town I had the same problem - choke had worked fine until the service, but wouldn't stay out after, so I took it in for a grumble. A mechanically minded chap was duly brought to the front to remedy this state of affairs, he reached to the choke knob and fiddled for about 2 secs (no spanner) and pronounced it fixed, "just needed a bit of a tighten". He was right, too.

Buggered if I could tell you what he did.

**molex** · 17th December 2008, 15:41

For you referance

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=75940

**fLaThEaD FreD** · 17th December 2008, 20:58

Originally Posted by dblancer

Hi guys

Just brought a Kawasaki GPX 250

A general question regarding a choke cable that wont stay on.
I have to hold the choke with one hand when I start her at the moment. Holding it for about 20-30 seconds before the engine is warm enough
its not such a biggie during the summer, but i imagine during winter it will hit home

I have downloaded the service manual. It appears its as simple as simply lubricating the choke cable? does this sound like a reasonable assumption or is there something more sinister at work here. Ie "the carb"

I had the same problem on my 800 Vulcan. There is a tightning screw behind the choke knob that is a friction adjuster. Set it to suit...not too tight as its plastic and you wont want to strip it....good luck.

**MsKABC** · 17th December 2008, 21:58

I had an old gpz, used to have to work the choke lever back and forth a few times to get it to engage & hold properly.

Hubby had a much newer gpx, not sure if he had that problem or not....

**mister.koz** · 17th December 2008, 22:10

Originally Posted by Katman

Lubing the cable will make it less likely to stay on.

It's really no biggie. In this day and age of unleaded fuel it's better to use your choke as little as is needed. Hold the choke out for the 20-30 seconds and then just hold the throttle at above idle revs for another 20-30 seconds.

Thats exactly what i did with my zxr250a took a bit of playing at first but it became 2nd nature after a while.

**motorbyclist** · 17th December 2008, 23:41

so what exactly is the problem?

'back when i was starting out' i had to hold up the spring loaded choke lever with my left hand, located ON the carb, with my left leg keeping clear and holding the bike up, while the right hand gave a co-ordinated twist of the throttle as the right leg operated the kickstart

since then any choke that stays on is a luxury... and electric start is for cheats

**Max Preload** · 18th December 2008, 07:22

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

so what exactly is the problem?

'back when i was starting out' i had to hold up the spring loaded choke lever with my left hand, located ON the carb, with my left leg keeping clear and holding the bike up, while the right hand gave a co-ordinated twist of the throttle as the right leg operated the kickstart

since then any choke that stays on is a luxury... and electric start is for cheats

You try and tell the young people of today that, and they won't believe you!

**MsKABC** · 18th December 2008, 07:33

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

so what exactly is the problem?

'back when i was starting out' i had to hold up the spring loaded choke lever with my left hand, located ON the carb, with my left leg keeping clear and holding the bike up, while the right hand gave a co-ordinated twist of the throttle as the right leg operated the kickstart

since then any choke that stays on is a luxury... and electric start is for cheats

And I bet you had to walk 5 miles to school in bare feet after milking 50 cows by hand too? Sheesh, kids these days, don't know how easy they've got it eh?

**vifferman** · 18th December 2008, 07:53

Choke? WTF is a choke?!?

I just turn the key, push the button, and it goes.

**mister.koz** · 18th December 2008, 08:33

Originally Posted by vifferman

Choke? WTF is a choke?!?

I just turn the key, push the button, and it goes.

Yeah fuel injected rocks.

**Max Preload** · 18th December 2008, 10:24

Originally Posted by vifferman

Choke? WTF is a choke?!?

I just turn the key, push the button, and it goes.

Originally Posted by mister.koz

Yeah fuel injected rocks.

Sounds damned boring to me.

**dblancer** · 1st January 2009, 10:18

I know the fuel inject rocks, my car is like a 1989 and is fuel injected which cuts out alot of faffin around.

Essentially I check for a tightening screw, but cant see one.
The service manual alludes to a bolt for adjustment but I just cant see it as the pictures in the manual are a bit rough...

A ninja owner between 1986 and 2007 would have likely had the same issue at some point? GPX=Ninja

I just sit and hold the choke for like 30 seconds right now, and she doesnt need it when warm ( well duh )

My carb does look a bit rusty, so maybe some CRC might be help out.

**hayd3n** · 1st January 2009, 10:35

Originally Posted by dblancer

I know the fuel inject rocks, my car is like a 1989 and is fuel injected which cuts out alot of faffin around.

Essentially I check for a tightening screw, but cant see one.
The service manual alludes to a bolt for adjustment but I just cant see it as the pictures in the manual are a bit rough...

A ninja owner between 1986 and 2007 would have likely had the same issue at some point? GPX=Ninja

I just sit and hold the choke for like 30 seconds right now, and she doesnt need it when warm ( well duh )

My carb does look a bit rusty, so maybe some CRC might be help out.

1. Inside the switch cover
2. Behind the bar-mounted choke lever
3. You will find the (little) plastic lock up by screw
very small (o-ring, spring, plastic)
this plastic just like (brake pad) stop the lever turn back
4. Replace the plastic (no spare parts buy)(must make it by yourself)

ohh and did spv sort you out in the end??