86 250sx motor and trans, how to inspect.

[gladiator mice]

i just picked up an 86 250sx motor and trans. turns over with kick starter. shifts into reverse and shifts into first. i did notice the three hex bolts on the output shaft are missing but does not show any sign that it had been pulled apart. either they were taken off to be used or someone started to pull the out put shaft off and realized they shouldnt. considering the first and reverse work, i think the shim had not fallen out of place. i have no idea if this motor has issues or runs mint. whats the easiest way to inspect this motor without taking it apart? im thinking of pulling the motor out of my beater and swapping it with this one and giving it a go and see what happens.

[tri again]

Wish you had more input.

Maybe try the search key as I forget what the symptoms are when the
thrust washer drops down inside.

Is this machine running yet? or easy to get running to test?
Sure wish I had the answer for you.

oh, ps-
I have heard of people running those engines after a rebuild, with an electric drill
to prime the oil pump.
Maybe it would work, spark plug out of course, or maybe hand turn it with a wrench and tr to find all the gears that way.
Reach in somehow and see if the timing chain is loose.
I've pulled timing chain tensioners to see if they're all the way out.

I'll keep thinking.

edit:
Come to think of it, I have an sx engine of unknown status but also have a wire harness.
Wondering now if there's a way to wire it simply and 'bench run' it..

[gladiator mice]

motor is not running yet. still have it on a bench. 350x carb off ebay in the mail right now, should be a couple days.

i was able to shift it manually into first, heard it click into gear. put a vice grip on the output shaft and was able to turn until motor built up amazing compression and couldnt turn by hand. so i used the kick starter to turn the motor while in gear and it spun. put it back in neutral and pulled the reverse lever and shifted the pedal into reverse, heard the click for good synchronizing, and pushed on the kick starter and the out put shaft spun the other direction. i have searched this forum on the washer "issue". from what i have read is that if the output shaft was even started to be pulled the washer would have dropped and the bottom half of the motor would have to be split and rebuilt AND first gear and reverse do not work. im leaning toward the point that someone needed the bolts or took them off thinking that it they needed to be removed to pull the motor.

[ps2fixer]

I have read that it is possible to fish out the washer and get it back in and lined up with out splitting, but I'm sure it is a royal pain to do and requires atleast one side cover off, probably both.

[gladiator mice]

i think ill just roll with it and pull the motor in the SX now and put this beast in it and see where it gets me. hopefully it runs top notch and doesnt require me pulling it back out and be rebuilt.

[Dirtcrasher]

I have pulled the countershaft. Lots of gears/bushings etc must be in a certain groove or aligned with an oil hole. Gears can get flipped around and the 3 lugs can't drive it. Lay it on the right side perfectly flat and pull it. No 3 allen bolts isn't a good sign..............

[gladiator mice]

with the hex bolts missing there is a chance its been messed with and may not work. ive read that if i have first and reverse it is said that the shaft had not been pulled and the washer is in place still. im hoping that the motor will work and the trans will shift with no problem. i like to think positive on issues like this. besides if it doesnt work it gives me a fall project to do.

[Dirtcrasher]

You can find one just one shifter with lugs on one side for one gear and lugs on the other side for another. There's 2 gears that "no go".

Could be a bunch of improperly installed gears in there..............

[gladiator mice]

Well, pulled the motor and put the new 86 six motor in. Put it all back together and Started it up. Ran fine, sounds fine, and shifted through all the gears and reverse with no issues. Best $100 I ever spent on my ATC.