250sx Slipping?

[mike84bigred]

Rode my 85 250sx today. When I was winding out 3rd, 4th, and 5th, it felt like it was slipping out of gear when the r's got up, almost like neutral. It would take a sec. for it to catch up with itself. I thought it was just the clutch adjustment, because the shifter was kind of sloppy. I adjusted it and its a bit better but it still doing it. Can anyone help me out?

[bigreddaddy]

Sounds like either your clutch is going out or there is another problem with your tranny.

[Dirtcrasher]

Sounds like you need a new main clutch.

[Rajunrick]

How hard have you rode it? It sounds like the clutches are glazed.

[mike84bigred]

Not real hard. It was running fine when I first started. About an hour in it started doing it. It sounds like its making a noise also when its doing it, almost a slight chattering. Can the clutch really go just like that? How come its only when the gears are wound out?

[WaimakRydah]

i had a similar problem with my dual purpose 2 wheeler and it needed a whole new clutch

[mike84bigred]

Which one? The primary or the one with the disc and springs, or both? I have 2 more in the garage so thats not a problem. A gasket and the labor will be the pain in the a**.

[i58829]

In the post about oil a few weeks ago someone said using motor oil in the bottom end did something like this to their clutch. Any chance you stuck regular car oil in it, and not the recommended honda or 4 stroke specific oils?? Maybe its getting a little thin after it builds up heat, does it work fine after it cools down again? Just a thought before you spend the time and money to rip it all apart...

[Dirtcrasher]

Primary clutch is out of adjustment or worn out........

Mike, your the same guy with the swingarm bearing issue right? Do you have a manual to reference??

I PERSONALLY - and you all know I'm a *Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited* about doing shitt right, have been running Valvoline in ALL of my motors forever and I'm talking at least 10 years.

I have never lost a clutch in anything and I do abuse the clutch badly at 200lbs.

I have changed to a Barnett, but not because my clutch was shot.

I have never run 10$ a bottle Honda oil.............................

[mike84bigred]

I have the Clymer Honda Manuel, but there's not much on trouble shooting. Yes i'm the same person on the swingarm issue. I have been using Ams syntetic 10-40. I used it in my 84 Big Red and had very good results. I have been using it in the 250sx since I got it over the winter. I ran the trike pretty good last weekend and it ran great. It was running good at the start of yesturday until about an hour in. I was running it a bit hard. I have not ran it cold since. Still have to do that. It seemed off the the start its still pretty strong. Only really notice it when 3rd, 4th, and 5th are wound out, especially 5th. The motor was reving very high, but something was not grabbing. I had to wait a long time before I was finally able to get there.

[mike84bigred]

I just took it out for a spin, cold. I don't know if its perfect because I didn't really get a straight run, but it definatly seems better then yesturday! It wasen't reving really high and not going anywhere, which is good. So, you guys think it maybe the oil or still the clutch? The oil said it was specifally formulted for wet clutches.

[Howdy]

Dirtcrasher is correct on the oil, and he is also correct on the probable problem ( main clutch ). To test it start up the machine and try to take off quickly in 3rd or 4th gear from a dead stop. If the motor wants to rev up quickly but the machine don't take off quickly, then it's your main clutch.
If the machine don't want to move until the motor gets up to higher rpms, then it wants to really take off then it's your centrifical clutch.

What ever the problem is you will want to fix it NOW before you wear out other parts and cause a more costly repair. I have a 91 TRX300 at the shop that they continued riding after the main clutch started to slip ( motor is simular to a 250sx ). They finally decided to fix it after it wouldn't hardly move. Had they fixed it before they trashed it they would have gotten by well under $100 ( probably around $65-70 ). How ever they didn't, and they TRASHED the whole clutch assembly and now are looking at well over $200 in parts alone. Labor will be a little higher as well.

Howdy

[mike84bigred]

Its fine from a dead stop, its higher rpm's. I'm going to try draining the oil and putting non-synthetic in it. Any suggetions? I know you guys say detergent oil, but i'm not really familiar with it. So brands and weight would be great.

[Howdy]

Mike, the main clutch will appear to be fine in lower gears, that is why you need to test it while trying to take off in 3-4th gear from a dead stop. If it slips continously while taking off then the main clutch is wore and needs replaced.

This test will not work properly in 1st, or 2nd gear. The reason for this is that the gear ratio allows for little stress on the clutch. How ever starting out in 3rd or 4th even 5th gear puts more stress on the clutch. If the clutch is good it will act normally and the machine will take off without the motor reving up sustantially.
Howdy

[mike84bigred]

Yes that is what I said. Good off the start. Any gear. Only high RPM it was slipping.

[Big Lebowski]

Detergent oil is mainly 98% of all oil out there. Just make sure it doesn't say non-detergent on the front. Some convenience stores sell the stuff to unsuspecting buyers. It is real bad because it doesn't wash away the dirt and bad stuff that ruins a engine.

I really have never had a use for it and have had to catch myself a few times because I was looking for value and had non-detergent in my hand. Stay away.

[mike84bigred]

Well I changed the oil. Its better but still not perfect. I'm just going to check out ebay for a new motor. Anyone on the board here have a good running one they would like to let go? I want a direct swap in. 86 and up prefered.

[Dirtcrasher]

Your crazy.... Your most likely gonna find someone else's headache.

I though the thing ran good aside from a clutch problem??

Most of the SX's have a bad one way clutch in them and many have shifting issues.

I'd rather get the OEM service manual and fix it so I know it's all good but thats just me.....

Be sure to ask ALLOT of questions if you buy a used motor.

[mike84bigred]

The clutch is bad, timing chain is worn, cracked case, and stripped drain plug. I don't think its crazy.

[bigreddaddy]

Yeah I feel the same about buying a used motor. I mean your going to spend a few hundred on another motor which will be USED. You might end up with some of the same problems. Kind of like rolling the dice in my opinion. It would be a lot cheaper fixing the one you have.