dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
180
0
I am very frustrated.

I put a new piston in a 2009 crf250. It has low compression and I was told the bike ran ****ty. I put a 2007 pistion in, its .2 or something a little lower compression. The valves are in spec, leak tested. Stock jetting is hard to start, starts and runs ok but has a flat spot.

I have an fmf stage 1 jet kit with me, but its for a 2006. I tryed it anyway. Went to their recomindations, their needle 5th position, sf 2 turns out, 165 main. Starts easier but has a flat spot. Went to a 170 main and it still has a flat spot quarter to 3/4th throttle. Went back to 165 with the needle in the 4th position. Had the best power with this but it was giving me irrattic idle. It would take a second to get back down to idle after reving. Also the sc had to be turned out to 3. There is a 45 pilot in their now too.

Please help! haha

I'm assuming my problems are because im using the 2006 kit not the 2008/9. Correct?

Maybe using the stock needle with some of the fmf main jets?

Any thoughts?
 

IndyMX

Crash Test Dummy
~SPONSOR~
Jul 18, 2006
5,548
2
Amo, IN
Well, based on what you have said, I can see why you are having issues.

You should only ever change one thing at a time and test.

The main jet doesn't effect quarter to 3/4 throttle. that's needle.

Neither needle or main effect idle, that's pilot.

So, get the idle sorted out, then move to mid throttle and then once that's right work on your main jet.
 

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
180
0
In the morning, I am going to pull the carb and fully clean it all out and make sure the pilot is total free and clean. Then Ill go back to my setting with the fmf needle and fs and everything when it idles nice. Then I will need to sort out my mid throttle. Will this be combo pilot and needle or just needle. I dont have any other pilots here anyway.

I had went one leaner from 5 position to the 4 position and I got more power out of it. However Then the idle was bad then, I had to go to 3 and a quarter turns out then.

Maybe I should go richer instead. Or just try one more needle clip leaner to the 3rd position.

thanks indy
 

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
180
0
my jetting options: (remote location)
main 188,170,165,160,155
pilot: 42, maybe find a 45
needle stock- nnsu, fmf 2006 kit needle
Leak jet: 70

temp 85 F, elevation 1200 around, 65% humidity

2009 crf250, bone stock except it as 2007 pistion signtly lower compression

Can someone give me a base to start at?
 

ellandoh

dismount art student
~SPONSOR~
Mi. Trail Riders
Aug 29, 2004
2,958
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your sudden erratic idle after moving the needle could have been an accidental bump on the float?? needles dont affect idle. go back to the stock jetting and start over. 3 turns on the screw tell me you need a smaller pilot
 

_JOE_

~SPONSOR~
May 10, 2007
4,697
3
3 turns on the F/S means you need a LARGER pilot jet, which is very common on stock 4 strokes. Go up one size and set the F/S to 1.5 or 2 turns to start with. Once you get it running go warm it up and then turn the F/S in until the idle breaks up, then back it out until it smooths out, this will verify you have the proper jet. If it doesn't respond to input on the F/S it's too rich and you'll need a smaller jet. Once you get to this point you can go ride it around and fine tune the adjustment for best response, this should be within a half turn or so from where the idle smoothed out. Then do the main jet as it effects the volume flowing over the needle. Best way for most people to do the main when you have a 30 dollar spark plug you don't want to cut up is to just swap it out and use the butt dyno to see if pulls harder. The main takes about 2 minutes to change in the CRF. Warm it up and run it wide open through the gears a few times. Quickly go change the main a couple steps in either direction and you'll be able to feel if you're helping or hurting. No worries about going a little too lean while testing. Once you've got the main set you can play with the needle, which sucks to work with. My CRF was very responsive to needle clip position. I also did a few accelerator pump mods and ran a 45(I think) leak jet to clean up the throttle whack response. Timing, duration and aiming of the squirt are also important. Good luck and let us know how you make out!
 

ellandoh

dismount art student
~SPONSOR~
Mi. Trail Riders
Aug 29, 2004
2,958
0
_JOE_ said:
3 turns on the F/S means you need a LARGER pilot jet

whoops....what he said^^^ :cool:
 

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
180
0
I called my mechanic freind yesterday before I went to work on the bike. He said using the 2007 piston was not really that great because even the little bit less compression would make a big difference. So for now until I could get a pistion here I did something crazy. I took the top end apart and put the OLD piston on (higher comp 2008 +) with the new rings from the 2007 piston. The part numbers are different but the guy said it would work. Maybe that guy is real good but is starting to get old and forgetful Because I'm not sure that was a great idea.

Anyway, the bike was super hard to start. Got it started and it rode ok, stock jetting now. But the bike got way to hot. So I stopped everything and needed some time to think. Either the rings are a no go, or maybe my pilot is clogged.

Took a break and guess what I found in a box. Two 2008+ pistions and a ton of rings and gaskets. Valves, stainless oil filters and some jets. What a find, I cant believe no one told me about the extra parts. Tore the bike down, put new piston and rings and gaskets. The cylinder looks good suprisingly after all that.

Cleaned the carb out, my pilot seemed maybe a little clogged,not sure. Maybe it just donsent flow that much. I went to stock jetting again. Bike started right ip after all that. The idle was kind of up and down for a second. I played with the FS for a second and it cleared up. Did not have time to ride it yet.

What a story so far. haha

Sorry for the long post, thanks for help!!
 

Rich Rohrich

Moderator / BioHazard
LIFETIME SPONSOR
Jul 27, 1999
22,838
16,902
Chicago
dirtbikr99 said:
I called my mechanic freind yesterday before I went to work on the bike. He said using the 2007 piston was not really that great because even the little bit less compression would make a big difference.


NO, it doesn't. :coocoo:

For what it's worth, I think you'd be well served if you stopped listening to this guy.
 

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
180
0
Just got home from work. Rode the bike today, ran good. Pulled the plug and it looked a very little bit lean, so I threw a 180 main into it. Then I rode it and dident notice a difference so I just left it.

Rich, yeah, I wouldent think it would make that much of a difference. I'm sure my problem was just a clogged jet.

One question through, the 2007 and that 2008+ have different ring part numbers. Are they different? Are they interchangable?


Thanks everyone!

I tried to post pictures, they were not loading up for some reason.
 

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
180
0
I'm not planning on interchanging rings.

I have enough parts to do everything correctly here. But, I was just curious if they were interchangeable. More just wondering, did they go with a thinner ring for less friction, did they change this to do that.... just wondering myself.

I do notice the oem honda piston for 2008+ has a wider skirt, I'm sure this helps with wear and tear at least a little.
 

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