88 rm250 running backwards?!

[andyatc]

Ive got a 1988 rm250 that is pretty cherry except i think the stator is bad. Fresh top end, fresh carb, yada-yada but the engine deffinitly fires back the wrong direction and it isnt the kickstarter. It was a big surprise to take off in reverse

[Spikester]

Your timing is off, check the stator and make sure the key is in the flywheel and is not stripped.

[bitshifter]

I had an old 250 Husky that would do that. It was always quite a surprise to blast off in reverse, roost hitting the back of my legs. Them was the days. It is just like Spikester says, your timing is two far advanced causing the bike to run backwards. Two strokes don't have a cam so they don't care which way they run, it is all up to timing. If you ever had a .049 control line plane as a kid that would start backwards, it is just like that. The stator is probably good, just needs to be rotated a little.

[Big Maico 393]

Originally Posted by Spikester

Your timing is off, check the stator and make sure the key is in the flywheel and is not stripped.

BINGO! You're timing is to close to Top dead center!

Pull the rotor & put in a new key, clean the rotor & stator.

Re-time to the correct setting per the manual, you should be good to go from there!