Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle

Shipman515 · 08-27-2011, 12:58 PM

Hey ya'll.

My gz250 recently stopped running normally. The bike now sputters when in idle and will not accelerate above 20 mph. It sounds like it is not getting fuel properly (I've tried seafoam and another cleaner, but to no avail). Just curious where y'all would recommend starting to remedy this problem.

Edit: It's an 01 with approximately 8000 miles if that helps.

alantf · 08-27-2011, 02:01 PM

Have you tried running the bike in "prime"? If this gets it running normally, then your problem is a vacuum leak from engine to petcock. If you haven't already tried this, then give it a go, & let us know the result. :2tup: However, it seems to point to a carb problem.

Shipman515 · 08-27-2011, 04:03 PM

Same behavior when run in prime.

blaine · 08-28-2011, 12:38 AM

Disconnect your fuel hose at the carb and see if you have good fuel,with the carb on "pri".If you have good fuel flow,than you will need to clean your carb.If you don't have good fuel flow,than your petcock screens are plugged.
:cool:

Shipman515 · 09-06-2011, 10:04 PM

Which is an easier problem to remedy?

(I'm new to working on motorcycles).

alantf · 09-07-2011, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shipman515

Which is an easier problem to remedy?

I think you're missing the point. Easier or difficult - you have to remedy whichever the fault happens to be.

**jonathan180iq** · 09-07-2011, 10:46 AM

Also, check all vacuum lines.
A disconnected vacuum hose somewhere will cause this problem as well.

Being an '01, I would replace them all anyway.
Just head down to your local auto parts store and buy 2 little boxes of hose. There are only two sizes on the whole bike.

Shipman515 · 09-13-2011, 12:39 PM

Could a fuel filter do this as well?

Shipman515 · 09-13-2011, 12:41 PM

And how do I clean the carb? Do I buy some sort of fuel additive for the carb or do I disassemble it?

**jonathan180iq** · 09-13-2011, 03:04 PM

The fuel filter probably isn't the problem, but they are easy enough to replace and it's a good habit to keep an eye on it.

For carb cleaning, to do it correctly and thoroughly, you need to remove it.

To get a pretty good carb cleaning, pour in the proper amount of Seafoam or Berryman's b-12.

08-27-2011, 12:58 PM	#1
Shipman515 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 14	Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle Hey ya'll. My gz250 recently stopped running normally. The bike now sputters when in idle and will not accelerate above 20 mph. It sounds like it is not getting fuel properly (I've tried seafoam and another cleaner, but to no avail). Just curious where y'all would recommend starting to remedy this problem. Edit: It's an 01 with approximately 8000 miles if that helps. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-27-2011, 02:01 PM	#2
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle Have you tried running the bike in "prime"? If this gets it running normally, then your problem is a vacuum leak from engine to petcock. If you haven't already tried this, then give it a go, & let us know the result. :2tup: However, it seems to point to a carb problem. __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
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08-27-2011, 04:03 PM	#3
Shipman515 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 14	Re: Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle Same behavior when run in prime. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-28-2011, 12:38 AM	#4
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Re: Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle Disconnect your fuel hose at the carb and see if you have good fuel,with the carb on "pri".If you have good fuel flow,than you will need to clean your carb.If you don't have good fuel flow,than your petcock screens are plugged. :cool: __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised.
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09-06-2011, 10:04 PM	#5
Shipman515 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 14	Re: Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle Which is an easier problem to remedy? (I'm new to working on motorcycles). Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-07-2011, 10:46 AM	#7
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle Also, check all vacuum lines. A disconnected vacuum hose somewhere will cause this problem as well. Being an '01, I would replace them all anyway. Just head down to your local auto parts store and buy 2 little boxes of hose. There are only two sizes on the whole bike.
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09-13-2011, 12:39 PM	#8
Shipman515 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 14	Re: Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle Could a fuel filter do this as well?
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09-13-2011, 12:41 PM	#9
Shipman515 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 14	Re: Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle And how do I clean the carb? Do I buy some sort of fuel additive for the carb or do I disassemble it?
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09-13-2011, 03:04 PM	#10
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Bike won't run over 20 mph, sputtering idle The fuel filter probably isn't the problem, but they are easy enough to replace and it's a good habit to keep an eye on it. For carb cleaning, to do it correctly and thoroughly, you need to remove it. To get a pretty good carb cleaning, pour in the proper amount of Seafoam or Berryman's b-12.
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