Anyone work on 4 strokes?

[BrokeEnthusiast]

I am looking for someone knowledgeable on 4 strokes to do a valve adjustment on my 91 KLR 250. Its basically brand new and hasn't had a service. I bought it with 1400 miles on it and have been having a hard time kick starting it, after some google work found that the valves are the typical culprit. Kawasaki wants ~$400 to do a service on it and I was hoping to find someone around Nashville might be able to check it out for me. Anyone on he into this stuff or can recommended someone would be appreciated!

[peejman]

$400 isn't unreasonable, assuming the valves do require adjustment.

I have no personal experience, but have heard good things about:Welcome to Cycle Authority

If you ever head east, I recommend: Willis Cycle Works is your one stop motorcycle shop for motorcycle tires and service in Knoxville TN!

Doing the work yourself isn't especially hard if you're somewhat mechanically inclined. The factory shop manual will walk you through the process step-by-step.

[LagerHead]

$400 isn't unreasonable, assuming the valves do require adjustment.

I have no personal experience, but have heard good things about:Welcome to Cycle Authority

If you ever head east, I recommend: Willis Cycle Works is your one stop motorcycle shop for motorcycle tires and service in Knoxville TN!

Doing the work yourself isn't especially hard if you're somewhat mechanically inclined. The factory shop manual will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Yea, I don't remember it being that difficult. Of course I was probably somewhere between 13 and 15 the last time I did one.

[LazyAce]

I have been a cycle shop all my 66 years. Valves very rarely bother until they have several thousand miles on the engine unless the factory screwed up. I would check the carb and make sure the choke is working and the starting jet isn`t plugged--or the idle jet depending on the style of the carb. If this has screw adjusters it is a piece of cake to adjust them. If it has shim adjusters then you will need to go to someone who has the shims on hand and the tool to change them. Good Luck

[vaiger]

N2bikes in murfreesboro is a great shop without the stealership prices. I have used them for several years for any work on my bikes I did not want to perform (dirt and street). Never a complaint

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[peejman]

I have been a cycle shop all my 66 years. Valves very rarely bother until they have several thousand miles on the engine unless the factory screwed up. I would check the carb and make sure the choke is working and the starting jet isn`t plugged--or the idle jet depending on the style of the carb. If this has screw adjusters it is a piece of cake to adjust them. If it has shim adjusters then you will need to go to someone who has the shims on hand and the tool to change them. Good Luck

A good thought. A '91 model with only 1400 miles has likely been sitting a lot, which is really, really bad for carburetors, AMHIK. A thorough carb cleaning is the first thing I'd try.

[10-Ring]

That shouldn't be a shim under bucket design, which means it is very easy to adjust. I agree with LazyAce though, check your carb first. I've put tons of miles on dualsports and dirtbikes and I've never seen valve clearance be an issue until you get lots of wear on the bike. I've seen them be dead on on a motor that was completely ragged out for 20K. I think $400 is awfully high for what amounts to a 20 minute job. Even if it is a shim under bucket design it isn't hard to do there are just a few extra steps, just do your math on the valve clearance and the shim to figure out what size shim you need. One more thing, do not use the cheap standard/metric feeler gauges that are commonly available, get a decent metric set. A friend who is a tech in the shop I go to told me that one day when I went in to pick up a shim. We compared a combo gauge to a just metric gauge and the thickness was way off on the combo. Not what you want when 100ths of a whatever term of measurement they use counts. Wish I could be of better help but I'm out here east in riding country.

[BrokeEnthusiast]

Reading the KLR fourms these 250 bikes are notorious for needing the valves adjusted. I have already cleaned the carb twice and its still performing badly. Also this bike is the shimmed design and requires .009" feeler. As stated above I could do it and take half a day but Id rather take it to someone who can knock it out quick and know that its right. I dont really want to spend $400 on a service cause I only spent $800 on the bike! haha

KlR 250 valve ticking after adjustment - KLR650.NET - Your Kawasaki KLR650 Resource! - The Original KLR650 Forum!

[Guest bkelm18]

4 strokes? Still workin on my first one.

[Brandon]

I'd recommend Bubba Victory up in Ashland City. He's a old school kinda mechanic, a rider, a super nice guy, and a straight shooter. 615-746-5975

[BrokeEnthusiast]

I have called n2bikes twice and left messages both times, they would be the closest to me. Still looking around