Author Topic: 86 KX250 project  (Read 18899 times)

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Offline zz3gmc

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86 KX250 project
« on: October 29, 2014, 04:12:39 PM »
Ive been keeping an eye out for a 86 KX250 for a while now. I bought one new at the end of 86 and converted it to race enduros with. I installed a wide ratio 4th and 5th gear and did the typical enduro mods. I raced it throughout the 87 season in enduros, harescrambles and even the Blackwater 100. I ended up trading it in in feb of 88 on a new 88 KX500. I never saw the bike again but always had a soft spot for it as it was my 1st, of many, converted MX'rs that I used for enduros. Fast forward 26 years to last sunday. I was at the Nesco Vintage Bike Show and Swapmeet (Hammonton NJ) selling stuff and looking around. I even had my 80 PE400 in the bike show. As I made my way down one row I ran into a friend of mine. As we were talking, I noticed a sad looking 85 or 86 KX sitting in back of a trailer. I walked over for a look. When I got up to it I couldnt believe what I was looking at! That sad looking KX was my old 250! It was in rough shape, plastics were badly weathered, the pipe was missing as was the rear wheel. Other than that it was all there. It still looked pretty much the same as when I traded it in! The engine was all there and not locked up. Needless to say I bought it back for $40! Ive been gathering parts for some time to build another one like it I never even thought that I would find my old bike by accident! I kept the original tank and shrouds from it and they are in near new condition! I sold it with a IMS tank. I cant wait to start the resto on it! Oh and my PE400 trophied also!

Offline dinkyguitar

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2014, 12:08:37 AM »
Been restoring mine, well an 87 for the past few months...

Unfortunately, I've been chasing a hard starting/backfire problem. Messed with the floats this week and she's not starting now  :-(

Spent lots of time on her only to have her looking good instead of running like it should.



dinky,

Offline zz3gmc

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2014, 08:24:59 AM »
Keep at it! You'll figure it out. I read that you replaced all the engine bearings, where did you get them? Im going to do the same thing with mine. Any good sources for parts? Im worried about the powervalves on mine, I remember replacing them when I had it the first time around. Hopefully they are still ok.

Offline dinkyguitar

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2014, 01:06:53 PM »
As far as parts...I had a blow with that one.

I got all my parts from partzilla (genuine kawi parts).

I usually chat with them and they'll tell you if they can get the parts. You can also get part numbers from their website, and can find out what other models have that part number.

Oh on the power valves...there's someone here on this site that has an 87 like mine and he pulled the power valves out since he couldn't get them.....he's says he didn't really notice that much of a difference....not sure though.

And I followed the manual on what to grease and the kind of grease to use on power valves. I used Honda Moly 60 paste. A high temp grease. I bet the reason why the power valve break might be due to the grease used, and the maintenance interval.

dinky,

Offline treedodgingfool

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2014, 06:18:33 AM »
The issue with the powervalves on the early KX/KDX's was the soft aluminum wearing out. That's part of the reason why finding powervalve parts for earlier Kawis is darn near impossible, everybody trashed them in no time. Thankfully, the went to steel on the later models, got over 10k miles on my original ones in one of my KX's. My hubby was so ecstatic to stumble upon his original '86 KX250, he ran over and told me that I had no choice in the matter, he was getting it! I wouldn't have stood in the way of love reunited of the KX kind anyway. The mere fact it was even on this earth and not recycled into a Prius was shocking enough!
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Offline bens87braap

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2014, 01:32:18 PM »
87 kx 250 runs hard with no power valves but the difference is the transition from cruise to band it just snaps into band its a bit hard to get used to but im their now lol.   Now Im used to it and im rebuilding the cylinder and putting my new valves back in

Offline motopunk

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big 2 stroke bikes are weapons for real men, who don´t fear death or devil. ;O)
´83 kx250, ´87 kx250 (with 360 big bore), 87 kx500, ´93 kx500 sfc

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Offline bens87braap

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2014, 09:14:37 PM »
Motopunk i did that with the 85 125 and then relised the aftermarket plastics are not the right shape so the stickers dont fit and arent close enough to make fit.   Im afraid the 87 will be the same as the plastics on the 87 are not the original ones?  Well I dont think they are they say Made in Italy My one original plastic rad shroud says made in Japan but it is trashed
« Last Edit: November 14, 2014, 09:27:53 PM by bens87braap »

Offline Foxx4Beaver

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Excuse me, ma'am...but you've got extremely nice legs!!!...what time do they open???                                                                                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8tCgN3aryQ

Offline bens87braap

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2014, 10:08:11 PM »
yeah im not to stressed about it I can cut that out from the one I have got and the bike is going to be used in the bush single trails so they will get scratched up anyway thanx would cost heaps to buy them all original

Offline Foxx4Beaver

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2014, 10:58:01 PM »
in the bush

haha....that's a wonderful place to be!! :lol:
Excuse me, ma'am...but you've got extremely nice legs!!!...what time do they open???                                                                                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8tCgN3aryQ

Offline motopunk

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2014, 01:28:05 AM »
Motopunk i did that with the 85 125 and then relised the aftermarket plastics are not the right shape so the stickers dont fit and arent close enough to make fit.   Im afraid the 87 will be the same as the plastics on the 87 are not the original ones?  Well I dont think they are they say Made in Italy My one original plastic rad shroud says made in Japan but it is trashed



ben for this replica parts you need a little bit talent in handcrafting...  but the parts in your pic are looking very good for replicas ..

i have shown only parts for the 250...  125 is a story of its own...   the 86 125 for example is very close to the 87 kx250 and 500

if you wanna look for replica plastics, do it here : www.nightmare-racing.com ... he has quite everything for the kx from 1974- 1990...
big 2 stroke bikes are weapons for real men, who don´t fear death or devil. ;O)
´83 kx250, ´87 kx250 (with 360 big bore), 87 kx500, ´93 kx500 sfc

---  www.der-motopunk.de.tl  ---

Offline dinkyguitar

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #12 on: November 15, 2014, 03:19:56 AM »
 Well I dont think they are they say Made in Italy My one original plastic rad shroud says made in Japan but it is trashed


I ordered a full set of 87 KX 250 plastics from UFO...made in Italy.

Most likely the "made in Italy one is from UFO"

dinky,

Offline dinkyguitar

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #13 on: November 15, 2014, 03:22:45 AM »
here is what you need for the 86  8-) 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390867979947?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&fromMakeTrack=true

this dealer has lots of good stuff for older bikes like graphics, seats , numberplate backgrounds, seals, gaskets.... 


thats for dinky and ben:
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-KX-250-KX250-1987-Pre-Cut-Rad-Decals-Graphics-Stickers/390948794603?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D8777328dd5da4717b7734e790d3156de%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D20140122125356%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D390867979947&rt=nc

I thought the radiator stickers were 2 pieces...1 was the Kawasaki lettering with 250, and then the blue & white stripes.

Are the radiator stickers OEM a 1 piece sticker?

dinky,

Offline Foxx4Beaver

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Re: 86 KX250 project
« Reply #14 on: November 15, 2014, 03:46:41 AM »
I thought the radiator stickers were 2 pieces...1 was the Kawasaki lettering with 250, and then the blue & white stripes.
dinky,

that is correct...that's how they come OEM, in 2 pieces...have a look at a Kawie parts fiche...the "250" part# is 56014-1119
Excuse me, ma'am...but you've got extremely nice legs!!!...what time do they open???                                                                                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8tCgN3aryQ