1986 Honda XR250 Bogging Issues

[dynex619]

Hey all. New to the forum and bikes didn't know where to put this really.

I just picked up a old 1986 Honda XR250 for $600 bucks. It runs pretty good, but has some problems with it. Also I have no idea to tell whether its the XLR or XR250R... so I don't know what parts to buy..

When it's a cold start it will turn over great in a couple kicks with no choke and I can run it for a good time, but for some reason when I'll downshift and just hold the clutch it it will die randomly. Then if I slam on the gas pass 3/4 throttle it will bog or die and then when trying to start the bike back up it just won't live again...

So far I have checked oils- all good.
Flushed carb and cleaned it.
Flushed out old gas and cleaned tank and put in new one.
Took off K7N air filter and replaced with a good foam one.
Ran a little bit of seafoam through it for good measure.

Also I noticed the back tire keeps coming off, how do you tell if the wheel went bad, or if it's the tire? It is missing some parts that I guess the PO took off..

Thanks all, enjoy the pictures.



I'll keep this thread updated, just trying to get her road worthy again!

[High Country Herb]

I'm no expert, but have owned quite a few well worn Hondas. You may not have the OEM fuel tank, but I think the XR had plastic, and the XL had metal. Maybe the letters "XL" or "XR" are on the VIN plate somewhere? I think the carb was bigger on the XR.

It sounds like flooding to me, but the dying at open throttle doesn't really fit. If flooding, it is possible the floats inside the carb have a pinhole, and are sinking too low in the bowl.

Leaks around the carb gaskets (intake "manifold") also tend to cause idle troubles. You can check for leaks with WD-40, by spraying around the gaskets. If idle changes, you've got a leak.

The tire keeps falling off? Gotta say that's a first. I hate to ask, but is the tire the right size for the rim? Maybe its just stretched, and needs to be replaced to be road worthy. You can check for a bent rim by spinning the wheel with the bike up on a milk crate or something. The safest way (to keep all your fingers) is to take the chain off and spin the tire, while looking at the edges of the rim for wobble or out of round. The most dangerous way is to idle it in first gear (not advised).

[dynex619]

Thanks for the reply, and I have a plastic tank on it. I don't know what it is the title just says 1986 honda...

I was thinking of getting a carb rebuild kit, do you think it will solve that? I will take the bike in and see if the rim is jacked and i'll inspect it closer tmrw.


how are the lights set up on this biike? there are no switches and I am wondering what the PO did to take them off and where they went.

[High Country Herb]

The headlights would be wired directly to engine electrical, while turn signals would be wired to the battery. Headlights stay on all the time, with a high beam switch on the left handlebar. You can probably get aftermarket light setups from Baja Designs or XRs Only. Xlintperformance also has some hard to find parts. Used parts can occasionally be found on ebay.

Not knowing exactly what's wrong, I don't know if the carb kit will fix all your problems, but it can't hurt. The boot between the carb and motor may have a crack in it. It may or may not be still available through Honda for a pretty penny. I've seen some that have been covered in automotive gasket sealer, and that seems to work, albeit ugly. At least you only have one carb. Mine has two, and is a bit of a pain.

[dynex619]

Update:

Went for a quick run to get her running around the block and after a warmup she runs real good, but then I let her sit awhile while I tinkered on her plastics and was a hard start, along with it ended out dying and I couldn't revive it.. I'm going to be taking her apart (carb), get a new spark plug, get richer jets and I should be set I think.

i'll check out the possibility of leaking around the carb as well.

[dynex619]

Update, bike won't run anymore... She sometimes idles on choke but after that nothing... kicked her over so many times the gas was over flowing out the carb...

What needs replacing you think? Was going to head to motorworld and pick up some new plug possibly a carb rebuild kit or new jets atleast

[gvthnks]

Clean the carb. Simply replacing the parts with a "rebuild kit" may not fix anything. The little passages and orifices where air and fuel travel probably have some gunk in them and need to be cleaned out for it to work correctly.

Then I'd check the valves and ensure the clearance is correct. Valves too tight can make one hard to start when hot.

[cyclewizard]

Post your current jetting for us please.

[dynex619]

Well I am out of commission for a week to work on this bike, hit the flu pretty bad, going to take the bike into Vey's Powersports or Motorworld and see if they can help me so I can get this bike running smooth by next week and I can get ride reports in!

Jetting as far as I know is stock.

Thanks guys

[creaky]

Gas overflowing out of the carb......float is sticking and flooding the engine.

[dynex619]

Motoworld came through and the bike runs in 1 kick or less




Got some good riding in today!