84 KXT250 Not Starting

[Frankencelery]

Since I got my 84 Tecate about a year ago, it's had occasional incidents of not starting. Usually then the next time you try it, it starts up fine. Last night and today I can't get it to start at all.

I know the basic formula...gas, compression, spark, but I feel that 2-strokes are somehow made from alien UFO technology and therefore beyond my comprehension.

Pulled spark plug and checked spark- ok.
Ran compression test. I get about 130lbs after 3 kicks. I don't have a manual so I don't know what it's supposed to be. Also, my compression tester has a 15" hose on it which probably reduces the reading.
Shot starting fluid into the carb...nothing.

Okaaay....ideas?

[Keith Salyer]

I would say compression should be 170-190. That is a guess but an expert will chime in soon and give the specs. Test it at full throttle and more like 10 kicks-----kick until it quits climbing.

[jeswinehart]

My V-Force reeds have a tendency to stick shut if my trike has set awhile. I run some thick gobbly goop oil mix on initial fire up and have since diluted back down to my normal Amsoil mix,,, but still ain't got all the goop off the reeds.
I have been having the Mrs. give me a pull start for now,,,,

[emmie357]

My 85 was difficult to start, took a lot of kicks.
I pulled the reed block and the reeds weren't sealing all the way. I flipped them over and it's fired right up 1 or 2 kicks since.

Could be the problem, if not you're out no money and twenty minutes of your time.

[atc007]

It will run on 130lbs. But should be much more. Do what Keith said. Then,squirt some oil in the plug hole to seal the rings. Test compression again. If it goes up dramatically,you need rings and or a bore and piston and rings. Have you had Swinehart do your flywheel yet? If not,have him. The stock one will implode taking out your stator. Just because you see spark,it may not be enough under compression. If it won't run with ether,somethings way off. Like Jon said,,towing it would most likely get it running. But you need to see why it's doing this. My guess is ,it is flooded. Needle and seat in carb let gas run in the engine. But checking these things out will let you rest easier you've got a good one under ya

[Frankencelery]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was out working on it when some of them came in, so I haven't gotten to all of them yet. I took the reed cage out and got an education there. One reed was open just a crack, so as emmie357 suggested, I turned them around, and that same one still sticks up just a little bit. That would have to be an imperfection in the sealing surface on the cage, wouldn't it? Anyway, when I put it back together, it started right up on the first kick. Twice. I rode it around for about 5 minutes, then it died when I pulled up to the garage and won't start again. Something intermittent...or maybe what you said atc007, maybe it's flooding and that's why it starts once every time I take the plug out, or in this case the reed cage.

We have a wedding to go to, so that will take up the rest of my day, but I'll tackle it again tomorrow.

[RubberSalt]

Keep kicking, 3 kick may not be enough for an accurate reading. 130psi is very low on these. 180-190 is what the manuall wants. 130 will run, but hard to start.

SPARK - These don't have a very good spark to start with. Currently mine has spark, but it's so weak it wont fire. Under compression, spark can be blown out. Your creating much more resistance with more air compressed into a small area, a good spark is needed. From my understanding and reading, the Tecate's don't have great spark as is.

Reeds - this will affect things a mentioned. Reeds not sealing will be difficult to start.

Pull starting may get it running if the reeds arent sealing or the spark is weak.

[christph]

Dito on the bad spark. As you probably know by now Tecates have a poorly designed (or at least poor quality) ignition system. They tend to burn out at exactly the wrong time, i.e., the point when you are furthest away from your truck. A few years back I was stranded several times by mine. They don't always go all at once either. Sometimes they start to act up and only give up the ghost when you're riding really hard and they overheat.

[nd4speed]

When my stator went bad it would go until it warmed up like maybe 20 minutes then die, then fire right up but not go but couple minutes at a time. Did that all day. Parked it for a couple months and the stator never worked again, just backfires. It would spark but ohms tested low.

[Frankencelery]

Ok, got some time this evening to look at it again. You guys were right...kicking it 10 times gave me 170psi. I also didn't know about holding the throttle open. So compression seems ok.

Flywheel is the sealed type and the stator is a brand new Ricky Stator, so we should be ok there...I hope!

It's really intermittent. Seems like if it's left alone for a while, or when I take something apart like taking the reed cage out or the plug out, it will start once after that, and usually I can ride it around with no problem. Then I can shut it off and try to start it again, and no go. Very frustrating.

[Frankencelery]

UPDATE: I took the reed cage out today. Here's a couple pics showing how one reed is just a bit jacked open. Flipping it over does no good, it stays in the same spot. I have to assume this isn't normal, is it?

[nd4speed]

I would buy new reeds.

[RubberSalt]

That's not to uncommon, but the gap isn't that big. Check your stator with and ohm meter. New or not, parts go bad. If I recall, many stators, aftermarket or not, seem to be junk. I've just gone down the path of wrapping my own. I've got an interesting monster in the works now. Hoping for a spark atleast 50-100% hotter than stock.


New reeds wouldn't be a bad idea either.