KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX250 / KX125 => Topic started by: MadKaw on November 27, 2006, 03:16:49 PM

Title: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 27, 2006, 03:16:49 PM
got this bike today..99 kx250, all stock-and I mean NOTHING is done to it. still looks like it just about rolled out of the showroom. stock pipe and everything. the guy bought it to ride with his sons and they were way faster than him. so he pretty much didn't ride it much at all.it runs really good, but it won't idle. I figure it needs a carb cleaning. the thing is that I changed the plug, and the oil in the tranny. it seems the guy had been using atf in the tranny, and maybe he was using too much. I took it out for a little ride after I changed the plug and oil, and there was oil dripping out of the exhaust pipe and quite a bit of it. enough to make the back brake slime up and not work. the oil coming out smells like burnt atf. I'm worried there might be a bad seal between the tranny and crankcase. really hope not though, since that means you have to split the cases right? but then he may have just been running a rich gas/oil mix. need some input here....HELP!

going to be cleaning out the silencer and pipe on Wed. :? :? :?
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: hughes on November 28, 2006, 02:05:04 AM
Nice looking 250. Sounds like the engine needs to come out and split the cases. It's not that bad of a job but I would use the right tool to spread the cases apart not screw drivers.
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: eprovenzano on November 28, 2006, 04:25:30 AM
Before you go too far, what is your mix ratio.  I run 50:1 in my 99 250.  I'd give her a few more rides with proper mix ratio while watching the tranny level before you pull the engine.  Check the silencer packing, it most likely needs replaced.  Give her a few rides, while watching the fluid levels, your problem was most likely an incorrect fuel mix ratio.

The 99 250 is a good reliable bike.  Mine has never disappointed me.
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 28, 2006, 07:16:08 AM
thanx for the reply guys, I hope it has just been running the wrong ratio. cause splitting the cases sounds like a huge pain in the @$$. the thing that bothered me the most is that when it got hot and that oil in the pipe got to smokin, it smelled like burnt atf. left a real bad feelin in my gut after I just brought it home. she runs real sweet though(just won't idle) and the thing looks brand new. even the paint on the frame, underneath the bike, everything. I know the packing in the muffler is soaked, how exactly do you get that opened up to get the crap outa there?

scared of pulling the engine out...splitting cases,,,arggghhh!!!  thems fightin words :x :x :-P
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: hughes on November 28, 2006, 07:32:57 AM
Do you have a shop manual for the bike?? Their is a test for pressure testing the crank case, kind of like a leakdown test, might need to remove the flywheel cover and flywheel to expose the crank seal and remove clutch basket from other side to expose the crank seal, soapy water spray onto the seal area check for bubbles.
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 28, 2006, 10:03:46 AM
holy crap...I forgot about that. yeah I do have a manual. saw that in there the other day, before I bought this one. how hard is the clutch basket to remove without messing up the discs? thanx for the kick in the head.... :?
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: Mudshark on November 28, 2006, 01:51:10 PM
Before you go too far, what is your mix ratio.  I run 50:1 in my 99 250.  I'd give her a few more rides with proper mix ratio while watching the tranny level before you pull the engine.  Check the silencer packing, it most likely needs replaced.  Give her a few rides, while watching the fluid levels, your problem was most likely an incorrect fuel mix ratio.

The 99 250 is a good reliable bike.  Mine has never disappointed me.


Congrats on the new bike ! and I second what eprovenzano said about
running it a while. Also your plan to clean out the pipe is a good idea.
Good luck with it.
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: don46 on November 28, 2006, 02:43:05 PM
It sounds to me like it's probably jetted way to rich, as I recall I jetted my 99 down quite a bit, and a way leaner needle. If the guy was just riding casually, and it was jetted to rich it probably has the silencer saturated with oil. There are gear oils that look like ATF. My son has raced 250's for years and never had a bottom end failure, he rode the 250 constantly loved it and still does.
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 28, 2006, 04:51:40 PM
yeah definately gonna lightin the mix. just worries me about the smell. I used to be a auto tech, and that smell of burnt transmission fluid is ingrained in my head. the exhaust definately smelled funky. are there any synth. 2-smoke oil like amsoil or something he might have been using that smell wierd? maybe I just have new daddy gitters... :roll:. I'll just take it a step at a time and see how she does...

clean out pipe and silencer

ride her and watch the tranny level

as for the carb needle I'm quite sure its the stock one, he has done basically nothing to this bike at all.

could the idle thing be from the oil in the pipe too?

thanx ya'll :wink:
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: eprovenzano on November 29, 2006, 02:24:28 AM
I would suspect the bike not idleing, is due to the carb being dirty from the bike sitting.  I'd repack the silencer, watch the fluid levels, and let her rip...

Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: hughes on November 29, 2006, 03:21:57 AM
Check the float height before making any jetting changes.
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 29, 2006, 04:42:53 AM
never been into one of these carbs before. how do you make sure the float is at the right hieght? and I'm sure the carb is gunked up from sitting. like I said, the guy didn't ride it much. thought about just upping the idle screw. :roll:

forgot to mention the plug I pulled out of it was completely black and fuzzy...rich, right? or too cold?
but could still be oil from tranny leaking froma seal?

stay calm....stay calm...she's gonna be o.k. :?
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: FPMXer on November 29, 2006, 08:27:02 AM
Repack the silencer, clean the carb and air filter, install and new plug and ride it a few times then see if it still runs and idles like crap. Then check the plug and if black jet down. It sounds like it needs a good flogging to get the cob webs blown out and it will be okay. :-D
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 29, 2006, 10:22:07 AM
yeah, thats where I'll start as soon as I quit workin every day. long shifts on the ambulance... :-o
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: Spider on November 29, 2006, 12:33:45 PM
There is no need to split the cases, it sounds like a jetting/fuel mixture problem.

Dale
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 29, 2006, 02:46:31 PM
sure hope you're right. would much rather learn the carb. work that tear the engine apart. its just the shear amount of oil coming out of the pipe. I'm sure it was saturated in the pipe and muffler. it just didn't even smell like 2-stroke smoke, it had the funk. I've got a 2001 with a fmf fatty and powercore I'm gonna put on it. the silencer on that probably needs repacking too. It's just that he had the tranny overfilled, and I hope it didn't blow the seal in there.

thanx for all the help ya'll...Preshate it!
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: Spider on November 29, 2006, 04:48:58 PM
Overfilling the trans wouldn't blow a seal because the transmission doesn't pressure up (assuming the vent lines aren't plugged). There is a lot of info on this page, although it doesn't go as far back as '99. http://www.teamgreennews.ca/techside.html

There is plenty of info in the "jetting again and again" sticky.
Dale
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 30, 2006, 02:52:47 AM
thats a great chart man, thanx! the 2001-2002 is the same production run as mine so that will work fine....I didn't think the tranny was pressurized, but it just smelled like that dang tranny fluid.and there was so much of it coming out of the pipe that it dripped all over the swing arm, it even soaked the rear brake enough to make it not work. I guess I probably need new pads now? orwill it wash/burn off after a few rides? I just could't believe that seal would be bad as frakin clean and barely used as the bike is. hell, it still has the stock bars on it and they're isn't even a paint nick on them. well, if I ever get off work, I'll start to check all this stuff. sure got cold down here today. probably not the best time to be trying to set the jetting anyway.what's the best way to get the carb out without messing up the airbox boot or something? it looks like its just kinda wedged in therebetween the boot and the reeds :|. have to start diggin thru the manual I suppose...thanx a lot you guys for all the input... :-D
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: TaKeN on November 30, 2006, 02:59:19 AM
Loosen off the clips and get tugging,


you have to push the airbox back slightly because it flex's


Its quite tight but it comes out :)
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 30, 2006, 06:22:54 AM
cool...what about all the hoses and the little electric wire thats screwed into the back side? should I unhook all those first? will It hurt them to come out with it? or is there not enough slack? but if they're the stock jets, do they need replacing? I've read both ways.
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 30, 2006, 04:29:50 PM
ok, changed the oil in tranny, plug, new gas w/ 40:1 let it warm up for about 5 min. w/out high rev, rode it down flat, level street at half thottle. turned around and rode it full on. pulled nice and hard thru all gears. sounded great. pulled intothe garage, let it sit for about an hour. came back out and checked the view glass on the tranny...don't see nothin :x :x :x. no oil in the view, and put 850ml in just like the manual said. was exactly midway in the glass before I rode...think I'm screwed on the seal thing. plug tite, no oil under engine, oil(black) all over the swing arm, and drippinfrom the pipe at front and back of silencer... :cry:
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: Mudshark on November 30, 2006, 04:43:48 PM
Darn  :-( it does not sound good man.
If you need help pulling and splitting... gimme a shout, mybe we can
organize something... I'm up in Frisco.
Title: Re: new kaw in the stable...oil from the exhaust?
Post by: MadKaw on November 30, 2006, 04:49:14 PM
appreciate it Sharky...sure would be cool if there was some way to replace it w/out taking the engine apart. like from the side cover or something. :roll: