1979 Husqvarna CR250 Help

[mrmustangman100]

Hello,

I have a 1979 Husqvarna CR250 that I purchased from the original owner. Bike is all there. I put the bike together (It came in a box) kicked her over and fired right up.

Problem: While working on the bike one day, I adjusted clutch, kicked it over and no compression. I have pulled head jug and appear to have trans oil in the bottom end. I am thinking gaskets and bottom end bearings while Im in there. Does anybody have any idea where I can find gaskets and bottom end bearings for this bike?

I would really like to get this going soon. I only paid $50 for it with the condition that I would allow the original owner to ride it one last time after I get her going. I would love to honor my word and do it soon.

Thanks for the help

 

[HuskyT]

Sounds like you got a steal of a deal on a good bike...

For parts start checking out this thread in the Vintage Tech Ref section: http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/vintage-husqvarna-1970-1980-parts-sources.8/

and your best bet is the first source listed: www.husqvarna-parts.com in Arizona. Phillip should have everything you need.

T

 

[Ron]

Trans oil in the crankcase is coming thru the primary side crank seal.
You'll have to split the cases to change it. Might as well replace all the bearings and seals while you've got it apart.
You'll also need a puller to pull the crank back into the cases.
Take your old bearings and seals to a local bearing house. You'll save a lot of money!
I'm curious? How was it running and then lost compression? Doesn't make sense to me.
Compression has nothing to do with bearings and gaskets.
Generally it's a slow process where it gets harder and harder to start the bike, when compression is going away, especially when cold.
Where are you located?
Ron

 

[mrmustangman100]

It didnt make sense to me either. I have built a lot of bikes and rebuilt a lot of 2 strokes (started with sleds). The only thing I can figure is that the seals were really dry from years of sitting and then they finally gave all at once. I have never seen anything like that but then again I am no pro. Starting was never an issue. Always one or two kicks and fired right up. I was very surprised to pull the head and jug and find oil down there. I figured that maybe burned piston or possibly something else.

Your as perplexed as I am. I am located in south east Michigan. My daily driver is a 1979 Suzuki TS 250 but I would really like to get the Husky going so I can ride it up north. I am a bit of a vintage freak.

Keith

 

[Ron]

I wouldn't be surprised to find oil in the crankcase. That's just oil accumulating from your premix.
How much oil is in the primary case? It would be really low if you've been sucking oil for along time.
Did it smoke excessively, like it was burning primary case oil?
You may have had a ring sticking and letting the compression blow by.
What is the end gap on your old rings?
Suzuki TS 250 is cool!
I have a 73 Ossa 250 SDR that I plan to make street legal some day.
That ought to get some attention.
Ron

 

[mrmustangman100]

The oil is definitely trans oil as it is nothing like 2 stroke oil (maybe a little over a quart accumulation in crank ---its sat for about a year). I guess it is possible that a ring was sticking. Either way, its getting an overhaul now. It did smoke a lot but I never even thought about it as my 1979 Yamaha IT400 smokes like a chimney. (20:1 ----as per the factory manual). You very well could be right that it has been leaking previously and I just never even thought about it. Only rode a handful of times after getting it together then this happened. Either way its getting an overhaul now.

I am 20 years old and currently in college so I have 2 weeks to accumulate parts so I can get a rebuild in over spring break. I have a pretty good start to the motorcycle collection for only being 20

1979 Yamaha IT400 - bought from original owner with less than 1000 miles on it
1979 Suzuki TS250 - bought from original owner with 4000 miles for $200
1979 Suzuki SP370 - free from original owner with 1200 miles and a title not a scratch
1979 Husqvarna CR250 - bought from original owner with factory manual $50

for some reason 79's and original owners like me I guess. I love that Penton in the background. Looks like 1973 125 6-days to me? I started riding on a 1975 Penton MC-5.

Pictures of the day I brought her home. Will eventually get some of all the bikes.

 

[mrmustangman100]

A few I found of the IT400....not the best but I love motorcycles and would rather ride than take good pictures. Brother rides the IT400...he cant fix em but man is he fast!

 

[Ron]

The picture of the Penton was before I did the paint work. Here's how she looks now.
Michigan is a bit far for me to be much help, I'm in California.
20 years old and into vintage bikes, that' awesome.
My son is 27 and I finally got him into vintage bikes. He usually rides a 2008 Yamaha 450F, but we got a 79 Husky 390CR for him.
Can't wait to get that finished.
Ron

 

[mrmustangman100]

Ya, I saw that....thats quite a hike. Who did the custom pipe on your Penton? Thats definitely not stock

 

[fran...k.]

Just to give you a different suggestion than the others, and make sure to note 1979 is about three years earlier than anything I have worked on and am relaying my techniques. I hope I have correctly edited the errors I found upon looking at the parts shet for 1979. Plan on replacing the beaing at the sprocket, the seals at the ends of the crankshaft, gaskets for base, center and perhaps timing side seal plate gasket. Press the crank out of the drive side after removing the electic stuff and the primary drive gear, that will split the cases. You should be able to use the nut which holds on the primary drive gear and a stack of washer like shims repositioned a few times to pull the crank back into the main bearing and close the case back up. Take the bearing from the sprocket you removed, pull the cage apart push the balls to one side and it will fall apart. If there were not significant chips in the engine and the bearing parts where the balls rode look good under magnification the rest should hold up until the rod goes. Third gear on the clutch shaft can be pretty bad on the ones I have been working on lately you kind of take it as it goes.

Fran

 

[mrmustangman100]

Thanks for the input Fran. Sounds like you have done this a few times.