Found this for cheap on gumtree, at my new job I have access to a van for pickups and drop offs, took it to go have a look at lunch today and it followed me back to the workshop:
Story goes the guy I bought it from used it for food deliveries, so it has just a few kilometres on it: It is a bit sad, but should clean up to be a respectable bike. Registration expired October last year. Someone has drilled out the end of the muffler or otherwise bastardised the standard exhaust system Missing a chain guard / hugger Had a brand new battery fitted, but it's not the original size but smaller and had foam shoved under it. Lovely. In any case, with ignition on I had no electrics. I noticed while inspecting the bike that the headlight was not situated properly and had no bolts securing it. What lied underneath is someone's attempt at a repair or a hotwire, I'm not sure which because only god knows what they were thinking. In any case, it was only three wires for the ignition switch, so I pulled out the main fuse and reterminated them with bullet connectors and the clear insulators. Now it has power.
Next step, get it running. Inside of the fuel tank was a bit sad, but these VTR250's are indestructible. I have worked on quite a few and they surprise me with how hard to kill they are, and how easily they return to functioning after sitting for ages. Which is why I went and bought one, they are an easy fix. My previous boss retrieved one that was floating around an underground car park during floods a few years back. He did not have to do anything to get it running other than drain the bowls. All the fluids stayed were they were supposed to and no water got in. Shocked, but it was true. I've only had one VTR that had a badly blocked pilot jet that needed disassembly to clean out and then it was right as rain after that. Anyway. Tank has a little surface rust inside, it was about half full, didn't smell bad and no water in the tank thankfully. No fresh fuel at work as it all got used, so run with what I've got. I drained the carb bowls, a little bit of rusty shite came out, I let them both flow until it came out clear. Cranked it over, nothing. Cranked a bit longer, it started firing. Put full choke on and cranked it for about a minute and it sounds like it wants to start. Keep going with that and it eventually fires up on 1 pot but won't accept throttle. Leave it like that for a little while and try throttle again, hey presto second pot comes alive. I turn off the choke and idles away, adjusted the idle speed down a bit as it was a bit high. Give it a rev and blow out all the old shite, a bit of smoke which has cleared. It sat there idling away while I checked other things. Charging system is not working, so stuck a battery charger on it while running to keep it alive and let it warm up a bit. Will do a bit more in the coming days, but so far so good
Good score. One I had wouldn't start until the valve clearances were set properly, so may need a check.
Proof of life. Sounds pox with the gutted can though. VTR exhausts are all one piece so I will either leave it as is or find a cheap replacement set. It is still factory and our blue slip guy is friendly. Correct battery is a YTX-7LBS, thankfully I had some useable ones pulled out of bikes at work, so I charged then up today and tested them, picked the best one and put that in the bike. Free battery. Disconnecting and reconnecting the regulator was enough to get it charging, but still not great. At least it will keep the battery alive. I tested the stator while I was at the plug, and it is fine. I also drained and replaced the fuel with 10L of 95, then warmed it up and dumped the oil, filter, and replaced them. Did the spark plugs too. My objective is to get this roadworthy and registered as cheap as possible and sell it for a profit. So, electrical tape over the cracked spark plug boots, and as few new parts as possible. I have already hit a snag there as the fork tubes are badly pitted and will need either rechroming which takes ages, or new tubes which are expensive. Had wins in other areas though, tyres are new enough (2022) that I can get away without replacing them. Won't need discs, rear pads are good but front pads are covered in fork oil. It will need chain and sprockets but they are cheap through work, then sort the forks and front pads. Also need a complete fuel tap as it's leaking badly, but that's easy to get.
They are toast unfortunately It's had a new sump at some point Wheels looking better with a quick clean, front tyre fitted backwards
Well I had another play with the VTR after work today and it's not good news. I started it up and let it idle away til the engine was warm, by chance when looking over the bike I put my hand on the radiator... stone cold... squeezed the hoses, no pressure. Took the radiator cap off, no coolant. Filled with water, but the cap back on, doesn't start or fires on one. Pull the cap off and crank it, instant geyser shooting skyward. So it's got a badly blown head gasket. I'm lucky I haven't ordered any parts for it yet, always pays to wait a bit and check things over. So... what to do... Further down the rabbit hole and do the head gaskets? Replacement engine? Send it to the wreckers? Not sure what to do yet.
What was the compression like? Leak down test? If the engine has good basics, then you might as well get to know the bike and drop the engine. New head gasket(s) and skim the heads; do the valve clearances and away you go. Otherwise, it's a 'parts' bike.
I haven't yet done a compression test or a leakdown, seems for naught as it does run and I know where it's leaking Seems that way, at least it had enough compression to run.
Well, my saving grace may have come. In the form of a 2010 EFI VTR250 at work that is going to be 'written off' but the owner will have the option to keep it and be paid out, which keeps it off the WOVR. It would still need to be repaired, so I will make him an offer. If I manage to get this then the 2000 model will become a parts donor, and all I would need to source for the 2010 one is a complete instrument cluster. New from Honda is $1300, so 2nd hand it will be, if I can find one. It is different to the carby model ones and has fancy features like a digital clock and odometer
My saving grace didn't eventuate, the 2010 VTR got written off and taken away on a tow truck by the insurance company, which leaves me back at square 1. A used engine is probably the way to go for the sake of time, but I lack the enthusiasm for this one Would rather do more to my FZR, so I am going to move this bike on
head gasket on a vee aint a big deal... and it does run so thats a good sign... nice curb bite on the front rim... forks? throw seals in, if that, and shrug. you really think youd make enough to justify any more? let the next guy deal with them if they want. its old. near 100k. noone wants a 250 anymore unless its the old hiroshima screamer... even then its a hard sell... theyre not exactly a collector piece, or pocket rockets. sadly, the lil vees are good learner bikes... (or delivery work...) good in the wet, once you break traction they just sit at any RPM, unlike the I4s that just redline... having no front mudguard? not so fun in the wet! this spray of water straight in the face... been there, done that... sort of amusing, dodging it, watching it weave as you steer... for five seconds. and the pirelli demons, yuk! me? id do the head gasket, slap the chain guard on. enough to get the rego (even just the blue slip?) and move it on... the sprocket looks good enough to not waste time/money on, though chain looks too tight... otherwise? *looks in shed, driveway, and other esoteric locations on property* they just get older and older and harder to dispose of. labour, parts, dealing with drongos, dropkicks, and tyre kickers... how much profit can you really expect? (hey, i sold two of them... paid in full... and theyre STILL HERE!) lol, looks like you already made the best decision... g'luck https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/mar...-needs-head-gaskets-or-engine-swap/1331000289
