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Post Info TOPIC: Help!! My TTR250 won't start!


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Help!! My TTR250 won't start!
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In need of some help. My 2001 ttr 250 has been working great up to this point. Now it won't start. Push the magic button and nothing. The headlight still shines bright but no start.

It happened all of a sudden. I went to start in one morning and nothing.

I have tried charging the battery but still no power.

I think it must be electrical because there is absolutely no sound when I push the button.

Any suggestions?



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Help !! TTR 250 Won't Start
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Check your fuse, stand switch, kill button, neutral switch and check for broken wires, ..........................

What happens when you turn the key?
Do all the idiot lights light up?
Does the headlight come on?
Do the brake lights work?
Does the horn work?

Does the starter or solenoid click?
Does the starter grunt and the lights dim?

Does anything happen?

Can you kick start it?
Can you bump start it?
Can you jump-start it?

Martyn



-- Edited by Cubber on Wednesday 19th of October 2011 08:31:54 PM

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East Budleigh. Devon



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Thank you for the quick response Martyn.

This is a US model. Headlight and tail light only. No guages.

There is no sound at all not even a click

There is no kick start electric start only 



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Rather than clicking and pasting the whole article, take a look (and read) the pertinent points here:-

CLICKY THINGY

It leads you through all that is common with ANY motorcycle refusing to start. confuse

Please start with the easily accessible things like fuse, switches, safety contacts, etc. and check your battery is fully charged. hmm

A quick look at the wiring bike's connections would be good and check that there are no frayed/shorting wires anywhere (particularly around the headstock).

Patience is a virtue when looking for a needle in a haystack! biggrin

Martyn



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East Budleigh. Devon



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Thanks for the article.

After you mentioned the bump start I coasted down a

small hill and popped the clutch - No Luck, but when I got it back in the garage

I removed the easily accessible fuses (2) there were OK. I then tried to start

the bike. This time I got RRR-RRR-RRR  click click click. Does that give any clues?



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Definite improvement, methinks. smile

Seems to point to either a bad earth somewhere or a fusty connection on the starting system. confuse

Why don't you start at the starter button on the handlebar and squirt WD40 in it. Then follow the wires from the switch and find a connection (cable run or solenoid or relay or switch) then take the connection apart, clean the metal bits and coat them in Vaseline before re-connecting.

Do this on all the junctions, spade connectors and bits and bobs. Don't forget the safety switches like side stand, neutral and kill button.

Do it methodically - and you will find the culprit eventually. aww

Good luck.

Martyn



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East Budleigh. Devon



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Martyn,

I did as you suggested. I think it was the neutral switch. It seemed loose.

In any case the bike now starts. Thank you so much for the help.



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Result biggrinbiggrin

I have made this thread a sticky as it has proved so useful!

Brian



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Could be anything.....more info.

From what i gather it sounds like fuel is most likely but i can't tell just from....Won't start.

A good start would be to check plug for signs of oil ,too much fuel ect.(black)

Clean carby

Try again.

....................

Jarrah.



-- Edited by barra8 on Monday 5th of November 2012 12:59:35 AM

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Popped the clutch on a hill, started, rode briefly. Now it won't hold an idle, the headlight flickers, and won't start without popping the clutch 



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Okay, It had been sitting for awhile with previous owner, when I bought it it ran like a clock, now the electric starter will not work. No click when I press it, no turnover, zilch. The lights won't turn on when I turn the key and turn them on. I did get it going thinking it was just an "hasnt been used in awhile" problem that would sort itself out once I took it for a quick rip. Once I had finished a very short ride the bike shut off in idle at the foot of my driveway, the starter would not work. I got it to run (as before) with an old fashioned clutch pop down a hill. The lights were flikering and it died at idle. 



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Help !! TTR 250 Won't Start
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Sounds like an electrical problem, check the battery and connections first

Have you downloaded a manual Yet, it's for the blue one

Instant Manual Download for the Blue TTR only.

Good Luck smile



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rollingstone14 wrote:

Okay, It had been sitting for awhile with previous owner, when I bought it it ran like a clock, now the electric starter will not work. No click when I press it, no turnover, zilch. The lights won't turn on when I turn the key and turn them on. I did get it going thinking it was just an "hasnt been used in awhile" problem that would sort itself out once I took it for a quick rip. Once I had finished a very short ride the bike shut off in idle at the foot of my driveway, the starter would not work. I got it to run (as before) with an old fashioned clutch pop down a hill. The lights were flikering and it died at idle. 


 Steve is on the right track..

Check battery & leads.

Check starter motor lead.

Check fuse.

Check ac magneto.

Check for any wires crossing or grounding.

Check spark plug.

Check clutch switch & activator on engine.

Check ressistor.

Check & clean main earth....you will find this on the regulator/ressistor bolt under the fuel tank.

Check starter motor brushes for signs of blackness/discoloration.

Check stop/kill switch.

Check light switch.

Check light on/off switch (if fitted)

..................................

Don't ya hate how it can be so many things with electrics smile

There is probably a few more worse case scenario's like CDI or diode ect.

.....................

Jarrah.

 

 



-- Edited by barra8 on Monday 5th of November 2012 07:02:48 PM

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Turns out a fuse had blown. Easy $10 fix.

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I have had problems with the fuse fracturing rather than blowing. The tell tale ssign that this had happened was the headlight and the digital spedo flickering as you described.

Nice easy fix though!!

 

Peter



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On Wednesday, I was coming home from work on the bike, for some reason I wanted to try a top speed run, I was screaming along at 152km/h, not actually going that fast, but the clock was reading that. As I started to slow down, I knocked the throttle off and started to apply the brakes, the engine then revved to the moon. I tried whacking the throttle open and shutting it properly by hand again to no avail. I then knocked the kill switch and pulled up off the road. I pushed it home, because I was only about half a mile away. By the time I got home the engine should have cooled down a bit. I tried starting it when I got home and she wouldn't go again. I had some dinner and went out to try it again and she still wouldn't start. furious

I assumed it was a carb problem, so Thursday I stripped the carb and cleaned it, I noticed that the little rubber boot between the carb and the intake was split, so could be sucking air in. I have a new one ordered, as a temporary measure I gaffa taped around the boot, to test my theory. She still won't go, you can bump start her but as soon as it drops down the revs the bike will die again. When it's running she lurches a lot, the revs are very erratic and the throttle, which is normally very smooth and shuts very fast, becomes really stiff to turn and then won't snap shut again. Yet, engine off, the throttle is as smooth as you would like??? confuse

Friday, I didn't fancy touching her and sat and had a think. Saturday, I wondered if the timing had somehow jumped, perhaps the high revs put extra stress and the chain and it jumped a tooth, which would explain poor low speed idling yet the pulling like a train if you can get the bike to rev past mid revs, which she does if she doesn't die on the way up. The timing was still fine, and I checked the valve clearances while I was at it, they were at the upper end of within spec. I then wondered if the rings had somehow broke or something, I didn't take the head off, but I turned the engine over from the flywheel/timing mark side area thing? I was looking to feel for any tight spots in the bore, I think about half-way up/half-way down it gets tight, but by such a minuscule amount it's hard to identify. So that brings me back to a fuelling problem again. I did notice that the plug was quite black, indicating a very rich mixture, again pointing towards a fuel problem.

I don't understand it and without tearing into the engine I can't be sure what's up. I rebuilt the top end about 3,500 miles ago, it should last longer than that shouldn't it?

Please help,
Adam



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What had you done to the bike prior to Wednesday, Adam? confuse

Do you always pull the clutch in when you apply the brakes?

Perhaps  one of the throttle cables has snapped or come loose, together with your leaky manifold. hmm

A good look around seems in order - look for the simple/easy things first - Brian said to do so in one of his posts! biggrin

Yuraku

 

 



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I would check condition of throttle cables for fraying and routing as a precaution as u mention stiffness in operation .The split boot would not help and probably explain your oily plug .failing that I would go back to the carb and retrace strip rebuild double check all is correct. As mentioned rule out the simple first 



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Sorry to hear of the problem Adam.

Clearly the first thing to do is to replace the split inlet stub but, if that doesn't cure the problem, my next step would be to remove the spark plug and check the compression. A simple check is to put your thumb over the spark plug hole and turn the engine over. Your thumb should be forcibly pushed up and you shouldn't be able to hold it in place. 

If the TTR starts when bumped then it seems unlikely the timing is out although I have known the flywheel Woodruff key to shear - but this would be a rare occurrence.

Brian



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It's not cable related, I oil the cables regularly, I cleaned the end of the bars, and lubed up the throttle housing. I lubed up the return spring on the carb, and re-stripped and built the carb again, everything is still fine. I don't have a compression tester, but I knew about the thumb trick before, still plenty so possibly not rings but still worth bearing in mind, I think my mate across the way has a proper compression tester. Also the throttle is only stiff with the engine running, it seems to flutter as well.

I ferretted about with her on Sunday, I re-taped up the intake stub, smarter with some electrical tape, not permanently but just while my new stub is on order from Yamaha. I managed to get her running, roughly, I turned the idle all the way up but it still sounds like a normal tick-over, albeit with much coughing and farting and blue smoke. I changed the plug, the old one was all carboned up and I just couldn't justify the time needed to clean it when I can get a new one from my mate for 3 quid, he works at Halfrauds.

Interestingly, I discovered that on Tuesday, when I was on reserve when I got to work, I was given some fuel from a jerry can. There is a fresh petrol, fresh diesel and then contaminated fuel, the diesel and petrol are markedly different, but the mixed and petrol are in identical cans... see where this is going yet? disbelief

It turns out they think they picked up the wrong can. Their hearts were in the right place, try to save me a few bob on fuel, but possibly costing more, I'm going to make some labels for them tomorrow.

Would some diesel running through the engine cause this to happen? I never noticed anything wrong with the bike on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

About to drain the tank and chuck some fresh fuel in the bike tonight, let you know how it goes.



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I would think you've discovered the cause with mixed fuels.

I once inadvertently FILLED my Bandit tank with diesel - without realising! bleh

The bike started and I left the garage, but then it started popping and pharting and finally stopped. hmm

The four carb floatbowls had run out of petrol and  filled with diesel - no spark and quietness.

A total tank of diesel down the drain and fresh petrol put in after draining all the fuel lines and floatbowls I managed to start it - but it ran roughly (very) for a canny few miles after that.

Petrol engines are funny about running on diesel no it doesn't ignite and the plugs die instead.

Martyn



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She is very ill. I swapped the diesel out for petrol, god knows where it's going to go, back to work and disposed of I think. I have no idea why they keep that stuff knocking about, it's no good in either petrol or diesel.


I think I'm going to run some high octane fuel through the bike for the next few tanks, maybe try to combat the diesel a bit, even at 1.40 a litre, she only holds eight so I think the extra cost of the better fuel should be outweighed by the advantages it brings.

Why does she pull like a completely different animal though at high revs? I don't want to sound too dozy, but she reminds me of a proper 'crosser when she gets going, hardly any engine braking and really grunty. I can't see diesel helping that out. Maybe just getting the carb cleaned twice a week combined with the pipe just unlocked a couple of extra ponies, combined with riding the Vara 125 to work again recently, makes her feel different. I don't really know. More playing tomorrow, I think.



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Valve clearances? They may of been tight but your full throttle blast may of tipped it over?

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Got her going, with another clean of the carb, a re-packed silencer and a new intake stub thing and fresh petroleum. Took her for a spin around the block, all was well so I put the rest of the bike together again, side panels and seat, chucked my jacket on and left for the open road.

50 miles later, the problem comes back, she starts revving on her own again, not a lot, but just about 2,500 RPM, at a guess. I pulled over to have a look, couldn't see any problems with the throttle actuator sticking, it was returning back to the idle adjust screw nicely, the cables weren't kinked, the throttle tube wasn't sticking. I carried on again just on the new idle speed, I then pulled over while leaving the engine to run still, I noticed fuel leaking from the bottom of the carb, near the section with the diaphragm inside. Is that the pumper part? I didn't notice any tears in the diaphragm but what could cause it to keep pumping some fuel in to keep the bike revving a little bit? I assume that's what is happening to cause this issue.

Any help, will be very gratefully received.

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If you have had the diaphram out it may not be sealing properly ,my old bike did the same but two new orings from brian and i flatted the surfaces with wet and dry and it sealed fine

When the diaphrams out hold it up to the light as they develop tiny cracks with age that cant be seen easily , and mine had fuel ontop of the diaphram so had to replace that too

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Starter wasn't working so i fixed that with a new starter relay. Now the starter works but wont turn the motor over. I pulled the starter cover off and held the gears in and pushed the button. Gears turned over but motor wont turn over. Is this the starter clucth?



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If the starter motor is spinning and the engine isn't turning over it suggests that the sprag clutch isn't engaging on the boss of the large idler gear that sits behind the flywheel.

Does it start OK on the kicker? If so, I am surprised that running the engine doesn't free the sprag up.

I am assuming the starter motor is the original? I have fitted the body of a starter motor on the wrong way around before and it span over backwards which doesn't engage the sprag disbelief

When you have the starter gear cover off, take out the large idler gear that runs on the starter pinion. Then try turning the small starter gear. Does it turn both ways easily? If so, its definitely a sprag issue.

Brian



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It doesn't have kicker us model. Starter is factory. What would i need to look for on starter clucth if not in gauging.

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Does the small starter gear move both ways freely?

If so you will need to remove the flywheel to see what's happening with the sprag. Might be obvious.



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I can move it but its not easy to move.

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Does it move easily one way but not move the other way? If that is the case the sprag is engaging OK.

 



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No its the same both ways. It's tight both ways.

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Sounds like the engine has kicked back on stopping and jammed the sprag onto the idler gear boss. I can't really help further without you taking off the flywheel to examine the sprag.

Brian



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Im working on pulling it off. Trying to get my hands on a puller.

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Shuey wrote:

Im working on pulling it off. Trying to get my hands on a puller.


If you are stuck for a puller then use the rear axle. Same threads etc.



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You are the best Brian.

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hi guys , i went for a ride on the weekend , went great , pulled it of the ute and washed it , then it wouldn't start , it tried and turns over just , thought it was the battery so i put it on the charger , showed charge , so i pulled it an tryed to start it , solidoud clicks and growls like it wants to turn over , iv been going through the connections cleaning the , wondering if anyone can suggest anything else ?

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Bri has already responded to your other post.

Does it turn over? If not short across the terminals on the solenoid, if that does not work, it would suggest your bushes are stuck on the back of the starter, givre it a tap to try and release them, or take it of and inspect the bushes. Even if you find the bushes are stuck and you release them, from my experience they will not last much longer and need replacing. Cheap to do here https://totallyttrs.com/epages/699105d9-e4cc-4b32-b236-84e72cd67f84.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=7743517

Hope that helps

Steve



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