Love/hate my 250r, have a question

[markdb420]

Still having issues with my 1985 250r. It wouldn't start, and had a bad flywheel. I replaced the flywheel and now it will start if pulled by a quad, but not if kick started. I have checked every electrical part with my ohmeter, and have additional working parts from gamask. I have replaced the coil, the stator, the wiring harness, the flywheel, the rectifier, the CDI, and the on/off switch. I have checked the spark at every change of parts, and each time the spark is a weak blue and will only spark if the kickstarter is kicked rapidly. What am I missing? I am not pleased with this 3 wheeler at the moment and surely I am missing something obvious. I have tried numerous brand new plugs as well.

Somebody please enlighten me! It just died while idling and when it is pull started it will not idle. When I kick it over it, when all together it won't hit a lick!

[deathman53]

did you use new parts??? or used parts. harness shouldn't be a problem, coils do go bad, so do cdi's, but on stators the pick-up goes bad and you will never know because the stator ohmns out perfect. Unplug the on/off switch first, switch the coil and cap from a known running unit, if are using the same year cdi's switch one from a known running unit. thats the easy stuff to switch, switchout the stator from a known running unit.

[markdb420]

That is the procedure that I have used. I have been getting a very slight blue spark. I have a CDI off a working 85 to swap out and have a stator off a working bike. Is there any special gap that should be between the pickup and the flywheel? I checked the gap on my 86 ATC 250R and they are the same. my next thing will be to swap the stator and pick up coil off the running 86 bike next. The spark is really small when I am checking it, is that a good spark? Keep in mind this bike just died one day while sitting there idling. I know that the carb is set right, it has been the same for a long time. The bike runs like a scalded dog when we pull start it with the quad. It has me at my wits end. Anyone else have any ideas?

[daputz]

have you checked the engine's compression and the condition of the reeds?

[Rex Karz]

What is the compression reading? Get a gauge immediately!

ADVICE GIVEN IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES. MINE.

[Huffa]

Possibly a bad ground where coil mounts? If it lights up fine going at a faster speed, that must mean your getting a healthier spark so I would think it's ground or between flywheel and pick up.

OR the spark is normal (your not sure?) and the flywheel has rotated a bit off the keyway and is causing it to start harder do to screwed up timing?

[markdb420]

The reeds are in good shape and the compression is 150lbs. The flywheels is on the key properly. I have checked the grounds and they are in good shape. It really has me buffaloed. I guess I will just part this POS out on Ebay. I hate 2 strokes. This crap really makes me love my TRX 450R that much better! I will keep on trying a little more and see what the heck I can do. Maybe I will just pull start it with the quad and rev her to the moon until it grenades. That is where I am at with this POS 250r. It is a constant headache and is broke down more than it runs. :confused:

[Mr. Sandman]

It could be the spark plug cap. I've seen them deteriorate on the inside and basically fall apart. Once that happens the problems begin and can be intermittent and cause the type of headaches you're experiencing. If you've got a good running 86 R, start swapping the electrical parts from the 86. If everything checks out from the 86 and the 85 still won't run right, go over the wiring harness and look for a chaffed wire that could be grounding out. I'd look at the fuel system next. Do you have fresh gas, and no water in the tank? Is the petcock filter clean, do you have good fuel flow? If so, dig into the carb next and blow out all the jets and orifices. Good luck and keep us posted.

[bigyellow4x4]

my 85r has a blue spark but run fine, my compresson checked after 5 min or less of run time was 185 psi with throtle at WOT and kick like 4-5 times, if the 150 was warm you are really low if cold start it and warm it up and see what it is i hear around 180 is normal.(my bike has origenal head gasket in it and never been apart but was not rode much tell i got it lol)

[MTS]

Are you sure your floats arnt just set To high?? iv had it before,

[markdb420]

We rechecked the compression with a good gauge and it is 60 lbs. The head gasket leaks inside the cylinder and the compression is low, because it is pressurizing the water jackets.

[Racedude48]

Thats probablly your problem right there.. Replace the head gasket and check the head and makesure its not warped. When * replace it makesure its torqued to the proper specs.

[markdb420]

The head was just machined as was the head to matching specs. Damn copper gaskets and Cometic gaskets. Those are all I can run due to being a LA Sleeve big bore 295cc. I have a little better luck with the Cometic gaskets but they are high due to having to buy an entire top end set of gaskets. Oh well gotta spend the money.

[TeamGeek6]

It might have a blue spark, but that doesn't mean it has a spark every revolution, and that can't be checked without an oscilloscope.

Having to kick it hard or pull it is a sign of either weak ignition or ignition misfire (not sparking every time).

First thing to suspect (after the compression is fixed!) is wiring. It makes no difference whether the wiring has been replaced, every wiring harness you can buy, used or new, has at best, been in a bag in a warehouse oxidising and corroding for 20 years (unless it was recently manufactured by other than Honda), and so have the corresponding male terminals on the CDI, the stator plug and every other connector terminal. It only takes one terminal just a little loose to kill the whole system, and loose doesnt mean "it feels loose," but it means even one female terminal losing tension, and that cant be felt with fingers.

This is how my R acted till I found a bad terminal on the CDi, had to kick my back out of joint to start it.

Pulse generator gap is 0.016" typical but on stock compression, itll fire off up to 1/4" gap.

The one thing that will drive you insane is arcing to ground from the ignition system, the stator pulse (Blk/Red) is around 350 VAC and if theres corrosion or a wire pinched on the handlebars, the high voltage can arc to ground. Thatll make it run poorly or not at all.