Posts
6071
Joined
3/21/2014
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY
US
Edited Date/Time
11/16/2017 11:28am
Been looking for one of these for a while now, the 89 does not pop up to often around the northeast. I owned & raced 89, 90 & 91 kx 250"s, back when they were new. I really liked the 89 the best. Took the 3 hr drive to look at this one, price was right, so, here we go. Just got it yesterday, Chassis teardown today. Kawasaki guru"s feel free to chime in with advice, This is my first kaw restore. 
Both radiators are in very good condition, radiator grilles are also good. Stock pipe is prett good, could be blasted/ painted but I" m looking for a pro circuit pipe.
Foot pegs & brake pedal very loose & sloppy. Do newer kx foot pegs fit?
Both radiators are in very good condition, radiator grilles are also good. Stock pipe is prett good, could be blasted/ painted but I" m looking for a pro circuit pipe.
Foot pegs & brake pedal very loose & sloppy. Do newer kx foot pegs fit?
Not a good sign!
Of course it needs, levers, grips & bars!
Just like my bike in 1989 all the subframe nut inserts are stripped or spinning, I used to borrow the tool kit to replace these from a neighbor, Looks like I will be buying the kit now!
Side panels look original, looks like a fork update? I don't remember my 89 needing a fork update from kaw?
Original silencer & rubber connector
Dirt in the air boot, looks like it will be a full engine rebuild now
Engine out!
No frozen bolts yet!
Spoke to soon, rear axle frozen in swing arm , soaked with pb blaster let it sit overnite.
MC 88-10 was a damper rod replacement. The piston wasn't machined properly.
The Shop
Still has both original chain rollers! Never been removed, green paint came off from behind the washer/bolt.
Pipe mount was welded at some point, not very good.
Great ACR Vintage 80's class bike. Bring it out.
Frame ready for sandblast & welder, ordered tool to replace the stripped out blind nuts on subframe
Rear wheel is rough, seized spokes, bearings wasted, axle was frozen due to lack of grease, was able to get it out with pb blaster & heat with impact gun & light hammering. Front wheel slightly better but, I"ll be sending these hubs to Krs wheels in Pa. For new hoops.
All swing arm & linkage bearing were hammered, if they were ever greased it was a long time ago!
Looks like crank was rebuilt with hot rods kit, cases stained bad from never being cleaned, need to find a vapor blast guy, I don't think soda blast is going to touch this.
Previous owner said he rebuilt the motor, piston was newer, but the dirt in the air boot was never cleaned out, either was sucking past the poor filter oiling or from the air box to boot junction, I do remember having to seal the junction with silicone back in those days. The cylinder plating is hammered! Looks like the guy rebuilt the motor without replating the cylinder or cleaning the power valves! Unfucking believable!
Main power valve, I"ve already soaked & cleaned a little, still have more crud to get off, the sub port valves cleaned up good, some slight grooving from sticking due to carbon build up, these valves are NLA, so I will try to clean up the grooves with a very small dremel bit
Cylinder plating is hammered! Completely gone around exhaust & intake ports, possible detonation at top of cylinder? Power seal in PA. Does really good work, looks like I"ll be shipping a lot of stuff to Pa.
Pit Row
Not sure what parts database you're using but the new Kawasaki parts diagrams sucks balls. Try using Partzilla instead. Also, search Google using part numbers not by year/model. You'll get more hits that way, same on Ebay. If the part was superceeded you need to search all part numbers separately, titles & descriptions.
For the bracket, if it's not broke just build it up with weld and file it down, you'd be done both sides less than an hour.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n248/Jeekinz/94%20KX250/IMG_6547.jpg
I have a manual I can email you through Dropbox.
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