86 with power loss, please help

[MGlassco]

So the engine has maybe 3 or 4 trips on it since it was rebuilt at the end of last season including a new sleeve. I don't ride it that hard and on this trip it just seems to have a lot less power. Small hills I used to jump are now seeming like more of a challenge just to get to the top unless I am pineed in 4th and carry the speed through the hill. It seems to have no torque and refuses to accelarate into the powerband on anything other than a downhill or a perfectly flat ground. When the bike is not in gear and I gas it, it rev's find a sounds totaly normal. My uncles thinks it needs a new top end, and I am thinking the same. Does anyone have any suggestions or have Ideas to check or things that I can look at so I know and can say yes its needs a new top end? Thanks - MG

[phatts]

sounds like mine when i seized a ring

[MGlassco]

well thats no good. So pretty much two options, ride it till it blows or rebuild now..
Wish I could get some good news about this quad once in awhile

[Skully]

Try a simple compression check, cold with throttle wide open.

[MGlassco]

do I need a gauge or anything? I have never done a compression check, what do I do?

[RichM1983]

Yeah you need a guage to get an exact number. Im not sure how much compression an R should have but I know everyone on the forums say that the lt250r should have at the very least 120 psi. I think you can rent the compression guage at a auot parts store.

[MGlassco]

hmm, are all plugs the same thread? Including autos? Just making sure because I don't want to go rent one and not be able to use it, thanks for the help guy's, I know I am asking some newb questions

[sniperd]

Originally Posted by MGlassco

hmm, are all plugs the same thread? Including autos? Just making sure because I don't want to go rent one and not be able to use it, thanks for the help guy's, I know I am asking some newb questions

No, not all spark plugs are the same.

Sears sells a compression testing kit that has every spark plug adapter. Harbor freight has some also... Just take a spark plug of yours down where your gonna rent it and make sure they are the same size.

[JimRalphy]

Make sure also, that your spark plug is tight. If it backs out at all, you will have serious compresion loss. It has happend to me, the plug backed out a little, and I lost a lot of power. After some more riding, it wouldn't start up again. All it was was the plug.

Also, make sure your pipe is still secure to the jug. That can cause power loss also.


Just check all the simple things before you jump the gun and figure on it being the bore is shot.

P.S. If you only got 4 rides out of it, the shop you bring things to SUCKS, and made your bore to small for the piston.

[MGlassco]

Originally Posted by JimRalphy

Make sure also, that your spark plug is tight. If it backs out at all, you will have serious compresion loss. It has happend to me, the plug backed out a little, and I lost a lot of power. After some more riding, it wouldn't start up again. All it was was the plug.

Also, make sure your pipe is still secure to the jug. That can cause power loss also.


Just check all the simple things before you jump the gun and figure on it being the bore is shot.

P.S. If you only got 4 rides out of it, the shop you bring things to SUCKS, and made your bore to small for the piston.

you actually hit on a couple things that I really need to check. Before ever starting it up this trip I took out the plug to see if the one's the dealership gave me were correct (which they werent) I didnt really know how tight to put it back in so I just snugged it up. I will check that for sure. As for the shop sucking you sir are correct. I probably was the last bike they ever worked on. They lost all kinds of parts while it was there, chain, some bearings and stuff. Then the same week the bike was picked up is the same week that they closed thier doors forever. The bike is not actually mine, my Unlce owns it, but got tired of it cause it was never right. After picking it up from the shop we couldnt get it to run so he basically gave it to me. I got it up and running (wiring was wrong) I store it for him and I bring my cousin out with me to go riding so its a fair trade off.