85 LT250R in need.

85 LT250R in need.
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 25 Nov, 2013 16:59
Alright guys I refeered to this site by a buddy on evrything2stroke.

So I took this 85 LT250R + some $$ on a trade for a 01 CR125. It ran fairly decent except it idled high and when it was opened up instead of the power band kicking in it sputtered and backfired and never felt like it opened up fully. It also was rather difficult to start, and when it did start it leaked oil/gas from between the header and head. I talked to a local shop and the owner a very reliable source who said that it sounded like it was running too rich. So I replaced the 200 main with a 190 main, I also did the normal new bike stuff, cleaned the air filter, changed all fluids and put in new gas. new plug

Now she wont start by kicking it. I did manage to get it started by push starting it, It ran very rough and would not stay running without alot of motivation by the thumb feed. Also it was spitting out clean gas out of the head/header. I've cleaned the carb several times, by pulling the jets and soaking everything with carb cleaner.

Thanks in advanced for the help. I cant wait to get this beast running again so I can dump $$$ into lots of go fast parts.

#1 Reply
Posted by Buckeye513 on 25 Nov, 2013 17:13
Love your profile name! I'm curious what some of the gurus on here say because my Zilla ran perfect all weekend two weeks ago, took it out Sunday and it was really cold and back fired then wouldn't run without a lot of throttle and would bog out and stall. I think it's something with my reeds but I really have no clue. Hope someone posts to get you pointed in the direction of getting the two fiddy running strong!

#2 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 25 Nov, 2013 17:44
Thanks, With the last name of Rutter and in basic training that was the nick name I got given and its just kind of stuck.

Really is a great and unique bike, I just dont have much experiance working on 2 strokes. I'm too used to my CRF450 and the wife's Z400 but I am really excited to get this LT running and looking like the champ I know it can be.

#3 Reply
Posted by Gillio on 25 Nov, 2013 17:46
Sounds like its dumping unwanted fuel into it. I'd be willing to guess your o-ring on the seat is leaky. Or the needle itself, but its usually the o-ring

#4 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 25 Nov, 2013 17:52
Gillio, so do you think that I should be looking into a carb rebuild kit or should I just get a used bigger carb like say a 36mm off a newer LT and a rebuild instead of my stock 34mm?

Would be a good excuse to tell the wife why I needed to spend the money.

#5 Reply
Posted by Gillio on 25 Nov, 2013 17:54
Yeah keep chasing the Carb. Also tell her the carb only works right with a shiny new pipe.

#6 Reply
Posted by Chuckie25 on 25 Nov, 2013 17:56
If you can afford it i would go ahead and put a better carb on it. But again you will be starting off from ground zero with having to rejet it and all.

#7 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 25 Nov, 2013 17:59
Gillio, Yes like one of these SCP pipes that I keep reading about. I really enjoy how those things slope back instead of the knotted up mess of the FMFs.

Chuckie, You do have a good point. I wonder if I do get a 36mm carb if I would just be adding more problems onto it and just get lost and mis-diagnoise a little problem with a BIG solution.... mmmmmm sooo many choices. lets take a look at ebay.

#8 Reply
Posted by Chuckie25 on 25 Nov, 2013 18:03
I dont believe there is an SCP for the 85/86 but i could be wrong,,, the best pipe for them is claimed to be the FMF. A 36 would be a good all around carb that would give you a few extra revs and then later one when you want to have the bike ported you already have the bigger carb to play nice with the new porting.

#9 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 25 Nov, 2013 18:09
Awwww... Sad day for my 85 Oh well, I'm sure that I will be able to find something for it. Those are some pretty mean looking pipes none-the-less.

So on flebay I found rebuild kits for my carb less then $20 and they come with everything I would need, but I also found 36mm carbs for $110 used to $200 new and then I saw a 40mm carb for $300 new $:-\$ Time to add the 36mm to the shopping cart.

#10 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 25 Nov, 2013 18:11
Sorry about the hurried post, but this 36mm is from an 88 LT250, would I need a throttle cable for this or would my current one work?

#11 Reply
Posted by Chuckie25 on 25 Nov, 2013 18:13
Post the link to it so we can see? Stock carbs for the 87+ were the TM34 I believe,,, but i know my stock throttle cable pulls my PJ38 all the way open so you should be good in any case

#12 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 25 Nov, 2013 18:22
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190935099139#ht_1279wt_744

here it is, it looks identical to my current 34mm. I missed out on a good deal on a 36mm on Everythign2stroke for $35 might be able to get a good one one here I havent looked through the classifieds yet.

But for the price of a rebuild kit, I'm kinda thinking of picking up one for my carb and gettign it to work while I keep an eye out for another good deal I do not know yet..

#13 Reply
Posted by Chuckie25 on 25 Nov, 2013 18:26
Yea that looks to be a TM34,, It's the same carb as youve got now. I dont think they changed carbs from 85/86-87/92

#14 Reply
Posted by GrkGuy on 25 Nov, 2013 18:53
i think it just needs run hard with lower jet, needs to clean its self out. take fule line off and close valve see if it leaks and watch carb. does it **** alot after
its off.

#15 Reply
Posted by Andys92 on 25 Nov, 2013 19:32
i got a keihin 36mm pj carb , cable and some jets .$50 plus shipping if ya want it ,the throttle cable came with it when i bought it a couple of years ago off a guy on the old site .never tried it and now dont need it .

#16 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 25 Nov, 2013 22:30
GrkGuy, nice to see you on here! thanks for the recommendation btw. I'm sure that the cylinder is pretty gunked up. Before I push started it the last time I took off the spark plug after trying to kick it then I used a torch and put just a little flame to the spark plug hole to try and clean it out and she backfired a cloud of nasty out. So i'm sure that your right about it needing to be ran hard after I get it to start again. So just to clarify your saying to take the fuel line off the carb, and to close which valve? (sorry might be a dumb question)

Andy, I might take you up on that offer, I think I should still try to give this carb a good cleaning and maybe a rebuild before I start adding more things to my "todo" list.

When I get a chance to play with it it will be Wednesday day because of working security for a retail store this week gets pretty crazy for me. I hate the holidays.

Thanks for all the help guys, hopefully I'll be able to have her running again before next week, then I can go riding and break new things

#17 Reply
Posted by Andys92 on 26 Nov, 2013 05:24
no worries . its here if ya want it .

#18 Reply
Posted by GrkGuy on 26 Nov, 2013 06:30
i was just wondering if it was leaking fuel into top end and giving you a motor full of fuel

#19 Reply
Posted by Gillio on 26 Nov, 2013 08:49
If your still having issues after the carb clean. You might wanna look at the state of your crank seals. The torch trick might have pushed one out.

#20 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 26 Nov, 2013 11:33
Ok, I went and took a quick look this morning before work.

Grk, the carb is not leaking just with the fuel on. as best as I can tell it floods the cylinder with gas when its kicked over. So this tells me that the entire problem is inside the carb somewhere, am I correct in thinking this?

Gillio, checked and all of my fluid levels are good and I dont have a sign of a blown crank seal, yet, That was my first thought when I say the fuel/oil leaking from the head pipe but to find out it was just old nasty gas.

I'm picking up a rebuild kit for that carb today, I'll go with a nice cleaning and the rebuild tomorrow morning, hopefully this clears up my starting problems, then I can work on more important matters.

#21 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 26 Nov, 2013 21:23
The most amazing thing just happened!!!!! The last two days or so the LT has been sitting in the garage with no plug in.

I go out 6 minutes ago or so throw a plug in disconnect the fuel tank and think what the hell might as well try it. First kick with the choke on and she starts right up and seems to run pretty good. did not get to rev it up because of sound ordinance at this time. Any one have any idea on what might of just happened???

I'm going to try it tomorrow again just to make sure that I'm not imagining this.

I cant believe that my tools fixed it by themselves. but I cant think of any other explanation.

#22 Reply
Posted by Chuckie25 on 26 Nov, 2013 22:21
Could have been like what Greek said and she was just loaded up real bad. Letting it sit open like that let the gas evaporate out the plug hole. Did it smoke bad when it first started?

#23 Reply
Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 26 Nov, 2013 22:33
Yea it was smoking pretty good. I'm very happy to feel as though its fixed, but I still cant get over the feeling that it will just happen again.