How to tell what year cylinder???

[badtothebone250]

My buddy sold me a cylinder off of his 88 250r. However this cylinder is black and i know that the black cylinders were on the 86 and possibly 87 (correct me if im wrong). I dont know if someone has just painted this one or if it is actually not an 88 motor. Is there any way of telling what year it is by having just the cylinder? (I dont have the piston that was in it) Thanks

[JohnBeton]

you can tell a lot buy looking at the ports, but post pics of you cilinder, someone here could definitly identify it for you.

[86 Quad R]

they are designated by 1st or second generation and can be id'd by the port arrangment. 85-86 will have an open intake and the 87-89 will have a bridge comfigured intake. if it has the original sleeve in it. it will have a year on the bottom skirt edge '85 '86 '87 ect

[Honda 250r 001]

check out rustyatv's video, shows everything you need to know to identify.

[deathman53]

only 85 cylinders are black. 86-89 cylinders are "brushed aluminum" 85 and 88/89 had black cases, 86/87 had gun metal grey cases. The way to identify it would be the cylinder color, port lay out and an identifying mark on the cylinder. 85-86 had a open layout, similar to pro-x. 87-89 had a bridged intake. I don't know how to tell a 87-89 apart easily.

[Jason Hall]

You can tell by looking at the outside of the cylinder. The front & rear edge's of the transfer port casting's are shaped slightly different on the 87-89 cylinder's. The edge's on the 87-89 Is pretty much straight up and down, where the 85-86 Is rounded.

85-86
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff42/Jasons450r/85-86250RCylinderexr-1.jpg
87-89
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff42/Jasons450r/87-89250RCylinderexr.jpg

[All250R]

Originally posted by Jason Hall
You can tell by looking at the outside of the cylinder. The front & rear edge's of the transfer port casting's are shaped slightly different on the 87-89 cylinder's. The edge's on the 87-89 Is pretty much straight up and down, where the 85-86 Is rounded.

You guys may already know this, but a piece of trivia is that the flatter edge on that transfer tunnel is because the later model tunnel has a more hooked sweep in that area. The extra material is used to keep strength up. The main tunnel also protrudes radially more as well due to increased tunnel sweep.

There is some additional material on the rear cyl mount hole as well to prevent cracking.

There's an easy trick to identifying an 87 cyl without looking at the ports as well. :)