XR250R cylinder heads

[jjpete86]

What did Honda change on the cylinder head thru the years on the xr250r 86-95 & 96-04.

I found one on eBay that said 90-95, not sure if there's a difference between 86-89.

 

I have a 1997 and I need a head. I found them new but I would also need every component in the head new. So you can imagine it's gonna be pricey.

Is there a reason why an older year head wouldn't fit in my engine? Bolt pattern? Piston clearance/compression? Valve clearance?

[LeonDew]

I have the official Honda XR250 Service Manual and it says 1986 - 1989, and I think the main components stayed the same in that period. Did you check sites like partzilla?

[jjpete86]

I have the official Honda XR250 Service Manual and it says 1986 - 1989, and I think the main components stayed the same in that period. Did you check sites like partzilla?

Partzilla says 86-91 part #12200-KT1-780
I looked up a 92 and it's the same part number so internals must be different
96-04 has part #12200-kcz-305

All I know is 96-04 has a smaller spark plug thread size

[suzukijo]

 

[redhurricane]

Pre 96 heads will not fit on your 97. casting changes, and dimensional differences. You can either wait and watch on ebay for a used 96+ head or go to partzilla who is usually the cheapest online price on OEM Honda stuff. What's wrong with the head that you have that makes it unusable? 

[jjpete86]

Valve failure

[FFMan]

have you had a machine shop comment on the head - maybe it looks worse than it is. recut the valve seats and dress the dings might work.

 

[Oil Baron]

I think the new head comes with guides.  Obviously you need new exhaust valves but it's usually the intakes that go first on the late head so I would replace those too.  What else do you need.  Are the rockers and cam shot too?  Valve springs over heated?  Chain stretched?  Small end of rod scored?  I would opt for new parts while they're still available or part out what is left.  How embarrassing to run out of oil.

[jjpete86]

Yeah I'm going all new components, cam and rockers seem ok. I'm taking it to a machine shop Saturday and he's gonna let me know if my head is salvageable. I'll have him look at the cam too. I called millennium technologies, I've heard good things about them. Until he told me that head restoration is a $379 minimum. No thanks

[jjpete86]

The intake valves were bad too, one broke and one bent

[jjpete86]

Baja Rambler, what do you mean, run out of oil?