CR250 WATER PROBLEM!!! PLEASE HELP

[new2mx]

Hi there

Please help here .
I have a 96 Cr250 .
When I start the bike , and realy open her up, there is a lot of water gushing out the overflow pipe at the radiator? It later stops , but when I remove the radiator cap it seems there is a lot of pressure , and I can see the Fins in the radiator ? Most of the water gone.
There is a couple of guys that advised me that it could be the headgasget causing this ?? IS THIS TRUE???
The bike runs fine , no problem.

Please let me know as I don`t want to break my bike.
I am new to offroading and need as much advise as possible .

Cheers Chris

[paul reed]

Chris- the 96 cr250`s are nice bikes...get the radiator cap tested...a shop will have this tool to pressure test the radiator cap...a good indicator of top end condition and/or gasket condition is a compression guage...it screws into the spark plug hole and measues the compression...it`s a good thing to know the readings...with periodic testing,you can see a drop in these readings...letting you know it`s time to freshen things up...if the cap is good...and tests good...then suspect the combustion chamber is pressurizing the radiators beyond the capacity of the cap-what`s the number on the cap?...usually a 1.6 ...it should be marked...i would not advise running the bike like this

[new2mx]

Hey thx for posting a reply.
I am not sure what the markings are on the cap, will have to check, and yes get someone to check the cap aswell .

Sorry if I sound a bit daft, I am not to familiar with the bike linger/talk.
Combustion chamber ? Where what ?

Cheers Chris

[paul reed]

Chris,...no worries buddy...we all had to start somewhere...the cumbustion chamber is the inside area of the cylinder...some folks call the cylinder a jug...but anyways, the combustion chamber is the area inside your motor where the piston goes up and down...the head sits on top of the cylinder...it`s posible that a blown head gasket is leaking gases into the coolant area and pressurizing the radiator so much that it overpowers the radiator cap...the radiator cap is designed to vent when a certain pressure is reached...most likely it is a fualty radiator cap....you want to inspect the caps rubber gasket and/or rubber o rings for for cracks or damage...even if you do not see damage in the radiator cap gasket-you`ll still want/need to get the cap tested....don`t worry about the numbers on the cap at this point...a higher number vents at a higher pressure...it`s best to run the stock honda cap and the stock number...stock means original...how are we doing so far?

[paul reed]

also,you should allways make sure before starting your bike,that the radiator is filled to the very top...was it filled to the top when you started the bike and revved it up?

[new2mx]

Thx once again .

Yes the water.coolant is filled to the top.

2 ) I suspect that it could be my headgasget, reason being on the one side of the head ? coolant is leaking out .Just enough to dirty the bike up., and frustrate the hellout of you . I tried sealing it from the outside no luck of course due to the pressure . I then bought a new gasget but the one bolt ( on the side where it leaks ) that tightens the head is turning on the inside, so I cannot " talk " that bolt to what it is supposed to be ? Could this be the reason for the pressure aswell ?

Just asking

Cheers Chris

[FFRacing11x]

Somebody refresh my memory...was it '96 or '97 that had the recall on the casting flashing in the coolant passage. if it was '96 that would explain the problem.

[IwishIcouldride]

Sounds like you have a loose stud, you want to take that stud out. Make sure the threads are good on it, they could possibly be stripped. If they are ok get some red loctite ( this is a thread locker) and find the torque rating for the studs. The only way I know how to tighten studs is to put two nuts on it and tighten them together, then torque the stud down.

Get a brand new gasket, and make sure the mating surfaces of the head and cylinder are perfectly clean. Put the new gasket on and torque the head bolts to spec.

Hope this makes sense. Good luck.

[new2mx]

Thx Dustin

Just a question , when replacing the gasget. Do I need to apply sealant ?? Or just the gasget ??


Cheers Chris

[IwishIcouldride]

No, you shouldnt have to.

[MATTXR250R]

Paul the 96 radiator caps are rated at 1.1.

New2MX...I have a 96 CR250R as well. You are not running straight water are you? If you are..once you put on the new head gasket make sure you switch over to a 50/50 mix of distilled water and antifreeze...Your local dealer will already have some coolant mixed up and ready to go.

Also..if you get an OEM head gasket make sure you put the tab on the gasket towards the BACK of the engine and also make sure the UP mark...faces UP..if you get a comectic gasket..look closely at both sides of the gasket...you will notice one side...where the water jacket cut outs are....they are up on one side and not on the other...make sure the the BUMPS go UP.

[Yardpro393]

blown head gasket

combustion pressure will blow water out of the overflow

[FFRacing11x]

What year was "total recall"??

[new2mx]

Hey thx Guys .

I do mix the water 50/50 with coolant , but yes I recon i will tray and replace the head gasget , and see if this sorts it out .

Will let you know....

Cheers Chris

[paul reed]

Chris,...i`d ask around about that above mentioned recall...i don`t know about it...but it`s usually pretty major before they bother recalling anything...the whole game usually plays out something like this=...first stage is total denial there`s a problem...second stage is admitting there might posibly be a problem...third stage is a factory service bulletin...4th stage is a total recall-good movie-bad news...usually the riders know about the first two stages...sometimes the dealers sweep the later stages under the rug and hope noone notices...it can depend on how much shoptime the factory will pay the dealers to make it right...i hope it`s the 97....i might wanna get a 96 cr250 some day-it`s the last year mcgath rode a cr250 before he went to a slowzuki-that guy can make a moped look fast! i have all the factory service bulletins for my maico-good dealership-WHEELSMITH

[new2mx]

Thx for the info .

I heard some amazing stories about the maico , and seen them in action . Hot looking bike with great power !!


Geesh thx again , for all the info that you and the rest of the guys supplied here .. It helped tremendously ..

Cheers Chris

[paul reed]

chris,i know i can speak for all these nice guys here at ATM when i say"you`re welcome"