Just Started My 250r - Hasn't Run Since 1990!!!! Help!

[Dirtcrasher]

Yes you read that correctly, I just started it today 10 minutes ago since the owner passed in the GULF war about 1990. It has taken me 3 months to get to this point of starting it. Bear in mind also I have NEVER even so much as started a 250R let alone ride one!! It has a new piston so 1/4 throttle is all I gave it, don't want to over do it. I do however note a couple of things and I'll ask you experts in the 2 stroke 250R world for some help. Note. Every single bolt, screw etc. was removed and tapped and cleaned and painted and tightened etc. etc. Most parts are scribed or letter punch set my 3 initials for any thiefs to deal with ;) Motor was checked for any lower end big bearing play and the entire clutch and actuator replaced. Here we go for now - 1. Do all R's sit this high in the front end?? I felt like I was on a small wheelie - remember I'm comparing it to a 250SX. 2. As soon as I turned on the gas it leaked like hell out the overflow and wouldn't start, then I put some juice in the plug and it fired up, idled and ran great and stopped leaking. I had cleaned that carb. perfect and took out all the jets, think it was pissed off from sitting or would you grab a needle and seat?? 3. Motor went zing zing zing - ok quit laughing at me, I've had and heard plenty of two strokes but it sounded like something was loose somewhere - as I said every bolt has been checked thoroughly. It is stock bore, perfect cylinder and new top end - not a drop of play in the crank etc. but it sounded zingy to me?? Is this normal 250R 2 stroke noise?? I will double check pipe etc. Thats it for now, more to follow and as always thanks to all the members of 3WW that sold me parts of gave information to any of my posts on this project :-D

[ChrisD]

If the motor is miking pinging noises or making a zing..zing..zing noise, it may be runnging lean. I would need more detail, but if you run the bike a little, then come to a stop and the motor won't idle down right away, it could be lean. Check your plug to see if it is a slight brown color. I only say this because of your note that it was leaking fuel out of the overflow. Check your float level. The float should be parallel with the base of the carb when you turn it upside down. If you adjusted the carb to stop it from leaking, you may have overadjusted the float level and it's not letting enough fuel in. Please give more info and I can help you further.

[Red Rider]

As far as the leaking fuel from the overflow goes, it sounds like the float isn't floating freely, or the float valve isn't seating properly. All it takes is a small piece of crud to enter the carb, and it will eventually cause lots of fuel flow headaches. Since the bike has been sitting for quite a while, there's a good chance that this is your problem. I'd dump the old gas, if you haven't already, & flush out the fuel tank. I had a recurring overlow problem with my R. I'd always find a grain of sand in the float seat. I finally installed an in-line fuel filter between the fuel petcock & the carb. I haven't had a problem since.

Without listening to your bike, I don't know what to tell you about the zing zing noises that it's making.

[Dirtcrasher]

OLD GAS!!! are you nuts J/K!!! The gas was petrified in the tank so bad a 2700PSI pressure washer barely got it out of there!!!! it is long gone. The carb was spotless - new hoses - spotless petcock but of course there may be a bit of gunk somewhere that just happened to go right to the float needle. Just rode it another 10 minutes and the carb seems fine. I'll yank it off again just to be sure - there is absolutely no room on a 250R for a inline petcock so I'll just have to let anything in there that I missed work it's way out. CRIS D no it wasn't a lean noise - not a ping, I've heard that such as when I put a pipe on my 250SX without jetting it. It idles right down a has some smoke because I mixed it for break in - I know thats not the same "lean" but the motor is stock, exhaust stock and the carb is at stock settings. I guess I should've said "VIBRATION NOISE" because that truly is what it sounds like - or a crank just smacking around. But as I said I have built and dealt with a few 2 strokes and heard similar noise but I've never had a 250R. It amy just be a characteristicx of the motor. As I increase RPM's it seems to go away but again at 1/8 throttle to 3/8 it sounds like a vibration. I've sweated noises before only to find absolutely wrong so I just want some Honda owners to give me ther input. My 1994 CR250 was almost silent with a depp throaty sound but that is an entirely different animal.

[Wickedfinger]

First off, is it an aircooled or liquid R? ... as has been said before, the fuel overflow problem is from either the actual float itself sticking or the float needle valve and seat. My bet is that the rubber tip of the float needle is trashed from sitting so long and the needle valve needs to be replaced. You can test this by simply tapping the side of the carb bowl with a screw driver handle the next time it overflows - if the fuel stops overflowing after the tap, this usually means the float is sticking, if it dosent, its a needle valve problem. If the motor is making a zing, zing, zing noise, has a erratic idle and or dosen't rev down right away, chances are you have a leak somewhere between the carb and the head. If its high pitched hissing or even a squeal, its a bad head gasket or more remotely, a warped head. Also, stock 250R stingers will give the motor a tinny type sound if they are missing a few baffles. As far as the vibration and noise goes - maybe piston slap?. You said you put a new piston in there, but are you still on the stock bore?. If so, and you put a stock size piston back in there, the bore could be slightly worn and might have needed a .10 overbore and piston set .... but again this is just conjecture.

[plumber]

Just want to throw in my 2cents. If your R is air cooled make sure all your rubbers in your fins are in place, I ran my 84R without them for a few min. and it was making bad pinging sounds as soon as I put them back on the weird noises stopped?

[Dirtcrasher]

I am totally throwing all of you off - I do appreciate all your responses. It is an 85 liquid cooled 250R with not too many hours on it. I am an absolute perfectionist - every part is examined and dealt with. Case surfaces, reed surfaces are all lapped with an oil stone and new OEM Honda gaskets are installed. Bottom end has never been touched till I opened it up to inspect the clutch and found it dead. Every bearing in there was as smooth and tight as a 1 year old bike could be. The existing piston didn't have hardly any wear whatsoever on it yet I opted to hone the cylinder and replace it anyhow. It was on it's stock bore but absolutely no signs of scoring, slapping etc. to speak of. I checked the cylinder in 3 places with an inside mic and it was to spec. A new OEM Honda piston and ring were installed along with a wrist pin, bearing and off course new clips. There are new reeds installed also. It is the tightest 2 stroke USED motor I have ever opened up. The mains were tight, the big end - no play at all yet I opted to replace the main seals to avoid any problems as it had sat so long. It just makes a vibration sort of tingy zingy sound and I figure it is merely the soun of a 250R - remember I'm used to 4 strokes. I just wanted some opinions as to the sound of a HONDA 2 stroke. I truly cannot imagine even one part in that motor to be "slapping or spanking " around and creating that noise other than a typical 250R. Hope that helps. Thank you!!!

[Wickedfinger]

..... well then, just run it - if it blows up so be it - at least you will have found the problem.

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

I think you will be OK, you just gotta run it an break it in, get everything loosened up and broke in, i think the whole "problem" is that everything is so new/almost new that its not totally broke in yet, so its still got the way of running from the factory, also whenever i replaced a piston, it always ways vibrating a little before i got it broke in nicely, but after i ran it for awhile it stopped, I would just run it for awhile more, put an hour or so on the engine and see how she's doin after that, just give it some time to break everything in, it's like when you get new shoes, bastards are uncomfortable untill you break them in, will my theory is that its the same way for a new all rebuilt engine

[Dirtcrasher]

I think you will be OK, you just gotta run it an break it in, get everything loosened up and broke in, i think the whole "problem" is that everything is so new/almost new that its not totally broke in yet, so its still got the way of running from the factory, also whenever i replaced a piston, it always ways vibrating a little before i got it broke in nicely, but after i ran it for awhile it stopped, I would just run it for awhile more, put an hour or so on the engine and see how she's doin after that, just give it some time to break everything in, it's like when you get new shoes, bastards are uncomfortable untill you break them in, will my theory is that its the same way for a new all rebuilt engine


Thanks for the replies guys!! I hope it's ok - should be. But as thorough as I am I went down the road to see the National riders mechanic and asked him. After telling me how much he loved the trike!! he said lots of bikes make that noise, just 2 years ago he said the KX's they were running always sounded like they were on the verge of blowing up. He did however lecture me about not replacing the main bearings - even if they sounded and felt smooth, sitting that long indoors or not I should have split the case and done them. I explained I had no case splitter or flywheel puller etc. and he said he'd take care of it for me. So I'm just gonna run it awhile and get use to it - I just smoked "muddytrikegirls" Blaster at 1/3 throttle!!!! So I'll let yall know what happens. For now I am having the most fun I have ever had on a trike - the power that thing has combined with the suspension and handling are just incredible. Anyone want some 250SX's????