TBR7 stalled in rain and won't restart

[Slug]

For full story. Had to ride home in a rainstorm today. Made it into the driveway and I shut the bike off since the rain stopped. Maybe 10 minutes later I went out and started the bike up, took it around the block (not raining at this point). I put the bike into neutral so I can open the gates and the bike stalls.


Tried restarting it for a minute or 2 and nothing. The starter tries kicking it over but won't start. Dried the bike down.



I checked the spark plug after the bike cooled a bit and it's fine.



All the the electrics seem to be working.



Kick start doesn't want to turn it over either. I still have compression.


Not sure if it matters at all but I swapped the CDI on Tuesday. I tried swapping the CDI back to original and it still won't turn over.


My only thinking is that maybe water got in the fuel somehow and I'm not getting combustion?..

But it was running fine all the way home through the rain and even started right back up before it stalled after less than a minute ride around the block back to the house.

[JerryHawk250]

Did you have spark while cranking with the plug out?

[Slug]

While I love to test that right now--- I can't... the spark plug is stripped.... I swear it's one thing after another with this bike lately.
I am so beyond frustrated with this.

[Slug]

I did notice there was some water around the airbox when I took the seat off to check the CDI... So I'm thinking water got down into the carb.


What would do you think the best way of going about this would be now?


EDIT: Since I had been trying to start it quite a bit since this happened, is there anything else should tend to if there is water in the carb?

[Thumper]

The spark plug thing is a bummer. Sorry. How many miles on the bike?
I don't know if you can helicoil spark plug threads. If it is necessary to remove the head for the repair, you can get a new head for under $100 instead- new valves, new spark plug threads. Check ebay for
250cc Cylinder Head Assy ZongShen CG250

[Slug]

Originally Posted by Thumper

The spark plug thing is a bummer. Sorry. How many miles on the bike?
I don't know if you can helicoil spark plug threads. If it is necessary to remove the head for the repair, you can get a new head for under $100 instead- new valves, new spark plug threads. Check ebay for
250cc Cylinder Head Assy ZongShen CG250

Oh, it's not the threads. It's the the part the socket goes over. So I'll have to try vice gripping it out when I get the chance.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by Slug

Oh, it's not the threads. It's the the part the socket goes over. So I'll have to try vice gripping it out when I get the chance.

Oh good. That's clearly a minor fix compared to spark plug threads in the head!

[Slug]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Did you have spark while cranking with the plug out?

I was able to check if I'm still getting spark and it is. So I think that would means all electrical are fine?


I'm completely baffled that the bike started right up with no problems then after a very short ride of less than a minute it died and won't start at all.

[JerryHawk250]

Did you replace the stock plug? The cheap torch plugs that come on these bike are junk. Also have you done the valve adjustment yet?

[dr1445]

1/2 a shot glass of gas down the plug hole replace plug and see if fires

[Slug]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Did you replace the stock plug? The cheap torch plugs that come on these bike are junk. Also have you done the valve adjustment yet?

I changed the stock plug a long time ago.


Have not adjusted valves yet. It's a 2020 with around 500 miles on it..


Only really started riding it as a city commuter in the last 2 months.

Originally Posted by dr1445

1/2 a shot glass of gas down the plug hole replace plug and see if fires

I'll give this a try when I can. Might not be able to really work on the bike until Monday though.

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by Slug

I did notice there was some water around the airbox when I took the seat off to check the CDI... So I'm thinking water got down into the carb.

What would do you think the best way of going about this would be now?

EDIT: Since I had been trying to start it quite a bit since this happened, is there anything else should tend to if there is water in the carb?

Pull the carb float bowl and clean it out. Should fix your possible water-in-gas situation. Wouldn't hurt to look at the idle and main jets while you're in there; make sure they can flow.

Also check for leaks in the airbox, and the connection to the carb.

How's the fuel filter?

[Magician16]

I read about this last night. I thought about it while I was riding in the rain this morning, and the bike started cutting out before I got home. I ran out of gas, ha. I coasted into a gas station as it died.

[Thumper]

Valve adjustment can shut down a motor, but usually not. But these engines are notorious for having no gap upon arrival. Add one or two other out of adjustment issues, and won't start.

Check/adjust the valves to rule it out and reduce the number of minor things that can cause it to fail.

[Slug]

I went out to the bike after it sitting for 15 or 16hrs since yesterday.
Decided to try and kick start it again and it cranked over on the first kick. Curious; I hit the kill switch and tried the electric start, it struggled at first but cranked over still.
Went to a few stores to pick some things up. Bike started every time with no issues and seems to be running fine again.


I'm not entirely sure what to do now about the issue since it went away without me really doing anything.



Thank you guys for all the help with this. I'm definitely going to pull the original carb off the bike and put a Nibbi on it ASAP and I'll also check the valves while I'm down there.