Problem starting my 250r

[Derrick Adams]

NO offense, but maybe you should think about taking it to your local bike shop. It sounds like your in way over your head!
First of all, if it has a new top-end, who did it?

What exactly is the fuel/ oil ratio at?

DON'T try to start the bike if the intake is cracked! Replace it. You'll never get it to run right (or long) with an air leak.

Just because you put a new plug in it, doesn't mean it isn't fouled already. On a 2-stroke you can foul a plug almost instantly if your settings are off. Also, it may get great spark at the plug, but that doesn't mean the bike will run with it.

Is your air filter clean?

Is your carb getting a good fuel supply?

Is the needle and seat for the carb bowls operating properly?

Where is your idle mixture screw set at? When this is adjusted properly you should have a bike that starts on the 2nd or 3rd kick when cold (w/ choke) and 1st kick when warm (w/out choke). Provided everything else is in normal operating condition.

What is the condition of your reeds? Are they curled or lifting from the cage?
Think about flipping them. When reeds wear they can cause starting issues.

These are just the basics. If you seem lost, it would be best to find someone local to help you. Those bikes are great bikes to ride and you don't want to take a chance on ruining the engine over lack of knowledge on tuning. If you understand it all, forgive me for providing the obvious.

Reading the posts on these boards will put you way ahead of the game, just don't believe everything you read! It doesn't take too long to figure out who knows what they're talking about and who doesn't.

You should have the choke on before you even kick the bike over, when it's cold. Then leave it on for a few seconds before turning it off. Don't try to let the bike idle directly after starting it either. You should commit to setting on the bike for no less than 1 minute (in the winter) while constantly revving the bike up and down (not wide open, but stabbing the throttle over and over). The white smoke is normal on start up and should fade away as the bike warms up. But generally it will always smoke a little at idle.

One last bit of advise. NEVER hold your 2 stroke wide open for longer than 5 seconds in any gear! Ever! 2 strokes are not designed to run wide open all the time and will melt down, ruining your day!

[Tubsy]

to derreck adams. i will go out now and go through your list!

Any problems will be posted here for all to see and help!

[hrc85250r]

huh? i hold mine wide open quite a bit when im blasting through fields and climbing sand hills! i never had a melt down, i only siezed it once cause i was lost and my friend only had straight gas i had to dilute my premix and it was a little too lean, i siezed the rod to the crank the next day....the piston itself was fine, just the crank bearing crunched and the crank webs turned purpleish around the crnak pin....lol good times

[Derrick Adams]

huh? i hold mine wide open quite a bit when im blasting through fields and climbing sand hills! i never had a melt down, i only siezed it once cause i was lost and my friend only had straight gas i had to dilute my premix and it was a little too lean, i siezed the rod to the crank the next day....the piston itself was fine, just the crank bearing crunched and the crank webs turned purpleish around the crnak pin....lol good times

If you were to put someone on your 250R that had never ridden a 2 stroke before, but plenty of big 4 strokes, what would you tell him?

"Be carefull, it comes on fast, and don't hold it wide open too long"

You have to assume that people really don't know anything about it. I know I wouldn't feel comfortable running my bike wide open in a gear for longer than that. Count out 5 seconds and imagine holding your bike WOT in second gear!

I bet you don't get to 3 before your flenching!

[Tubsy]

Derreck adams, i put some gasket sealant on the crack.

And let it set for half an hour. and changed the spark plug cap and snipped the copper on the wire which screws to the cap.

Fired it up with choke. and revved it and it just died. i could hear the revs dropping and it would cut out.

I done it again with choke on then when it started counted 5 seconds and put choke off and the same!

It wont start with choke off.

can you please tell me what it could be? not that i need parts. would just like to get it running then look for parts as its going to be a pain looking for some of the parts!

[Derrick Adams]

Does it progressively run longer with the choke on? If you were to leave the choke on and slighty rev it up and down, does it stay running?

Is the idle mixture screw (not the idle screw) still in the carb? It's a small screw usually located on the same side as the idle screw, behind and lower from it.

Have you pulled the carb and cleaned the bowl like the other guys suggested yet?

Are your floats working properly?

[Tubsy]

Derrick adams. i have took the carb off - this was a job! had to take the air filter box off to get at the carb to remove it!

Im going to clean it and go over it with compressed air.

To the above anwsers it doesnt run it just cuts out. the idle mixture screw is there also. i have fiddled with the air screw but no avail!

As soon as the carb is cleaned i shall see what the results are. and if the problem consists then i can go in to more detail and people or yourself can help on step by step instructions!

It could just be the carb needs cleaning. so till then we shall leave it as the carb needs cleaning. as its had new spark plug. new cap. and ive trimmed the copper on the wire to the cap.

Im hoping theres no pin holes in the carb but fingers crossed