Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Ive got a 1975 Honda MT 250 Elsinore that needs a horn and a replacement headlight bulb. Other than ebay, where else would have a horn for sale? I may try calling a honda dealer to see if they can order parts for this old of a bike. Can the bulb be picked up anywhere?

http://www.westernhillshonda.com http://www.cmsnl.com

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

Thanks for those links. I have found another link...www.flandersco.com that also has bike parts. I did a search for a turn signal for my bike, and here is the list that came up.....http://www.flandersco.com/action.lasso

I need rear turn signals for my bike, and the ones listed for the MT 250 Elsinore dont look like the stock parts. Will they still mount to the bike without problems? Im not really concerned with having the bike stock, just that I have working turn signals.

Hi,
I'm doing a partial resto of a 76 MT 250. My turn signals which I think are original, are nearly identical to the Honda CB's of the same period. They have stiff metal arms and not the rubber arms of the later XL's. E-bay, junkyards and swap meets are great places to find these at about 5 bucks a pop. Honda dealers also do a very good job of stocking parts (ie. Bulbs, gaskets etc.). Expect to pay though. My dealer gives me a 10 percent break for being an AMA member.

Good Luck

Thanks for the tips. I found out the headlight was just a disconnected wire, but it has gone out again, so I'll have to take it apart and check the connection. Also discovered I need a flasher. I have a set of front turn signals and they turn on but they dont flash. Still looking for the rears. Hard to find, as I need both the signals and the stalks they mount to. I received a set when I bought the bike, but they arent the right ones and wont fit.

Glad the tips were helpful.
I had the same problem with my XL500 (6 V system). I had a new battery, new flasher (from Honda) and the turn signals would not flash until I had been riding the bike for about 20 minutes. Problem was a weak alternator on the bike. I used a trickle charger for my battery whenever she was parked and that pretty much did the trick for me.

Good Luck.

I took the bike out again a couple days ago, and everything seemed fine, until all of a sudden, the idle rpm's would climb up toward the red line. Hand was off the throttle, in neutral, no idea why it was happening. Any ideas?

Sounds like you have a large air leak. Did you replace the main seals? Even if you did you may have damaged one or both. Good luck!

J

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#829 The "Factory Novice"

1988 Honda CR250RJ
1983 Honda CR480
1981 Can-Am 250 MX6-B
1979 Honda CR250RZ
1979 Kawasaki KX250 A5
1978 Husky 250CR
1978 Honda CR250R
1977 Yamaha YZ400D
1977 Suzuki RM125B

Never replaced any seals, any other ideas?

You have an air leak. If you have never re-built the engine you might have a leak between the carb and the motor, but as stated the primary suspect is the rotor-side crankcase seal. Trust me

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

Thanks for the help....Is replacing the rotor side crankcase seal a big job? Could someone outline the procedure for me?

Let me add that after this happened, I looked over the bike, and found some oil drops on the bike underneath where the exhaust meets the front of the engine....could this be the source of the air leak?

Turn signals will not flash unless you have front and back installed with good bulbs. Make sure you have the battery installed or you can blow out bulbs and flashers.

As for the RPMs increasing that sometimes happen when the float bowl runs dry. This also leans out the mixture. Is there gas in the tank and is it getting to the carb?

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74 MT-250
06 Husky TE-450

I didnt know that both the front and rear had to be plugged in for them to flash. I have the front ones on, but not the rear ones. I will plug them in and try again. Only problem is the rear signals I have are not for this bike, but I may be able to make them work.

As for the idling, I will be going through the carb next time I am at my parents house. There is gas in the tank, no idea if it is getting to the carb or not.

Thanks for the help!

A question about the oil pump setting. It mentioned checking the adjustment of the oil pump in my Haynes manual, so I did so, and found it was off quite a bit. However, before I made the adjustment, it didnt smoke alot, and now after making the adjustment, it smokes more, and I have now noticed oil coming out around the exhaust port. But the oil pump is now correct according to the book. Should I have left it alone? Would throttle cable stretch throw the adjustment off?

The stock oil pump mixes about 18:1. I read some posts on this site suggesting you disconnect the pump and mix some where in the 32:1 range. The newer oil is supposed to be more efficient. Maybe the previous owner leaned out the setting counting on the higher tech oil? Guess it's possible the cable may have stretched a little.

Personally I use the pump at the standard setting. It does smoke until it warms up then it's not so bad. Hence the name 2-smokes. I have never heard of an engine seizing up from too much oil and I never have a problem fouling plugs

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74 MT-250
06 Husky TE-450