I think I may habe finally found the little 250 xplorer I have wanted for some time. Got a lead on a nice clean 2002 that is in great shape body and tire wise, but is non running. The owner said the motor is seized. I asked quite a few questions on how it ended up that way and he said it was running fine and they went through some water and it died but it started right away and they continued to ride it for the rest of the day. The parked it and the next day it would not turn over with either the recoil or electric start. They pulled the recoil thinking it was bad but nothing there was faulty. I am taking a chance to look at it and I hope it is not something serious that would make the motor a piece of scrap iron and not be able to be rebuilt. If the piston is seized, wouldn't it make the jug hard to pull for a rebuild? What should I look for to tell me what is the reason for the motor not turning over?

Thanks,
Mike

 

If it got water in the airbox wouldn't take anything for it to get through the carb and wash the oil from the piston. It may not seize right then,but the damage is done and it could run awhile before the rings seized and lost compression or froze up. Never found one I couldn't get the jug off no matter how bad they seized up. Problem is when water washes the piston down the water goes to the lower rod bearing and crank bearings also. You could be looking at a rod kit and crank bearings also. But look on the bright side,if you can get it cheap enough,you'd have a brand new engine in that old 250 that would run for many more years.

 

Thanks OPT,

I haven't done a bottom end yet but I would assume if it is seized, there is a good chance that it will need to be done also. Is it a difficult job? I see posts about the 400's when the bottom end goes out and they can be a nightmare if not done right. Or is it possible to just get the rotating assembly already to go like I see a lot of four strokes out there. I know the crank has to be pressed apart and put back together if a rod is done so it would be best to let my machine shop do it when they do the jug.

Now comes the hard part, if I end up with this machine, my wife will pressure me to make room for it so one of my two strokes may have to find a new home, lol.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Plenty of cheap rod kits around including WSM which I've used before. Best to let a machine shop install it as you need a 20 ton press,crank shaft jigs,dial indicator and stand to true the crank up.https://www.ebay.com/itm/WSM-Polaris...VV1a7Q&vxp=mtr