1998 honda trx250 recon engine noise

[kormos_93]

Picked up a used 1998 honda trx250 recon quad. Hasn't run for a couple of years, all I was told is that the engine started making noise so he stopped riding it. I put a battery in & it fired up but it's making a VERY LOUD fast snapping/clicking sound so I only ran it for a couple seconds. Some more info: the engine seems to crank over fine for about 1 turn but watching the flywheel you can see it gets "stuck" in one spot & you have to hit the starter a couple of times to get it past that "sticky" spot. What could be causing the noise? It seems to have good compression & doesn't smoke but I don't want to run it & wreck it (Noise is way too loud not to be concerned). Any ideas????

[atc007]

Needs a rod : ((... check your timing chain first, It's under the clutch cover,but it will be rod... Sorry

[kormos_93]

Needs a rod : ((... check your timing chain first, It's under the clutch cover,but it will be rod... Sorry

You mean push rod right? That's what I was thinking as well.

[atc007]

Lol,,no,connecting rod. Valve clearance can make noise,,,but not like you're talking. Def adjust your valves first.

[kormos_93]

Oh. O.K, I'm just not understanding why the engine would become stuck in one spot from a bad connecting rod....Would running it out of oil wreck the connecting rod? or just the bearing? (The quad had very little oil in it when I got it) Guess I'll tear it apart & learn as I go.

[atc007]

Yes,,that is precisely WHAT running one low on oil does lol. It burnt the rod bearing,and it will stick in that spot. No,,you can't " work it free" lol.. It will need a new crank/ or rod if you choose. After you have verified what I've said. Your best/cheapest/smartest move will probably be to simply find a running engine. Or be very prepared to learn a LOT about the workings of an engine !

[kormos_93]

O.K, thanks for all the info. I have torn apart/rebuild good running engines (valves, rings, head gaskets, etc..), just never worked on one that had issues like this, so I don't know much about diagnosing weird noises. I'll price it out but, ya I might end up just swapping it out.