Kill buttons please....

Well to top off one of the worst weeks in my life, a moment of silence for my 84 WR250. Really bad week was to get better when two of my students called last night and said lets go riding of your feeling up to it.
Checked blood pressure and got the "go for it" from the wife. They even came and helped me load up my bike and the daughters.
Got to the woods and my trusty,priceless, wouldn't trade for anything 84 WR250 fired right up but sounded a little "loud" but its always been a fin "rattler"
About five miles into our trail ride, and truck, it started acting like it was siezing or running out of fuel? Pulled clutch and it died. Had to choke it to get it to start and it was boggy and rattling and died again-nice.....
Doctor said not to get wound up, so I sat on a log wondering why my plug wrench wasn't in my fender bag while my ten year old daughter said "Dad be calm, you can ride on my bike back to the truck" That was sweet but I'm 6'2" 265 on the back of a TTR125 with a pink seat, that would be a picture. Found a hill and got it to fire up and made it back to truck. Pulled the pipe at the truck and the piston looked good? Pulled ignition cover and "rocked crank" while looking at piston-bingo! Lost rod bearing.
I bought this bike last winter off of C-list from a crummy phone picture 200 miles away. Had a friend look at it for me, he rides a XR200 so I got the "it looks old" review. $500 bucks and it had a 83 tank, brand new tires,cables,controls, Renthals so I went for it. A little tuning and fork seals and I've never been happier with a trail bike. Only thing I hadn't done was the top end and it was low on compression when I got it 125psi but it started perfect. Pulled jug when I got home tonight and found some nice porting work also, wing ports on exhaust and transfers. The bad... cyl. is on last oversize, rod-pin is shot and found LH case cracked by the engine number. I lost my clutch on a previous ride so when I went into it I found NO bearing on kicker gear-a hone on the ID of the gear and a new bearing and things were good-sorta it had ate into the case, hence the crack.
Well after the long rant my questions are, is the cylinder worth/possible resleeving? I heard 84 WR250's had some improved porting so maybe its stock? Best woods bike I have ever had, sold my CRF250X after first trip to woods with the WR. Got to get it going for the fathers day 100 mile woods run.

My opinion is yes, it's worth sleeving the cylinder. The case half should be repairable??? You didn't go into much detail there, but perhaps a replacement is out there or you can just repair it.

I had an '85 WR 400. It was much the same as the '84, the mxers got the single shock, but the WR's were still dual shock, liquid cooled, drum brakes. What a strange conglomeration. I'd agree with you on how good the chassis is. I loved that bike. It was a brilliant trail bike.

Yes, I would do it..
Your entire post glows with adoration over this bike. Clearly you like it.
I have learned the hard way, how much fun & relaxation they bring to me.. many yrs ago I sold my 250 wr (it was '70's vintage but new when I got it). Now I'm getting back into it.(I Just ask myself what took so long?)
Also judging from your profile this may be an opportunity you may be able to accomplish at your school in conjunction with maybe a motorcycle repair instructor?..(just throwing that idea out there), or do it yourself.

Personally I am NOT mechanically inclined, BUT I sure try. Like the time I thought I could replace my '86 Bronco spark plug wires!..Until they poped off the dist cap & I din't know which went where?...Pfftt Pifftttt Pufffttt ...top speed 20 mph "floored" to the dealership.."fix it please".
Then another time when I thought I could replace plug wires on another '86 car & the dist cap screws needed to pierce the wires caps! Well I didn't pierce them well enought & I didn't ohm them out...ended up cooking the Dist caps, & rotor.. different dealership...."fix it please".
You get the picture.

So I just had my Bing carb for my Bultaco Aplina rebuilt, & one late afternoon I began installing it. I had already taken my blood pressure Rx that morning so I was smoothe, until I was attempting to put the throttle cable thru the spring, thru a plastic retainer above the needle jet, & into the slide!
Well I slipped trying to compress the spring & 'zing' parts flew, especially the plastic retainer...ARGGGGG. While crawling round the floor looking for it my wife suggested a cocktail & calm down. My weekend flashed before me, where can I ever find one now or will I have to wait another week to try & find the part?..after some prayer I found it on the skid plate!..I Thanked God!.
Then had a few rum & coke's...
Got the bike running about 10 pm. ..not running well but 'running'. Even with my rum 'relaxed' uphoria I thought I better be considerate and not take any plug readings at that time of night. I wrapped it up about 2 am & the next day I did more carb adjustments & its running good.
Long story but had to write it to explain my point.
To bring it back to Husqvarna;
I'm currently in the process of restoring a 1971 400 (Frame MI).
This one I am as anxious as a child on Christmas eve..

If I had your skills I definately would do it, enjoy the experience & then the ride!

I am guessing that the lower big end bearing on the rod went. You didn't seem to say if it was the upper one which I havn't had go on me or in my parts bikes. Did metal bits get into the space between the piston and head and kind of mess up the head? I would investigate what sort of pistons you can get for it (I posted some pictures of 430 pistons and the known defects of some of them in the pictures and no one would talk to me or post back) I would tend to try and find a usable piston and cylinder. You might have noticed on here there have been suggestions for guys with problems with their cases for the 400 430 500 use the 250 cases and cut out the extra piece in the crank area. Besides there are also guys parting out bikes. You must be close to what you paid for it to re sleeve and new piston. I can't see what your cylinder is like perhaps you shold get another one to resleve which hasn't had any similar failure.

Fran

Keep checking craigslist for another WR250 as a parts bike or just a good replacement (use your other wr for parts bike). Also, keep checking Ebay. I really do believe, if you have an old dirt bike, the more spare parts (engines, wheels, plastic, cables...) you have the better off you are.

SAVE IT!!! I love mine too. Feels perfect in the woods.

Yes, I would rebuild it, and yes, I'd sleeve that cylinder. Some of the larger sleeve companies can sleeve just about anything, they'll even cut new ports into blank sleeves... just tell them you want the EXACT same porting as the old sleeve. It sounds like you really liked the way that motor ran. If it ran that well at 125psi, just imagine how much you'll like it all tightened up!!

Pistons (at least Wiseco - got a fresh one in my 83 250WR and it works great) are readily available.

And, yes, you definitely get the "heart strings" award.

Ya. So where is it?

Thanks everyone

Pick, you've been outbid! The picture is on its way to Steve "Huskydoggg" for two reasons, his generous parts offer and outrunning the Germans! WAY to go Steve! You said you need a 500?

I have a spare 82 CR250 engine but I like the 84's porting and would be leary of a 28 yr old rod plus I hate to tear it down it had tranny work just before I got it-spare for my 82-CR250. I'm not afraid to put some money in it as will earn its keep.

Anyone researched a larger than 3rd over piston for a 250? or will the sleeve get too thin and crack? Reptuable place to get re-sleeved and a new rod kit source?

Just bought a 96 KTM 360EXC-dont hang up on me yet, last weekend to fix up and make a few Husky bucks so pass the word. Scott