How do i check a motor before buying?

[2StrokinIt]

Alright so whats up guys. I am new to the forum. I found it a couple weeks ago and thought I would get on board.

So my question is about checking a motor out for some sort of engine failure. I have a 2004 Yamaha TT-R125L that I have put up on craigslist in trade for a sport atv. I like 2-strokes alot so I was leaning twords a blaster and I got a message from a guy wanting to trade a 2003 blaster. I dont have pictures of it so for all i know its a peace. Anyone have any tips to check her out if it looks good and I end up going to meet up with the guy?

Supposedly it has been sitting in his garage for a year and hasnt been touched, he says he thinks all it needs is a carb clean and a plug. He said it will start but runs ragged and will not idle long. I feel like this is a good sign if it will start up.

I know you can check to see how the compression i by the kick start but other than that with out breaking the motor down I don't know how to make sure it doesnt need to be rebuilt.:-/

Thanks alot guys, sorry for the long story haha I like the forum alot, hopefully this trade or another one will work out and I will be a permanent member!I:I

 

[Blaster200boy]

Alright so whats up guys. I am new to the forum. I found it a couple weeks ago and thought I would get on board.

So my question is about checking a motor out for some sort of engine failure. I have a 2004 Yamaha TT-R125L that I have put up on craigslist in trade for a sport atv. I like 2-strokes alot so I was leaning twords a blaster and I got a message from a guy wanting to trade a 2003 blaster. I dont have pictures of it so for all i know its a peace. Anyone have any tips to check her out if it looks good and I end up going to meet up with the guy?

Supposedly it has been sitting in his garage for a year and hasnt been touched, he says he thinks all it needs is a carb clean and a plug. He said it will start but runs ragged and will not idle long. I feel like this is a good sign if it will start up.

I know you can check to see how the compression i by the kick start but other than that with out breaking the motor down I don't know how to make sure it doesnt need to be rebuilt.:-/

Thanks alot guys, sorry for the long story haha I like the forum alot, hopefully this trade or another one will work out and I will be a permanent member!I:I

Make sure you check for compression with a tester. I know its easy to check with the kickstart, but its still important. Part of owning a 2 stroke is maintenance. Even though a member on here of the name "yb200" has had his top-end last 6 yrs, some top-ends last only a year while other last more. It depends on how rough you use the blaster.

P.S. A black powerband is good for your blaster. It makes it go like 100mph and lets you have wings and fly.....

 

[Awk08]

those symptons and analysis that the "carb needs cleaned and plug" i believe are common signs of it needing at least rings, if not bored and piston, a compression test will tell the tale, over 100psi seems to be the minimum, with 120 being the norm, and also check to see if it has hydro brakes, if not it's an earlier year than 03
and BTW, i had a brand new '96 for 8 years and never touched the motor, still started 1 or 2 kicks and ran like hell when i sold it
it made me believe it's all in the warm up, do so competely every time you run it

 

[2StrokinIt]

Ok, how do i get a hold of a compression tester? how do they work and are they expensive? I am hoping its just running ruff from sitting around for a year but just to make sure I would like to find out so that I dont pick it up and end up having to rebuild the top end. I cant afford to do that right now being a broke college kid lol

 

[carl]

You can get a compression tester of ebay or something, They work by screwing it into the spark plug hole and then you need to kick her over and then read the compression. they are not alot of monaye at all and are worth every penney.

And as blaster200boy said a black powerband is good but a red one will increase thequads power by around 15-20 bhp

 

[2StrokinIt]

Alright sounds good. What do yall mean by "a black powerband is good but a red one will increase thequads power by around 15-20 bhp" What do you mean by powerband?

 

[Awk08]

he's jokin about powerbands, and you can borrow a compression tester at autozone or advanced auto, for a returnable deposit

 

[2StrokinIt]

haha alright i was thinkin what in the world do they mean by that.

Thanks alot for the fast responses. Now I am just waiting on the guy to reply back with some pics. I will put a couple up when i get them

 

[tyler1blaster]

yeah the powerband is the referral to the correct rpm range u should be in while riding........



also check the frame and make sure it is not bent or f'ed up....... check how much tread the tires have, and give it the best inspection possible! p.s if i were you i would def not trade til u ride it

 

[blasterfreek30]

welcome dude.....post up the pics when u get it, we're a bunch a blasty pic whores around here lolol

 

[245stroker]

when you do a comp test make sure you hold the throttle wide open and kick it til the needle stops. Also check out the bearings in the axle and swingarm. When I go to look at something, I usually nit pick it and point out all the things that are wrong with it (rust, bent rim, cracked plastic). Just remember, don't get too excited about it, there are alot of blasters out there.

 

[stephen12091985]

and when u do a compression test make sure you hold the throttle wide open and kick it.and kick it til the gauge stops moving

 

[2StrokinIt]

Thanks everyone for all the replies. I am hoping to get a blaster but who knows when or where. This guy hasnt emailed me back after I asked for pictures but another one will come up. I was pretty excited last week. A guy emailed me and said he wanted to trade me a raptor 660 for my dirtbike. He wanted it for his wife i think before he left. He was in the military. Everything seemed great and then he just stopped contact.

So if anyone knows of anyone that wants a 04 TT-R125L let me know haha