My Lt is hard to start

[lannyLT250R]

I just baught and 89 LT250R for $300. i've put about $500 into it so far. I've just had it rebuilt top and bottom end. it was in pretty rough shape but is looking better. But When my LT is cold it is HARD!! to start. i kick it over about 20 times before it fires. I notices that if i just take the plug out and hold it on the frame and kick it over to check spark it is fine (Even with a brand new plug) and usually when i put it back in it starts right up. Is this weird or what? once it is warm it starts up first kick every time. I also see that it leaks coolant around the head after i shut it off. the leak isn't bad tho jsut a bead of coolant. But i can't believe that it would do that with as many head bolts that are on it. It's hard to believe the guy that had it before me beat this quad that much.

It has plenty of power but what could i do for more?

89 LT 250R
FMF pipe and silencer
Bored 30 over
Rebuilt rear shock
douglas .190 front wheels
ITP .190 rear wheels
new rear plastic
boysen read cage and reeds

[Suzukispeed18]

for more power check out FTZ Racing,for $700 u get a brand new ported cylinder and a YZ250 style piston,i think it would be a great setup,what does everybody else think???

[Suzukispeed18]

it also looks like ct and duncan make a good kit for it check those places out

[suzuki LT250R]

For the hard starting my LT if I leave the gas on very long it is hard to start. I have to shut my gas off everytime I shut it off. For the leaking head gasket I just wonder if you head isnt worped or something. bit if alittle bit is leaking out how you know a little isn't leaking in to the jug. The guy I bought my LT off of gernaded a jug cause of the same problem only it was leaking worse into the jug and he had somebody pull start him and the pressure on the jug from all the antifreeze in the chamber destroyed it. Just something to think about. Cause if it is leaking out than it could be leaking in too.

[lannyLT250R]

I have to pull off the head to check that don't I? And how would i know if it was worped of if it was leaking into the jug? would it be visiable? And how could one of those worpe? it would have to take a beating it seems..have you seen one worpe before? Should i turn the gas off then run all the gas out of the carb when i shut the quad off?

[suzuki LT250R]

I don't run all the gas out of the carbs when I shut mine off, I just run it for 5-10 senconds just enough to drain it alittle. For the warped head (if that is what it is) you would not be able to tell by looking at it. it would only have warped if the quad has ever got really hot. I have never seen one warp but i have heard of it happening. To check and see if antifreeze is getting in you can pull the plug and smell it. I was just thinking that if you were getting antifreeze in the jug it could be diluting out the gas and not letting it fire. Does it smell sweet like antifreeze? and do you dry the plug off when you pull it and put it back in. Is that when you can get it to start?

[lannyLT250R]

Thanks for the advice. I've never noticed the plug to smell like antifreeze but i never really looked for the smell but i'll have to. i've put brand new plugs in it before and kicked it over and pulled it back out to see if it is fouled or something and it isn't. then i check to see if it is sparking and it always is and then usually put it back in and it fires...idk..weird huh?..but i think turning it over w/out the plug may dry it out or something? i know my mixture must be a little rich and the oil is cheap. i'll hafta wait and see i guess thanks.

[suzuki LT250R]

What ratio of fuel mixture are you runnin and what kind of oil?

[370banshee]

ok for the hard start check your jetting that might be your problem. for the leak FIX IT. here are a couple reasons. LT is right it's probably going in the cyl. the haed may not be warped it could just be that it wasn't tightened down correctly. DON'T TIGHTEN IT DOWN!!!. i didn;t say it wasn't tightened enough. please don't take that the wrong way. it's supposed to be tightened down in a criss cross pattern. who ever put it on may have put in on with a circular pattern. take the head off and have it checked. then go from there. also that leak will make your quad over heat faster also. the cooling sysdtem is under pressure for a reason. it raises the boiling point of the antifreeze (4 degrees for every 1PSI i think). just fix it correctly and it'll last a lot longer. plus it's a easy ass job anyway. 6 head nuts, 1 motor mount and it's off it takes bout 10 mins. then graba hed gasket (looking at bout $10) and it's a 10 mins jobn to put it back on. AREN'T 2 STROKES GREAT!!! i'm glad i didn;t ahev to say loosen the timing chain tension and remove the upper gear. then remove the cam. lol

[motomark]

Originally Posted by lannyLT250R

I have to pull off the head to check that don't I? And how would i know if it was worped of if it was leaking into the jug? would it be visiable? And how could one of those worpe? it would have to take a beating it seems..have you seen one worpe before? Should i turn the gas off then run all the gas out of the carb when i shut the quad off?

To check to see if your head is warped, when you take your head off put a straight edge on it if you cant visibly see it warped. Like a square or small ruler, check all angles, if you have a gap then its warped. If its a really really small gap or if there is no gap get a new head gasket.