Elite 250 NoGo. :(

[Ruckenstein]

Backstory: I scooped up an elite 250 for a song.
Cleaned carb, gas tank, and drained coolant (super nasty)
Crank, hit, ran like a champ.
Let it heat up to do a thorough coolant flush.
Coolant thermostat never seemed to open up and cycle.
Jumped on and took it down the road a couple miles to hear it up. Nothing crazy.
Ran great. Temp gauge goes passed half way a little. Head home and let it cooldown to try and flush coolant some more.
Some Old out. Some New coolant in. Crank, hit, run.
Repeat.
Took it down the road.
Started to overheat again.
Headed home.
Let it cool and sit for a week or so cause you know....life and stuff.
Tried to start it up today and I got zilch. I got fuel, I got spark (though I am gonna get a new plug today cause that's about all I can do. Ran a cold compression test cause that's all I could think to do.
It went up to 30 and stopped. Seemed super low so I tried it again after installing the carb air ductwork and tried to tighten the compression fitting a little. Tested again and it showed Zero compression. I have no idea. Any help is greatly appreciated and sorry for the long explanation.

[1man8scoots]

Head gasket sounds like

[patthesoundguy]

Check the valves. They need to be set on that motor and when they go out of spec the compression can get low. My elite 125 has no guts because the valves are not set up. If the elite 250 and 125 valves are the same its very simple to set them. The manual walks you through it. The adjusters are on the head nothing other than the plastics to remove. The head gasket could be toast but I'd look to the valves as well. Pull the engine oil dipstick and have a look at the oil make sure its not milky white or gray. I'm not sure if the coolant can make its way into the crankcase on those motors or not.

[Johnniespeed]

Pat is correct, the valves are very easy to adjust, but I have a gut feeling that the head gasket is leaking.
I recently removed the leaking Chinese head gasket on my CH250 ( less than a thousand miles on it) and installed an actual Honda gasket, all leakage/ overheating/ coolant spitting has stopped. The aftermarket valve cover gasket was also leaking oil. I cannot express my deep regret for not using the higher quality Honda parts, I hate aftermarket crappy parts seems like there is always some problem related to aftermarket stuff.
Back to your scooter......... " if the compression is low it aint gonna go ! "

[Johnniespeed]

On second thought, that scooter isn't worth fixing, you don't need the hassle, time to move on, cant be fixed, waste of time, I would gladly reimburse you the song paid for that scooter.
( LOL, hope you get it figured out quickly, those scooters are great to ride. )

[Ruckenstein]

So I need an intake valve....Honda has stopped making them and partzilla is out as well....
any ideas on an aftermarket one? or am I forced by the hands of Ebay.

[motormike]

So I need an intake valve....Honda has stopped making them and partzilla is out as well....
any ideas on an aftermarket one? or am I forced by the hands of Ebay.

No, you are not forced to buy eBay...you are urged to buy local, a complete bike
with super cool goodies on it...for a ridiculously cheap price...

Elite 250 June29, 15 001.JPG (148.06 KiB) Viewed 6838 times

Elite 250 June29, 15 008.JPG (153.77 KiB) Viewed 6838 times

[Johnniespeed]

If you cannot purchase a parts bike locally, then just buy a used Honda head. There are Chinese new heads available for the CF moto 250 that is supposed to fit since it is a copycat clone, and I would guess you could buy Chinese valves, but I would never use one after my recent experience with the Chinese head gasket ( NEVER AGAIN )
I vow not to stray from actual OEM Honda parts from now on. The dollar I saved using that Chinese head gasket was not worth me having to do it again.
The Honda head gasket now has over 1200 trouble free miles on it.
Hope you get yours up and running, the CH250 is a nice riding bike, mine does 76MPH and is stock.

[Ruckenstein]

Ya. I'll see you Monday Mikey.

[motormike]

*

[Johnniespeed]

I like ridiculous cheap prices, AND when ya pick em up for a song.
But don't waste your valuable time fixing them.
Now sell them to me !

[Ruckenstein]

I'll gladly sell you any parts you'll need off my elite 250 motor. Lmk what you need!

[Ruckenstein]

I have all kinds of elite stuff if you need!

[Johnniespeed]

If you have perfect rocker panels ( Honda calls them floor boards) they are sheet metal stampings below the floor, I would be interested. Mine have dents.
Also if you have what Honda calls a lower cover, horseshoe shaped plastic directly in front of the rocker panels, I would be interested. Honda part number 64315-KM1-305ZD

[Ruckenstein]

So I popped the top on this bike, new rings, new gaskets. Took it to a local cake shop to have the timing and valves set. About to start putting everything back together. Then got to break in new rings on the hatched cylinder. Looking for recommendations. I've heard breaking it in hard and soft. What's worked best for you guys. This is a 4 stroke 250.