03 gz250 marauder won't start.

[masterkeosk]

I just got this bike a couple weeks ago after it had been sitting in a garage for a year and a half to two years. Put in new battery and it would turn over and stay started for maybe two or three seconds and then stall. It still had the old gas in it(a little less than a gallon) so I mixed in a fresh gallon of gas and now it won't even start up. 'm thinking it's the carburetor but as I'm a newb to bikes I'm not exactly sure what to do or where the carb actually is. Could someone please give me some suggestions?

[2005GZ250]

The carb is gummed up from sitting, it will need to be removed and cleaned. The gas tank will also need to be cleand out. Not a job for someone that does not know anything about motorcycles. Where are you located? Let us know where you are and maybe someone can tell you about a good shop to take it to.

[masterkeosk]

I live in cincinnati ohio. I'm new to bikes but I am good with tools and such. Any suggestions would be great. Also is it a fuel injected bike or a carburetor?

[2005GZ250]

Try this first, remove the gas tank & drain it & clean it. Drain the carb float bowl, there is a screw on the bottom right side of the float bowl just above a small hose that runs down the back side of the engine. Reinstall the tank and add a gallon of gas & 1/2 a bottle of "Seafoam", turn the fuel valve to "prime" and open the drain screw for a few seconds to flush any crud from the float bowl. Let the bike sit over night & then try to start it.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by 2005GZ250

Reinstall the tank and add a gallon of gas & 1/2 a bottle of "Seafoam", turn the fuel valve to "prime" and open the drain screw for a few seconds to flush any crud from the float bowl.

That might work but I've got a couple of comments.

I KNOW a lot of people are stuck on Seafoam but, honestly, it is NOT the best carb cleaner that you can get, when you are actually experiencing problems.
Gumout or Berryman's B12 are much better.

Secondly, one gallon of gas and 1/2 can of anything is probably not good.
One gallon of gas and 2X the recommended dose of cleaner is probably better.

[Aussie Steve]

Just out of idle curiosity what is seafoam?...(carb cleaner obiously) but what does it supposedly do. I have scoured bike shops here and not found it...ditto specialist car shops. Who makes the stuff and is there a generic brand that is sold oversea's...Same for the Gumout and Berryman's B12. Our fuel does not have the same additives as yours in the States...we do have about 10% ethanol (allowed) though...don't think thats the same as you guys? I am currently running a Yamaha brand of carb cleaner in the fuel just as maintenance thing...something I do on a three to five monthly basis.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Aussie Steve

Just out of idle curiosity what is seafoam?....

Seafoam is a "multi-purpose" product that is touted for carb cleaner, FI cleaner, reduce carbon deposits, oil conditioner (cages only), etc.

It seems to work good when the accumulated crud is not too bad.

My preference is for something that is made specifically for carb cleaner.
I'm kinda surprised you can't find Berryman's as I "think" it is a UK product.

Look for something with Techron in it. It comes highly recommended for routine use.

[Aussie Steve]

Funny that! there are not a lot of UK products here any more. When I fist came to Aus there were heaps now that we have become a multi culture we get products from many countries but not England. I guess the product I am using is so similar to the seafoam product it makes no difference.

As for the others I have not seen anything here that equates to them...I presume they are heavy duty gunk out type of cleaners. Those I have seen are dis-assembly types.

[2005GZ250]

Here's a link to Sea Foam products:

Sea Foam--products

There is a MSDS listed on the page if you want to see what it made of.

[Aussie Steve]

Thanks for that will take a look see

Steve