Yamaha WR250R Mega Thread

[30Bones]

People with swingarm damage, what front sprocket are you running? 12 or 13?

[Sewerat]

I'm running a 13. Right now a 12. But mostly a 13. Bike has 30,000 kms and I have replaced 3 guards, need another one right now but waiting a bit. I am going to do a full swing arm movement adjustment. I found that the more I weight the bike down the sooner the guard is destroyed. Slack is set fine for normal riding or empty bike but gear up or two up and it will be too tight.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Originally Posted by 30Bones

People with swingarm damage, what front sprocket are you running? 12 or 13?

I had a 13, switched to a 14 and came up with a chain adjust and check tech that has worked well so far.

[SkidMarx]

Originally Posted by 30Bones

People with swingarm damage, what front sprocket are you running? 12 or 13?

I run a 12 or 13.
Was running the 13 when I got the damage. Stock chain was not that old, but It got kinky when I let the maintenance slip. Kinks will eat that slider faster than anything.

[30Bones]

Originally Posted by SkidMarx

I run a 12 or 13.
Was running the 13 when I got the damage. Stock chain was not that old, but It got kinky when I let the maintenance slip. Kinks will eat that slider faster than anything.

Unsure if you have read BigDogs mods, but he is not a fan of the smaller front sprockets and has a good theory behind it. He runs a 14 now and changes gearing on the rear. http://www.bigdogadventures.com/WR250R.htm

[HardWorkingDog]

Originally Posted by 30Bones

People with swingarm damage, what front sprocket are you running? 12 or 13?

I am running the stock 13 front with a 50 rear. Have never used a 12, and wouldn't.

Originally Posted by Mr. Fisherman

I had a 13, switched to a 14 and came up with a chain adjust and check tech that has worked well so far.

And that chain adjust and check tech would be...?

In my case I think the damage was caused by
1. Chain/sprocket wear, leading to excessive slack.
2. Several weeks exposure to salt air, 1000's of miles of sand trails, and one spectacularly impassable mud pit that caused the rear wheel to completely lock due to mud packing around the swingarm, chain guide and front sprocket area. Grit and water got past the x-rings and eventually caused several links to kink up.
3. Riding with the above conditions with a full load of camping gear on extremely rutted/washed out dirt roads, where g-outs and 6" potholes are as common as cardon cacti.

The loose and kinked chain tends to wrap upward as it leaves the bottom of the front sprocket under acceleration, add in the upward movement of the rear wheel under a g-out which further pulls the chain toward the bottom of the swingarm...

I'm sure you can get swingarm damage in other situations--say a too tight chain--but it is very clear that the damage in my case was NOT caused by a tight chain. (i.e., much respect to BigDog, but my data simply doesn't jibe) I tightened up the chain slack, lubed the heck out of it, and got home with no more significant damage.

[AZ TOM]

Utah Fox good luck on your trip. If you can set the shock sag to 4+ inches, should help with the height. Seat Concepts will be a big plus. I am here in Prescott AZ, if you have any issues along the way on your trip just give a shout & I will give any help I can. Good luck & ride safe.

[swimmer]

In case anyone is in the market I got this email from rockymountainatvmc.com this morning about clearance prices on a battery.
To our valued customer: This email has been sent to let you know of a machine-specific clearance offer:
AGM No Maintenance Battery clearance items are now available in limited quantities for your 2009 YAMAHA WR250R at special clearance pricing!
Clearance price: $23.99

Reg Price: $54.99


Hurry! Clearance items move quickly and are limited to stock on hand.





http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/...-Battery-CTZ7S

[TwilightZone]

>"AGM No Maintenance Battery clearance items are now available in limited quantities for your 2009 YAMAHA WR250R at special clearance pricing! Clearance price: $23.99"

Hmm... the online reviews for this battery are not very good.

[swimmer]

Originally Posted by TwilightZone

>"AGM No Maintenance Battery clearance items are now available in limited quantities for your 2009 YAMAHA WR250R at special clearance pricing! Clearance price: $23.99"

Hmm... the online reviews for this battery are not very good.

I didn't look into it at all just passing it along. I bought a new battery about a month ago so it's of no interest to me.

[Mr. Fisherman]

For those interested.

I dug it up from back there in the thread...

Originally Posted by Mr. Fisherman

So my smart friend Luke came by to help me change my chain and sprockets.
I owe Bigdog a big thank you! 14 50 gearing is the shizzle! Shifting into 6th at 75 indicated and 6th gear pulls hard... me likey!
Check out the difference on the rear...



I had feared that my chain may have gotten into my swingarm and those fears were confirmed. I had planned ahead and bought one from a guy that was parting his bike out. Good thing...


Then Luke, the smart one... discovered that the factory spoke wrench was am amazing tool.
According to the TSB M2008-20 the chain slack should be 165 MM back from the front chain tensioner with 36 lbs of upward force on the chain and the slack between the chain and the swingarm should be between 8 and 13 mm. Well guess what... that magic spoke wrench at the narrow part is just about 11MM and at the wide part it is 16.09mm so if the narrow part of the tool doesn't touch and the widest part just does, you are good.



I always have this tool with me so these checks will be quick and repeatable from now on. Oh, and 165mm back from the front chain tensioner is just about inline with the mud flap as mentioned earlier.



Easy Peasy, repeatable and consistent. It takes the mystery out of this adjustment for me. Luke also showed me how to use a straight edge against the sprocket to align the chain. This was simple and I wasn't surprised to see a slight difference between my adjuster markings from side to side when we were done.

Thanks Luke for the help and the tutorial and Thanks Bigdog for the advice on the 14 50 gearing. I am stoked to get on my next adventure

The TSB says to do this with the bike on the side stand. I did mine with the rear tire in the air.

[30Bones]

I am digging your trailer setup Fisherman

[HardWorkingDog]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fisherman

For those interested.

I dug it up from back there in the thread...

Thanks! The spoke wrench gauge is a good idea.


But...

"The TSB says to do this with the bike on the side stand. I did mine with the rear tire in the air."

That is a HUGE difference. I suppose there could be a strange coincidence where the relation of the chain/swingarm pivot/sprockets is the same in both cases, but I'm not willing to gamble on that one. Have you checked the slack with the bike on the side stand, in neutral? How does it compare to your slack with the bike on a center stand, rear wheel fully lowered?

[Mr. Fisherman]

Originally Posted by HardWorkingDog

Thanks! The spoke wrench gauge is a good idea.


But...

"The TSB says to do this with the bike on the side stand. I did mine with the rear tire in the air."

That is a HUGE difference. I suppose there could be a strange coincidence where the relation of the chain/swingarm pivot/sprockets is the same in both cases, but I'm not willing to gamble on that one. Have you checked the slack with the bike on the side stand, in neutral? How does it compare to your slack with the bike on a center stand, rear wheel fully lowered?

Good catch... Yes, I do this with it on the side stand. By the way, in my case it was the same on the side stand as on the lift in the chock, but on my trips of course it is always on the side stand.

30bones, I really like the trailer for commuting and for long trips.

[30Bones]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fisherman

30bones, I really like the trailer for commuting and for long trips.

I love the idea of not spending all this $$ on bike specific racks/luggage. All that would need changing is the mount for whatever bike (I assume). Price it kind of high, but not too bad if you consider what a full line of wolfman or giant loop gear would run.