Hi everyone, first time poster, long time reader. I love this site, so perhaps you can help me.
I bought an 86 lt250r about a year ago, for very little, as it was a former race bike, and everything on it was beat. I am finally to the point where Ive taken most of the death traps off and replaced them, lol. Things mostly to do with the chassis, new bearings, more bearings, and more bearings and so on. Anyways Im about to put on the upper ball joints and take it for a ride finally, and start it up. It starts first kick always and runs great so far, only thing is, is that when I rev it up, and it comes back down, it starts to make a funny noise, like the flywheel is loose or something. So I take off the cover and check it for play, and it wants to move in and out, not up or down or side to side. It moves along with the threaded part (is that my crank?) in and out maybe a quarter inch or so. Could this be causing the odd noise thats so hard to explain, and what are the causes of this? Thanks again.
it's normal to have a little in and out play.
Maybe post a video of it making the noise.
It moves along with the threaded part (is that my crank?) in and out maybe a quarter inch or so.
Yes that is your crank snout, don't damage it.
if it moves together then your flywheel is not loose on the crank, it'd also be back firing as the timing would be off so that's not it.
Maybe video the noise and post it up on youtube and post a link to it here.
Ok i made a video, hopefully you can hear it, its the rattling sound that happens when its coming back down to idle, sounds like its inside something?
https://youtu.be/7irl1nzpGF4
Well, after finally putting it all together enough to ride it, I found that it only happens in neutral with the clutch disengaged, pull it in, and the sound goes away, is this common? I wouldnt think it would rattle too much with it being a wet clutch and all.
How does the clutch feel when you are riding?
Clutch feels great! Everything about the way its running is awesome, starts first kick, lots of power, etc. Thats why I really am hoping its normal, and I can get away with not tearing it apart.
I had about the same noise on my 90. I figured it was normal/didnt want to open it up so I kept riding it... anyway long story short a few days of riding later and I ended up replacing the clutch basket and clutch. my basket was loose and wore everything down. might be worth a look into. how worn was your basket and clutch pack?
Everything seemed to look ok, but I have an untrained eye. I will drain it and pop the cover back off, and see if anythings loose, am I right in thinking I dont want to start it when its out of oil with the cover off? Seems like common sense.
Correct you would not want to start it then. However you can pulll the spark plug and slowly turn the motor.
Basically you will be looking for grooves worn into the clutch basket that would allow the clutch plates to rotate a bit. Also when you drain it look for metal filing in the oil. You will see some grey paste, that is somewhat normal however large filings are not.
Ok, that I am somewhat caught up on chassis problems, I am looking at this. So I pulled the cover off, and you'll never guess what I found.
https://youtu.be/YL-jiVIwCxgSince it is still working properly, and doesnt look as bad as the guy's in the video above, can I just grind down the tiny teeth with a dremel tool?
Also, the inner hub is tight, and doesnt move, just the basket and gear move together. Need to get a bigger socket to take it off, then is there a bearing thats shot back there? Im learning to love bearings with this thing.
Also, is there any Clymer manuals on this bike anywhere? I have the factory manual, but it wouldnt hurt to have a different view of this thing.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9omowPyQJKac21lcjFBajlRdmM Here is a link to my google drive it has the 85-86 and the 87+ books. I even think I have the LTZ400 book on there still. (might be worth a sticky) you can download those from there as well.
I wouldn't shave the basket. Just because it wont be a fix for very long. the reason those got worn into the basket in the first place is because the plates wiggle around in the basket and wear those into it. by cutting more wiggle space into the basket you would be compounding upon the problem. best fix is a new basket. That is what I ended up doing with my 90. think I paid $300 for a new OEM basket.
Thanks, and yeah thats the manual I already have. I agree that should be a sticky, took me forever to find it.
I am wondering what could be causing the noise in it, if the inner hub bolt is tight. I cant get it off, and just had a tire iron on it because Im lacking an air impact, only have an electric.
Oh yeah, I need that tool, good lookin out.
So, after a bit of googling , I found a new basket with the gear on it, and its hilarious how much they cost, oh well, gotta have it.
In the meantime, I found some problems with the way the goofball before me assembled the clutch. Im assuming its a barnett, hence the stickers, but who knows. Anyways he had the wave washer and the wave washer seat on in the wrong order, and there is no piano wire clip whatsoever, also the notches in the drive plates werent lined up. No idea if any of that matters, because it was working fine. Just the hideous AAAAAAAHH noise when its not engaged. So in the meantime I am gonna reassemble it and wait for the basket, provided I win the bid.
And yeah, there is some play in there.
https://youtu.be/2PIzocln8hA
Well, no luck on any of those things helping, I tried adjusting it, and by the time they stopped rattling, the clutch wouldnt engage at all. In the meantime, Im relatively certain there is something else to work on, theres always something else to work on, lol.
Yep, there is ALWAYS something to work on. but at least your making progress with it. even little steps will lead to something great with enough time and patience.
