Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

Checking for Sleeved Cylinder

(1/3) > >>

m1886:
Ok guys, I've made the decision to move from the 4 stroke KLX 400R (I know it's actually a Suzuki not a Kawasaki) to a KX500.  That thing is just too heavy.  I've always wanted a 2-stroke and the hot mountain bike here seems to be the KTM 300's.  After some research I've found it's half the money for me to find a KX500 that's in decent shape than it is to buy one of the 300's that's even 6 or 7 years old and the dry weight of the two is identical.  So.. to the point of my question for you experts.

Tomorrow I'm going to go look at a 1998 that from the photos seems to be in very good shape.  Someone has even put the 95 straight fender on it already! Unfortunately the guy who is selling it doesn't know much about it since he got as part of of trade.  My question is whether there is any way to tell without taking the head off whether the cylinder has been sleeved?  I thought about a magnet maybe, but I don't know.  Any thoughts?  I've found a ton of other great information on things to check when looking at a used bike from this site.

RoostDaddy:
yea, if you can take off the pipe or pull out the reed cage you could check it out.

m1886:
Thanks, I think that it my best bet.  I've already told the owner I'm going to take off the ignition cover so I can see if there's any play in the crank, now I just have to figure out a way to break it to him that I want to take the pipe off as well!  Once I pull the springs could I just loosen some of the pipe mounts or do you think I would have to take those screws completely out?

Motorrad:
to get pipe off you will have to pull gas tank, and side panel as well as 3 pipe mounts, and the springs

m1886:
Ouch!! I may have to rethink this. On my son's KTM 50 I can wiggle the pipe off the exhaust outlet without taking it clear off. Sounds like no such luck with this beast. He's only eight but I'm tired of him bragging about how his 2 stroke is so superior to my klx400. Thanks for the information. I might just have to lower my offer a bit and gamble. If I lose is there a source of replacement cylinders other than ordering a $550 part from one of the oem parts suppliers?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page