gettin a 01 rm cheap. got a few ?'s

[evand]

i have the chance to pick up a 01 rm 125 for short money (girl wants 600 but i think i can get it for 500) bikes in good shape looks wise, but has a motor prob. it will run ok on a NEW plug for about 10-15 mins still feels a bit short on power but runs ok afterthat it fouls the plug and wont start unless you put a NEW plug init and the local dealer gets 20 bucks for the darn plug and its still hard to start? im thinking it needs a top end? do these bikes have a plated cylinder?


what else could it be? maybe running WAY fat or a clogged power valve?


what do you guys think?

thanks
Evan

[DarkestGKnight]

check your jetting maybe getting to much fuel is the plug wet? or dry.

[Danold]

unlikely but it could be your crank seal. Somtimes they can cause oil to seap in and make it run rich.

[DixiePlowboy]

unlikely but it could be your crank seal. Somtimes they can cause oil to seap in and make it run rich.

That's kinda on the worst case end of the spectrum, but definitely not out of the question. Just keep an eye on the transmission oil level and watch for oil passing through exhaust(other than normal spooge).

My KX250 wouldn't "clean out", smoked horribly, fouled plugs and lost about 1/2 quart of tranny oil in 5 minutes of revving in neutral.....so it wasn't hard to diagnose the only crank seal failure I've had.

[Lomax]

While unlikley it could be as simple as the fuel mixed WAY too rich. Wouldnt be the first time I have seen it. as for the cyclinder, yes it is plated
-Will

[evand]

thanks for the input guys! i dont think its a crank seel as im friends with the girl who owns the bike now and i did all the oil changes and other work to it, and it was always full of oil.

and i would mix her gas most of the time, but that thought did come to my mind.

how tough are the plated cylinders? what do i do if the plating is messed up? bore and run a regular set of rings? or do i need to get it re-plated/


sry about all the dumb?'s just dont want to buy it and not be able to afford to fix it.

[DixiePlowboy]

If the plating is messed up, it can be honed slightly and Pro-X makes 3 slight oversize pistons for the '01 RM125. You can use .0004"(SB), .0008"(SC), or .0012"(SD) without replating or sleeving as long as the plating isn't damaged or worn beyond these listed oversizes. Dennis Kirk has these pistons for $89.99.

If the plating is too damaged, I would send it to be replated($150+) before I would even think about iron-sleeving it($85.99 for an L.A. Sleeve plus $140+ for the labor to sleeve your jug).

Plating is tougher, lubricates and transfers heat better, and is cheaper.

Hope this helps.