YZ250 transmission-reuse vs replace (gears inside)

UGOTBIT
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Edited Date/Time 4/19/2026 5:09pm

Guys-

Finally getting going on my 2000 YZ250 rebuild, currently at the transmission part. Inspecting the trans I'm seeing some wear on the dogs and looking for advice on what can be reused and what should be replaced.

No weird marks on any of the forks.

FWIW, I did not experience any issues with the trans, but really want to take care of anything now while it's apart.

1st wheel
1st wheel gear
5th wheel1
5th wheel 1st gear side

 

5th wheel3.JPG?VersionId=KVfF43f3rxCp
5th wheel 3rd gear side

 

3rd wheel
3rd wheel gear

 

4th wheel
4th wheel gear 2nd side
2nd wheel
2nd wheel gear

So that was the drive shaft, I figured I should replace 1st wheel gear, 5th wheel gear and 3rd wheel gear? Reuse 4th and second?

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UGOTBIT
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4/19/2026 5:08pm

Now to the main shaft-

4th pinion.JPG?VersionId=dk9hlrzh
4th pinion

 

3rd pinion4.JPG?VersionId= ywCJV
3rd pinion 4th side
3rd pinion5
3rd pinion 5th side
5th pinion
5th pinion

Thinking replace 4th and 3rd pinion? Reuse 5th pinion?

UGOTBIT
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4/19/2026 5:35pm
IMG 6524
UGOTBIT
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randbagger
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4/20/2026 7:26am

With a transmission, I have been told that there are gear mating issues on 2 surfaces. There are the gear teeth and the shifting dogs and their corresponding pockets. To resolve shifting issues, any visible disruption on dog or the pocket edge needs to be replaced as a pair. ( dog and pocket) Now from a gear running longevity perspective , the gears on both shafts that run together should be replaced as a mating pair. If you do all that you transmission will work awesome and your wallet will be empty. Shifting performance has always been my interest with transmission repair. Replacing dog and pocket repair has always done me well. 

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cwtoyota
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4/20/2026 2:20pm

It doesn't look like that gearbox has had any serious trouble.

3rd & 4th dogs on the mainshaft are the weakest point in these gearboxes.
I like to assemble those with an oiling hole in the 4th gear sleeve aligned as close as possible to the oiling hole in the shaft.

The dogs on your 5th / 1st gear on the countershaft look pretty ugly, but 1st gear usually doesn't have issues on these bikes.

Your shift forks don't look bad.

2
UGOTBIT
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4/21/2026 1:41pm
cwtoyota wrote:
It doesn't look like that gearbox has had any serious trouble.3rd & 4th dogs on the mainshaft are the weakest point in these gearboxes.I like to...

It doesn't look like that gearbox has had any serious trouble.

3rd & 4th dogs on the mainshaft are the weakest point in these gearboxes.
I like to assemble those with an oiling hole in the 4th gear sleeve aligned as close as possible to the oiling hole in the shaft.

The dogs on your 5th / 1st gear on the countershaft look pretty ugly, but 1st gear usually doesn't have issues on these bikes.

Your shift forks don't look bad.

Thanks for the reply, that cuts down the parts list quite a bit.


How do you guys feel about rem polishing? There’s a company here in the northeast that will do it for like $250 bucks.

1
cwtoyota
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4/21/2026 9:50pm
cwtoyota wrote:
It doesn't look like that gearbox has had any serious trouble.3rd & 4th dogs on the mainshaft are the weakest point in these gearboxes.I like to...

It doesn't look like that gearbox has had any serious trouble.

3rd & 4th dogs on the mainshaft are the weakest point in these gearboxes.
I like to assemble those with an oiling hole in the 4th gear sleeve aligned as close as possible to the oiling hole in the shaft.

The dogs on your 5th / 1st gear on the countershaft look pretty ugly, but 1st gear usually doesn't have issues on these bikes.

Your shift forks don't look bad.

UGOTBIT wrote:
Thanks for the reply, that cuts down the parts list quite a bit.How do you guys feel about rem polishing? There’s a company here in the...

Thanks for the reply, that cuts down the parts list quite a bit.


How do you guys feel about rem polishing? There’s a company here in the northeast that will do it for like $250 bucks.

Polishing transmission parts can make a big improvement on shift quality, especially on a new bike or a bike with very low hours.

I don't know the going rates for that service, so I can't comment on that aspect.

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