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joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
5/11/2025 4:38pm Here's a short video of me doing the spokes:
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450exc115 Liked a reply to forum topic Building a 1987 YZ250
5/11/2025 4:36pm
Good stuff. I have a 86 YZ250 that I've raced at the local Harescramble series the past few years. I'm on my 3rd overhaul of it and it's been a great bike. The 87 is nearly identical to the 86 with different cylinder porting for more low end power (no Boyesen transfer ports) and a white frame and white radiator shrouds. The whole bike shares a lot of commonality with the YZ490 that ran from 86-90 and the TRI-Z 250 had the same motor so motor parts are pretty easy to get. Talon makes a clutch basket, ProX has rods...
This forum topic has 49 replies.
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
5/11/2025 1:51pm Got the front wheel torn down. All of the spokes came right off. The tire was mounted backwards too. I'm going to powder coat the hub next weekend. I cleaned each spoke by spinning it in a cordless drill while wrapping it with sandpaper (320 grit) and a dab of polish. Unfortunately there's nothing I can do about the rims...
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
5/11/2025 1:45pm Dove into the engine today amongst other things. Found that it has a Wiseco 1mm over piston (.040"). I pulled both rings and checked the gap. The top ring is .014" and the bottom ring is .012". There is very little visible le cross hatch in the cylinder. I'm gonna send it lol.
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
4/27/2025 2:37pm More progress done on the '87 YZ250. My first attempt at powder coating. It came out amazing! I'm very happy with the results. I had a few tiny issues though. The bottom steering stem plug that I made fell out during the cure and landed right in front of a heat gun. It started to smoke so I panicked and...
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
4/13/2025 4:10pm Built the powder coat oven today. I used 2 sheets of insulating board from Lowes and 1 roll of tin tape. The tape is VERY important. I got the idea from "Chase builds bikes" on YouTube. I built 2 small wooden ends that rest on the side to support the weight of the frame/bar assembly. It's about 40lbs total. I...
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
4/6/2025 4:04pm Here's the finished result after about 2 hours:
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
4/6/2025 4:03pm Well I broke down and I built a cabinet big enough for the full frame YZ. I spent about $100 for materials, but it came out great. The best part is that I can take it apart in 5 minutes and store it in a corner so it's not in the way when not needed. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z42-CCgeKfw
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
3/23/2025 4:09pm I'm about 5 hours into the frame now. I've hit it twice with paint remover, and scraped it off after work 2 times. Today I sat down with a bunch of equipment and started scraping/sanding. The best method so far is a wire wheel on a drill. It's slow and methodical but it works. I have a few different sizes...
minton33 Liked a reply to forum topic Powder Coating question
3/23/2025 3:57pm
+1 on the bolt holes as well as anywhere a bearing or shaft goes. Pita tapping every bolt hole and sanding down bearing/ mating surfaces.
This forum topic has 3 replies.
joelster Added a reply to Powder Coating question
3/21/2025 1:02pm Thank you very much! My gun is a better gun than the harbor freight one. I watched a few comparison videos. The HF gun looked inconsistent. I have the Eastwood dual voltage gun.
joelster Added a reply to 1997 CR500 finished (delivered 3/25/25)
3/21/2025 5:41am That looks amazing!
ge217 Liked a reply to forum topic 1997 CR500 finished (delivered 3/25/25)
3/21/2025 5:41am
Few more photos. Still need chain and paint the pegs. Will post more when he picks the bike up this weekend. Just about every nut and bolt has been replaced. A hand full haven’t been. Everything in the engine was replaced with new Honda parts. Crank was rebuilt. The cylinder was trashed, but was able to save it with a steel sleeve. •New Honda clutch case and side cover. •New Honda kicker that I just bought out of Canada. •Shifter is new Honda from 2005 cr250,along with fork guards. •Rear tire is a 737 Dunlop new that the owner of...
This forum topic has 21 replies.
joelster Started a new thread Powder Coating question
3/20/2025 4:42am I'm about to do my first powder coat job at home. I'll be doing a 87 YZ 250 frame. My question is how much powder do I need? I bought 1lb of gloss white. The bag looks like it won't be enough. I watched a few videos of guys at professional shops and it looks like the powder goes everywhere...
This forum thread has 3 replies.
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
3/18/2025 5:57pm Started tackling the frame. I don't have a way to blast this frame as it's too big so I'm going old school. Aircraft paint stripper, let it sit in a bag, then scrape off with a scraper and a wire brush. It's super tedious but works out ok, when I have about an hour after work every day. Should be...
joelster Added a reply to Building a 1987 YZ250
3/16/2025 3:33pm Cleaned up the kick starter today. I use a soft brass brush on the aluminum. It works great at removing caked on grime and leaves a nice finish. Then I hit it with some Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish. It looks brand new other than some dents. I scrubbed the rubber boot and massaged some Adam's tire shine on it.
joelster Added a reply to Another AF cr500
3/14/2025 5:40pm Do you have access to any other shocks? Something with a remote reservoir would be an easy fit.
joelster Added a reply to My restored 1985 CR125R
3/12/2025 4:47am It has a new cover from the previous owner. He gave me the old magnesium cover which honestly isn't too bad. Whenever the bike sits I drain the coolant. He said the new cover is aluminum but I don't know how to tell them apart so I'm not taking any chances.
joelster Added a reply to My restored 1985 CR125R
3/10/2025 6:01pm I'm getting a little bored with the autocross and more interested in motocross again! It feels good to get back into moto.
GCrites Liked a reply to forum topic My restored 1985 CR125R
3/10/2025 5:59pm
Motocross and autocross in one pic!
This forum topic has 10 replies.