Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

I just recentally bought a 74 mt 250, it didn't run when I got it but between my brother and I we got it going. To make a long story short, I was told it needed rings, I think the clutch side crank seal is out.... excessive smoking, now it will fire for about 5 seconds and instantly oil foul the plug, I mean dripping oil when you pull it out fouled, I clean it meaning blow the oil of with the blow gun stick it in it will fire again for 5 sec. I need info on parts numbers or places to find them, a good manual, and where I can get the proper tools to tear it down. Thanks in advance... Jeff P.S. I'm finding out he hard way that Honda doesn't care if these bikes stay running.

Lower end of the bike is basically same as MR/CR except for minor things such as transmission ratios. Either the CR users manual or MR shop manual posted on this website will help you with taking apart lower end to replace seal and for replacing rings.
Seals and rings are also the same as the CR and MR. For parts, you can buy them online through several distributors. But you may need a new piston and maybe need to bore the cylinder a bit. Until you take the top end apart and measure it, you won't really know.
I still get most of my parts through local Honda dealer. If they are smart and actually want to put out a little bit of effort to help you, they can still get seals and rings for these bikes. If not, you can always find them on ebay most days. Stories I hear about a lot of dealers parts departments aren't so good. Here in Tulsa, I used to work with the guy that runs the parts department and he used to race MX in the '70s, and knows these bikes. I'm guessing most dealers don't care enough to spend the time trying to help people on what is a bit of a time-consuming, low profit deal for them.

I have found that if you do the leg work.ie part numbers, the dealer parts guys are more than willing to help and in my case give me 10% off . While not much it pays the tax.

I have two local honda dealers close by. One of them allways gives me attitude when I ask for old parts. The other shop will order them if they can get'em. I also use www.re-mx.com and a few other elsinore specialty websites. Good ole e-bay can help you find discontinued parts.

Study the manul and keep asking questions on this forum. You will get answers if you ask good questions.