Seeking engine experts

[Xpress]

So a buddy has an 88 trx250r, and it doesn't go into the powerband at all. Not sure what the deal is. He said before it used to go into it if you eased into the gas, but it just doesn't do it at all now. We put in a new plug too, but didn't change a thing.

I'm thinking it might just be wayy to rich on the topend. Anybody have suggestions? The bike has an aftermarket exhaust on it too, and I even tried removing the airbox lid to no avail.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Check the reeds. If good, start looking at your jetting. Could also be leaking crank seals.....

[Xpress]

Hopefully it's something as simple as the reeds or jetting. He doesn't seem like the kind of person that wants to rebuild the engine.

If the reeds aren't making a good seal, will it cause running issues, like bogging?

EDIT: I just discovered that reeds that don't seal can cause the issues he's having. So I guess it's time for new reeds then.

[SWIGIN]

If he's not the kind of guy who would want to rebuld the engine, then why does he have a 2 stroke?

If riden right thats a yearly thing......

[Xpress]

Why do people keep telling me a 2 stroke needs to CONSTANTLY be rebuilt??????? I am running a 100% stock tecate engine on the original bore/piston/rings and it runs incredible. I'm sorry, I just can't believe that.

[SWIGIN]

I didn't say constantly but maybe some people baby there machines.

All I ment was if he's not the rebuilding type (whatever that is) then a 20+ year old 2 stroke seems like a bad choice IMO.

[Xpress]

IMO a newer 2 stroke is a bad choice. All you hear about with these guys is their constant need to rebuild the topend after 100 hours. You don't ever hear that with the older bikes, only in extreme cases where the engines were poorly maintained.

[SWIGIN]

I don't know how old you are but I remember when those old 2 strokes were once new. And I can tell you that they were no different then any other new machine. If you beat it it will beak, so lets not go there.

What I mean is that you have to understand that any 20 year old machine let alone a 2 smoke might be in need of a rebuild. Especialy when we raced them back in the day you were lucky to get the season out of a top end.

Everyone has a story of a unused 2 smoker from back in the 80s that is still on it's stock bore....to that I say it wasn't used enough...lol

[brd812]

We treated our 2 strokes like top fuel dragsters and pounded them and rebuilt them all the time, even when they really might not of needed it. I wasted alot of money resleeving and boring and match porting over years , but boy was it fun. I think your buddy bike could use a little TLC and it could be very simple like swigin said , cracked reed would be my guess, esp if it falling flat on its face.

[Xpress]

I am just hoping that we don't find out that this guy has to spend a lot to rebuild his engine. He has barely ridden it, never taken it to the desert, got it for a steal though at a thousand.

I am going to check the reeds next time I'm over. If they're bent up slightly, would a temporary fix be just to flip the reeds over, to see if it is infact the reeds?

[brd812]

try it, I've done before with solids w/out any problems, but plan on buyng new ones before you go out to be safe.