suzuki gz250 dies after a few blocks, won't restart

[astrovltv]

Hi,

I have a 2001 GZ250 cruiser that has been giving me problems recently. I can start it ok usually, and ride it a few blocks, but then it'll just die. I'll coast to a stop, and then can't restart it for awhile (and half the time I run down the battery trying before it works and have to charge it...).

I'm not out of gas, and the fuel gauge is set to On. The spark plugs are new and look fine. Oil level is normal. Previously I haven't had any problems with it except it occasionally backfires but it didn't seem like that was actually a problem, just annoying, but I'm not a mechanic... Any idea what might be the problem?

Thanks. I'd really really really appreciate any help, I can't afford to blindly take it in to a mechanic that'll charge me out the wazoo for a bunch of tests or something...

[robertc729]

to the forum, someone should be along shortly that should be able to help you, just be patient, after all it is a weekend.

[EWChimp]

Clogged fuel filter maybe? Check your fuel lines, see if you have good flow.

[astrovltv]

oh, also, it lurches a bit before dying most of the time.

Actually, I just filled up the tank all the way with high-grade gasoline. It wasn't empty before but was getting low. It hasn't died again since then (only ridden it a few miles though) so I'm wondering if the gas level was low enough that decelerating caused the remaining gas to slosh away from the siphon enough that it wasnt getting enough fuel (and causing lurching until it did die, just making the sloshing worse). has this happened to anyone else?

Thanks,
Vera

[kz1000g]

Originally Posted by astrovltv

Hi,

I have a 2001 GZ250 cruiser that has been giving me problems recently. I can start it ok usually, and ride it a few blocks, but then it'll just die. I'll coast to a stop, and then can't restart it for awhile (and half the time I run down the battery trying before it works and have to charge it...).

I'm not out of gas, and the fuel gauge is set to On. The spark plugs are new and look fine. Oil level is normal. Previously I haven't had any problems with it except it occasionally backfires but it didn't seem like that was actually a problem, just annoying, but I'm not a mechanic... Any idea what might be the problem?

Thanks. I'd really really really appreciate any help, I can't afford to blindly take it in to a mechanic that'll charge me out the wazoo for a bunch of tests or something...

The plugs are new, but are they sparking? When it does this pull the plug and put the wire back on it, gound the end of the plug to the engine (DO NOT HOLD THE PLUG WITH YOUR BARE HAND) if you still have good spark, look at the fuel system.
If you do not have good spark look at the coil. They will sometimes test good when cold, but short out when they are hot.
Check you kick stand safety switch and your kill swtich too.

If you have good spark, it could still be something simple.
The vent to the fuel tank could be blocked (it's in the cap).
Try draining the bowl of the carb into a glass jar and see if you had water or other crud in there.
The air filter could be blocked or dirty. Mice can build a nest pretty quick in an air box.

Hope this helps,
Paul Sr.
kz1000g

[DrBob]

If filling the tank solved it, then it is quite possible that you were in fact running out of gas. Because the bike does not have a gas guage, the bike will run out of gas with about a quarter tank left, as a warning that you are getting low. The level gets below the petcock feed, so it runs out. When you lean it over on the sidestand the gas sloshes over and fills the line, so the bike will start after it has been sitting a bit. Pull it off the side stand and the fuel sloshes back away from the petcock feed again, so the bike will run for a few blocks until it uses up the gas in the line.

When it does this, flip the petcock to 'reserve' (it is actually just a second petcock feed lower down in the same tank) to allow the remaining gas to flow to the carb. You should be able to go about 25-30 miles before the remaining gas runs out.