Regardless the engine is coming out anyway this winter for new gaskets and a paint job, I just don't want to sink too much money into it I already paid wayyyy to much for it.

It's not smoking really once it's warmed up, and I'm not loosing any crankcase oil just a few drips here and there from a bad seal on the plug bolt.

I borrowed my grandfathers compression gauge today and tested it, each kick increased on a level of about 10-15psi at a time. My maximum was 90-95psi and when I say maximum I mean after about 6 kicks or so it stopped there and another 6 kicks would not raise it any higher. Only took 10 seconds to drop 20-30psi, and I was back at 0 within a minute. Granted my gramps gauge MAY be leaking but it was too cold for soapy water and even if it was leaking it would go higher then 90psi even for a second. I mean with the plug in it I can turn the engine over with the kick lever using my hand and I'm a small guy, my body weight puts that lever right to the frame in a second if I stand on it (never really thought of it)

 

If 90 is the true reding it's way way low. Rebuilds should be done on Honda's on anything below 170 ish Lbs. per the manuel, or whatever is 10% below 199 Lbs. and all these 2 strokes are pretty much the same.

 

So you think for a 250cc I should be around 200psi? I took the reading a few times to be sure, it went up in steady increments until it hit 90. I probably rode all summer on a set of blown rings, I'm hoping it dosen't need a new sleeve/jug.

 

Suzuki Quadracer Manual | lt250 | Repair | Service | Shop About time for one of these.

 

I already got 2 of them haha, I looked and I coulden't find it. I even used the index in the back and looked under all cylinder maintenance sections and everything. I might have missed it but I did not see anything. However I did see that unlike most threads online it says the air/fuel mixtuire screw should be 3/4 of 1 turn out, everywhere online says 1-1 1/2 turns out. Also it said that a side affect of broken or chipped/bad reeds are engine failure due to lean mixture, I better check those while I have the head off.

 

I just tested my brothers mint 1997 CR125R and he gets 60-70lbs. and it drops at the same rate my 250R does, I don't get how the meter could be leaking that badly, would his bike even run correctly at 60-70lbs? Because it runs flawlessly. Holding the throttle open makes no difference either.

 

I think you need to get a new compression tester. You're not going to be able to check the reeds with the head off, take the carb. off then the intake boot and reeds are held together by the same bolts take those off and they'll come out. Just watch the bolts if they haven't been out for a while they like to break, already been down that road.

 

I did, I found an identical "better condition looking" compression tester in his basement and I retested this evening. I got 160psi and it dropped very slowly to about 130-140 over 10 min. Is that low enough to be leaning out? So basically the reeds are in a "reed basket" that comes out? I've snapped more bolts then I want to admit, you just drill them out smash a torx in and crank them out. I've had to healacoil many blocks, but thanks for the heads up! Seeing how I have a higher compression then I first thought I think the reeds are next in troubleshooting, do you think the cold weather has anything to do with the problem surfacing now? Is cold air more dense or something?

 

Yes cold air is more sense that's why they sell cold air intakes. With 160lbs. that's just not low enough for me to do a rebuild there's more life in that cylinder. There's bigger things to worry about right now IMO. Bad reeds will usually bog it down but they're worth checking. Yeah the reed basket is shaped like a > and one petal will be on top and the other petal on bottom. If it's an oem basket they'll probably be screwed on.

 

Well I definitely am not trying to put too much performance money into it so I won't touch the top end because I want to sell it this summer. If anything a really nice paint job like my LT230S thread will make it look more valuable. I am however going to replace all the engine gaskets with new ones before I paint it because Mr.Hill Billy used gasket sealer on the crank case split. I agree needs money in other places. Well I have GOT to get to the bottom of this death rev problem soon, so reeds, then back to the carb troubleshooting again I guess?

PS- Looks like your a fan of trikes, I used to own a ATC 125M & another one I forgot either a 90 or 110. If I ever find the pictures of the 90/110 I will upload them, however I do have some pictures of my uncles 250R and 350X (they are both dead now because it flooded there and rusted them out)




And this is why I love my LT250R so much, I had an LT80 when I was a kid I weighed about 80lbs. and my neighbor who had an LT500R did something to my 80 that made it get up and go when I opened that throttle I used to whip!