1985 honda 250sx need help ASAP!

[Dustin96]

Im going to look at a 1985 250sx tomorrow and the guy says it wont shift, but every once in awhile they can get it to shift what would cause this?

[Flyingw]

Bent or broken shifter detent spring pin under the stator cover OR a bent shift shaft. Easy to replace.

[ps2fixer]

I bought a machine like this... and here is half of what I found, the other half was the primary clutch worn out, and the part I didn't find is the shift lever still won't return to center, but manually returning it, it works fine (pin is good in my case). Guessing bent shaft. Anyway photo fun :).

[Dustin96]

Thanks for the quick replies guys! Sounds like its a good deal still for $100!

[ps2fixer]

Hell, if it didn't even have an engine it would be worth it lol, like 2-3 parts become $100 pretty quick!

[Dustin96]

I'll be sure to get you guys lots of pictures tomorrow as long as the deal goes as plan!

[Dustin96]

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142913_990_zpsamzdukon.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142913_990_zpsamzdukon.jpg.html) http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142954_595_zpsb1io7fsn.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142954_595_zpsb1io7fsn.jpg.html) http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_143010_576_zpsvzaxf90z.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_143010_576_zpsvzaxf90z.jpg.html) http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142944_634_zps4wwix0wp.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142944_634_zps4wwix0wp.jpg.html) http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142938_519_zpsvh9hdvxj.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142938_519_zpsvh9hdvxj.jpg.html) http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142932_063_zpsnnc6wtk6.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142932_063_zpsnnc6wtk6.jpg.html) http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142921_808_zpsr4bt1zii.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_142921_808_zpsr4bt1zii.jpg.html) http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_132504_476_zpsoms3mjml.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_132504_476_zpsoms3mjml.jpg.html) http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_132510_549_zpskfg1ii3o.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140912_132510_549_zpskfg1ii3o.jpg.html)

[Dustin96]

SCORE! lol and after checking it out it will upshift but not down shift.

[ps2fixer]

YOU STOLE IT!

Looks to be an extremely easy machine to make into a really nice rider. I'm seeing tank (if it bugs you), front fender, and fix the shift "basket" thing I posted photos of (I'm pretty sure that is the problem) and be good to go under $300 easy.

I'd say get a full engine gasket kit and a carb kit so you have basically anything you will ever need gasket wise.

[UPNATM]

Yeah man, that's a lot of SX for the money, congrats. I agree with the above comment, that's gunna take very little to clean up and make into a very nice trike.

[Mr_Gixxer]

A hundred bucks? WOW!

Looks to have new shoes all around too. 3 new tires for 100 doll hairs is a steal itself!!!

[ps2fixer]

I just noticed, the right side cover looks to be missing bolts?! If you need some misc small parts, I might have some around for a good price. No tank or fender though.

[Dustin96]

yea missing a few bolts and needs tail light lens and the right brake lever the gas tank looks clean inside so idk if there was a dent and they were trying to fix it with bondo or what. He said he had a mechanic look at it and he said some shifter part was bent.

[Dustin96]

Oh and even has the original tools!

[ps2fixer]

I'll check my pile of parts and see if I can locate anything. I'm pretty sure I don't have the taillight, but I might have the brake lever, or honda might even offer them up new yet. The shift shaft I do have and bottom end bolts.

[Dustin96]

Well messing around with it and it also has no spark, he said it ran 3 years ago tho what in the spark system can go bad from sitting?

[Dustin96]

Either the 250sx cdi is bad or my 84 200es has more issues then I thought lol.

[ps2fixer]

I know the 200es is fairly common to have CDI problems, as for the 250sx, I'd guess either a bad connection or maybe the CDI. If you have a multimeter, you should run though the test process in the service manual.

http://www.atcmanuals.info/

[Dustin96]

Ok ill get another multi meter the last walmart one I bought broke after one use lol

[ps2fixer]

The ones at radio shack are ok, never had one fail. I have bought a super cheep analog one at a auto parts store before for like $3, but of course it was china made junk. I think the last one I bought was $15 and have been using it for 8+ years.

[Dustin96]

Oh and the shifter it feels like it shifts up but actually it still free rolls so I'll be opening it up asap.

[Dustin96]

Well really started messing with it today and it seems to shift just fine you just got to rock it a little? When you downshift it just doesn't have the little click feel?

[ps2fixer]

Well really started messing with it today and it seems to shift just fine you just got to rock it a little? When you downshift it just doesn't have the little click feel?

Is that with the engine running or not? If it isn't running, it can't "click" into gear since nothing is spinning.

[Dustin96]

Not running

[Dustin96]

Nvm it quit shifting I'm making room in my garage now to pull the left cover

[Dustin96]

I got pictures uploading and a small video now I'm not sure what's wrong with it tho.

[Dustin96]

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140913_183914_525_zpsooyuy6bf.jpg (http://s1169.photobucket.com/user/mudmower16/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140913_183914_525_zpsooyuy6bf.jpg.html) http://vid1169.photobucket.com/albums/r507/mudmower16/Mobile%20Uploads/VID_20140913_183534_933_zpsvl14zvrw.mp4

[jeswinehart]

Do you have the part #18 and the rest of the missing parts ???

http://www.bikebandit.com/oem-parts/1985-honda-atc250sx/o/m1913#sch8216

[Dustin96]

Yup I have #18, the link after the picture is a video.

[Dustin96]

It goes in and out of first gear OK I don't know how to test the rest since its not running at the moment but everything looks ok to me.

[ps2fixer]

That oil looks pretty bad!

I watched the video (no sound on this pc), and it looks like you had to force it into gear, from my experience that is because the engine isn't running. If you did the same thing but push the machine forward it should shift easier, also with it running, the transmission is getting oiled, lack of oil = harder to shift as well.

One other thing I can think of is on the other side of the engine is a clutch adjustment, that might be off, but that is best to check once the engine is running. Last thing I can think of (worst case) is bent shift forks, but lets not go there right now lol.

[Dustin96]

Lol yea I couldn't roll the tire and hold the flash light and shift all at once, it seems to shift fairly easy when spinning the tires. So I'll put it back together with new gaskets for now and get it running and go from there.

[Dustin96]

Started testing all the connections today, seems the pulse generator is bad I can get a reading from it at all.

[Dustin96]

Oh also hooked a battery up the other day and none of the lights came on, I checked the fuse its still good.

[Flyingw]

Check your key switch. Batt power comes in on the red wire and goes out on the black wire. Shoot come cleaner in the key hole and exercise the key back and forth. The black wire feeds the main harness and the bar control for light power.

[Dustin96]

OK I'll slowly work my way there so far I've tested the kill switch and key switch by the manual down in the Cdi plug and that's all been good so far.

[Dustin96]

Nvm got the pulse generator tested its good, could this possibly be the neatrual saftey switch? Oh and I couldn't figure out how to test the keys power?

[Dustin96]

Yup bad reverse or netrual switch I grounded them out and everything came on!

[ps2fixer]

Yup bad reverse or netrual switch I grounded them out and everything came on!

You can still buy them switches from Honda new, here is the part number, both are the same:

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/honda/HP-35600-KE8-003.html

[Flyingw]

Just put one lead on the red and the other on black and make sure you have continuity through the switch. You can also check between the green wire and black/white wire for continuity in the off position. When the key is off, the green wire (ground) is sent to the CDI via the black/white wire to ground out the CDI preventing it from working when the key is off.

[Flyingw]

As far as the neutral/reverse switches go, pull the switches and see if the tips are flattened out. They are a wear item but also check the plugs, The female connectors have a tendency of open up not making a good connection. Remember, the switches are in the bottom of the tranny so they are wet.. If it were me, I'd put two fresh switches in there and be done with it.

[Dustin96]

would I be better off with new switches or just running the wires to a bolt?

[Flyingw]

Fix it right. Get the switches working.

[Dustin96]

OK I'll fix it also, just waiting for my 84 200es to sell so I can order parts.

[Dustin96]

I've been thinking, couldn't the netrual and reverse switches actually be good and the shift forks are bent not letting whatever the switches need to touch not touch?

[Flyingw]

No, the contact for the switches is on the end of the shift drum. The little nub the arrow is pointing to is what contacts the switch tips.

[Dustin96]

OK thanks.

[Dustin96]

I've been thinking about parting out my 1984 Honda 200es where would I post this on the forum?

[Flyingw]

In the classifieds.

[Flyingw]

Are the forks serviceable? The 200ES does not have a conventional shock. It has a cartridge which is not repairable. I have a buddy with a 200ES in awesome shape but the front forks bottom out meaning the cartridges are shot.

[Dustin96]

forks have been welded and plastics are cracked but motor ran great ill the cdi died

[Flyingw]

awww crap!!!

[tri again]

Im going to look at a 1985 250sx tomorrow and the guy says it wont shift, but every once in awhile they can get it to shift what would cause this?
Great writeup with pix on here.
Try search for 'shift linkage' and read them all.