Winter Prep?

[bubbag]

Hello,
I'm trying to get my R ready for some winter river and ice racing action. I have a ESR airbox eliminator kit on her so I took that off and put the stock airbox back on.
Should I put both the snorkels back on? should I take off the airbox lid and seal off the snorkel entrance and not even have the snorkels on there?
It gets really cold around here and I'm just wondering what some of you fellows do to keep the R's runnning in the winter?
We might as well own the thumpers in the winter too


Bubba

1988
Stock cylinder W/wiseco prolite
FMF fattty Exhaust
Boyeson Reeds
Keihin 38mm Airstryker
Ricky Stator +2 a-arms
Lonestar axle
TCS triple rate fronts
TCS dual rate rear
ESR CR ignition
OMF skids

[JTRtrx250r]

if your gonna be ice racing, I'd forget about the snorkels and just run an open airbox

Good Luck to you!

[beerock]

dude, 2 satrokes run insanely fast in the winter, just think about when you buy mods like a pipe for your R, winter time is like buying a pipe for your R. yes, they need to be warmed up well but 2 strokes love cold weather. just richen up the main and hold on.

[xlr810]

I've ridden my R in 20 below weather... The snow gets dry and consistant at that temp-- Bee is right. It makes way more power with such cold dense air flowing to it. The Rs start right up in the winter. It is the 4 strokes that need a tow strap to fire the first time of the day when the temps really drop.

Make sure to get the jetting plenty rich enough, use good quality lube on your cables (not WD-40-- gets thick and sticky at those temps) I switch to a 10W-40 oil in the tranny for winter (and change it often). Run the airbox if you will get into any snow.

Good luck racing.

[bubbag]

I removed the coolant overflow bottle. What should I do to cap off the coolant reservour line coming off the radiator?

[bubbag]

So how do I seal up the radiator? Now that I removed the hose that goes to the coolant reservoir bottle???

[xlr810]

You might get more response to the radiator question if you post a new topic. A quick search in the 250r forum may get you some quicker answers, though.

I personally run the ressy. However, a lot of guys cut the hose short, and re-route it so that the expelled coolant goes onto their pipe. Then they can see and smell the coolant, so they know that it is overheating.

[TheFontMaster]

Just wondering, why did you take the coolant rezzie off? Alot of people just run a predator coolant rezzie that they mount onto the air shrouds. I got one of those predator coolant rezzies waiting to go onto my 250r, I just need a couple things to mount it up.

[86-250Rnut]

from what xlr said guys do it so when the R's get hot the coolant runs onto the pipe. that way they smell or c it so they know whats going on.

ohh.what size jets is everybody running in about 0-30 deg F?
thanks
mitch:macho

[bubbag]

I have been running a 220 main jet in my all summer that is why I'm worried about winter:confused:

[bubbag]

I have been running a 220 main jet in my all summer that is why I'm worried about winter:confused:

[86-250Rnut]

C'mon guys
every time i need info on what jet size to run in the winter you blow me off.
now c'mon i need help!
Any info would be great
Mitch:macho

[xlr810]

"I have been running a 220 main jet in my all summer"

If you are running a Keihin carb, that is HUGE!

The general (and I mean general!) rule of thumb is to go up one SIZE jet for every 20 degrees cooler. For instance if you were running a 175 main at 80 degrees, then at 60 degrees you'd probably go to a 178, 40=180, 20=182, 0=185.

Of course there are many other factors that play into it, and other circuits of the carb that may require some compensation. Same techniques for jetting in warm weather apply in the cold.

The numbers I gave are pretty close to what I did with mine last winter. I also went up 2 sizes on my pilot, and dropped the clip one spot on my needle when riding in single digit temps compared to summer settings.

This is just a starting point. Hope it helps.

[86-250Rnut]

Thank you very much xlr810. that was very very helpfull.
thanks agin
Mitch

[bubbag]

Yea I don't get why i have to run such a huge main jet but I do and it is wierd? It runs bang on with a 220, like not lean or rich but just perfect, Just a mystery I guess?

[86-250Rnut]

to tell you the truth i only ran a 152 jet all summer. worked fine for me:D
Mitch:macho

[Tom TRX250R]

152???? That sounds way too lean to me, I believe thats what they came stock from Honda. And after looking at your mods, you have port/polish and pipe/silencer, you should be more like in the 170's. I am running 172 with a port/polish, 38a/s carb, and pipe/silencer. The jetting is right on, once it gets really cold I usually bump up to about a 178 main to accommodate for the colder weather.

[86-250Rnut]

she runns like a cham. and the sparkplugs are nice and golden brown.
Mitch:macho