Repair advice..should i spend $ or not??

[kenmcl]

I recently purchased a 1997 yz250-WR for 1500.00. I knew that the bike would require some work. I have ridden it 3x and had some reliability and starting problems...so, i took it to a yamaha dealer for an estimate as to what needs to be done.

I reported the following problems to the dealer:
1) bike will run with choke on or off
2) peckcock will leak gas if not switched to off
3) front shock has a leak (fluid has appeared after last ride)
4) rear shock bottoms out easily
5) idle is low and bike will stall easily
6) bike would not restart after 45 mins of riding

THe dealership said that the bike needs the following:
1) new reads
2) new seals for front forks
3) new float needle
4) new peckcock
5) repack silencer
6) rebuild rear shock

they said that the engine compression is approx 165psi

the estimate was:
$190 for parts
$614 for the labor...total was 821.00$$

++++++++++++++++++++
The money is not a problem for me, i just want to make sure that i am not spending foolish money. I go riding in the desert with my brother approx every 5 weeks for 2-4 hours.

1) Is it worth putting this kind of money into a 1997 bike?
2) If i put this $ into the bike, will it make the bike reliable enough to stress way less about getting stranded?
3) How difficult is it to do these repairs myself? I have not worked on bikes before, but i am reasonably mechanically inclined... are there manuals or guides that explain this to the novice mechanic?

bottom line.....Q: If this was you, would you:
a) spend this money with this dealer
b) do it yourself
c) find another motorcycle repair shop
d) ditch this bike and buy another good used bike.

 

[OKKX'er]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s...url=index=blended&search-option=search-amazon
&field-keywords=repair+manuals+%2B+yamaha+%2B+wr+250&Go.x=12&Go.y=11&Go=Go
This is a link to a repair manual, not the only one out there, look for yourself if you want. Best money you can spend, plus other repairs and maintainence will be needed down the road. The fork seals and rear shock require special tools and are difficult for a beginner. The rest you can do for parts cost. Well worth it.

 

[flattie]

if you dont fill confident doing it yourself have some one else do it. but on the other hand try to find a smaller shop with much more reasonable rates

 

[kenmcl]

if you dont fill confident doing it yourself have some one else do it. but on the other hand try to find a smaller shop with much more reasonable rates

Good thought, this dealership is charging 85/hr...

 

[crazy4nitro]

I suggest that you take them the forks and shock. Then you get a Manual and do the rest.

My opinion...

also do a search on cleaning your fork seals(B-4 you send in your forks),I did it and it worked perfect....


Crazy

 

[bordrshane]

repairs

You should do all the work yourself besides the shock. Send the shock to a suspension specialist and have it tailored for your needs. Approx 200 bucks. Replacing the fork seals is actually easy. Cleaning fork seals is actually not a good idea. Fluid has already come out of the forks which will have a great affect on compression and rebound. Take the time and patience to do the repairs yourself. Bike shops are a rip off.

 

[JST122]

If you like the bike I think it is worth spending the money to make the repairs you have listed. It is always better if you are mechanically inclined and can do the work yourself without too much hassel, but if you think it is going to be a pain and you dont have the time to devote to fixing it and doing it right yourself, then pay the money and get it done right. You will enjoy riding the bike much more and you will have the piece of mind that it is not a problem waiting to happen out in the middle of the desert. It seems like several of the items are fairly simple fixes but I would recommend taking the forks and shock in to the dealer or a suspension specialist. Also if you decide to fix the other items yourself you can save quite a bit of money if you just bring the fork and shock down to the dealer rather than the whole bike. Make sure you ask them for a price quote for bringing just the fork and shock down first.
It would be tough to sell the bike to someone in good faith with these issues so I think either way you need to fix the major items and once you do you might as well keep the bike if you like it.

 

[Colorado]

I use Clymer manuals. They are very detailed and have tips to walk you through if you've never done a particular job before. The factory service manuals assume that you're already a trained mechanic. I have factory books on one bike, but use it in conjunction with one of my Clymer's for another bike.

I've only had problems doing my own fork seals once, on a '75 Yamaha MX400B. The old seals were so tight and hard in the tubes that I had to have them levered out with a special tool at a local shop. I brought the disasembled parts in and they popped the seals out for $10 in less time than that.

 

[riderdadof4]

3) new float needle
4) new peckcock

THERE IS ABSOLUTLY NO WAY I WOULD PAY A GUY TO DO THESE TWO EVEN IF I WAS A PARAPALEGIC. It will take longer to drain the gas out of the tank thru the petcock then to do these two items! very simple operations!

 

[crazy4nitro]

Cleaning fork seals is actually not a good idea. Fluid has already come out of the forks which will have a great affect on compression and rebound. .

bordershane,the manual will tell you how to deal with lost fluid. It's worth a try,besides it's free....

Crazy

 

[bordrshane]

Repair

bordershane,the manual will tell you how to deal with lost fluid. It's worth a try,besides it's free....

Crazy

True, if youre worried about saving money, try cleaning the seals as mentioned and reset the fluid level in your forks. Considering its a 1997, its probably due for a suspension job anyhow. Do the rest of the work yourself. If youre not retarded, I will guarantee the work. ;)

 

[Rcannon]

Many of these repairs are things your going to have to learn anyway. Unless you like paying for the college tuition of the mechanics daughter, go for it.

Everything but the suspension problems could be fixed in under 1/2 day with a decent manual.

 

[keithb7]

I personally would take the forks off send them to the dealer for new seals. Pull out the rear shock and
send it along to the dealer. Everything else I'd do myself. Actually this is exactly what I plan to do myself later this year as my 93 CR265 is due for some suspension work.

 

[phranticness]

I'd say give it a shot, whats the worst you can do, if you mess up, bring to someone, you'll gain the know how to do those repairs on your own rig and feel familar with your bike out on the trail, if somthing goes wrong, you'll know your bike.

 

[Kevin003]

Fork seals are an absolute pain to do. Over my past couple of bikes i have gained enough balls to do them on my own now but they are still a pain. Id take the forks to a shop and have the shop do the fork seals, then do the rest of the work yourself. The work is really easy if you can read a page by page book.

 

[kenmcl]

what i decided to do...

i thought about this alot and i appreciate everyone's feedback. What i decided to do is:

1) Buy a new yamaha WR450. Simply put, i need a reliable bike to have fun with and i did not want to pay the dealer what they were asking to fix my old bike and i did not want to wait for myself to fix it.

2) Keep the two stroke bike also and fix it myself over time. I want to learn how to do this (as many of you suggested) and then i will have a beater bike for a friend to ride when needed or i will sell it then.

thank you everyone for your feedback.

ken.