any problems with 250sx

[eistea15]

Hey i got a 86 250sx a couple of weeks ago. i am just doing some general maintaince on it, and was wondering if any of you guys have the 250sx have had any problems with it that i should know about.

Thanks

[Seabass]

I can think of a few things...

1) If you can...take the front wheel off. Try to get the shaft bolt out. If you can, congratulations. You just got lucky. If you can't, take it somewhere and get it pressed out with the proper machinery. These will seize to the brake plate...Had it happen once - used propane, then acetylene, then a hydraulic press, then i drilled a few holes to get some solvent in there, then I just ended up smashing it out of spite. Needed all new parts- bolt,spacers, brake plates, etc. The OEM plate is listed at $270 I believe. Heard of it happening numerous times. If and when you get the shaft out - make sure your bearings and seals or OK and then lube up the shaft real good and install. Do not overtorque when re-installing.

2) Watch the choke cable on these. They will seize too.

3) Hubs seem to go quick as well. Maybe it's the riding we do, but we had to shim my brother's pads twice now, and the pads still look brand new. But the hub is wearing...

All I can think of right now...good luck.

[Dirtcrasher]

Motor noise

Valve noise sound is usually bad timing chain and sprockets and not a simple valve adjustment.

Motor noise upon shutdown

Thunks, clunks, spinning noises etc indicate a one way clutch problem.

Tanks

Rusty inside = 180$ plastic tank

Swingarms

Bad or loose bearings may indicate bad pivot journals.
Rubber boot leaking into the swingarm results in differential death or a 300$ repai. Take the diff cap off (17MM) and look for nice clean fluids. If the boot is ripped DON"T buy it!! A good diff is harder to find than a good women!

Gear shifter

If it wiggles within the motor itself there are a couple of parts that are about to break or fall out.

1985 Carburetors

Throw it away if you live in a cold climate as the "cold start kit" is discontinued.

Footpeg bolts almost always snap off due to water entry - look for welded pegs.

Blown shock

SX jumps as good as a pig does the high jump - lots of blown shocks on the SX rear.

Starter problems

Electric start 95% of the time is a dirty connection but it seems like everyone has trouble with them at 1 time or another.

I'll try to think of some more - good luck!!

[JoeSuzuki]

Man, those things sound horrible, I hope there is something good about the SXs.

[yater]

Never had a problem with mine--bulletproof. I just check/change the fluids and ride

[yellowhammer]

its a honda, why do u expect so many problems

[Wickedfinger]

.... I have heard from numerous people as well to watch the swingarm pivot bearings and shaft boot very closely.

[mad_max]

Man, those things sound horrible, I hope there is something good about the SXs.


Like the original post said "any problems with it I should know about" so Dirtcrasher (being the knowledgeable fellow he is) obliged.
Now, that being said, I'm sure he could also tell you the good things about a SX. As a owner of a 85 SX I can...
Loads of Torque, climbs almost anything.
Flat powerband, all the power at any throttle setting.
Full suspension, not for racing but great for everything else.
Shaft drive, nice & quiet as long as its maintained.
Reverse, Electric Start, a easy to live with trike if its been properly taken care of.

[New2ATC]

On mine, the only problem is that it is sometimes hard to get out of reverse... but i love the trike.. they are great for work or play, and they are a blast in mud...beat my friend on a blaster with mine.. he got stuck in the mud..

[250SX_rider]

I have had some problems with the alternator....just do a multimeter test to check if the battery is reloading good...the rest is just fine...the 250SX is a really nice trike...it has plenty of power, it is reliable, and really fun to ride!

[84250r]

I had an 85 SX. Took care of it,NEVER had a problem. Not even motor noises. I never rode it hard or jumped it. I didnt think it was that kind of machine to do so. It was more of a work horse with a little sport involved! I hope to get another someday :)

[Russell 350X]

My neighbor just got a '85 250SX. It scared the sh!t outta me the first time cause I was so used to my 200 that I just punched it soon an I hopped on. Came right up and in second. He did it in third. We dragged, his SX agaist my 200 and it was close off the line but he dusted me. Very nice, just took us 5 hours to get the thing started.

[Dirtcrasher]

Out of the 6 250SX only 2 were lemons.

My original 85 and 87 have had very few problems including the shifting pin falling out and one bad differential. If maintained or evev an unmaintained but tight SX - these things are bulletproof.

However, to the unsuspecting buyer there are many things to watch for as many people just beat the sh!t out of them and never so much as check and change fluids.

To the felow with the difficult reverse - there is a cable free play adjustment that usually fixs that.

[eistea15]

Thanks guys for your help. Now i know what to look for when something goes wrong. KEEP TRIKEING. Ha ha

[eistea15]

If anyone else knows of anything else please let me know. Just for future problems that might arise.

Thanks

[Name Brand]

I have to jiggle the neutral sensor around to get my neutral light to come on so I can use my electric start. It just needs to be set in better I think.

Never had a problem starting mine in the cold, I have the stock carburator. On weekends it usually stays in the back of my truck for several days at a time without being ran. During the winter I was using the electric start with no trouble. It got cold this year too. (I live in Alaska if you didn't know)

My kickstart is really worn out and needs to be rebuilt. I currently avoid it.

The 250SX absolutelly rocks.