A forum for owners of Yamaha TTR250 trail and enduro bikes!

tubefactor · Newbie

7 years in storage

Cubber · Super Guru

Hi, Dave, and welcome to TTR land.

If your bike comes from UK then it is likely to have a kickstart fitted. confuse

To check on a sticking piston you can remove the spark plug, either put it in gear and then gently rock forward and backward or in neutral try turning the engine over using the kickstarter.

If the engine won't turn by either of these methods then, as you presume, it would seem something will be wrong. hmm

I would advise caution before any cranking with the electric starter, after you've charged up the battery.

Here's hoping for the best. smile

Martyn

peteBLUEttr · Super Guru

I reckon it will be ok, just tip some oil in though the spark plug hole a while before you do it and crank the engine over manually gently several times to get things moving, fresh oil in the sump would be good before starting/running with electric start, maybe you wont even have to take the carb off and clean it, because you drained it, you could add fuel system treatment to the tank the first time possibly....also after seven years rubber components on the bike may have gone hard/dry/brittle, but this is the bulletproof ttr we are talking about here though, it will probably be fine! smile ....

TTRfan · Super Guru

I agree with Pete. Don't assume the worst.

Pour some engine oil down the bore and gently rock back and forth in gear and, if the piston moves OK, turn it over a few times on the kickstart to coat the bore in oil and then put the spark plug back in, put fresh petrol in the tank and give her a try on the starter.

One thought is to test the fuel flow before trying to start her as the float needle may have stuck in the open position. If petrol start coming out the overflow be prepared with a screwdriver and give the float bowl some sharp taps with the handle to free the float off.

Let us know how you get on.

Brian

tubefactor · Newbie

Thanks for your advice guys. I will attempt to move that piston in a few days and see how lucky I am. I had not thought about the rubber deterioration, but the garage is humidity controlled and dark, so maybe that will help. It has been covered and still looks new...right down to the little rubber whiskers sticking out of the tires. I will post my result in a follow-up.