84-WR250, no bottom end

Went and rode my "new to me" 84-WR250 today. This thing is a slug down low but just about at max. rpm comes on like a house of fire. Rode it on a local play track with tight turns, have to come out of the corner screaming to get it to go. Now I'm used to my 82-430XC and my deceased 87-430XC. I'm expecting too much? Love the way it corners, way easier than my 82-430. It has stock pipe, stock reeds, carb jetted fairly close, little leaner than factory, 3.0 slide to clean up idle, I'm at 1500 ft. I'm not asking it to be CR but it wont pick up the front wheel unless it is screaming "on the pipe" I'm used to "rear wheel steer" with my 430 and 500 but this is a slug even as a trail bike, which is what I got it for. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Scott

The good: Not surprised it turns better than the 82. 84 had a better steering angle and it makes a heckuva difference. IMO the 84 is one of the nicest handling twin shockers.

The bad: You have an 84 and I don't!

Not sure what's going on there with that motor. "A little leaner than factory" is good, because they were rich, unless it's now too lean which will kill the nice fat bottom end. Try a little richer. I'm using a 3.0 slide in my 83 250 and it pulls nicely... but not like my 430. Assuming the other mechanicals are in order, it's probably worth checking your squish. I bet it's huge. Lower the cylinder to get it into spec and bottom end torque and off-idle snap will improve a lot. Try to get .040-.045" piston-to-head clearance. Cometic is now selling thinner base gaskets so we can do exactly that.

I'll try fattening the bottom up, raise needle a little to start with. Took a compression check, may have found part of it-125psi. I dont know what spec. is but I checked my 82-CR250 and it is 160psi. Bike starts great, two kicks when cold, it was 40 deg. Looked for a 84 WR250 for quite awile after reading the CycleWorld test on one. When I went and looked at the bike the guy told me it was a XC. I took my serial number reference with me-usually forget it and it came up as a WR.

Bought a Baja Designs light kit for it so it will replace my "the other H brand" CRF250X

Picklito- what is the source for Cometic gaskets? I use Cometics in my 427 Chevy but get them through the machine shop. I'll get some as I need to freshen up the top end anyway. Are the 430 and 500 base gaskets the same? Haven't looked into that yet.

email Chris: cworkman@cometic.com
base gaskets are the same for 82-up 250 as for 430/500.

If that's the 1984 Cycle World article you reference, perform the chain sprocket swap they recommend on the front and back. My WR has that combo and it's a tractor in the woods; very rarely will I have to shift into 1st unless I'm navigating trials type stuff. It is a little bit of a high strung motor to me, but I've not had any issues lugging it around yet.

I can send my carb settings to you later tonight if you'd like, but mine runs fat although I've yet to foul a plug. I'd have to guess elevation here is somewhere in the 500 foot area.

I haven't checked the sprockets yet, thanks for reminding me as I had read that in the article but forgot. Carb was all screwed up when I got it, very rich with no idle control/ fuel mix control. Had 2.0 slide, 35 pilot, fat needle, 350 main? Had slide open so far to keep running it was then on main circuit making it pig rich so I guess they tried leaning pilot and main down? I just put it back stock but used a 2.5 slide. I would like to see your jetting for yours. Love the bike, rebuilt the forks last night and going to play with the carb today. Thanks for the help. Scott


Sorry, #3 slide instead of 2.5

Rode bike today and raised needle two spots, runs better and doesn't have that "dead air" sound when cracking it open down low.

OK, so that's called progress! What's the complete jetting package currently?

42 pilot Q-4 needle jet, 6F-16 needle, 410 main, 3.0 slide.

Husq.fleet,

Sorry for delayed reply, here's my carb setup:

6F16 Needle
P-6 Needle Jet
430 Main Jet
45 Pilot Jet
2.0 Slide

I did not setup the carb this way, but the fellow who rebuilt my engine did and he is quite reputable. Again, it runs fat. It drips and spits a lot of goo which he says is typical/normal but I have not fouled a plug after a year of riding nor have I encountered any other oddities. Since carb setup is almost a foreign concept to me I believe his expertise. Hope this is helpful. Let us know how yours turns out.

Tom.

Thanks Tom for the info. Looking at the technical data for the 84's, off of this site-Thank you! Looks like your is a little leaner than stock. I haven't checked my gearing yet but I bet your right on with that. After raising the needle up two it runs great but seems like I'm always between gears. I will look at the gearing tomm. evening. Thanks again, Scott

I forgot to add that my clip is set in the second groove down from the top of the needle. Tried it once in the third groove down but the engine sputtered badly when throttle was opened up/engine revved out.

Gearing is probably more the issue, 12/52. Re-read the test article and they changed it to 12/56 for more power overlap at slower speeds. I'll order some new sprockets/chain and see how that goes. Thanks again Scott

Scott,

Double-check that article; I think the front was changed to a 13 tooth.

Re-read the article and it had 13/52 stock and they changed it to a 12/56. The stock had to be waaaay fast! looked at my 82-CR250 in the shed and it has good 12/56 sprockets on it to poach. Snowed a foot at my riding spot so it will be awile before I get back to try it out. Yes I'm a weenie not to ride in the snow.Scott

Got the gearing changed to 12/56 made a world of difference!! Thanks for the tip. Had the best of both worlds today, MX track this am checking out the new Ohlins from Lefty on my 82 CR250. Switched bikes while going by the house and headed for the mountains with the WR for the rest of the day. Big frozen hard snowdrifts and nasty shady spots are a challenge but love the handling of the 84 WR. Thanks again "Mr. Luvwoods" Scott

Sounds like the WR I know. Glad it works for you. Thanks for following up too.

Tom