Hi. My Baja BA 250 is about 1 yr old. I have only ridden it about 6 times because I've never been able to start it without shooting starting fluid in the air box. I havent ridden in a few months because I wanted to address the starting problem. My biggest problem is when I charged my battery it was connected in reverse, I wasnt paying attention, and tried to start it a few times. of course, nothing happened. I noticed my mistake and reversed the polarity. Nothing, no lights, no starter, nothing. Found a fuse blown, so my lights work again. Can anyone give me an idea of what I could have blown ? Any tips would help, I'm no mechanic!

 

Well when you push the starter button does in click or anything.

 

No, I get no click or any sound from the starter or anywhere for that matter. I put a meter on the battery and it reads 12.6v. I also put a meter on the coil ( at least I think it is the coil ). The first piece connected to the battery that has a plus and minus post but is fairly small. That read the same as the battery so i feel like I'm ok with those two pieces. I feel like i could have fried my starter button or some other piece in the chain, I'm just not sure what to test or how to test it. Somebody else's topic in here explained how to short a starter with a screw driver to test it. I think I will try that today.
Thanks for the response.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: BAJA250

No, I get no click or any sound from the starter or anywhere for that matter. </end quote></div>
Sawyers question about the clicking was very savvy. If you hear a "click" then the the start button, safety interlocks, and wiring are all working. The "click" is the sound from the relay closing that connects the battery directly to the starter motor, and starts it cranking. No click indicates problems with the start button and interlock circuitry, or a completely dead battery.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: BAJA250
...I also put a meter on the coil ( at least I think it is the coil ). The first piece connected to the battery that has a plus and minus post but is fairly small...</end quote></div>

If the device you are talking about is connected through heavy gauge (thick) wires than that is the starter solenoid (the relay that connects the starter motor directly to the battery).

The ignition coil is easily identified by following back the spark plug wire.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: BAJA250
... Somebody else's topic in here explained how to short a starter with a screw driver to test it. I think I will try that today... </end quote></div>
Turn on the ignition switch first then try shorting across the starter solenoid terminals. If it starts the battery is now eliminated as a problem. This would be an important piece of info.

 

Thanks for the reply, I had a friend come by to help with the trouble shooting. The starter turns the engine over fine when both terminals are touched by a screwdriver. I have good spark so I know the coil is good. His recommendation was to replace the starter solenoid. I wonder if that will repair the connection to the start switch or if I will have to replace the starter switch and or "interlock circuitry". Where would I locate the interlock circuitry?

Also, can you recommend a good parts store? I feel like I have a phantom 4 wheeler. No one seems to own a Baja BA 250, and even Baja has never listed it as one they sell since I received it as a present Christmas 2007. I would never have bought chinese.

Thanks again for the help.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: BAJA250

...I had a friend come by to help with the trouble shooting. The starter turns the engine over fine when both terminals are touched by a screwdriver. I have good spark so I know the coil is good. His recommendation was to replace the starter solenoid. I wonder if that will repair the connection to the start switch or if I will have to replace the starter switch and or "interlock circuitry". Where would I locate the interlock circuitry? ...</end quote></div>

It is possible that the solenoid is bad, though I wouldn't think it likely. It doesn't go "click", so some more measuring needs to be done:

Measure the voltage across the two *small* wires that drive the energizing coil on the starter solenoid while doing all the things you normally do to start the quad - i.e. ignition on, brake pushed (and brake lights lit up), transmission in neutral, and start button pushed. If you have 12 volts across the solenoid and it *doesn't* go click the solenoid is bad. If it goes "click" and the starter doesn't turn, the solenoid is bad. Else you need to move on to the interlock circuitry.

I don't have a wiring diagram of your quad. You can look at my wiring diagram to see how my quad works. It will give a head start on yours. Look to the left of this message, and find a 'camera' icon under my avatar, name, and posting history. Click on it and you will see thumbs of my wiring diagram. Click on the thumbs to view.

Basically you need to connect 12 volts across the coil of the solenoid through the ignition switch, start button, and some sort of interlock to prevent the quad from starting up and moving without warning (such as having the brake on of tranmission in neutral). All thes devices are wired in series (one after another). The order in which these things are wired together may change on your quad, but the function is the same.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: BAJA250

Also, can you recommend a good parts store? I feel like I have a phantom 4 wheeler. No one seems to own a Baja BA 250, and even Baja has never listed it as one they sell since I received it as a present Christmas 2007. I would never have bought chinese....</end quote></div>

Yours definately is not very common. I suspect that many parts (solenoids, coils, CDI's, etc.) are interchangable with other quads. For those I would suggest eBay. My quad has a GY6 150cc engine which is about the most common engine out there.

I can understand the regret over buying chinese. You aren't a mechanic, doesn't sound like you want to be, and basically have been left in the lurch service wise. This is only compounded by having a one off brand that isn't generic and universal. For me the choice was chinese (because of the price) or nothing. I don't regret making that choice. These things are easy to work on, fairly reliable (if you keep on top of loose bolts), and if you make sure to get the generic designs, have parts availability and service information all over the place.

In retrospect, and assuming I had the cash for a name brand quad, I would buy several chinese quads instead of one name brand. Two cheap quads, riding together, is at least five times more fun than taking turns on one expensive quad. And if one breaks, you can use the second to tow the first out. I can totally undertsand different opinions.

 

I'd check to see what model of 250 you have from baja. The made 2 the first run was made by Jianshee which were actually pretty good quads I'm told. The later models they switched to Loncin to make them. Go here to baja http://www.bajamotorsportsonli...Path=1&products_id=105 and see which one you have. They have parts books online too. Parts for that 250 should be an issue.

 

Wow, amazing reply. Thanks so much for the time put in to help me get up to speed. You know I actually want to be able to work on my quad and be able to competently troubleshoot issues. I change my own oil on my vehicles and do my own brakes, belts, and etc.. These processes that help me narrow down issues are great to know and will help me time and time again. Please forgive me if you write about these all the time and i didn't know where to find them.

I will try these today, and get back tonight! Thank you!

 

I have the BA 250 which I will take some pictures of today to show you. Its more of a "racing" look quad, its not a utility. I believe it has the Jianshee or possibly a Zhongsen motor if that is the correct spelling. Baja, since I received this as a gift 13 months ago, has no online record of this quad. They have a owners manual available for this model. http://www.bajamotorsportsonline.com/manuals.php. but that is it. My wife bought this and a 150 at a Pep Boys in Jacksonville, FL. The 150, except for pieces falling off, has run pretty good.

 

I took a look at the owners manual that looks like not a bad quad. I didn't know Baja even sold them what did it cost....maybe the don't anymore. Anyway Baja typically has good owners manuals and this looks not too bad for a chinese quad. Typically you get a crappy little one from china thas not much good for anything. I noticed it has wiring diagram in the manual so that should be of help. This quad is common, probably a half dozen importers bring the same one over just labled different. Plus baja maybe able to help you out. LIke mentioned above sometimes ebay is the cheapest place to get parts for quads. I bought a new starter for my old Honda quad off ebay for a good deal.

In your case you have to find out whats wrong.....I suspect its something simple Trouble is you have to find out what it is . I'm sure I could pin point it for you in a matter of minutes if I could get my hands on it! Sorry I can't be of much help. Get yourself a 12 volt test light if you don't already. See if you got power going to the one of the small wires at the solinod when you press the start button. Make sure the key is on kill switch is on and bike is in neutral.

let us know what you find.