1989 CR 250 resto

[bambam1026]

So here is the 1989 CR 250 I purchased. I picked it up to go to the Unadilla rewind event. After a couple of years of looking I went with a dealer of vintage motocross bikes I found on the internet. I check the reviews and they were 50/50 so I went for it. This is close to how it showed up, yes I bought without seeing it in person, the pictures looked go and saw a video of it run. I was working and could not take the time, my mistake. The seller said it had a new top end. I planned on change the normal bearings and brake pads and so on well thats not the case. The bike sat in my basement for a couple of days before I even had a chance to sit on it and the first thing I found was the oil drain plug was held in with silicon. I didn't get to start the bike for another couple of days, by then I got a new air filter because the one that was there was shot. I started the bike but it seem to be rich and really never cleaned up( I was running the same mix I use in my 2007 CR 125) so I thought the carb was dirty. So I decided to dig into the motor and make sure everything was ok and this what I found

There was a gasket in between all of that sealent just as much on the head, so I'm not feeling to good about things right now. I thought I would take the cylinder off clean the exhaust values and a couple of new gasket and I would be done. Well here what I found when I pulled the cylinder.

The piston looks new and was put in not to long ago but the Nic in the exhaust bridge wasn't repaired so the new piston never had a chance. The rich run engine was due to a bad main seal on the clutch side. When I took the cover off of the exhaust valve on the clutch side it was full of fluid, exactly what I don't know but it shouldn't have been there. So the cylinder is off getting welded and re plated and honed. I found the weep hole on the right cover with silicon . So I'm starting to repair the problems, I'm about 90 days out from the event at unadilla hopefully I'll get back together in time. For those who are looking to buy vintage bikes, do your home work and expected to spend more money then you think. As I'm going I will add to this as I finish things.

[Dane Richardson]

Good luck

[ASP1227]

So here is the 1989 CR 250 I purchased. I picked it up to go to the Unadilla rewind event. After a couple of years of looking I went with a dealer of vintage motocross bikes I found on the internet. I check the reviews and they were 50/50 so I went for it. This is close to how it showed up, yes I bought without seeing it in person, the pictures looked go and saw a video of it run. I was working and could not take the time, my mistake. The seller said it had a new top end. I planned on change the normal bearings and brake pads and so on well thats not the case. The bike sat in my basement for a couple of days before I even had a chance to sit on it and the first thing I found was the oil drain plug was held in with silicon. I didn't get to start the bike for another couple of days, by then I got a new air filter because the one that was there was shot. I started the bike but it seem to be rich and really never cleaned up( I was running the same mix I use in my 2007 CR 125) so I thought the carb was dirty. So I decided to dig into the motor and make sure everything was ok and this what I found
There was a gasket in between all of that sealent just as much on the head, so I'm not feeling to good about things right now. I thought I would take the cylinder off clean the exhaust values and a couple of new gasket and I would be done. Well here what I found when I pulled the cylinder.
The piston looks new and was put in not to long ago but the Nic in the exhaust bridge wasn't repaired so the new piston never had a chance. The rich run engine was due to a bad main seal on the clutch side. When I took the cover off of the exhaust valve on the clutch side it was full of fluid, exactly what I don't know but it shouldn't have been there. So the cylinder is off getting welded and re plated and honed. I found the weep hole on the right cover with silicon . So I'm starting to repair the problems, I'm about 90 days out from the event at unadilla hopefully I'll get back together in time. For those who are looking to buy vintage bikes, do your home work and expected to spend more money then you think. As I'm going I will add to this as I finish things.

Welcome to the club! I’m just about done restoring with my ‘86 CR250. Trust me it’ll be worth it, they are great bikes. Before you install a new piston be sure to drill it on the exhaust bridge side, that will save your exhaust bridge from being damaged again. It’s really easy to do, when you get there I can explain how to do it. And buy a good quality piston, forged is better than cast. Cast pistons tend to crack and be more brittle. Wossner is a good option. Keep us updated. ?

[ASP1227]

So here is the 1989 CR 250 I purchased. I picked it up to go to the Unadilla rewind event. After a couple of years of looking I went with a dealer of vintage motocross bikes I found on the internet. I check the reviews and they were 50/50 so I went for it. This is close to how it showed up, yes I bought without seeing it in person, the pictures looked go and saw a video of it run. I was working and could not take the time, my mistake. The seller said it had a new top end. I planned on change the normal bearings and brake pads and so on well thats not the case. The bike sat in my basement for a couple of days before I even had a chance to sit on it and the first thing I found was the oil drain plug was held in with silicon. I didn't get to start the bike for another couple of days, by then I got a new air filter because the one that was there was shot. I started the bike but it seem to be rich and really never cleaned up( I was running the same mix I use in my 2007 CR 125) so I thought the carb was dirty. So I decided to dig into the motor and make sure everything was ok and this what I found
There was a gasket in between all of that sealent just as much on the head, so I'm not feeling to good about things right now. I thought I would take the cylinder off clean the exhaust values and a couple of new gasket and I would be done. Well here what I found when I pulled the cylinder.
The piston looks new and was put in not to long ago but the Nic in the exhaust bridge wasn't repaired so the new piston never had a chance. The rich run engine was due to a bad main seal on the clutch side. When I took the cover off of the exhaust valve on the clutch side it was full of fluid, exactly what I don't know but it shouldn't have been there. So the cylinder is off getting welded and re plated and honed. I found the weep hole on the right cover with silicon . So I'm starting to repair the problems, I'm about 90 days out from the event at unadilla hopefully I'll get back together in time. For those who are looking to buy vintage bikes, do your home work and expected to spend more money then you think. As I'm going I will add to this as I finish things.

Welcome to the club! I’m just about done restoring with my ‘86 CR250. Trust me it’ll be worth it, they are great bikes. Before you install a new piston be sure to drill it on the exhaust bridge side, that will save your exhaust bridge from being damaged again. It’s really easy to do, when you get there I can explain how to do it. And buy a good quality piston, forged is better than cast. Cast pistons tend to crack and be more brittle. Wossner is a good option. Keep us updated. ?

[Into the sunset]

That bike looks mint. For almost 30 years old I suppose there are bound to be a few surprises. Don’t get discouraged and keep us posted on the progress. 

[mudmixer]

Nice man,I'm suuuuuper jealous.

[ASP1227]

Yeah yours look nice, when I got mine it had been literally beat to death with the ugly stick lol.

[ASP1227]

Now it looks more........ complete. Just needs new plastics. ?

[Piney Woods]

The folks repairing/replating the cyl should also furnish the piston so the fit is perfect. And I think you should identify the seller.

[mxsteve1968]

That's a clean bike. I personally would do a full rebuild for piece of mind.

[Pygmy Warrior]

I bet that I can guess (correctly) who the seller is!!! 

Edited February 28, 2018 by Pygmy Warrior

[bambam1026]

I got the bike through East Coast Vintage. 

[ASP1227]

So here is the 1989 CR 250 I purchased. I picked it up to go to the Unadilla rewind event. After a couple of years of looking I went with a dealer of vintage motocross bikes I found on the internet. I check the reviews and they were 50/50 so I went for it. This is close to how it showed up, yes I bought without seeing it in person, the pictures looked go and saw a video of it run. I was working and could not take the time, my mistake. The seller said it had a new top end. I planned on change the normal bearings and brake pads and so on well thats not the case. The bike sat in my basement for a couple of days before I even had a chance to sit on it and the first thing I found was the oil drain plug was held in with silicon. I didn't get to start the bike for another couple of days, by then I got a new air filter because the one that was there was shot. I started the bike but it seem to be rich and really never cleaned up( I was running the same mix I use in my 2007 CR 125) so I thought the carb was dirty. So I decided to dig into the motor and make sure everything was ok and this what I found
There was a gasket in between all of that sealent just as much on the head, so I'm not feeling to good about things right now. I thought I would take the cylinder off clean the exhaust values and a couple of new gasket and I would be done. Well here what I found when I pulled the cylinder.
The piston looks new and was put in not to long ago but the Nic in the exhaust bridge wasn't repaired so the new piston never had a chance. The rich run engine was due to a bad main seal on the clutch side. When I took the cover off of the exhaust valve on the clutch side it was full of fluid, exactly what I don't know but it shouldn't have been there. So the cylinder is off getting welded and re plated and honed. I found the weep hole on the right cover with silicon . So I'm starting to repair the problems, I'm about 90 days out from the event at unadilla hopefully I'll get back together in time. For those who are looking to buy vintage bikes, do your home work and expected to spend more money then you think. As I'm going I will add to this as I finish things.

You know what I know why they put all that sealant there. They probably didn’t torque the cylinder studs down and use loctite to keep them there, which is what your supposed to do. I learned that the hard way on my ‘86. Went to start it for the first time, added coolant and the head gasket started weeping coolant EVERYWHERE. When you get a cylinder back from re-plating they always remove the studs, they have to I guess. When you put them back on you have to:
1. Clean the threads with a tap
2. Make sure your studs are nice and clean
2.5. Run your studs down and then back up to make sure your threads are clean
3. Apply a few drops of green loctite to the stud
4. Put the stud on and torque it down with a good torque wrench.

Maybe you knew that already but I figured it’s post it anyways just to be safe. ?

[Pygmy Warrior]

37 minutes ago, bambam1026 said:

I got the bike through East Coast Vintage. 

Exactly!

[Lehiguy]

Who are these clowns that try to spray paint dirt bike plastics?  Dumb.

[Puddn421]

Check your water pump housing. I just did a restore on an 89 and mine and just about all 89s have the corroded mag cover. That is also not a stock head gasket I’m sure you know by now but the replacements I got were metal. Nice looking bike and they run great when done and are awesome. Don’t give up! Do you mind saying roughly how much you paid? Just curious what they are going for in that condition.

[mbrick]

I hope they bought it like that and were just responsible for selling it, and that isn't their handiwork.

Nice work going through the details.

[Wraith0513]

Curious about these guys, they are local to me.  Good rep, bad rep?  

[racnfirecapn]

34 minutes ago, Wraith0513 said:

Curious about these guys, they are local to me.  Good rep, bad rep?  

I'm somewhat local to them also. I have seen 2 other bikes come from them in similar condition.  

[ASP1227]

Check your water pump housing. I just did a restore on an 89 and mine and just about all 89s have the corroded mag cover. That is also not a stock head gasket I’m sure you know by now but the replacements I got were metal. Nice looking bike and they run great when done and are awesome. Don’t give up! Do you mind saying roughly how much you paid? Just curious what they are going for in that condition.

I did the JB weld fix on mine. So far so good, hasn’t deteriorated any. Yours should be aluminum though, mine was mag and was pretty nasty looking lol.