sr1murray Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Hi, been having a flick through as I'm a newbie, not only to this site but trials in general. I've been to see a few trials and joined the ACU as well as a local club. I've got hold of a bike, a 1996 Gas Gas 250 Contact. It's rough around the edges but was blooming cheap! Only problem is, I can't get the bugger started! I've started at the carb, cleaning all the gunk, sand and rubbish out. Checked there's a spark which there is. Cleaned all the rubbish and mud from all I can see wiring wise. But still can't even get a splutter. With the plug out I set the engine to bottom dead centre (screw driver down the barrel) and squirted in some easy start (straight into the barrel as well as the carb) but on replacing the spark plug there still wasn't so much as a cough. Reading up on what I can find on the Internet I've even tried checking the spark with a second plug in the head to create compression - there is still a good spark. I have no idea where to go from here, any help would be greatly appreciated! I've attached a photo of the bike. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggie Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 I think you either have the bike flooded or you do not have any fuel going into the motor. If you stick your nose at the end of the silencer after you have kicked several times you should have a fuel smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sr1murray Posted January 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Hi Reggie, many thanks for taking the time to reply. I would have thought it would at least cough with easy start. If it's flooded, how do I unflood it? I've kicked it over with the plug out a fair bit already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanorbust Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) If the petrol in the tank is old you'll need to empty it and use fresh. This can be a cause of mystifying non-starting. Choke mechanism working OK? Did you remove the jets and ensure they were clear when mucking out the carb? Tried bump starting as opposed to kicking? Edited January 19, 2016 by cleanorbust 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sr1murray Posted January 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Hi, yes, we removed the jets and cleaned the whole thing through. Blew through the jets with compressed air too. I've not had a go at bumping it at the moment but will try tomorrow. It's got to be worth a go changing the fuel too. Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggie Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Fuel smell at end of silencer confirmed or not ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sr1murray Posted January 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Will have a look tomorrow- it's dark and cold now! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b40rt Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Woodruff key sheered ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sr1murray Posted January 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Thanks b40rt, I'll check that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialsertl Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Do you have compression ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2lls Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 could be faulty kill switch, check with multi meter or just disconnect kill switch and try kick start again, if it starts just stall it to stop then you will know if you need a new kill switch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sr1murray Posted January 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Brilliant, thanks people. Gives me a lot to look at tomorrow in the daylight. There appears to be bags of compression so I'll go down the fuel route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadof2 Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 I thought the silver plastics were a bit strange as well. There is no point in doing anything else until you have checked the woodruff key in flywheel (as already suggested by B40RT) Easy start is worth a try - sometimes it gets a bike going that has stale fuel / oil in the crankcase. Better still, remove the carb and reed block and fill the crankcase with fresh fuel mix. Rock the crank back and forth then tip the bike upside down to drain it all out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sr1murray Posted January 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Many thanks for the great advice. I'll keep you all posted as to how I get on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sr1murray Posted January 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Does this photo help identifying the year/model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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