De tuning the SX/TC/MC 250 two strokes

I recently acquired a 22 MC250 two stroke, still bone stock. I'm a mild mannered vet rider and have owned several 250 two strokes in my day but have mainly been riding woods bikes and 125s for the past few years.

This MC250 is a rocket and I'd like to calm it down so I don't feel like a squid while riding it. I still want a good hit but this thing has a hyperdrive on it right now.

I'm looking for feedback on what others have tried and their experiences before I dive in.

To avoid throwing money at the problem, I'll start by trying the less aggressive exhaust valve spring and I'll also try the second less aggressive map as well. Any experiences with those?

If I don't find a sweet spot there, I'll research flywheel weights and gearing changes.

Any feedback, solutions experiences are welcomed.

Thanks!
|
sandman768
Posts
8231
Joined
3/21/2014
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY, USA
5/9/2022 5:02am
Go down a tooth on the rear until you get used to it… The updated jetting helps smooth it out also…
1
opyguy
Posts
589
Joined
8/22/2016
Location
Boston, MA, USA
5/9/2022 5:19am Edited Date/Time 5/9/2022 5:23am
Green PV spring
Back out the the adjuster 1/2 turn at a time
Should smooth things out
You could also adjust riding style and ride a gear higher
Bike has a ton of torque if you roll on the throttle
1
digger
Posts
800
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Upstate, NY, USA
5/9/2022 5:34am
opyguy wrote:
Green PV spring Back out the the adjuster 1/2 turn at a time Should smooth things out You could also adjust riding style and ride a...
Green PV spring
Back out the the adjuster 1/2 turn at a time
Should smooth things out
You could also adjust riding style and ride a gear higher
Bike has a ton of torque if you roll on the throttle
This is pretty much where I would start. I would use the green power valve spring, and then back the adjuster all the way out and then turn it back in 1.5 turns and use that as your starting point. Then turn it in 1/2 turn until you are satisfied with the power.
5/9/2022 5:36am
Sandman, Do you think two teeth down could be too much? I've never been able to notice much difference in one tooth in the rear before.
Not really wanting to alter the jetting yet either as it runs nice and crisp throughout the RPM range too at the moment.


Opyguy. I'll be trying the green spring first for sure.
You're on to something though about the riding style, I'm probably trying to ride this thing like a 125 right now, my last two seasons have been on 125s or 150s. I forgot how to lug it around, I'll work on that too.
1

The Shop

mxstate
Posts
168
Joined
8/28/2015
Location
USA
5/9/2022 6:13am
opyguy wrote:
Green PV spring Back out the the adjuster 1/2 turn at a time Should smooth things out You could also adjust riding style and ride a...
Green PV spring
Back out the the adjuster 1/2 turn at a time
Should smooth things out
You could also adjust riding style and ride a gear higher
Bike has a ton of torque if you roll on the throttle
Opyguy,
I pm'd you about jetting, did you get my message ?
mxstate
Posts
168
Joined
8/28/2015
Location
USA
5/9/2022 6:27am
hoodsmoto wrote:
Sandman, Do you think two teeth down could be too much? I've never been able to notice much difference in one tooth in the rear before...
Sandman, Do you think two teeth down could be too much? I've never been able to notice much difference in one tooth in the rear before.
Not really wanting to alter the jetting yet either as it runs nice and crisp throughout the RPM range too at the moment.


Opyguy. I'll be trying the green spring first for sure.
You're on to something though about the riding style, I'm probably trying to ride this thing like a 125 right now, my last two seasons have been on 125s or 150s. I forgot how to lug it around, I'll work on that too.
I have the same bike, and mild mannered Vet fits me too...

I swapped for the green PV springs but after few rides I might go back to the yellow and really spend more time to fine tune
I unplugged the connector under the tank for the more "mellow" ignition setting. Hard to feel significant difference.
I added a flywheel weight, that helped
Gearing like Sandman recommends
Jetting is where you can have the most impact. I used the specs from AJ's on the tech forum, combined with the JD gasket kit upgrade (this will not tame the beast but prevent chasing jetting when/if the gasket fails)

I had a 19 TC 250 and swapping the silencer for the PC 304 (long one, not the shorty), free'd up the rev and actually made it a bit more manageable, smoother.

It's a great bike. I love mine, minus the weird ktm 50's petcock.
AJ565
Posts
2352
Joined
3/12/2012
Location
San Antonio, TX, USA
5/9/2022 7:01am
The flywheel weight does help quite a bit. On the stand it doesn’t sound any slower rev wise and on track it doesn’t feel any slower, but it doesn’t light up the rear tire near as fast. I actually run faster lap times with it since I’m not spinning everywhere.

I don’t have feedback on the other springs as I’ve adjusted only using the stock spring. I run it 1 3/4 turns in from all the way out with the jetting from the other thread. My bike is really rideable at all speeds depending on what you want your right hand to do. It can lug or it can be violent depending on what you want.
1
opyguy
Posts
589
Joined
8/22/2016
Location
Boston, MA, USA
5/9/2022 7:35am
hoodsmoto wrote:
Sandman, Do you think two teeth down could be too much? I've never been able to notice much difference in one tooth in the rear before...
Sandman, Do you think two teeth down could be too much? I've never been able to notice much difference in one tooth in the rear before.
Not really wanting to alter the jetting yet either as it runs nice and crisp throughout the RPM range too at the moment.


Opyguy. I'll be trying the green spring first for sure.
You're on to something though about the riding style, I'm probably trying to ride this thing like a 125 right now, my last two seasons have been on 125s or 150s. I forgot how to lug it around, I'll work on that too.
SO I had a 17 and now have a 21.
the 17 had a 50 tooth, i went down to 49, it was perfect....I never used 2nd gear, always 3rd.
don't know if you are woods or MX, but literally @ southwick I never used 2nd.
maybe in the woods w/my buddies I would roll 2nd in tight turns, but in general terms 2nd is tooo short and hits too hard.
1
opyguy
Posts
589
Joined
8/22/2016
Location
Boston, MA, USA
5/9/2022 8:35am
opyguy wrote:
Green PV spring Back out the the adjuster 1/2 turn at a time Should smooth things out You could also adjust riding style and ride a...
Green PV spring
Back out the the adjuster 1/2 turn at a time
Should smooth things out
You could also adjust riding style and ride a gear higher
Bike has a ton of torque if you roll on the throttle
mxstate wrote:
Opyguy,
I pm'd you about jetting, did you get my message ?
just responded
thx
Tuplavee
Posts
95
Joined
2/21/2021
Location
FI
5/9/2022 10:20am
Tc250 2017
14/48 gearing
Mellow ignition map
Clutch weigh, 11,75 Oz. Just wanted to try this as it's much cheaper than Steahly fww
Green PV, two turns in from flush

Novice level rider coming from crf250, riding sand mx and some trails

5/9/2022 11:38am
I’ve been on 250sx/tc’s since 2015 and have only owned mx bikes. Have 2 250sx currently that I race off-road in the 250A class. I “detune” mine. They still rip but are more manageable for our long races and in the mud. I love these bikes for how versatile the motors are. I probably take mine a step further then most

Here’s what I do-

XC or XCW head to reduce compression, reducing the compression tames the power, produces traction and less rider fatigue. The W head has the least compression of the 3. I run the W head on my race bike and xc on the practice.

Green PV spring.

I run 14/48 everywhere, almost went 47 for a recent dez race. Always run heavy twin ring sprockets, aluminum are too light.

Keihin carbs. They run much smoother then the mikuni. Run a yz needle when traction is good and a rm needle at mudders, the yz needle has much more mid range punch. I have a 36 and 38, still testing to see which one I like better, probably will end up having dicks racing oval bore the 36.

Flywheel weight, I like the 11oz, a more aggressive rider would probably want the 9oz.

O-ring chain- additional flywheel effect from the heavier chain.

18” cause off road guy stuff but it does also add a flywheel effect and aid traction.

Xcw cdi - not really worth the money but I got it cheap($40) used, if you see one cheap grab it.

Oh ya basically ignore any xc or xcw riders input on set up, their motors cranks are about 1lbs heavier because of the estart and are totally different animals.

I normally don’t even bother talking about this stuff because it’s normally over most guys head or they think they need more power to go faster(rarely the case)
1
Falcon
Posts
12575
Joined
11/16/2011
Location
Menifee, CA, USA
5/9/2022 1:46pm
Can you retard the timing? I don't know if you can on a KTM.

You can loosen the screws which hold the magneto on, rotate it slightly (counterclockwise, I think...) and get results. No more than about 6 degrees, I'd say.
stone881
Posts
856
Joined
12/26/2014
Location
Fruita, CO, USA
5/9/2022 4:14pm
Flywheel weight, done.
2
atrdrvr7
Posts
438
Joined
1/15/2013
Location
Houston, TX, USA
5/9/2022 6:18pm
I’ve been on 250sx/tc’s since 2015 and have only owned mx bikes. Have 2 250sx currently that I race off-road in the 250A class. I “detune”...
I’ve been on 250sx/tc’s since 2015 and have only owned mx bikes. Have 2 250sx currently that I race off-road in the 250A class. I “detune” mine. They still rip but are more manageable for our long races and in the mud. I love these bikes for how versatile the motors are. I probably take mine a step further then most

Here’s what I do-

XC or XCW head to reduce compression, reducing the compression tames the power, produces traction and less rider fatigue. The W head has the least compression of the 3. I run the W head on my race bike and xc on the practice.

Green PV spring.

I run 14/48 everywhere, almost went 47 for a recent dez race. Always run heavy twin ring sprockets, aluminum are too light.

Keihin carbs. They run much smoother then the mikuni. Run a yz needle when traction is good and a rm needle at mudders, the yz needle has much more mid range punch. I have a 36 and 38, still testing to see which one I like better, probably will end up having dicks racing oval bore the 36.

Flywheel weight, I like the 11oz, a more aggressive rider would probably want the 9oz.

O-ring chain- additional flywheel effect from the heavier chain.

18” cause off road guy stuff but it does also add a flywheel effect and aid traction.

Xcw cdi - not really worth the money but I got it cheap($40) used, if you see one cheap grab it.

Oh ya basically ignore any xc or xcw riders input on set up, their motors cranks are about 1lbs heavier because of the estart and are totally different animals.

I normally don’t even bother talking about this stuff because it’s normally over most guys head or they think they need more power to go faster(rarely the case)
Question about the head swap. I have a 21' tc250. I'm guessing a head from a 19' XC (non TPI) would be the way to go? Thanks for the tips some great info in there.
FGR01
Posts
6148
Joined
10/1/2006
Location
USA
Fantasy
5/9/2022 6:55pm
For those considering flywheel weights, there are also clutch weights available in multiple sizes from various companies.
Tuplavee
Posts
95
Joined
2/21/2021
Location
FI
5/10/2022 1:35am
FGR01 wrote:
For those considering flywheel weights, there are also clutch weights available in multiple sizes from various companies.
I have just one ride with clutch weight, but it defo made some slight changes to 1/4 and 1/2 throttle controlability.
Dont know if there is any effect to clutch wearing etc (has to grab heavier mass when engaged?)

Somehow I did stall it two times quite easily after adding clutch weigh, which did not happen before.. shouldnt it be the other way?

FGR01
Posts
6148
Joined
10/1/2006
Location
USA
Fantasy
5/10/2022 2:21pm
Tuplavee wrote:
I have just one ride with clutch weight, but it defo made some slight changes to 1/4 and 1/2 throttle controlability. Dont know if there is...
I have just one ride with clutch weight, but it defo made some slight changes to 1/4 and 1/2 throttle controlability.
Dont know if there is any effect to clutch wearing etc (has to grab heavier mass when engaged?)

Somehow I did stall it two times quite easily after adding clutch weigh, which did not happen before.. shouldnt it be the other way?

I've never ridden with a clutch weight, but here's how it would seem to me....

A flywheel weight is direct on the crank/engine so that would make the engine less likely to stall.

A clutch weight is bolted to the center of the clutch - the hub and the center shaft, all that is 'after' the separation of the clutch plates. So, when the clutch is pulled in, the outer basket is spinning but the center and weight are stationary. When you let the lever out, you are basically applying a heavier load to the engine, making it more likely to stall... just like anything else heavier after the clutch - sealed chain, bigger tire, heavy mud/sand.

Once the lever is fully out and the clutch is fully engaged and you're moving, it should now be less likely to stall and more tractable since the engine, clutch, transmission, entire driveline are 'solid' at that point.
1
5/11/2022 7:11am
Some great info shared here! Thanks for all the inquiries.

I had a flywheel weight on a previous 250SX of mine and didn't like it at all afterwards so I'll stay away from that for now.


I'm going to start with the 48 tooth sprocket and green spring for now and go from there.

I'll report back after my first ride this weekend.
AJ565
Posts
2352
Joined
3/12/2012
Location
San Antonio, TX, USA
5/11/2022 7:26am
hoodsmoto wrote:
Some great info shared here! Thanks for all the inquiries. I had a flywheel weight on a previous 250SX of mine and didn't like it at...
Some great info shared here! Thanks for all the inquiries.

I had a flywheel weight on a previous 250SX of mine and didn't like it at all afterwards so I'll stay away from that for now.


I'm going to start with the 48 tooth sprocket and green spring for now and go from there.

I'll report back after my first ride this weekend.
The FWW makes a difference. I have the 9oz weight and by feel and sound can’t tell a difference. They make an 11oz as well and I’m sure that has a more noticeable feel to it.
1
oldslownewb
Posts
21
Joined
8/20/2016
Location
Ontario, CA
5/11/2022 5:09pm
My two cents as a slow vet mostly woods rider, I was happy going from yellow to red spring. Power comes on earlier but over a broader range feels easier to manage.
2
5/14/2022 4:13am
Happy to report I'm very pleased with the current set up of 14/48 gearing and the green spring at 2 turns in.

Still has a hit but a lot more predictable.

I will adjust it to be a bit more snappy as I get more comfy on it.

2

Post a reply to: De tuning the SX/TC/MC 250 two strokes

The Latest