Jim's 1988 VTR250 Interceptor

Hmmm the cct sounds like the culprit
My 94 CBR1000f has a noisy cct until it warms up…sounds like an engine knock


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not very likely with only 9k miles but well see

unless the engine did run low on oil, the cams should look perfect. in one worst-case scenario, a tappet adjusting screw might have fallen out---due to mechanical irresponsibility by some crackhead on parole.

 

I've owned three of them. Absolutely lovely bikes!

 

Stripping it down to get to the cams....Dirty as heck, probably never been cleaned under the seat.

 

So far so good


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Bunch of boring pictures right now, but good for historical purposes anyway. This thing is totally original.

The more I look at that engine , it is such a trip that it is 1/2 of a VF500.

I have a gasket kit left over from the VF500 build and it looks like at least the 250 bottom end is a direct match.

Other than the cable clutch mechanism (vs hydraulic on the 500) and the oil sight glass the RT side cover is the same. I am going to get a VF500 Rt cover from my stash and see if the are a direct match up.

 

as you said, it's half a vf500....many of the valvetrain part numbers are the same, which means you might have the same cam/follower failure causing your knock, knock, knock!

 

I hope that is all the knock is. Work keeps getting in the way of working on the bike, dying to know what the problem actually is.

 

A Supertrapp can is pretty excellent on that bike.

 

any photos ?

 

None from the track, unfortunately, but:

 

looks nice with the rotor.
I took my CA drivers license test on one of these. Aced it. I will forever be grateful for the VTR250!

 

My buddy just adapted an 87 CBR600F rear wheel and disc brake to his 1990. Looks killer.

 

Got an Update....pulled the cam covers off and .......it is spotless. Looks like they did the 600 mile check on it and it was never touched again,

One cam lobe is a little "rough" but nothing too exciting. A couple of the valves are really tight, like hard to get a .002" Under there.

See what you think.... Cam chain is tight also, no slop in it. Plugs look like shit.



This is the worst lobe. The rest are spotless. It has a spot that is kind of "not smooth"

 

Did you mention how many miles? Be sure that you have the timing right when measuring for the valve clearance. That may be your knock...

 

a good modification idea if done for looks only ? i dunno. doesnt improve that 250 at all, bike does not need a heavier, wider rear tire for no practical reason.


JIM, maybe time for a compression test ?

 

9460 miles

 

HF near you