$900 Kawasaki EX500 sat for 4 years. Can I get it running?
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- Bought this $900 Kawasaki EX500 (the pre-cursor to the Ninja) off Facebook Marketplace. It had a whole slew of problems (carburetors, battery, clutch lever), but nothing I couldn't handle. And to skip the click-bait, yeah I got it running.
Finally got a project finished. This took about a week to complete from pickup to finish!
I hope you enjoyed watching this video. If you have any feedback or additional info, I'd love to hear from you. I try to always make quality content that I would like to see myself.
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Wow, the madman did it. He finally finished a project. Hope you guys enjoy this one! Don't be fooled by the false ending and stay until the end. I'll probably upload a riding video within the next few days.
A) strip carb and soak in solvent for air passages B)replace both carb slides, the rubber diaphragm cracks and screws up low RPM C) sync the carbs so it will idle D) check intake boots from cracks that suck air (spray WD40 at it while running to see if idle changes), then replace them anyway because they are older than you E) replace the tires. Now. F) replace the brake pads with EBC HH pads and completely flush that horrid soup out of your brake lines G) not seen it close, but I am sure the chain is rusted crap and needs a new one (original 30year old chain?) H) toss that "battery charger" science experiment and get a Tender, leave it on a lot to full charge the new batt.
I learned something from this thanks
You have learned some valuable lessons there. NEVER think"Oh that will be ok" IT NEVER IS! If something is difficult to take off then it will be neglected, so if you have to take it of strip it down to the last nut and bolt and check and reset everything to factory settings then you have a baseline to start at. But I liked the way you worked things out and persevered until you got it right! Well Done. By the way I love the seat it is wearing, like to get hold of one of those. Great video. Hi from the UK
Exactly, definitely learned a few things here... And yes that Corbin seat is wonderful! Very comfy. Glad you enjoyed
Man this video is an absolute godsend. I just picked up a 2006 EX500 that's been garaged/sitting for the last 3-4 years and this covers a lot of what I've planned to do. About to take the tank off and see how she looks, thanks for making this vid!
Of course! Glad you liked it. If you have any questions, let me know. I check new posts regularly and can probably figure out what info you need
@@N0Fumar Thanks! I finished a very thorough coolant flush, changed oil + filter, drained the old gas and found my tank is somehow absolutely spotless. did my first test, she fired right up no problem. rode around for maybe 30 mins or so. next day, decided to ride for about an hour and at one point when I was revving in 4th I felt a sudden loss in power. since then, it'll start up fine, the idle is "okay", but as soon as you touch the throttle the engine dies. i'm guessing its carburetor time? hah.
14:03 those screws are always stripped because people think they are Phillips head screws and they are not. They are Japanese specifications and it looks like a Phillips but it’s not.
Yes, I have since gotten a JIS screwdriver. However, they do seem to be made of a very maliable material so they always get destroyed much easier.
Rather than that impact driver, you need a JIS philips screwdriver for the master cyl and the carb parts. It is different than an American phillips, and it literally bites the screws to keep from stripping
From experience, this is totally correct.
She's a beauty. Love the color, and those older ones have such a cool, retro dashboard.
Thanks! I love the retro style, definitely my favorite part
My first bike in 1990… same colors. I rode 5k miles in Boston city traffic and all seasons! Happy days…
I got it towards the end of your video. My father had one of these as my first bike. The carbs started acting up one day and he gave me a wrench and said have at her. I had a couple times where I had to totally take everything off again. Worth it though. As far as cleaning carbs I stuck a bit of guitar wire to knock all the crud out. I never did a carb sync on mine. It ran just fine without it. I love these little bikes. Congrats.
I've been fortunate enough to not need to sync any of my carbs. They just seem to work 🤷♂️
Great work. Watched every minute and rooted for ya!
The screws are likely JIS (Japanese) and not a phillips (North American) cross. They look similar but have a different angle of taper. the JIS has a little dimple or dot beside the "X" to indicate.
Pick up a JIS bit set or JIS screwdriver, or change all your screws to phillips.
Thanks so much! And yes, more than likely they are JIS screws. I've since gotten a few JIS drivers to make this easier lol
I enjoyed your video. I have never seen anyone put a bike on the center stand while seated on the bike before. Thumbs up!
Thanks Rob! Yeah I figured it was probably stable enough just for a quick sit.
Great job, im in the same situation with a Gpz 500s 2001, your video help me so much, thanks, Víctor from Argentina
Absolutely! Best of luck with that bike, should be fun
It's always fun to see it fire up the first time. I luv the look of these bikes and they're getting harder to find. Nice job! You know your stuff. Wish I could find a deal like that where it only needs a few things.
Thanks boss! Always keep your eye out on Facebook. I actually just picked up another bike off there and should have a new video out in a few days
The plastics and paint look amazing!
I know! The white tires also really bring it all together too. Huge fan of it
wow that a great buy i love the older bikes ninja 500 ..the new ones look awful..you did great on getting it back to running
Thanks boss, definitely like a classic sports bike!
Yup, clogged jets....
My nemesis in my old bike, and it has 4 carbs to deal with. Also my nemesis in lawn mowers it seems.
I had issues with fuel filter(s) when sitting too long as well, and I believe some of these bikes have a filter in the bottom of tank to watch out for.
Yeah, clogged carbs plague old bikes and definitely lawn equipment as well
I like that little Ninja.
It's a great bike!
What a cool, clean NInja 500. Very nice.
Yes it turned out amazing!
I'd be careful with the alternator rotor on these early models - the older type of rotor tends to shatter to pieces over time... Otherwise excellent engine IMO.
Nice video! entertaining and informative. Congrats
Hey, great video! Can you explain the frame sliders? Kinda a mystery. Cheers! Subbed
The frame sliders are a piece of plastic that sticks out the side of the bike a little. If you fall, they slide on those and limit the damage to the actual frame of the bike
Nice looking bike.
Yes the EX500 was later renamed Ninja for marketing purposes.
I like older bikes like this and like the 400 to 650cc models. I have a 93 Suzuki Bandit 400 and a 2004 SV650.... but I'd add a bike like this if only $900 and some work!
Have fun.
Thanks! This has easily been my favorite bike that I own so far. Probably not getting rid of it anytime soon
Great video, I'm currently in the process of doing the same thing on my 2001. It was sitting unused for 8 years or so too.
I noticed a few things in your vid that I'm experiencing with mine that you didn't mention, but am wondering if you've worked on them at all.
The 'clacking' noise when you were starting it and it would cut out, did that go away on it's own? I'm just about to remove the cover to check my alternator and check the chain tension underneath.
Also there is a slight tapping noise, I'm thinking it's the valves. I opened mine up to widest of spec and it is sounding better but i still haven't got the bike to start to verify.
Going to take the carbs apart and clean them again (for the 3rd time 😂) tonight. Glad I'm not alone on this one hahaha.
The carbs are annoying. I wish I did a better job the first / second time.
For the alternator clack, I honestly haven't heard in since these videos. I'm going to assume it was some rust or krust on the flywheel or something. Could be something loose, but mine hasn't reared it's ugly head again.
For the tapping, could it possible be a loose exhaust and you're just hearing puffs? Or is it definitely a physical tapping sound.
@@N0Fumar haha i've been having the exact same experience with them. did them once, got the bike running, then everything went to sh!t and went back to the original state where one cylinder wasn't firing and/or the engine would stall on throttle input.
good news about the alternator clack. i just took the cover off mine and everything looks ok. hopefully it goes away too.
as for the 'tck tck tck' sound i definitely think it's valves. its pretty common on these bikes and usually happens after riding hard for 10k+ km or so. i won't know if what i did resolved it but if it did i'll post a followup comment. 😎
turns out it needed a valve tune and the battery was defective so every time i would crank it over it wouldn't get the proper amps.
running like a beauty now.
@@rn.85 sweet! Glad you got it working. It's a very fun bike
is that an aftermarket seat? im looking at getting the same bike, and i like the look of that seat.
Yes, it's a Corbin seat!
@@N0Fumar I got the bike! Do you know the model, I can’t find it.
Man,what a great video..Good job sir, thanks for the tips and keep it up.
No problem! Glad you enjoyed
Excellent video.
My son just bought a 2003 and complains of very bad mileage. About 40 mpg US. So he will have to rebuild the carbs for sure.
Thanks! And hmm... That actually seems pretty good (not terrible). Is he doing mainly city riding?
@@N0Fumar So that bike is pretty hard on gas then. I won't tell him just yet. He bought a small one to save on gas prices instead of a bigger bike with much more power.
40 is not bad depending on riding style and if city commuting
That thing is gorgeous.
It is!
That is a nice looking bike for $900. Any chance of you sell it in the future?
I bought it with the intent of selling it after fixing it, but it's become my favorite bike now. So probably not anytime soon!
14:05 “I don’t know why those screws typically seem to strip so easily” It’s because they are JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) and not Phillips. You need a special screwdriver hardly anyone has if you want to avoid that. Most just replace them with stainless socket head hardware after fighting them out the first time.
Yep, I only have one JIS driver. I need to get a set for sure
Good video man. I drive an electric a tao leo. It's a fun bike, but next year I'll probably move into a ninja 500
Thanks! Hope the ninja 500 treats you well
You got there in end, bike sounds nice and looks good! Just purchased one of these a 1992 model but this needs a serious overhaul!
Nice! What color is yours? What kind of work does it need?
@@N0Fumar its a green one, all there but full on restoration, going to need fair bit of time and money spent on it? But a job for the future.
Ahh, you'd love the Honda nighthawk full restoration rebuild series I've got going lol
Nice video. That's one fine lookin' Ninja.
Thanks so much! I like it so far
Did you video any of your bike tours? That would be cool
I should be taking some video today! Chest mount go pro and then might try to do some drone footage
It’s much easier to operate the side stand when you’re off the motorcycle as designed.
Lol yeah I found that out after. But, it's so light it's not that bad. I can't do that with the Concours at all
Атмосферное видео, спасибо за проделанную работу. Удивляет конечно же, что вам попадаются такие живые мотоциклы. Респект бро
Thanks very much!
Nice bike well done
Perfect Motorcycle for the road. Were you buy this seat for a Kawasaki EX500 , ninja 500r??
Yes it's an extremely fun bike to ride. In regards to the seat, I'm not entirely sure where. It's a Corbin seat. I'd have to take it off and look at the bottom potentially for a model number
Nice! Only bikes I can find for $900 are pre-disassembled, some important parts may or may not be in boxes.
Hahah "don't low ball me, I know what I've got"
i JUST got one for 600 eur from 1988 and it everything works on it except the acceleration feeling kinda jerky, it's my first bike and it was a gamble these things are old and not a lot of people want them so hey just sit around
If it's jerky on the throttle, check out either the carbs (dirty) or the throttle cable (not operating smoothly). Hope you get it running better soon!
Is the seat custom I looked at others and can't find one with the seat it really makes the bike as far as looks
Yes. It's a custom Corbin seat. Ironically my other bike also has a Corbin seat.
@@N0Fumar yeah it's dope I've been thinking about buying one of these bikes just don't like dealing with the carbs but a guy has a mint condition one in Portland
What the heck was that in your airbox???
Great video, thanks
Haha Swiss cheese! But really, the old foam filter had basically fallen apart on itself and needed to be cleaned out
@@N0Fumar looked more like mice tore it up and built a nest.
@@emmettturner9452 certainly looked like something like that. But it was missing a characteristic "nest" feeling that I've seen in the past. So no clue what happened. Filter was 30 years old so anything is possible
Flush fuel system completely replace all fuel lines clean carbs and add new plugs and battery and that little kawi will run they are bullet proof.
Nice video, however why do you keep pumping the throttle between trying to start it. They are CV carbs and all that does is open and close the throttle butterfly. Nice looking bike though.
For some reason, I seem to recall that when blipling the throttle off of idle it shot an extra bit of gas in (to help with the initial demand of power till the carbs caught up). Maybe this was only with a different bike I had? So I was doing that to put some extra gas in. Mainly a force of habit now.
Just got an 87 ex500 in a similar colorway to yours but my front fairing are half white & match the rear fairings. I'm having the same starting & idling problem you had. We'll see if cleaning & rebuilding the carb does the trick.
That's awesome! It's a very fun bike.
Definitely give the carbs a good cleaning and set the floats correct
Hey great video can you please show me where yhe gas l I nes go and on the tank there's 3 li es
Wicked bike I just bought 1 and got it started did you flood yours and sound like a 45 getting fired mines a 94 model is the seat and rear subframe modified on yours it looks bit different from mine good video I'll check your others and subscribe
Thanks! Best of luck on your bike, they're very fun. And no it's a stock rear end, but it's a custom seat (it's a Corbin seat). I don't believe mine got flooded, it's been fine ever since running
Sorry, the last comment I'll make. You can also adjust the idle screw too.
bro had the carbs off and didnt remove jets ?????????????
Tell me about it. What an amateur. I now know better
That seat is great! What is it? Thanks
It's a Corbin seat!
The screws strip because you are using the wrong type of phillips bit. Needs to be a jis screwdriver
Yep, have since gotten one of those and it's been great.
Damn I got one sat 10 year plus got a battery in gas and water system clean gonna do oil change fingers crossed
Hope it works out for you! Definitely get those carbs and tank cleaned too
Just bought my second ninja ex500 (2003) today for 1200$ off facebook & it runs good, but the fairings are in kinda rough shape. thinking going the naked bike route.. but im not sure yet. i made my 91 ex500 a naked bike and it looks good, but id like to keep the fairings on this one if i can fix them. that bike is in excellent condition for 900$
Sometimes those bikes look great naked! Other times, eh, just not my style. Do you have to do any carb work or anything?
@@N0Fumar probably wouldnt hurt to clean the carbs just to be sure. But it runs good. My 91 needs a new cdi box. Havent been able to find one for a gen1
Check you tube for fixing cracked and scratched body work, not hard and cheap. Painting can get pricey if dine too notch
I'm looking for base mixture screw setting.
Any ideas?
2 1/2 turns out?
Looking in the manual, it says "pre set - 1 3/4 turns out (if altered) and 2 turns out (all models except US)". I tried 2.5 turns (because that's what it was set to when I got it), but reset it to 1 3/4 turns out and it has been running great since.
what is its maximum speed, I have the same motorcycle, only that the speedometer whip was ripped off
The speedometer goes up to 140mph, but a few sites have the top speed listed at around 118mph
ok, thanks, what if I see that it spends a lot of gasoline right
@@davidaldairgarcia1902 That sounds more like a leak or something to me...do you know what mpg you're getting?
Hey was just wondering do you know any websites for aftermarket support and where I could get a nice seat cover and new carburetor ?
Ex-500.com is a pretty solid resource. The motorcycle subreddit is also decent in terms of questions. A *new* carb? Not sure if those exist. But ebay would be your friend for used
Heyy, I saw your post on reddit. I just picked up the exact same bike/same colour = Love it! ..I'm in Canada..she has 48km = about 30k miles. I got it basically off a mechanic who fixes/sells bikes, so it's running like a top..only put on 100km's so far, but got 'er up to 140KPH & it's very smooth. I'm no speed demon..still have my 07 Ninja 250 lol but wanted to feel 'er out. Very smooth,. much nicer ride than my 250. I live pretty rural, travel allot of dirt roads, so Im going to put on 60/40 to 70/30 enduro tires.
Do you still have this one? How is it running after all these years? Anything I should watch out for etc? Thnx & Cheerz!
Glad you're enjoying it! I think the 500 is a great size in the middle of the pack.
Mine is running great, no issues so far. I think some people mention the sprocket(s) are prone to breaking and then the chain whips around, so keep an eye on that
Cool bike
Thanks Joel!
The ex looks much cooler I can only find the regular style in my area
If I sent a perfect condition 1990 seat, how much money would I have to add for that Corbin seat? Thanks
Sorry, what's the question?
@@N0Fumar To give up the Corbin gunfighter seat, how much money would it cost even with a replacement seat in perfect condition? Thanks
Oh gotcha. Unfortunately mine is not for sale, I think your best bet is probably browsing ebay or just searching for it in Google and see what pops up
@@N0Fumar .................dude. It's impossible. The unicorn. You paid $900 for a bike with a $300+ seat. Noice!
Nice work, I picked up an '88 EX500 but so far no success in getting it to start. carbs are clean, engine cranks, plugs spark but still nothing. Carb seal leaks a bit but that just needs a new seal.
However, mine doesn't have the crankcase breather so could that mean anything?
One would think it would at least try to start or stumble with just a small leak from carbs. Does it sputter at all or does it just sound like it's turning over and nothing is happening?
Might be good to verify petcock is working and fuel is making it through the carbs.
@N0Fumar Sorry for the late response, I have since managed to get it to run and drive
@@ControllerMeneer do you know where I could order a new carburetor for my ex500?
@@amkob3343 No idea, depends on where you live etc.
I'm not sure if you can get them new. I believe there are a handful used on ebay.
я удивлён что ты не стал чистить карбюратор полностью ещё в первый раз!
более того, ты его до сих пор не почистил полностью:
нужно почистить воздушную трубку и трубку подачи топлива, для этого придётся отделить один карбюратор от другого, а ещё надо чистить систему подсоса которая отвечает за подачу дополнительного топлива при попытке завести холодный двигатель..
)))
Honestly, I looked into separating the carbs but decided against it. I didn't have any of the o-rings on hand and when I started trying to pull it apart things felt very stuck. I gave everything an *extremely* thorough blow through with carb cleaner and compressed air. So far no issues!
I have a 2004 gpz500 and what a dick made me cringe with his work carbs 5 mins to remove (the tank mount 4 bolts, the fuse box holder 10mm bolt then the front 2 screws by the carb then the wiggle and hey presto it’s out and enough room to put back in with the movement of the airbox , Carbs in a vice damaging the alloy and didn’t check the pilot jets and the breather pipe is well caked in grime restricting the airflow cos if you block that tube the bike will stall, and at the end when he is having trouble when uneven revs stalling and increasing it’s the balancing out on the butterfly’s in the carbs needed syncing not the air/fuel mix and in the garage when he took the bike apart he also needed to put the airbox sides back on as it no efi with the input air mix was more and when starting the engine after a rebuild you need to add the exhaust as it needs the back pressure to help suck the fuel through and yes I’ve found out my self as ive got another 3 in the process of rebuilding from scratch and for my 1994 I need front break master cylinder, both break callipers, and another tank and nose cone and headlight
any chance someone knows where i could find that seat?
I keep meaning to look at model number. I'll check today
Easy peasy japanesy 🤭👍
They sure do make damn reliable bikes!
I wish I could find old sport bokes for less than $4k...
Keep an eye out on Facebook, that's where I got this one! Gotta be willing to put some work into them too
It should be way louder. The vid!
Sorry, I don't follow. What do you mean?
@@N0Fumar i cant understand well, plus english is not my mother tongue too.
Just a couple millimeters off on those floats and your bike will run like shit, if it runs at all. Carbs are so finicky.
Agreed. They can be so annoying. It runs like a champ now!
Its a kawasaki ninja ex500
Why is hard to start
Probably because my bike sat for like 3 years and I drained all the fuel. Took a while to finally get the fuel through the system. It now starts very easy every time!
Carbureted bikes are superior. A modern carbureted bike would properly kick ass.
Only when you get the carbs right the first time! Haha, they sure are fun
@@N0Fumar Trust me, it’s better than reverse engineering literal computers to sort out an EFI problem
Oh most definitely. Sometimes you can sort of logic it out if it's easy (corroded connectors, crimped wire, etc), but usually I look at it and go "yeah I'll just replace the whole unit"
@@N0Fumar Except when the unit isn’t available anymore