Very Hard Starting Dirt Bike - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

cwdhunter · 03-12-2006, 06:38 AM

Very Hard Starting Dirtbike?
1990 rm250 2 stroke.

new piston, rings, gaskets, porting job by eric gorr, boyesen power reeds, 40:1 premix, br8eix spark plug, runs pretty good when i can get it started and spark plug looks great.

spark I am not sure.......i have spark, but not sure if its the brightest spark I have ever seen.

If I roll it down a hill, it seems to fire right up, but to kick start it is almost impossible, sometimes it will fire, most times not....please give me some ideas.....eric gorr suggested stator.....but before I spend $130+ on that old of a bike I wanted second opinions...thanks.

cwdhunter · 03-12-2006, 08:59 AM

ohmed out the stator...read fine as called out in the clymer manual.

ohmed out the ignition coil and read 11,000 ohms compared to 5,000-8,000 as called out in clymer.

could this be my problem?

Dave2122 · 03-12-2006, 10:03 PM

I dont think so. I think your problem is the float height is way off. I would adjust the float height to spec and you should be ok.

Shea · 03-13-2006, 07:29 AM

^^^I agree. If spark is not the issue, fuel is most likely the other culprit and if it runs ok when it does finally start, then I too would guess it's the float height.

bigE · 03-15-2006, 01:48 PM

Im having the same problem and my coil also reads 11k ohms (supposed to be 4-7k). I havent tested the stator yet, but does anyone know if it will actually "hurt" anything to run a coil with too high a resistance?

cwdhunter · 03-15-2006, 02:48 PM

let me know if you find a spark plug cap...im having a hard time getting one.

96rm250 · 03-18-2006, 11:39 PM

I have the same problem with my bike 8 to 10 kicks to start every time. took it to the shop to get checked out and they did a pressure check on the crank case. leaked like a SOB. said the seals needed replaced. still bump starts fine though.

Dave2122 · 03-24-2006, 12:53 PM

If it was a crank seal you would notice a lot of smoke from the exhaust. Also you will notice the gearbox oil level lowered.

96rm250 · 03-26-2006, 09:38 PM

not if its leaking on the mag side although that usually isnt the side that goes. the gear that bolts on to the spline on the pto side of the crank could be slightly ovaled were it seals against the crank seal. If the leak was small it can not show up as much through smokey exhaust or lowered oil level because of the thickness of gear oil.

ford79_69 · 07-21-2006, 12:49 AM

at least you have a kickstarter...i got my bike given 2 me and it dident kick when i got it..of course the cdi was bad also but i fixed that and got it 2 run by pushin it and slamming it into gear(clutch was locked also)...then i finnaly pulled it apart and the clutch basket and the gear that mounts on back were screwed up...i orderd a new basket today....hopefully i will have some good riding soon!

03-12-2006, 06:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
cwdhunter Newbie Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 20	Very Hard Starting Dirt Bike Very Hard Starting Dirtbike? 1990 rm250 2 stroke. new piston, rings, gaskets, porting job by eric gorr, boyesen power reeds, 40:1 premix, br8eix spark plug, runs pretty good when i can get it started and spark plug looks great. spark I am not sure.......i have spark, but not sure if its the brightest spark I have ever seen. If I roll it down a hill, it seems to fire right up, but to kick start it is almost impossible, sometimes it will fire, most times not....please give me some ideas.....eric gorr suggested stator.....but before I spend $130+ on that old of a bike I wanted second opinions...thanks.

03-18-2006, 11:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
96rm250 Newbie Joined: Jan 2006 Bike: 1996 RM 250 Location: Glen Morris, Ontario, Canada Posts: 8	I have the same problem with my bike 8 to 10 kicks to start every time. took it to the shop to get checked out and they did a pressure check on the crank case. leaked like a SOB. said the seals needed replaced. still bump starts fine though. Last edited by 96rm250; 03-19-2006 at 06:17 PM.

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03-12-2006, 08:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
cwdhunter Newbie Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 20	ohmed out the stator...read fine as called out in the clymer manual. ohmed out the ignition coil and read 11,000 ohms compared to 5,000-8,000 as called out in clymer. could this be my problem?

03-12-2006, 10:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dave2122 Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2004 Bike: Which one of the 9? Location: USA Posts: 887	I dont think so. I think your problem is the float height is way off. I would adjust the float height to spec and you should be ok.

03-13-2006, 07:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
Shea Third gear and cruising Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: Buell XB12Ss Lightning Location: York, Pa Posts: 521	^^^I agree. If spark is not the issue, fuel is most likely the other culprit and if it runs ok when it does finally start, then I too would guess it's the float height.

03-15-2006, 01:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigE Kickstand Operator Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: 2000 SV650 & 2000 Marauder Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 289	Im having the same problem and my coil also reads 11k ohms (supposed to be 4-7k). I havent tested the stator yet, but does anyone know if it will actually "hurt" anything to run a coil with too high a resistance?

03-15-2006, 02:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
cwdhunter Newbie Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 20	let me know if you find a spark plug cap...im having a hard time getting one.

03-24-2006, 12:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dave2122 Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2004 Bike: Which one of the 9? Location: USA Posts: 887	If it was a crank seal you would notice a lot of smoke from the exhaust. Also you will notice the gearbox oil level lowered.

03-26-2006, 09:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
96rm250 Newbie Joined: Jan 2006 Bike: 1996 RM 250 Location: Glen Morris, Ontario, Canada Posts: 8	not if its leaking on the mag side although that usually isnt the side that goes. the gear that bolts on to the spline on the pto side of the crank could be slightly ovaled were it seals against the crank seal. If the leak was small it can not show up as much through smokey exhaust or lowered oil level because of the thickness of gear oil.

07-21-2006, 12:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
ford79_69 Newbie Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 5	at least you have a kickstarter...i got my bike given 2 me and it dident kick when i got it..of course the cdi was bad also but i fixed that and got it 2 run by pushin it and slamming it into gear(clutch was locked also)...then i finnaly pulled it apart and the clutch basket and the gear that mounts on back were screwed up...i orderd a new basket today....hopefully i will have some good riding soon!

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