Got the same 1 1988 was my daughter's set for a long time. Basically have the same problems you have. I had to replace the stator,cdi,coil,brake system in front
Haha, Same problem and solution on that TRX125 I was working on a couple months back 😁😁 Thanks for the mention. I'll make another in depth video the next time I do a seat. Take care.
Oh man. There is something exciting about a true barn find like this. I love the feeling of taking every piece off and making it look new again. The TRX250s are one of my favorites too. Cool video!
I’ve had very good results with putting disassembled carburetors submerged in pure lemon juice. Put on the stove and boil the lemon juice for about 20 minutes. Keep all parts submerged. The acid in the lemon juice works pretty good. Check it out some time. If and when someone does put a 350X motor in a 250X frame. Because the engine is so big, the gas line from the tank is very close to the carburetor. What I did was come out of the tank, go completely around the carburetor with the gas line and then made the connection to the carburetor. Never had any trouble whatsoever! I like your videos. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome. After they cool off some, I rinse the carburetors with cold water. Using soft pressure I blow them dry. Then rub them down with a soft cloth so they shine again. ❤
Great video! Gotta love a 250x. Ive always thought of them as the dad of the 300ex. Essentially the same other than the electric start on the 300ex. They have the same amount of power as far as I’m concerned. That bumper nerf bars and rear wheels are as period correct as they come. I’m surprised it doesn’t have an aftermarket pipe.
I live In Hawaii and always love fixing old dirt bikes or quads I can get my hands on I helped this one guy fix all of his bike and he had a 1987 Model looks just like it and I used it for a while just seeing this and what you did to it is that same things I did to get it to run again and honestly that was the best quad ive ever ridden brings back a lot of good memories glad to see this machine come back to life you just gained a new subscriber 🤙🏽
I had 87, I believe, and it had a DR350 motor in it, and that's what I learned to clutch on. lol hope you bring it back to its glory. This video brought back good memories, thanks 😊
@mrcbuilds that's so cool 😎 I'm excited to see what comes of this ,and you got my vote on bringing it back to its glory lol its got me feeling pumped ready to do a new vid myself lol thanks mrc
87 250x was my first 4 wheeler after a 85 200x. I now have those machines again and ride the 250x more. They may not be fast now,but back in the day they were best 4stroke there was.
Those were such great machines, I had a 1987, not the fastest, but at 6'9" 240lbs I could fly through tight woods like the grace of a Sasquatch. Nobody could touch me.
I remember when they came out. Seeing them on the showroom floor. By far the one quad I’d give anything for. Even an Obs Silverado. They had red, white and a gray.
Good job man, she was definitely neglected. Told ya, not fast, but quick as shit, basic engine upgrades and some new shocks, get it a little wider, with spacers, i thought 400ex a arms fit, if not, aftermakert 300ex arms should fit..she will upset a lot of quads. Was very reliable even in the cold, and having reverse just a great bonus!
@@Mrcbuilds Yes sir can't wait to see what you find next. I got the chance to see one of these for the first time in 2017 when I visited my cousin in Pensacola a blue and white one. I offered a thousand for it, but he kept saying no thanks it'll never run again an I'm not gonna fix it. He really dont deserve it. I hate to see people let things rot into the ground.
I had a 87 model. Looks the exact same but with a grey frame. I personally put my 350x motor on it. Had to modify the exhaust, and one mount and that was it. Rode it for years, then sold it and put my 350x engine back on my 350x and still have it today.
I got a 87 trx250x, acting weird, compression the same as yours which is actually considered low compression as these need 172-199 psi, mine idles but will fall on ita face, I bought another Chinese CDI as the one on it is a Chinese CDI, hoping that's the problem
@mrcbuilds yeah, I'm gonna clean my Keihin carb but it still falls on a new Chinese carb, either a vacuum leak or CDI, also the caps on the case that you take off to adjust the cam chain, can those cause a vacuum leak? I have 400ex caps on as they seem to fit just like the originals, its something I couldn't find online about
It’s funny, I forgot to mention it. Back in 98,or 99. My son bought a I believe a 1988 250X with a bad motor. He was in The Marine Corps. So I bring this 4 wheeler home. A few weeks later this 350X motor shows up from UPS. So I call my son, I said what are you gonna do with this 350X motor. He said, and I quote: “That 350X motor goes right in that 250X frame.” I said OK. I had to cut one mount off the 350X motor, and as sure as the Sun comes up in the morning the 350X motor sat right in the 250X frame. He got a head pipe for it, I picked up a short section of pipe and put whatever muffler he got. Well this 250X turned into a 350X, and did it run! He got himself a Dura Blue rear axle, we put 250R front control arms upper and lower. I had to move the shock mounts weld them in place. His cousin had a 400EX and on flat surfaces the 350X blew it away right out of the hole every time! But when it came to climbing hills, the 400EX had more torque and would reach the top of the hill first. So it was king of the hill when climbing.
Honda's 4 Valve single cam with dual rockers RFVC motors were the worst Honda made. Valve train and top end problems 250, 350. 400 500 and XR600. Stay away.. 50 - 200cc like that big red 200 that you like were just a two valve motors and even though that they had less power they had NO top end problems.
I find that the tolerances in the guides to valves is to tight, they get tighter with heat and poor adjustment then start to drag, this also causes excessive wear on the cam. I ream the guides, and since doing this have had no issues.
I smoked a warrior on my 87 on a flat track. Granted I was 13 and it was a make shift track at West Virginia Motor Speedway, but I still waxed his ass. I would climb hills at Pennsboro with my little brother on the back that adults weren't even thinking about. We were pretty lucky at times. I now have a 91 that I baby for the most part
Any given CDI pin configuration is basically the same. What varies in the CDIs is the timing curves and the rev limiter. They are transistorized with a capacitor so checking a CDI with a multimeter will give you false readings It takes special gizmos to accurately check a CDI.
@mrcbuilds I was crushed in February of 1987 when it came out. I had just gotten a brand new 1986 200x for Christmas. Tgere wasnt any idea that the 250x was coming. It was a suprise. The 1987 gray version was out of this world to me.
I tell you what my friends tops at 74mph I know the 400ex is faster but that’s not bad for those bikes an it being entry level racing mind you that’s not pinned either an with a heavy rider
@@Mrcbuilds 2 valve Honda motors 50cc up to 200cc for example Honda XR200 bike or 200X threewheeler that you like were ALL 2 VALVE MOTORS AND THEY HAD NO TOP END PROBLEMS but had less power. Now starting in 1983 with RFVC those were all 4 VALVE motors but unlike the Yamaha or Kawasaki that used 2 camshafts Honda used only one and that's where some of problems were the other problems were valves were at the extreme angle driving the cam into the head plus 4 valve springs working against it instead of 2 per cam like on Yamaha or Kawasaki with DOHC motors. I know you are a Honda guy and I respect that and I like some Hondas myself (1976 CB550) but those years Yamaha and Kawasaki motors were much better and yes I'm talking about 4 strokes. 250, 350, 400, 500 600 and 650 were all RFVC
I have one of these bikes that is mint condition but I need a cylinder head anybody with the cylinder head for a 250X please comment back on this comment
I see that was insured by Geico!!
You win, best comment!
We have one of those in mexico, every year we take it out and use it quite a bit, it gets extremely dirty when we go see it, can’t imagine 20+ years
It goes by so fast. they are a very cool machine
Got the same 1 1988 was my daughter's set for a long time. Basically have the same problems you have. I had to replace the stator,cdi,coil,brake system in front
I always start with the basics and let that show me the real problem
@@Mrcbuilds Great video mine just sat with no brake fluid in the whole brake system. Kind of trashed everything.
Haha, Same problem and solution on that TRX125 I was working on a couple months back 😁😁 Thanks for the mention. I'll make another in depth video the next time I do a seat. Take care.
Anytime sir.
Oh man. There is something exciting about a true barn find like this. I love the feeling of taking every piece off and making it look new again. The TRX250s are one of my favorites too. Cool video!
Thank you. I wont be restoring this one, just fix and let it go. Fun machine though.
I love a good barn find atv salvage.
Fantastic score and repair!
I’ve had very good results with putting disassembled carburetors submerged in pure lemon juice. Put on the stove and boil the lemon juice for about 20 minutes. Keep all parts submerged. The acid in the lemon juice works pretty good. Check it out some time. If and when someone does put a 350X motor in a 250X frame. Because the engine is so big, the gas line from the tank is very close to the carburetor. What I did was come out of the tank, go completely around the carburetor with the gas line and then made the connection to the carburetor. Never had any trouble whatsoever! I like your videos. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Anthony, i bet they smell good too. I will have to give that a try. Thanks
You are very welcome. After they cool off some, I rinse the carburetors with cold water. Using soft pressure I blow them dry. Then rub them down with a soft cloth so they shine again. ❤
Great video! Gotta love a 250x. Ive always thought of them as the dad of the 300ex. Essentially the same other than the electric start on the 300ex. They have the same amount of power as far as I’m concerned. That bumper nerf bars and rear wheels are as period correct as they come. I’m surprised it doesn’t have an aftermarket pipe.
Agreed, they scream late 80s, im being told the bumper may be a DG bumper. Yes, a pipe would have been cool.
Awsome find! One of the ones on my bucket list. A friend had one when I was growing up with a aftermarket exhaust. It was loud and a lot of fun.
It really is a well rounded atv. Thanks for watching.
Excellent diagnostification! Yes that's a word I created.
I like your word.
My wife appreciates my liguistical skills as well@@Mrcbuilds
I can feel the sticky on my hands from the way those grips look 😂
Caught red handed has a whole new meaning. Lol
Those were bullet proof. Fast too. I had a friend w one. I had a 350 warrior 89. 👍 lots of fun ! Esp in winter here in New England.
I grew up riding in the snow, I miss it.
I live In Hawaii and always love fixing old dirt bikes or quads I can get my hands on I helped this one guy fix all of his bike and he had a 1987 Model looks just like it and I used it for a while just seeing this and what you did to it is that same things I did to get it to run again and honestly that was the best quad ive ever ridden brings back a lot of good memories glad to see this machine come back to life you just gained a new subscriber 🤙🏽
Thank you Kaikz1147, I had a chance to visit Hawaii back in the early 90's what a beautiful place to live. Welcome to the channel, #letsavethemall
I remember seeing some the 300ex with the round metal bumpers with big teeth in them and always thought that was neat.
Me too, they did look mean.
Looking Forward to Watching This Video!
I have A '91 that I bought New, and still have it.
Very cool. Family heirloom
I think that’s why I miss mine so much. I might have been 14 or 15 when I saw my first one. I’m 51 now
Its time for a mid life crisis!
Nice job bringing it back from the elemental torture barn.
Thats a good way to described a pole barn. Lol
Cool ride
Thank you
Great video! I’d love to have a 250x one day. Keep up the good work!
Thank you atvshoppe!
I had 87, I believe, and it had a DR350 motor in it, and that's what I learned to clutch on. lol hope you bring it back to its glory. This video brought back good memories, thanks 😊
Hey Justin, seems this quad was the first quad for many people.
@mrcbuilds that's so cool 😎 I'm excited to see what comes of this ,and you got my vote on bringing it back to its glory lol its got me feeling pumped ready to do a new vid myself lol thanks mrc
87 250x was my first 4 wheeler after a 85 200x. I now have those machines again and ride the 250x more. They may not be fast now,but back in the day they were best 4stroke there was.
Very nice, a legit barn find, awesome video brother!
Thanks Pat! Appreciate it.
Those were such great machines, I had a 1987, not the fastest, but at 6'9" 240lbs I could fly through tight woods like the grace of a Sasquatch. Nobody could touch me.
They are a good size for trail riding.
I had an 87 250X my grandparents bought be in 1993 when I was 13. The memories....
I rode this one a little today, what a fun machine.
Nice machine runs good
It turned out good, thanks
I remember when they came out. Seeing them on the showroom floor. By far the one quad I’d give anything for. Even an Obs Silverado.
They had red, white and a gray.
Hey, robert funny how these old things bring back so many good memories
Those were a great all around trail quad. Light, nimble and fun to buzz down the trail on. They are what turned into the 300ex.
Hi Cale, yes it does handle very well. I like a hand clutch too.
I rode one with a 350X motor in it I commented on the short it's pretty wild ride
I read that, i bet it was.
Good job man, she was definitely neglected. Told ya, not fast, but quick as shit, basic engine upgrades and some new shocks, get it a little wider, with spacers, i thought 400ex a arms fit, if not, aftermakert 300ex arms should fit..she will upset a lot of quads. Was very reliable even in the cold, and having reverse just a great bonus!
Thanks, this is my first TRX250x
Thoroughly enjoyed and subscribed
Thank you Dan!
I currently own 17 ATC's and that's the only quad I want.
17 it awesome collection
I have a 1991 like that I recently bought and I can't find a chain guard for it anywhere. Any advice? I've looked everywhere
Ebay would be my first look, then i woul find a 250x or 300ex Facebook group. Good luck
@@Mrcbuilds i found OEM part for it from DWR performance.
Great job brother
Thanks cain, I had to redeem myself from last week. Lol
Hey buddy at 1:49 you say testing the STARTOR lol,we all make mistakes,just a heads up,keep up the good work
lol, yes, stator would be correct. good catch!
Check out black cloud customs he does the same thing.
What happened with the Lt250r? I haven’t seen any new videos about it.
The motor is being built on GarageMC youtube channel. It will be back soon
Ok you convinced me I'll take it. They are nice beginners quads. I'll trade you one of my 3 trx125s for it 😅🤣😂
Hey eugene, i didnt know i was so convincing. Lol
@@Mrcbuilds ok 1 trx125 and an xr70r final offer . I'll take apart and send FedEx 😁😁😁😁
I had an 87. Built at one time
Adjust the valves
Yes, among other things it needs a good tune up. Thanks for watching
@mrcbuilds Thanks Great video
I've bought a good bit of bikes that looked like they would never run again corrosion etc.but they always surprise me. Gotta save em All!
I do my best. I have never scene this model so it was something new for me. Thanks for watching
@@Mrcbuilds Yes sir can't wait to see what you find next. I got the chance to see one of these for the first time in 2017 when I visited my cousin in Pensacola a blue and white one. I offered a thousand for it, but he kept saying no thanks it'll never run again an I'm not gonna fix it. He really dont deserve it. I hate to see people let things rot into the ground.
CDI is a common problem on the the 250x and the 300ex
Good to know
Looks rough but is should clean up! Little bit of elbow grease😊
Yes it should
I almost got one of these but ended up getting a 300ex
Funny i hear the 250x is faster. Lol
@@Mrcbuilds could be true the 300ex is pretty underpowered until you get into modding it, I would mod mine but I dont really know where to start
PLEASE lose the music! It makes it unwatchable for me. Otherwise awesome stuff!
I appreciate your opinion and the feedback.
I think a 350 x motor would be awesome
Im told thats a bolt in, i was thinking big bore 300 kit.
I had a 87 model. Looks the exact same but with a grey frame. I personally put my 350x motor on it. Had to modify the exhaust, and one mount and that was it. Rode it for years, then sold it and put my 350x engine back on my 350x and still have it today.
Hey I'm looking for the cylinder head for a 250X any chance you might be able to help me out I'll pay shipping and pay for the part all up front
I got a 87 trx250x, acting weird, compression the same as yours which is actually considered low compression as these need 172-199 psi, mine idles but will fall on ita face, I bought another Chinese CDI as the one on it is a Chinese CDI, hoping that's the problem
Be sure your carb and all the passages are clean. Stumbling is generally but not always a carb issue.
@mrcbuilds yeah, I'm gonna clean my Keihin carb but it still falls on a new Chinese carb, either a vacuum leak or CDI, also the caps on the case that you take off to adjust the cam chain, can those cause a vacuum leak? I have 400ex caps on as they seem to fit just like the originals, its something I couldn't find online about
@mrcbuilds Well I figured out it was my CDI, bought a Ricks Hotshot CDI and now it runs with no bogging at all
👍👍👍😁
Thanks Tom
👍🏼
Hey Joe!
@@Mrcbuildsgreat video as always!
Oh no you have caught the HARVEY SPOONER Disease GREAT GUY BUT THE Disease IS A HANDFUL?
No sir, i catch and release. Lol
It’s funny, I forgot to mention it. Back in 98,or 99. My son bought a I believe a 1988 250X with a bad motor. He was in The Marine Corps. So I bring this 4 wheeler home. A few weeks later this 350X motor shows up from UPS. So I call my son, I said what are you gonna do with this 350X motor. He said, and I quote: “That 350X motor goes right in that 250X frame.” I said OK. I had to cut one mount off the 350X motor, and as sure as the Sun comes up in the morning the 350X motor sat right in the 250X frame. He got a head pipe for it, I picked up a short section of pipe and put whatever muffler he got. Well this 250X turned into a 350X, and did it run! He got himself a Dura Blue rear axle, we put 250R front control arms upper and lower. I had to move the shock mounts weld them in place. His cousin had a 400EX and on flat surfaces the 350X blew it away right out of the hole every time! But when it came to climbing hills, the 400EX had more torque and would reach the top of the hill first. So it was king of the hill when climbing.
Sounds like a fun project. I have been collecting parts for this one, look for a upcoming video on it as soon as the shop is finished.
Nice lizard 🦎
Good eye, yeah he seems to want to stay near that machine
I was going to get a 250x butt my old man got a 1988 blaster I wanted the honda so bad my 185s just was not a quad
Seems these were direct competition to the blaster, both entry level quads, Having reverse is a game changer for a quad used on trails.
Honda's 4 Valve single cam with dual rockers RFVC motors were the worst Honda made. Valve train and top end problems 250, 350. 400 500 and XR600. Stay away.. 50 - 200cc like that big red 200 that you like were just a two valve motors and even though that they had less power they had NO top end problems.
I find that the tolerances in the guides to valves is to tight, they get tighter with heat and poor adjustment then start to drag, this also causes excessive wear on the cam. I ream the guides, and since doing this have had no issues.
They will outrun a 300ex & outrun or keep up with a Yamaha 350 Warrior on top end, I’ve seen em do it over the yrs
It seems very light. I would like to see that race.
I smoked a warrior on my 87 on a flat track. Granted I was 13 and it was a make shift track at West Virginia Motor Speedway, but I still waxed his ass. I would climb hills at Pennsboro with my little brother on the back that adults weren't even thinking about. We were pretty lucky at times. I now have a 91 that I baby for the most part
Any given CDI pin configuration is basically the same. What varies in the CDIs is the timing curves and the rev limiter. They are transistorized with a capacitor so checking a CDI with a multimeter will give you false readings It takes special gizmos to accurately check a CDI.
This is just trail fix and a experiment to see if it would work. The correct cdi will be here this week. Thanks for the info James. I appreciate it.
the 88 model was very low production number bike
Thanks thats good to know. Thank you
The 250x is a grown up 200x. With an extra wheel.
Thats a fair comparison
@mrcbuilds I was crushed in February of 1987 when it came out. I had just gotten a brand new 1986 200x for Christmas. Tgere wasnt any idea that the 250x was coming. It was a suprise. The 1987 gray version was out of this world to me.
I love these videos. The only loser here is that lizard who is now homeless. 👍
Me too, i love a good will it run video. Thats my insurance agent.
I tell you what my friends tops at 74mph I know the 400ex is faster but that’s not bad for those bikes an it being entry level racing mind you that’s not pinned either an with a heavy rider
Wow thats impressive
The quad itself might have been OK built but the RFVC motors were JUNK.
TOP END VALVE AND CAMSHAFT PROBLEMS UP THE WAZOO.
Its an interesting motor, this is my first one.
@@Mrcbuilds
2 valve Honda motors 50cc up to 200cc for example Honda XR200 bike or 200X threewheeler that you like were ALL 2 VALVE MOTORS AND THEY HAD NO TOP END PROBLEMS but had less power. Now starting in 1983 with RFVC those were all 4 VALVE motors but unlike the Yamaha or Kawasaki that used 2 camshafts Honda used only one and that's where some of problems were the other problems were valves were at the extreme angle driving the cam into the head plus 4 valve springs working against it instead of 2 per cam like on Yamaha or Kawasaki with DOHC motors. I know you are a Honda guy and I respect that and I like some Hondas myself (1976 CB550) but those years Yamaha and Kawasaki motors were much better and yes I'm talking about 4 strokes.
250, 350, 400, 500 600 and 650 were all RFVC
I have one of these bikes that is mint condition but I need a cylinder head anybody with the cylinder head for a 250X please comment back on this comment
Make a post in a 250x/300ex atv forum or website, you will get better results
I currently own 17 ATC's and that's the only quad I want.
It will be for sale when i am finshed with it.