Dump Or Rebuild?

"UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy" (smithtaylorm)
03/28/2019 at 15:10 • Filed to: None

Not many people on here know this but I have a 2007 Kawasaki ninja 250r ‘07. It hasn’t ran since the fall of 2016. It used to overheat (from A broken rad fan) and leaving gas without stabilizer in it for a winter meant it doesn’t run now for more than a few seconds. Blame it on me forgetting but it was a busy time In life and the bike was stored 4 hours away and not a priority.

I know it needs a valve adjustment, cleaned/rebuilt carb and a new rad fan. Tires are also shot. Is this worth wrenching on and getting going or should I give up on it? It looks clean but a lot of the plastic body part mounting tabs broke off. I have my focus st for fun and daily duty but I figured It’s a cheap way to get around once it gets nice.

DISCUSSION (26)

PartyPooper2012 > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:21

I’ll gladly take it off your hands...

I would prefer it did not run. I want to wrench on things... I will wrench on...... WIFE SAID SHE WILL KILL ME

Never mind.

Yes. Wrench on it. Get it running again. it’s not that hard. You will feel better about your existence for saving a motorcycle from a crusher

Darkbrador > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:23

Those are cheap and easy fixes. Good practice for you, and these things are everlasting cheap fun, if taken care of.

Fix it !

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > PartyPooper2012
03/28/2019 at 15:24

My concern is deeper engine damage if I do replace the head gasket/work on the carbs. But I guess that’s how I’d learn to do it.

red_ > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:26

Totally fix it. The Ninja is a pretty flexible platform if you wanted to build it into a scrambler, cafe racer, or anything

PartyPooper2012 > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:27

Considering the overheating, you run that risk...

Clean the carb. get it started. Check the oil for MotoLatte. If you’re in the clear, carry on. If not, you can take it apart. have the head gasket replaced. Check head for warpage.

Alternatively, slap a new engine in it and off to the races.

Also try to not drive around with overheating engine.

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:28

Those are good easy fixes. Dont be afraid wrenching, especially on a simple, tough motor like this.

Aremmes > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:29

Tackle the easy things then. Dump the fuel, clean the carb, and adjust the valves. None of those is hard. If after that it still won’t run and you don’t feel comfortable with going deeper, then sell it as a “mechanic’s special”.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > PartyPooper2012
03/28/2019 at 15:30

Yeah, I drove around with the engine overheating pretty badly once. Which is why I think there’s more. I may end up slapping a new engine into it. The oil looked good in the sight glass last time I saw it though and the coolant looked green. I’ll have to go out to my parents soon and drain it to see.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Biggus Dickus (RevsBro)
03/28/2019 at 15:34

You are very right. One obstacle is our garage only fits our two cars. But I’m not adverse to renting a storage space for 20/30 bucks while I rebuild.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:37

It’s a ninja 250. The miata of motorcycles. Super cheap parts are plentiful and the owner base is ENORMOUS. Get out a wrench and fix it up. Enjoy your 60mpg scoot-scoot.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > PartyPooper2012
03/28/2019 at 15:38

My wife just called me out of the blue, “What ever you’re thinking of buying , NO”. Sigh...

TheRealBicycleBuck > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:38

Those engines are just about as complicated as a lawn mower’s .

Go for it!

PartyPooper2012 > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:39

maybe you dodged a bullet. Fingers crossed. I’d help you wrench on it for sure. Worst case scenario is we make it worse.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > PartyPooper2012
03/28/2019 at 15:43

I have it at my parents house which is about an hour away. I’m going to look into a storage space local to me (we have a two car garage but I don’t think there’s room for this) or see if there’s room and coordinate the transfer. If you’re local to Cincinnati, I may take you up on that, lol

PartyPooper2012 > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:46

just mere 13 hours away.... without traffic

PartyPooper2012 > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
03/28/2019 at 15:51

had to take a screen shot of this and send to my wife...

your wife sounds like a frugal lady.... but stern.

Mercedes Streeter > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
03/28/2019 at 15:55

I have the opposite problem..

“Whatever you’re thinking of buying, can we make a cafe racer out of it?”

I only get a negative reaction if that answer is “no, but it’ll go really fast?”

Mercedes Streeter > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 15:57

The tyres would be a major turn off for me (and even then you can find shade tree tyre “shops” that’ll do changes for $30/wheel) , but everything else sounds like a fun project! I could probably knock most of those out in a weekend of wrenching. :)

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > PartyPooper2012
03/28/2019 at 16:09

If she let me have my way, we’d be bankrupt with 20 cars in various states of repair in the front lawn... I’m a lucky man. truly.

PartyPooper2012 > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
03/28/2019 at 16:23

I wonder if we were allowed to marry cars, would we get sick of em telling us how fast to drive and what gas to use before we start collecting women in various states of repair?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 16:30

Dump it... on me. Where are you?

66P1800inpieces > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 17:04

Storage??? Keep the cars in the garage and rebuild the bike in your living room.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/28/2019 at 18:20

Cincinnati

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > 66P1800inpieces
03/28/2019 at 18:20

Only temporary, once it’s fully functioning I’ll put it in the garage. Just want the space

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
03/28/2019 at 21:44

I mean, I'm in Dayton, so like, if you don't want to get it running again, I'm going to be in the market for a first bike this summer...

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/29/2019 at 08:57

I think I’m going to give it a try. I already own it, I got nothing to lose