Honda XR 250 1985?

**Youngjim** · 10th April 2005, 21:24

Yes the 250 XR has a decompressor, or at least the one I had did.
It's not so much for kicking it over, more for clearing the fuel out of the cylinder when you drop it as they are a pig to start when dropped.

**XTC** · 10th April 2005, 21:39

From memory the decompressor cable on the 85 XR goes from the head and connects to the kickstart. when kicking this automatically activates the decompression mechanism. The XR should have two throttle cables one for open one for return. Yours should have a twin carb set up. What you have done should not have done anything to the compression unless you stripped the plug thread when putting it back in. 85 XR200/250's were known to crack heads occasionally between the valves and the plug hole. Later models went to a smaller plug to beef up this area. Even if cracked it should still have some compression.

**XTC** · 10th April 2005, 21:44

Try here for experts on XR250/400's
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=26

Good luck. Andy.

**Ixion** · 10th April 2005, 21:47

Originally Posted by Kittyhawk

Well I got my FXR 150 up to 143km/hr and it didnt' sizzle the engine. So I'm a speed freak when I get the chance.
YOUNGJIM - I pulled out the cables and I got confused as to which goes where back on the carbi :< I'm a girl!!!

Ahah. Taking that in conjunction with the fact that the beast does indeed have a decompressor - I suspect one of those muddled cables was a decompressor cable and you've got it back in the wrong place.

Quick test , remove all cables that you removed before. Check and see if you have compression now. If so, follow the cables back from the handlebars (or wherever - some research says that they also run to camshaft or kickstart lever ??!!).

Make sure the decompressor cable is not pinched, has some free slack and is connected to the correct place.

Disclaimer here: heaps of experience with 4 stroke singles. None with a XR250.

**BUBBLE** · 10th April 2005, 22:16

Hey, check that both the carby slides are in correctly. Has anyone tried to kick a bike with the throttle full open, there is much less of a compression feel to the kick. The slides must be put in with the slot (down one side of slide) lining up with a pin inside the carb. Another check is to make sure the angled bit at the bottom of the slide is facing towards the idle screw. If you can, take the air filter pipes off the carb inlet and make sure the slides a returning to the bottom of their stroke. Keep in touch...tell us how you get on.

**MSTRS:Me** · 11th April 2005, 09:21

Originally Posted by Ixion

Yeah, a jammed decompresser would do it, but I don't think the 250's had one (not too hard to kick a 250)

They did. In fact I have a '90's model which has a manual lever on the bars & an auto one actuated by the kickstart as well.

**Motu** · 11th April 2005, 10:17

That year XR should have a decompressor activated by a cable from the kickstarter - disconnect it,or atleast back off the adjustment.With one of these you won't be able to feel compression when slowly turning the motor over - responsable for XR200s damaging kickstarter gears,people just slam away on the lever like it's a 2 stroke.One a single you need to be able to ease it up on compression,take it over and kick from there,they should start pretty easy then,just slamming away you won't have much success.

**sAsLEX** · 11th April 2005, 10:53

they also have about 3000 turns on the stator so if your going to rewind that, double check you are using the ritght wire, then check again as 3000 turns by hand is boring and takes ages, especially the second time round.

My xr similar year has the decomp connected to the kick.