ok, I learned something tonight from the port maps. What I had been told all along was an 87 LT250r is actually an 88. Or at least the cylinder is. Now what I have to wonder is, what kind of timing problems am I creating by running an 87 piston?
Incidentally the piston I took out of the motor during my first topend after purchasing, was also an 87 piston...
According to the port map comparison at http://www.geocities.com/kiwi_craig/LTengdata.htm there is quite a bit of difference in port timing, piston shape, combustion chamber, heck, enev the spark plug hole looks different.
Any thoughts?

 

87 cylinder for the lt250 is different than the 88-92. Get the correct pistion. The reed cage is also bigger then the 88-92 yrs. The reed cage is the same for an 87 lt500 on the 87 lt250. make sure you get the correct yr pistion. I got my cylinder resleeved and was told only to use the 87 pistion.