250 sx running prob

[Andrew13305]

I have a honda 250 sx atc and it has been running a bit weak recently so I changed the oil, oil filter and spark plug, and now its being wierd. right after I changed that stuff it was running great but then after about 5 min of riding around it bogged down and died. but then after fiddleing with the choke and fuel switch for a few minutes it started running again but then died 5 min later. this happened like 4 times and then It died and won't start up again.

I'm thinkin maybe water got in the tank (rained last night) even though it was under a shade.
or I don't know what it is. any ideas?


ps is there a trick for getting the sping behind the oil filter to go back in, in place?

[hublake]

As far as the spring goes, I put just a dab of wheel bearing grease on it to hold it in place.

[GeniusBlock]

Is your gas cap vent open or "on"? or is it clogged?

[SCRAMCHARGER318]

Is your gas cap vent open or "on"? or is it clogged?

i agree with genius, check the cap, the problems you describe sound just like what happend to my 185s, when it kills next time and wont start, take the gas cap off and see if it will start then, if it starts right up you know what the problem is.

[Andrew13305]

yeah thats happened to me before. thats not the problem. I tried starting it with the gas cap off and it still wasn't working. I have a feeling its something really stupid and simple like that but thats not it lol

[Andrew13305]

ps the little fuel selctor on the side. it has 3 settings off, on, and res. when I got it it was on res. what should it be on and what does res mean?

[SCRAMCHARGER318]

res means reserve or you better get some gas, i think the main part of the tank holds about 2 gallons and i think .5 gallon it has for a reserve, u usually run it in the run postion until it runs out of gas, then you have enough to get you to more gas. also you might think about taking the petcock off the tank and clean the filter, it might be full of rust from the tank and clogging your full line.

[Andrew13305]

ok i changed the gas and I took the little hose frome the fuel selector to the carb of and gas came out so Its getting gas and I have no reason to assume its not getting air but now I took the spark plug out,(it's dry) and touched to the side of the engine, hit the started and there was no spark so I'm thinkin thats my problem. what would I do to see why its not getting spark?? thanks for your help guys

[oscarmayer]

cdi or coil went bad? but if the plug is dry, then it's not getting fuel into the cyclinder itself. that's beside the point of spark. so lets get you fuel to the cyclinder first.
your carb may be pluged so i recommend takign the carb off, pulling the bowl off and using carb cleaner and cleanign it out really well. take the jets off and hose them of with carb cleaner too. then let dry and re-asemble (ensure the openings are clean and you see light).

once you get fuel, we can work on the spark issue.

[Tri-Z Pilot]

You say you changed the spark plug then it started acting up? Could be the plug, just cause its new doesnt mean anything. Get yourself a new plug then try that and report back.