Update: Pictures of almost completed 250R!

[NewfieBish]

Hey everyone, I done a partial rebuild on my 250R, it was more concerning rear end work and cosmetic stuff, however I figured while I had the motor out I'd replace the rings, and all the gaskets except for the one right in the middle of the crankcase. After I assembled the motor, I noticed some coolant coming out from around the head gasket, so I tightened that baby up good, and it seems better now, but I think there's still some water coming out around it, in very small amounts. Any tips for this?

On another note, having said that the rings and head gasket was replaced, how should I treat the bike once I start using it again? Take it easy? Just run it so much? Anyone got any advice? Don't wanna blow up my bike just after a rebuild.

Any advice welcome!

Bishop

[harryredtrike]

how did you tighten the head down ?what pattern?i wouldnt over tighten the nuts at the top past spec.if all that was done proper,i would run it a little rich on the oil and take it easy for awhile.just did rings right?they should seat in a couple of hours running time.after that run as normal.

[corndawg]

they fact that you said "so i tightened that baby up good" frightens me a bit

[RodKnockRacing]

You need to torque the nuts to spec not just tighten em good you may have over tightened them and that will ruin your head gasket. Plus there's a certain pattern that you have to tighten them down. Id imagine a criss cross pattern.

[NewfieBish]

I tightened in with a torque wrench to spec, that's when i noticed alot of water coming outta it. Then I just tightened it to be fairly tight with a 6 point socket, to try and compress the head gasket a bit more. I could probably tighten it in a bit more, but I didn't want to tear anything up you know?

[harryredtrike]

I tightened in with a torque wrench to spec, that's when i noticed alot of water coming outta it. Then I just tightened it to be fairly tight with a 6 point socket, to try and compress the head gasket a bit more. I could probably tighten it in a bit more, but I didn't want to tear anything up you know?

in what pattern did you tighten the nuts

[NewfieBish]

unsure, it was about 3 months ago, but its possible no particular pattern at all. Could this warp the head? And if yes should I take it apart and do it again?

[harryredtrike]

yes it can warp it,hopefully you didnt.i tighten them in a star patern and slowly get to the torque value specified.in a star pattern i go from hand tight to spec in 10lbs increments.

[NewfieBish]

Hmm could I loosen them then retighten in a criss cross pattern then?

[NewfieBish]

Drained the coolant, ran it dry for about 5 minutes or so till it got a bit hot, turned it off refilled coolant, took it for a small run, no coolant leaking and works great!

[harryredtrike]

Drained the coolant, ran it dry for about 5 minutes or so till it got a bit hot, turned it off refilled coolant, took it for a small run, no coolant leaking and works great!

wow ,who told you to try that?

[NewfieBish]

Looked around here on the forums, there was a thread - http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php?119850-Tecate-s-new-head-gasket-blown&highlight=head+gasket+250r

[NewfieBish]

So I took the bike out around the neighborhood today for a little test run, lots of power, seems to be oil and water tight, and cooling itself good. Only problem is I obviously never used enough thread lock/lock washers on some of the bolts, the exhaust flange came disconnected from the motor, and some of the motor mounts rattled a bit loose, but; it was an awesome start!

[Brockey]

Cool, man! My fenders and seat cover should be here soon. Then we will have to meet up and go for a rip.

[NewfieBish]

Defenitely man, 2 liquid R's out for a stroll in our neck of the woods, when was the last time that happened in NL?

[Mosh]

So I took the bike out around the neighborhood today for a little test run, lots of power, seems to be oil and water tight, and cooling itself good. Only problem is I obviously never used enough thread lock/lock washers on some of the bolts, the exhaust flange came disconnected from the motor, and some of the motor mounts rattled a bit loose, but; it was an awesome start!
A watercooled 250R should not be loosening bolts like that even without locktite, unless they were'nt tight to begin with.

If the were tight, or loosen up again, it sounds like your balancer and or bearings are shot.

[NewfieBish]

Something I'm going to keep in my mind mosh, these bolts aren't the best looking either, I wire wheeled the threads and put some threadlock on them and reinstalled them, so now we will see. Right now I'm blaming it myself not tightening them enough to begin with.

[NewfieBish]

Here's some pictures as it is today, I still got to put the skid plates on and have new forks on the way for it, as well as the rest of the rear brake parts. It runs good and looks pretty good, it's too bad it cost so much to ship everything to Newfoundland, anyways, hope you like it as much as I do! I used alot of parts from ebay, although alot of the parts were bought from users on this site as well, seat cover was made by ms. mosh, looks real nice, shrouds came from a user in Australia, etc etc.


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[k00leo]

wow good job

it looks real nice.

[hang&rattle]

You built one classy ride partner. Tip my hat to you. Great job!

[Brockey]

Looking good man. We gotta get the two out for a run in the near future. Wish I had mine stripped and painted, looks awesome.

[Xpress]

Looks good. Are those all Traks I see? :naughty:

[250rs-neva-die]

looks pretty good man. i would just make sure that you get a case saver for that. would hate to throw a chain and crack your case!

[NewfieBish]

Case saver is something that slipped my mind! And yes Xpress, you got a good eye they're maxxis all traks. They came with the bike, but they seem to work really well where I'm from, and they can lose traction as soon as you want them to. Another thing I plan to get after Christmas is a new clarke tank, with the see-through white plastic, anybody ever see em on a 250R?

[MudBug]

Great job Bish! I was looking forward to this. :D Now it's time for you and Brockey to come out this way for a ride!

[NewfieBish]

That'd be awesome, over in your quarry!

[Xpress]

And yes Xpress, you got a good eye they're maxxis all traks. They came with the bike, but they seem to work really well where I'm from, and they can lose traction as soon as you want them to.

Yours must slip a bit easier because of them being worn down, mine don't slip so much... (or maybe it's because yours are on an R and mine are on an X :D ). I tell you what though, from the front side, they look mean :naughty: