KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX250 / KX125 => Topic started by: drewwilhelm on March 30, 2017, 01:59:42 AM

Title: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on March 30, 2017, 01:59:42 AM
Hey guys,
Im new to this thread simply because I am having trouble with a 2004 x250 I picked up in boxes.  Bought it off a friend who is a total hack and has no clue how to work on a bike let alone take it apart and organize it.  So long story short the tranny was binding when he tried to put a new crank in.  I bought the bike bought new shift forks for it and was able to slap everything back together while picking apart the boxes of bolts to find out what bolts go where.  Now I have the engine in and was ready to fire it up, but I do not know where the voltage regulator bolts to and when I go to put the gas tank on the wires are holding it up.  Ive looked at a service manual, but the one I have is for 03-07 and i know the location of everything is changed dramatically in those years.  Also it is not getting any spark, but before I go testing everything I want all the electronics hooked up correctly and in the right spot.  Any info is greatly appreciated.  The pics Im posting are when I picked it up I don't have any recent ones on my phone right now!!.  THANKS GUYS!!

(http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g343/Drew_Wilhelm/IMG_4597_zpsotbj03v9.jpg)

(http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g343/Drew_Wilhelm/IMG_4598_zpsmq5ano6l.jpg)

(http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g343/Drew_Wilhelm/IMG_4602_zpstbph82lr.png)
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: umberto on March 30, 2017, 01:35:48 PM
Welcome to the site, and congratulations on buying your 04.  I love mine.  The voltage regulator bolts to the frame on the left side (clutch handle side), just behind the steering head.  There is a single bolt hole in the frame that it attaches to.  The wiring should run up from the ignition cover on the left side, through the little bendable clamp on the cylinder head and up to connect to the wiring harness.  The coil mounts under the gas tank in front of the cylinder, and some wiring runs through there, and around to the throttle position sensor on the carb.  The rest runs up the frame under the rail to the voltage regulator and to the cdi box which mounts behind the number plate.  There are grey connectors that attach at each junction, and they snap into those metal clips on the frame.  If you need a picture of the wiring more closely, I can snap some pictures this weekend, but it should be pretty straight forward once you get everything mounted and the wire ran.  Post some pics if you get stumped. 

As for the no fire issue, I would try a few things.  When you mount your coil make sure you have bare metal on the mounting brackets.  Also, buy some contact cleaner and clean all your connections.  If you get it all assembled, are sure it's clean and still can't get a spark, try this troubleshooting guide Sandblaster put together.  It will show you how to test the electrical components to see if they are faulty.  It's for a 500, but should work for your 250 as well.

http://www.oem-cycle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=163 (http://www.oem-cycle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=163)
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on March 31, 2017, 10:30:58 AM
Alright, had some time to check out the bike today.  Realized I switched the connectors for the carb and cdi plugs.  Now go easy on my hahaha, it was late and I was obviously unfocused and frustrated with this thing.  Good news, I got all the wires where they should be and the tank goes right on.  The bad news, I need a new coil.  I was able to find a manual for an 03-04 specific.  I just ordered one and should be here next week sometime.  Hopefully this thing will run!!  Ill keep you guys posted on the project but for now here are some recent pics.  

(http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g343/Drew_Wilhelm/IMG_4667_zpskd8odsl0.jpg)

(http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g343/Drew_Wilhelm/IMG_4666_zpspgwjfrfw.jpg)

(http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g343/Drew_Wilhelm/IMG_4665_zpsgu2bya3y.jpg)
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: umberto on March 31, 2017, 10:43:29 AM
It looks like a really clean bike.  No grief on the plug switch, it happens to all of us late at night.  Glad it was just the coil, those are the cheapest part of the electrical system. 

Keep us posted on your progress, and don't forget to get some video of your first ride.
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on March 31, 2017, 11:20:37 AM
Will do!  Pretty sure im the 3rd owner my buddy bought it off the original owner, but only downside is no title but hey its a 13 yr old bike what do you expect. Ill keep ya guys posted!0
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on April 03, 2017, 06:20:33 AM
Another question guys.  For the head nuts are there supposed to be copper washers under the nuts.  The schematic shows none but almost every two stroke I have seen has them.  I know they act as a gasket for the head stud, but I heard with the type of aluminum gasket the x250 uses the copper washers are not needed.  Any help is appreciated
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: umberto on April 03, 2017, 06:46:51 AM
I'll check mine when I get home, but I don't remember it having gaskets under the nuts.  I just rebuilt a 2003 250, and it didn't have them either. 

You must be getting close to firing that dude up.  What are you lacking?
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on April 03, 2017, 08:14:33 AM
Just waiting on the coil now! Will be here wed.thing should fire right up!! Ill post a vid or something when and if this basket case runs!
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: umberto on April 03, 2017, 11:17:51 AM
Nope, no gaskets under the nuts on mine or my son's.

(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag75/umberto_32/18F25125-361E-4781-BBC3-CDE61DF4256E_zps0ty7flwc.jpg~original)
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on April 03, 2017, 01:02:50 PM
Wooo. Thanks umberto! Ill have an update again by the end of the week! Hopefully some better pictures too!
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: umberto on April 03, 2017, 01:05:41 PM
You're welcome. I hope it fires right up for you.
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on April 04, 2017, 12:46:48 PM
Well guys.... still no spark.  don't really know where to turn here.  Im going to try and test all electrics again tomorrow and see if i can find the problem, but I am pretty sure I have checked them all.
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: umberto on April 04, 2017, 01:47:54 PM
Man that's frustrating!  If it were me, I would start at the stator and flywheel and work your way all the way through the electronics to the kill switch.  Check and make sure every connector is in good shape and seating properly, every component registers the Ohm measurement it should, your grounds are clean and paint fee, and that the wiring harness is free of frayed or cut wires.  You might also try disconnecting the kill switch as it can have issues and not allow spark.   
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on April 08, 2017, 11:49:25 AM
OK, grounds are solid, no frayed wires still no spark.  Im wondering if it is my regulator but I don't know how to test it.  I tested the coil its fine, but Im not sure how to test everything else is there anyone who can explain this the most simple way possible.
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: Oblivious Maximus on April 09, 2017, 04:53:59 AM
My 87" 250 lost spark at home (thankfully) after a long trail ride. I used the link Umberto posted above to Sandblasters tutorial. The stator test seemed erratic and i thought i was doing something wrong but after several tries the white/red to black/yellow numbers were inconsistent but just slightly out of spec on the low side.

I was lucky to find a used stator on ebay on the first search and it fixed the spark problem as well as hard warm starts.
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on April 10, 2017, 12:33:46 AM
My 87" 250 lost spark at home (thankfully) after a long trail ride. I used the link Umberto posted above to Sandblasters tutorial. The stator test seemed erratic and i thought i was doing something wrong but after several tries the white/red to black/yellow numbers were inconsistent but just slightly out of spec on the low side.

I was lucky to find a used stator on ebay on the first search and it fixed the spark problem as well as hard warm starts.

Maximus,
I looked through the thread already but, the x500 only has 3 wires coming out of the stator my 04 has a wiring harness with about 5-6 wires (not looking at it directly right now).  I fear I may have fried the CDI when I plugged the plugs in backwards and tried starting it, but I can't see how its possible because I only kicked it about 5-8 times with them switched.  I will try to use the thread posted by Umberto to test the stator and see what I can find.  Hopefully I get some time Wednesday to do it.  Thanks Guys!
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on April 17, 2017, 06:28:44 AM
For the ground wires on this thing, do both ground go together on the side of the coil or does the coil ground go under the coil and then the other ground go somewhere else?  Theres a full electronics bundle off an 03 on eBay right now I might pick up for around 300.  Let me know what you guys think.
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: umberto on April 17, 2017, 12:34:40 PM
For the ground wires on this thing, do both ground go together on the side of the coil or does the coil ground go under the coil and then the other ground go somewhere else?  Theres a full electronics bundle off an 03 on eBay right now I might pick up for around 300.  Let me know what you guys think.
Both of my grounds are under the coil. I'm not sure about using an 03 bundle.  The part numbers are different, which probably means it has different internal settings. I would imagine it would work, it might just have a different spark curve.
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: drewwilhelm on May 15, 2017, 01:32:25 PM
So I have been MIA for awhile and the kx project has been on the back burner ever since racing season started.  I recently bought a 2017 yz250x so I have not found the motivation to work on the bike.  I just found a 2003 stator on eBay for 200.  I just bought it and will let you guys know if this is my problem.  I am pretty sure it is!
Title: Re: 2004 KX250 Basket case
Post by: umberto on May 15, 2017, 01:40:41 PM
Man I hope that fixes the issue. I want to see that dude run.