MYSTERY SOLVED! Honda CRF250R Dirt Bike Won't Start FIXED

I work on a 2010 Honda CRF 250R dirt bike that won't start. Let's figure out what's wrong with it. #Honda, #Mystery, #250,
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The following video features activities performed in controlled environments by knowledgeable persons. DO NOT attempt to duplicate, re-create, or perform the same or similar activities at home, as personal injury or property damage may result. 2vintage( Joe Weber, the persons shown in this video and ANY CONTRIBUTOR, ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY such injury or damage. ALL 2vintage( Joe Weber) CONTENT IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.
2vintage (Joe Weber) makes no representation about the sufficiency of any safety precautions and equipment used in this video.

[@james22939]

Don’t have the ability to ride motorcycles but I enjoy your content

[@johnny787]

Tighten the Kickstarter. I can see the washer spinning around. Thanks for another awesome video!!! Keep it up Joe!

[@killercannible]

Little tip for razer blade work, a piece of masking tape on the back of the blade makes a very comfortable little handle. This gives you a lot more control on the blade.

[@darkfire8615]

Thanks for the tip 👍

[@BeersAndBeatsPDX]

That's a damn good tip

[@ThisIsGoogle]

Thanks, local drug dealer.

[@NO-background-music-in-videos.]

Saw where another person uses a thick piece of glass and some ultra fine grit sandpaper to surface the cylinder machined areas. That way you know the surfaces are flat . He has found quite a few that were warped this way.

[@Pludrike]

Dont use the gashandle when starting a 4-stroke, you will flood if instantly. Put cold chock and start it without any gas handle, then release choke when idle rpm drops.

[@theboogieman401]

Thankyou

[@pistolz3004]

Hey stupid its not a gas handle its called a throttle and when starting a 4 stroke… fuel injected or not you always hold the throttle open a little and the choke is for when its too cold out side to start a bike… PLUS FUEL INJECTED BIKES DON’T HAVE CHOKES BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE CARBURETORS

[@COMPY357]

Gashandle- throttle???

[@COMPY357]

Gashandle- throttle???

[@COMPY357]

Gashandle- throttle???

[@troyrosenbaugh9935]

Difficult to start, understatement. They're all a chore more often than not. Your doing great in this stuff, will make a great lead mechanic somewhere!!!

[@EricGrey-d6e]

I’ve had cars before that would overheat and I always suspected a head gasket but when doing all the test for a blown head gasket they checked out good, the only actual symptom of it being a head gasket was the over heating and sure enough once the head gasket was replaced on three different vehicles it fixed the problem. It could have very well been the head gasket that was causing the hard start but beings it was changed out while the head was off and other work was done it’s kinda hard to know what fixed lol actually fixed the problem. Regardless glad to see it worked out and I enjoy watching all your videos.

[@robprice6573]

I had for my son a Honda 2019 Crf150 r dirt bike, it was very hard to start too. I had such high compression it hurt you foot to kick it over. Really enjoy you videos ! Thanks Joe

[@jeremyclose705]

Dude, I had a yz426 that was terrible to start. It had a choke, primer, and a decomposition lever. The starting ritual was mind numbing, but once it was going it was a riot

[@haigpogharian2145]

Recently sold my 426. Once I got the method down, it would start first kick everytime. Thing was a powerhouse

[@bananabrooks3836]

Only certified taxidermists can fit a decomposition lever.

[@jeremyclose705]

@@bananabrooks3836 hahahaha I'm not even going to fix it. That's just to funny

[@nathanchappell3842]

Top dead centre decomp lever in.tiny bit past with decomp lever let the lever go all the way to top of the stroke of kick-starter should start first kick cold or hot

[@justinmarchand9136]

Cool video. Also noticed that the kickstarter bolt was loose, you could see the washer shaking when you gave it gas.

[@2vintage]

Yep tightened that up

[@lw8506]

you can use your bike stand for a step when loading/unloading bikes out of your truck thanks for the videos 📹

[@brunodaniels7867]

Man you never let anything get in your way! Great job once again!

[@alexdelapazz]

I got one of these and the kickstarter is stuck, and there appears to be no oil in it. Could the engine be toast?

[@Brax2700]

It makes it way easier to start a fuel injected 4 stroke if you don't twist the throttle upon kicking/starting.

[@demboyz7509]

Hands down the best KZbinr out there

[@harryw9598]

nailed it joe , you did find all the faults. i noticed most bike with new piston and rings are tough first start. the woodruf key ever did see a stepped one, to change timing? allow me a small joke. looks like your right leg has more muscles.....

[@rico6249]

I think i know why it didnt wanted to start. I have a Rmz 250 and if i twist the throttle when I'm starting it it hardly ever starts. But if i let go the throttle it starts first kick. Just a tip, maybe try next time.

[@dnickens20115]

Yeah I saw that too every time he crank the bike he twist the throttle..

[@2vintage]

I tried many many times with no twisting of the throttle. No change.

[@WreckedRevival]

Pretty much any 4 strokes I always try to rotate right at the BTDC Timing mark/TDC-ish before kicking/pulling (then hit comp release) and surprise a lot of friends starting their motos/quads etc they say is hard to start. They are/can be a bit more of a pain to crank over compared to the 2 smokers for sure though lol.

[@wadeseiler9307]

All about the righ technique , idk If this bike I carbed but mine likes to be primed three full twist then kicks in 1-2 kicks

[@isaiahminton2766]

You've came a long way and learned a lot. I've been watching ever since the all the cr85 pranks on Charlie. I've also learned a lot through your vids too.

[@Xela_sumo]

Yes I rember all of that I would not be where I am without this dude

[@andrewschmitt5792]

These 250Rs are good bikes but can be a pain to start. I had a '04 250x that had beat to hell valves and after shimming, carb clean + JD jetting and accelerator pump mod/tuning it ran good after 3-4 kicks cold. Unfortunately with the nature of those valves in early years it needed a new head and valve job so I sold the bike while it ran, not worth it. Newer years aren't so bad I hear but still hard to start. To me these bikes are a great example of how complicated modern 4 strokes with insanely high maintenance. That's why I went back to 2 strokes.

[@bike23august]

I have a 04 crf250.. I can cold start it in flip flops. I adjusted the carb and since it runs great. If the carb is not perfect it will be harder to start but if it's how it should be it's very good. The valves if you just go with stainless steel then it's very reliable, that's my next step on it to change them while it's still good. Still can't beat a 2 stroke 😂😂

[@chrisglass8701]

Good job on the videos. Just want to note in my experience owning an 07 crf250r, it doesn't want to start with throttle open at all.

[@fraserm803]

just bought an 07 250r (twin ex/carb) in uk. starting seems hit and miss tbh. im tryin to love it and learn its quirks.

[@MrATOMBOMB420]

The reason you were seeing the really tight tolerances you're putting the piston in upside down in the cylinder the skirts of the piston are the widest part of the piston the top of the bore your skirt is never going to ride that high in the bore so you're not going to get that tight tolerance of the skirt in the top of the bar as the bore wears it wears tapered that's why the piston skirt is wider and for the way they expand thermally

[@Mark_O24]

That bike should be starting in one or two kicks, you turn on the choke plunger, push down the kicker a few times and then do one or two good kicks from TDC and it should start up, and when it is warm you should have one kick from TDC no choke

[@baileyforrester7]

You should find a cheap DRZ400 & rebuild that. Super popular enduros! Keep up the great work. Learning a lot.

[@thomasdausch8557]

Yes i agree , i had a 2007 DRZ-400S, it was a great all around bike , i live in florida and bike was too heavy for the sugar sand down here,,if my health was better i would buy another one, high seat and a struggle to get leg over saddle

[@rowdysworld22]

I like to use permatex gasket remover, it’s a foam spray. Let it sit for 20 min and the old gasket comes off easy with plastic razor blade

[@alexgear9372]

Don’t give a fuel injected bike throttle while starting. Found that out the hard way

[@kylekoenig7781]

I've been told that this can cause major issues over time like throwing a rod through cases😂 what happened to you?

[@terry5787]

Love the videos. A bit of friendly advice. A mate of mine had a similar set up (albeit working on cars) with the oil soaked mat on the floor. He got sepsis from kneeling on said mat via a small cut on his knee & has had recurring health problems ever since.

[@2vintage]

Good to know! I'm getting rid of it right now then!

[@wjg7663]

I like that bike, a little intimidated by fuel injection but if I got to take one apart I would probably understand it better. I looked it up and everyone like you said, found it hard to start

[@lbdrummer3]

Great job figuring this one out. Why on earth would Honda put 2 oil drains and fills on an engine. I haven't seen that before. What an engineering blunder.

[@isaiesquivel1759]

the right is for transmission oil, and the left is for engine oil

[@michaeltrower6792]

It's not a blunder it keeps the engine oil much cleaner most of the contamination comes from the clutch and transmission

[@dannyjamison8337]

You have it backwards, dude. Virtually all the contamination comes from combustion byproducts and unburned fuel from the engine.

[@andronikhanson2785]

Because the transmission and engine dont share the same oil.

[@ryanw724]

Lol blunder comment

[@donaldmetts5674]

You should try using a service manual from honda it will show you exactly how it should be done not how someone what's to do it. This is the reason the shops get you for alot of money to fix it right the first time.

[@VanLifeWithMuzz]

Good vid, but don’t use the throttle on a fuel injected bike the ECU will do its thing and give it enough fuel hence “electronic fuel injection” only on older carby bikes you will need a little accelerator to get it goin, otherwise great vid boss!

[@dalor4906]

Woodruff worn/cut on an old school buke meant the timing was off. 50 years ago I bought an almost new 650 triumph Bonneville cheap cause it wouldnt start. The problem was a sheared woodruff key. What a deal, rode it for many years.

[@TroyRosenbaugh]

Fuel injection, don't crank the hell out of it. Not sure how they work without voltage but runs good, only gets minimal at kick so not a lot of power there, but once it fires it's golden. Great job on that beast!!

[@troyrosenbaugh9935]

That woodruff key is only an issue if that nut isn't tight. It shouldn't move when torqued down.

[@jukeboxentertainment1740]

If you can’t ever get a carb clean cause it’s so gummed up use straight sea foam and works like a charm I had to use it on a late 80s sled and and nothing would get the gunk out except for straight sea foam

[@sevendyseven4090]

Na, just remove carb, clean it out properly instead of band aids..

[@jukeboxentertainment1740]

@@sevendyseven4090 what I did but carb cleaner wouldn’t work so I tried seafoam and worked

[@isaiesquivel1759]

it feels so weird to see Joe on a modern bike😂😂

[@johnhicks9529]

Watch the difference it adds to the start ups.& performance after doing so to.

[@MRMechanicRC]

Nice dude! Runs like a champ! Nothin like a CRF250 to rip around on

[@CoachMcCabe]

I have a crf250r, 2004, darn thing only wants to fire right up if I start at TDC and just give one hard kick. Otherwise I kick it all day. Overjoyed when I figured out that trick with my own. Second whenever I do a top end I take the spark plug out and kick it over like 20-30 times to get the oil back up top before I start. You definitely kicked it over 20-30 times before it started 😂

[@mattbrown5511]

Good job sorting this bike out.

[@williamhelms9942]

Way To Go, Joe! Seems it was your biggest project yet.

[@Farmingstock]

I have one of these, starts absolutely fine and pulls much better than this does! You should be on the back wheel on that tarmac with the power?

[@uriahpolite1594]

Bro never disappoints when I get a notification on a banger video

[@troyrosenbaugh9935]

Hope the bottom of jug has a good smooth bevel on it to put piston in. And there's not much play!!! Awesome. Great vid!

[@colbymc.2264]

I love your channel. KEEP IT UP!!!

[@MusicSensations1971]

here's a tip for removing gasket get yourself a wire wheel for a drill lightly running over it takes it off real quick

[@scottbellisle5581]

Mr Joseph, Muse you do have a bad habit of giving it gas before and while kicking it. I have an 09 RMZ 250 and you know what a pain they can be to start. I start mine cold usually the first kick, sometimes it takes two. Make it happen Captain. Great content Joe

[@SelvesterAKAP00tyTaT]

I love the way this bike sounds!

[@bradjohnson1473]

I had a 2009 they had the same issue. By time you got the stupid things started you didn't feel like riding anymore.

[@troyhubbard50]

Cool video. I have a 2017 crf that is experiencing similar symptoms. Pops when you kick it and won't start. I guess I'll check my woodruff key. I wonder how the one on this bike got so bad?

[@diesel8762]

Do you give you fuel injected truck throttle when you start it?

[@deansmith9383]

A little tip for you if you want to here all the little ticks in the motor cut a old broom handle off about 3 ft long put one end on motor while it’s running the other end up to your ear you will be amazed it’s a old timers trick works good try it

[@kenkenny4238]

With regards the tolerance on the exhaust shim and the decompression mech. Should it be kept tigh as in a small gap?

[@finster7582]

I would find out why the woodruff key sheared n where the chunks went...😃👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@gtisid]

that didnt look like 10w40 that came out the engine, looked really thin like mobil 1 stuff. sounded like the clutch was slipping and that maybe the reason

[@MirchiBoy]

I'm guessing, engine was flooding so gas gets past the rings and thins out the oil.

[@Timbo5553]

Sounds abit rough still 😬

[@MrATOMBOMB420]

To set the idle on it don't adjust the idle by the cable and you got to remember it's fuel injection so to set the idle most people do it by the air screw yes there is still an air screw on a throttle body there is an actual Idol screw on the throttle cable side of the throttle body the air screw should be adjusted one and a half to two turns at the most from seated one thing to get it starting easier clean the screen in the fuel hat of the injector if it doesn't have a screen do not blow air through the injector you will destroy it send it to a fuel injector clinic

[@dustincanty2622]

Hell yah great video I'm a two stroke guy, you should get a cr 500 or kx500 those 500cc are getting very popular again from the 90s good job fixing bike can't Waite for new video to come out

[@sevendyseven4090]

Thanks in part to one Mr.Ken Kaplan

[@troyrosenbaugh9935]

Work your heat cycles with that so it's broke in right. Sounds great@

[@tightlinesandfastbikes]

Hey 2 vintage you should start a bike repair shop

[@andrianchosuzuki]

I have the same problems of the client bike before 2 years. I, like you get everything off , do the clearance , new chain, look the piston and cilynder new head gasket replacement but the problem wasnt there and still!!!! The problem of that bikes CRF250R when they are hard to start cold is CARBUREUTR !!! I try to heat the carb with a heat blower and voalaaaaa its starts and runs from first hit of the kickstart ! Try it and you will see that works and bike will start after 1 2 kicks. In it have many o rings ,gaskets and vacuum membrane ( bad.... FCR carb....) wichn need to be changed ,in my country Bulgaria in Europe they are about 150$ US and my client said thats crazy and sold the bike and he show at the new owner how to heat the carb and easy to start it 😂 Dont know how to send you a video from my expiriance ,to see how easy it starts ...

[@normfranell9158]

should always reseat the flywheel too.. probably isnt seating well to shear that woodruff key off

[@conservativerealist]

Whats the break in procedure for the new top end on that bike. Multiple heat. Cycles?

[@bradenrides7386]

yea low and high rpm's on and off for a whole tank of gas

[@troyrosenbaugh9935]

You don't have to hammer throttle while kicking, pump couple times and kick away.. nice bike.

[@Greggg57]

Use hi octane gasoline in hard-to-start engines. It will improve starting.

[@bknoxx]

well done... sounds like it has a million washers rattling on that thing lol

[@2vintage]

Yeah the bike has almost 200 hours on it. Was ridden hard.

[@petenikolic5244]

Look on the previous video TIMING all the time the response as you tried to start it said timing instantly ( PS i used to hand build race and rally engines as a hobby )

[@johnhicks9529]

They have primer rebuild kits for those. To fix the not priming issuers is having on it for first enishle kick start up from setting up.,or not started in A while. I'd really invest in putting just 3 ounces of stp oil treatment& bars stop leak in the motor oil to bend into the crankcase.& clutchcase to.

[@mattmccleary1278]

You gotta have the strongest leg on the Internet 💪

[@cainbeeping8480]

I don’t see how your dad still has grass as many bikes you ride on it LOL.

[@maryolee8303]

My Kx450 in the winter can take a dozen foot breaking kicks to start. In the summer with it at top dead center starts with just one kick. I can say with certainty that the more I ride and learn about 4 strokes, the more I miss 2 strokes. We never should have gotten away from them. 4 strokes are way more expensive way more complicated, they do not last as long and when they fail or blow up the word catastrophic is the only word you need to describe it. The EcoNazis really humped the hound on this crap. I'm in Commiefornia and my KX450 has red tag registration. We went to 4 strokes supposedly "For The Environment" I did not think that lower emissions by 4 strokes were achieved just because they do not let me ride it half the year on state land. What a steaming stinky load of dung they dumped on MX riders here in CA.

[@staygold902]

100%

[@andyb8501]

My 05 crf 450 always started easily. Was only a year old when I got it. Loved that bike. Used for amateur enduros in uk.

[@mattbrown5511]

Just remember that your fellow Commiefornians keep elect those fools in Sacramento.

[@linkinpiatak6669]

@@andyb8501 yeah and four strokes last longer too just not as easy to fix when they do break

[@jakes197]

in cold temps turn your fuel screw out some . really nice to have an adjustable one

[@crmoto1919]

Little tip don’t give it throttle fuel injected bikes won’t start w throttle on

[@bzzzvlogs1522]

Your turning the throttle just kick it and there’s an air/fuel knob on the crab if you twist it clockwise it will lower the idle if you twist it counterclockwise it will raise the idle find the in between and it will idle perfect

[@peteraitken6494]

Great job joe bike runs nice brilliant content mate all the best 🔧🔧🔧👍👌

[@izolenta2]

have you checked the compression after rebuild?

[@johnmorgan4546]

You can hone a nikasil cylinder with a hone that’s 320 grit or above

[@enjoiskater307]

All it needed was the boot 😂 fired right up

[@rpmjunky2795]

I think the majority of the problem is that your twisting the throttle when your trying to start it. Only do this on carbed 2 strokes! Not bikes with efi! Instead hold the bar pad so you don’t instinctively twist the throttle

[@greatest_bumble_bee_dude]

I'm starting to think that you're not a certified mechanical expert. Any good mechanic especially a bike mechanic knows it's better for a whole motor rebuild if . The only people nowadays who only replace the Top end is season Motorcross racers and they only do it once Otherwise Can place Too much pressure on the lower end and wreck the Conrod kit or maybe even main lower bearings taking out the crank Seal anyway so from now on I would highly recommend to replace everything else in The engine if the bike isn't so New

[@AUSTIN_457]

I agree for the most part but are ya going to pay for his top to bottom builds ? Lol. I can't believe he can even afford this stuff even with all the corners he cuts. (Not this bike specifically just in general)

[@tnbtrademark8573]

Ik I’m abit late the I know your use to the craby bikes blipping the throttle when kicking the bike. With efi when you twist the throttle it cuts off power to the injector. I own this exact model no speed gear 3 light kicks and then 2 hard kicks start every time. I was having a problem with the idle it was really hard to start but once that was figured it out she was running beautifully

[@diesel8762]

People dont like to use gasket maker on a base gasket because it changes the squish. Witch for a performance high tolerance engine hurts performance and can damage the engine.

[@maximus420dudegardens6]

Sometimes u need to check the petcock under gas tank it gets clogged every now an then

[@slimshady8249]

That engine sounds like poo. I’m thinking it needed a crank and bearings too. Even just the slightest crank bearing movement up and down can throw off your timing slightly as well. With 200 hours on it I’m sure it has a ton of play.

[@tpghl5225]

Yeah somethings rattling around in there

[@officiallypop300]

Hey I have a 2005 trx400ex I know nothing about bikes and it don’t start I don’t know what’s wrong with it I wanted to know how much you charge you can fix it?

[@capeRCouple]

my old crf450r had to have the piston top dead to start and dont touch the throttle,they are all hard as hell to start.you can see me take a terrible hit racing mine on my channel...lol...the accident laid me up for a whole summer with a broken femur and bad hip,it was the start and finnish or my race carreer.sad part was i was catching the 3rd place rider on my second lap when it happened

[@frederik7992]

Hey man. slowly kicking it over first while giving it some gas will for sure help it start easier.

[@anthonylevin9584]

Do not give gas on fuel injected bikes

[@leekarpinski4038]

Hi Joe grait vid .. not sure if I noticed the kick start washer loose 🤔

[@mikeschlup5279]

You did not show how to install chain tensioner. When I did mine , it rotated the cam off timing...still do not understand what I did wrong....

[@deliveryguy7402]

I believe if it had a carburetor it would start quicker and run smoother. It's a shame they built a bike that small without a carb.

[@joekenny917]

Do you sell these on and if so how to go about getting one enjoy your vids mate

[@michaelmitchell5909]

Could you use 3 bond on that base gasket area? Needs a good pipe would you say?

[@josecabello7343]

👋👋👋Wiseco is good parts ?or what do you recommend

[@Rktman129]

force of habit i get it but for future endeavors the fuel injected bikes dont care much for throttle when kicking

[@austinb254]

I have home dirtbike cylinders I have that coating in the cylinder and never had an issue with it can I use a stone on but you gotta be very careful I know several machine shops also they do the same thing I just gotta know what you’re doing I have rebuilt several bikes that way I’ve never had a issue

[@larrywarner9314]

Looks like the bolt for the kick start is loose , I can see the washer move when you rev it up

[@T3AMR3ACH]

I couldn't stop looking at it 🤣

[@troyrosenbaugh9935]

Shot of ether and keep it running...doing good job.

[@owensbama1923]

Sounded like it was busting up to me at the end.

[@benjaminjimenez6375]

I have a question my 2017 Honda crf250r is hard to start I spray brake cleaner in the throttle body and the bike starts after the bike is warm it’ll start right up does that mean my compression is good?

[@dewaynehaynes8155]

Definitely check shims

[@davidkirchner579]

Scotch Brite has aluminum fibers in it I wouldn’t be using it in the cylinder it will get in to all the cross hatching wether you see it or not almost clogging the scratch effect you need

[@krotchlickmeugh627]

Use a plastic razor blade. You can get them at autozone. Far better