I picked up a 19 rmz250 for cheap mainly to swap the shock to my 23 rmz450 but also to get me a winter project.
What I know about it per the prior owner: 34 hours, 1-2 kicks to start, stalled while going down the street. It will not kick over. Also stated went on a mud ride and mostly rode sand tracks…air filter didn’t have a lick of sticky to it 🥲. The airbox was gunked and dirty.
Valves clearances
Exhaust: .006 L & R
Intake: .002ish L & R. Gauges are so thin at that point that it was near impossible to get an accurate reading.
Leak down test: 80% lost. Nearly whistling out the intake. A little coming through the crank case. 0 through exhaust.
Inspection: sand sitting top of piston. No deep scratches in cylinder but looks like plating may be a bit worn. Top of cylinder doesn’t look great though. Looks like a layer of carbon came off the valves due to the sand and head looks a bit sand blasted. Crank is solid! No shavings in oil, slighty dirt but not to terrible.
What do the experts of Vital think? Full top end job? Part it or enjoy the journey? I know you all will love the street tires 😆…don’t worry they didn’t make but maybe 50ft after install
Everything is smoked...
Big Bore Kit!
Normal top end. Cylinder might be able to be honed if it measures in spec. Valve job and new intake valves at minimum.
get the cylinder measured, might be able to just get a hone.
valves are not in spec so the need to be adjusted at least, clean the head up and valves to see if there is any chipping or pitting. if any i would replace.
ive talked to others about my older rmz and they mentioned they get at least 100+hrs on the crank so if its tight and no contamination gtg.
suzuki did a good job making things reliable in the last 10yrs when they refined the motor in 13/16 & 19
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
I was going to say this. That bike is a perfect candidate for a full-mod restoration. Except for the leaky fork seals, the rest of the bike looks pretty clean. Are those the stock grips?
It’s like y’all read my mind. The cylinder works 270 kit is catching my eye. Full rebuild with new tires I would all in for less than $2500…the includes what I paid for it.
I was able to fix the seals. Probably should do a fluid change at the minimum.
Stock throttle grip, clutch side was replaced at some point. The bearings are all solid and it pretty clean outside to the airbox.
The good news is from what you explained (if the trans and bottom end are in fact good), the damage is only from conditions/lack of maintenance, not some hard to track down origin.
I'm not a fan of off-the-shelf big bore kits, they seem to be "ok" rather than great, overall. I'd discuss/send pics to a good builder like Dean Baker (baker speed), TMR or another and see what they'll charge to get it like new.
Well great news. Cases need split. Finally got a minute to inspect the bottom end and found that the rod bearing was shot. Explains the grinding sensation when kicking over. I thought it was seized rings or dirt.
How many bikes have you rebuilt? I sure wouldn’t want you rebuilding mine. The plating on the barrel is worn all the way through Ray.
I've probably built about 100 high level mx engines. Like I said, if it measures in spec, maybe you missed that part. Just because the plating looks dull doesn't mean it's gone. If the cylinder is still in spec you can hone it and it will look brand new. I agree, with the alleged sand that went thru, this one might be trash but I did say to measure it.
I don't need a bore gauge to tell me it's junk but I guess you do. I can tell my looking at it and pistons also. It comes with experience. You will get there... Maybe.
Thanks for your expert opinion. Glad you can see a random angle of a picture and know the exact condition. Pretty amazing you're such a great engine builder online. Have a great day
I am even better in RL.
Good thing for him he posted more than random angles. But like they say"you either see it or you don't'.
Personally I would send it out to Millenium and it will come back better than anything you can buy new. Maybe even have them try and fix the Boy Scout port work he is suffering from while they have it.
Don’t worry man mxaddic is vital own insufferable know it all.
(Insert middle finger pick of Johnny cash)
Let’s see some pics of your bikes and your shop. You sound like Varner.
Leave it to vital to turn a tech help post to entertainment 🤣
My ball basters never fail to represent.
I got some dick pics iffin' you want seeing your so interested.
Pit Row
Yea and I guarantee they ain’t yours 😆
You are stalking me bro and now you want dic pics. Something not right there.
Size has never been an issue for me. 😉
CC's are never an issue when you're riding alone.
Size is always an issue for the no dic vitards that come here and tell other folks they are lacking.
The mentally challenged usually do have hogs.
You really need an ECU to get a 270 running right. I would probably send the jug to millenium and do new valves/inserts unless a new head is cheaper. This assumes you don't find sand in the crankcase which may be what happened to the crank. At least you bought it relatively cheap.
I plan on cranking the cases to find out. I just swapped the kyb to my 450. It’s so much better than the BFRC.
From what I gathered, he did a long wheelie and starved the bottom end.
Post a reply to: RM-Z250 Top End Reading