[xEmber]

My guess is because the engine is actually a 4 stroke?

I JUST got this thing for 200 bucks, it had been left in the rain for like 6 years... covered in rust.

Nothing is really legible on the frame, I haven't really cleaned it yet because I want to be sure it is worth the investment.

I cleaned the carb, it started on the first try. I am currently putting klotz two stroke premix in the fuel tank... but I see valves on top of the cylinder and the spark plug placement screams 4 stroke...

Is this engine a four stroke...?

I keep fowling plugs, and I am guessing it is because the engine isn't running hot enough to burn off that oil in the gas...

This is where I got the idea of it being a 2 stroke.. and I keep finding mixed information online:

Honda TRX250R - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also, there is a big empty space before the engine.. should a cooling system be there?

Thanks! I know these questions seem REALLY obvious, but like I said, I am getting a lot of mixed info.

Paul

 

[xEmber]

Oh, and I would just call a dealer but they are all closed today! (Oh, and I did not feather my spark plug.... )

 

[Redracer]

The dumb questions are the ones not asked. Is your exhaust pipe skinny all the way back or does it get fat up close to the motor? It is a 4 stroke if it has valves.

Does the motor have fins on it or is the whole thing smooth. If it has fins on it, it is air cooled

 

[shadetree]

My guess is because the engine is actually a 4 stroke?

I JUST got this thing for 200 bucks, it had been left in the rain for like 6 years... covered in rust.

Nothing is really legible on the frame, I haven't really cleaned it yet because I want to be sure it is worth the investment.

I cleaned the carb, it started on the first try. I am currently putting klotz two stroke premix in the fuel tank... but I see valves on top of the cylinder and the spark plug placement screams 4 stroke...

Is this engine a four stroke...?

I keep fowling plugs, and I am guessing it is because the engine isn't running hot enough to burn off that oil in the gas...

This is where I got the idea of it being a 2 stroke.. and I keep finding mixed information online:

Honda TRX250R - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also, there is a big empty space before the engine.. should a cooling system be there?

Thanks! I know these questions seem REALLY obvious, but like I said, I am getting a lot of mixed info.

Paul

if this atv is a trx250 utility..then yeah..you got yourself a fourstroke !..lol..this is why your fouling spark plugs !..if it's got valves..then yes..your bike is a fourstroke..do not run premix in the gas tank..or you will indeed keep fouling plugs !!..lol..2-strokes don't have valves..only 4 strokes do.

 

[Helmut]

If it's an '87 250, there's 3 kinds that it can be and they are as follows:

Fourtrax 250 utility ATV with cargo racks = 4-stroke

TRX250X sport quad = 4-stroke

TRX250R race quad = 2-stroke

If it has valves, it's a 4-stroke.

 

[xEmber]

HA!

It was hard to tell at first because there has been an oil leak on the valve cover for some time so I couldn't really see the engine under the grease. Pressure washed it and it was so obvious it hurt . Thanks for the help guys. We have been having a lot of fun with it so far, just got done doing the wheel bearings and that was a nightmare, welded... torched... hammered for nearly 7 hours, finally broke free. Thing had been sitting in some guys yard for like 7 years, lol. Anyway, now to see if there is a disc brake conversion kit for a reasonable price!
Thanks so much!

-Paul

 

[icedgreece]

Would you be willing to post some pictures?

 

[dkmccreight]

Sounds like the exact same bike that I got

 

[Helmut]

Here is the Fourtrax 250 utility ATV.

 

[ostrx250]

gosh helmut i wish my looked like that hahaha

 

[dkmccreight]

Yeah, same here. Obviously I havent been on these forums but a couple of weeks, but I have been seeing a lot of posts about these bikes. There must still be a lot of 'em out there.

 

[icedgreece]

Here is the Fourtrax 250 utility ATV.

Thanks, but I want to see his. I want to see how "badly" of condition it's in.

 

[Helmut]

Thanks, but I want to see his. I want to see how "badly" of condition it's in.

Yeah, I wasn't necessarily posting this to your request for pictures. I just posted this because I figured that you guys that own one of these might like to see this page out of the old Honda sales brochure from 1987.

I guess I just posted it at a bad time, right after you asked to see pictures of his. LOL.

 

[dkmccreight]

What was the MSRP on this thing back then? Anybody know?

 

[icedgreece]

Thanks, but I want to see his. I want to see how "badly" of condition it's in.

Yeah, I wasn't necessarily posting this to your request for pictures. I just posted this because I figured that you guys that own one of these might like to see this page out of the old Honda sales brochure from 1987.

I guess I just posted it at a bad time, right after you asked to see pictures of his. LOL.

Ohh hahaha. Bad timing eh?

 

[Helmut]

What was the MSRP on this thing back then? Anybody know?

I can remember when they first started selling them, but I can't remember the MSRP, it's been too long. LOL. I'm thinking they were in the $2,000-$2,500 range.

 

[shadetree]

What was the MSRP on this thing back then? Anybody know?

I can remember when they first started selling them, but I can't remember the MSRP, it's been too long. LOL. I'm thinking they were in the $2,000-$2,500 range.

thats about right helmut..and yes..there still is alot of these around..besides the honda trx300..these were the work horse back in the day..they ran and ran..strong atv's !..they used the same motor from these back in the honda big red's atc 250's..i've owned both at one time or another..they are great machines if they are well taken care of..about the only problem i ever had with the trx250 utility was the stearing..where the knuckle meets the swing arm..there is a tube..about 6 or 7 inches long...that connect the top and bottom...inside this..is a steal bushing shaft..it wears at the top and bottom of the shaft..which makes the bike want to wobble back and forth when you ride..the fix..( shadetree's way )..knock the shaft out..spot weld the worn upper and lower spots on the shaft...all the way around the shaft..then..with a bench grinder..grind the welds back down to the rest of the shaft..you should have a upper and lower coller when you knock this shaft out..use it as a guide to make sure you don't grind to much back off.

 

[Helmut]

about the only problem i ever had with the trx250 utility was the stearing..where the knuckle meets the swing arm..there is a tube..about 6 or 7 inches long...that connect the top and bottom...inside this..is a steal bushing shaft..it wears at the top and bottom of the shaft..which makes the bike want to wobble back and forth when you ride

Yep, the Fourtrax 250 had king pins and I remember the problem you're talking about.

 

[shadetree]

about the only problem i ever had with the trx250 utility was the stearing..where the knuckle meets the swing arm..there is a tube..about 6 or 7 inches long...that connect the top and bottom...inside this..is a steal bushing shaft..it wears at the top and bottom of the shaft..which makes the bike want to wobble back and forth when you ride

Yep, the Fourtrax 250 had king pins and I remember the problem you're talking about.

yep..king pins..damn..i'm old..i forgot the name of them..all i know is..they are a pain to get out if they have been left in there for along time!!!!!..took me about 2 hours to get both out..talk about work !..lol

 

[Helmut]

about the only problem i ever had with the trx250 utility was the stearing..where the knuckle meets the swing arm..there is a tube..about 6 or 7 inches long...that connect the top and bottom...inside this..is a steal bushing shaft..it wears at the top and bottom of the shaft..which makes the bike want to wobble back and forth when you ride

Yep, the Fourtrax 250 had king pins and I remember the problem you're talking about.

yep..king pins..damn..i'm old..i forgot the name of them..all i know is..they are a pain to get out if they have been left in there for along time!!!!!..took me about 2 hours to get both out..talk about work !..lol

Yep, I remember the hard work, too. They're a PITA. LOL.