89 LT250R Complete Restoration Thread

[ltrcentral]

Hello everyone, im new here! I recently picked up a 89(i believe) lt250r. I got a steal on this lt250r in my opinion. The previous owner believed the transmission was shot as it would run but would not shift and the gears would not engage. I got it for $350 deciding to take a gamble. Long story short the previous owner used to long of an oil drain plug and it was catching gears in the transmission stopping it from shifting, this thing runs like nothing ive ever rode! It has a fresh top end on it.

At the moment the coil pickup is bad (it broke while riding) and im waiting on the new one to get here. In the mean time ive started on the restoration. I started by fixing the front plastics. They are cracked and broken all over so its obvious its been in a couple wrecks. Below are some pics of the progress im making in repairing the plastics. Im using a technique literally known as plastic welding, it is so far working great! Enjoy, i cant wait to get more pics up and start powder coating all the old worn down parts (i do my own powder coating).

Im not 100% positive this is a 89, i was told it was but a few things point that it may not be, where is the frame stamp located so i can see what year it is for sure?

[SMILEY18]

The seat and rear swing arm are 85-86 model. 87 and newer have a power valve motor and if there is a single bar coming all the way down in front of the motor in the middle it is a 85-86 frame. 87-92 it comes down and splits to 2 going to each side of the frame. On my 89 I think the vin# was on the side of the frame.

[fx4pitrone]

Vin is on bottom left frame rail (stator side).... 10th digit is a letter... an 89 would be "K"....

[ltrcentral]

Thanks for the replies, i found the vin and did a look up and my 10th digit is a F so it is an 85. Something i didnt know but i had my suspicions of it not being an 89.

Thanks for the help!

[hawaiianbasshead]

get a pic of the motor from the sides, easy way to tell, then measure the front shocks 87+ are 15.5" shocks, 85-86 were shorter. center of hole to center of hole, front end will need to be off the ground for that to work I believe. or even shock off the bike. I've never actually measured mine while on the bike so not sure if just lifting the front will do it... people often swap motors on these so you MAY get lucky if it's a PV motor, next is to check the reed cage bolt count 5 means 87, 6 means 87 or newer.

if the exhaust in front goes around the center brace so exhaust comes off cylinder at an angle other than STRAIGHT FORWARD, it's 85/86. if not could be modded and have a PV equipped motor.

[Chuckie25]

My cage bolt patten is 6 but my motor is stamped an 87 do I don't know how reliable that tattle-tell is. But it looks like you know what your doing when it comes to plastic welding. Can't wait to see how it turns out. I'm also doing a restoration on my 87 (New guy restoring a LT250R ice bike) and like to see how other people's projects turn out.

[ltrcentral]

Im pretty sure its an 85, the muffler comes out of the engine at an angle towards the left front wheel.

Ive been saving my money and keeping my eye out on ebay for good deals, going to get all the parts i need to do the restoration and do it all at once, in the mean time im gonna get these plastics lookin good. Today i spent my day getting the radiator hood sanded and painted.

Pics are at the bottom! It was broke completely in half all the way up the right side of it, you'd never know it now! There is a slight been on the right side witch i never noticed but im gonna give the paint a few days to get good and dry and then heat it from the back side and put a wedge in there to get it straight again!

[ltrcentral]

Its been a while sense i have posted so i figured i would give you all an update. Well i got the stator pick up and as i was working on getting it started again the rod bearing seized. I have never seen a rod bearing seize while simply kick starting it but it did it, im kinda glad it didnt start cause it might have mangled a rod or something. Ive got the engine off the frame and working on splitting the case, should have the bearing pressed out and the new one in, in no time. Cant wait to get this thing running. I figured while ive got the engine off ill go ahead and get the frame powder coated and finish up the restoration, simply because i dont wanna get it running put it all together then tair it all apart again to restore it.

[pnisher86]

where you at in Tenn. I'm taking a trip down the shortly to hit the trails at Winrock. You ever ride there?

[ltrcentral]

Im in east tn. Never rode there. I have always raced dirt bikes and been around tn racing but im getting out of that and now im getting into 4 wheelers to toy around on, i still love my speed and trails! Is it a good place to ride? Id love to find some cool places to hit!

[pnisher86]

Not sure my little brother lives in Knoxville, he says it's awesome. I live in Indiana so anything sounds good to me.Lol

[ltrcentral]

lol i hear that! im about an hour from knoxville. I just got done watching some videos on youtube and some say its rated 3rd in the country of places to ride. looks sweet!

[ltrcentral]

Got the front fenders repaired and painted, now to just paint the rear fenders!

[misfit77]

Hey ltrcentral what were using on Rad cover to clean up? The gray stuff, bondo or jb weld.......?

[ltrcentral]

Bondo