Gaskets, Tyres and Engine Corrosion = Bad Bike?

[Craggles]

Hi guys,

Been looking at a CB250 today --

It looks quite nice, 1994 16k on the clock

Engine is quite corroded... but that can be cleaned up... seems a little odd to be so corroded for something with only 16k on the clock - even if it is 10 years old.

The gaskets are also not flush with the engine... and are an obvious different colour - This concerns me! To me, this means they've had the engine apart...? Why? What could this mean?

It's also got new tyres... so new there is still chalk markings on them. Why on earth would you change the tyres on a bike thats been ridden by an old guy to go down the shop just before you sell it?

Thoughts, anyone?

I have not done a HPI check yet, but will do if i think its worth perusing the bike...

Cheers

Craig
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[NickD]

Many bikes of this kind are used as all year round commuters, ally will fur up quickly when salt is present.

If after 16k, the engine had not been apart, I would be worried. It should have the top end removed at the first major service.

I would change the tyres to sell if they were close to the wear limit, and on such a bike I would expect that to be about the 3rd change. Also, if it has been stood for any length of time, the tyres may have started to perish, and would need replacing.

The things you have described could all be perfectly normal, just check it out carefully.
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[mr.z]

Perhaps the tyres were totaly bald?

Engine appart, well depending on if whoever had it appart was a total moron or a fairly competant mechanic home or otherwise... will make the difference beetween good or bad... does it come with recipts for work done? why not ask for the old guys number so you can ask what he has done to the engine...

How much was it for again?

Corroded engine? i dont know how the finish was on the cb250, a brillo pad and allot of effort will get it back good again... but for the kind of bike it is... spray it black and dont worry too much about it...
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[Craggles]

[sickpup]

[NickD]

[quote="sickpup"]

[mrchips]

CB250's are 10 a penny, walk away and find a nice mint one.

[mr.z]

[iCraig]

[Big Pete]

[mattsmith95]

Engine corrosion, My T-reg CB250 had it too, the spray job on Honda's are crap these days, probably left out in the elements without a cover for ages. I sprayed mine up black and looks quite evil ..

Gaskets, probably replaced due to blown gaskets.

If I saw the bike, road tested it I could tell you how good it is as I ride one 9 hours a day, five days a week.

Have a look around, find a nice clean one, £1700 for a good one, £2200 for a GREAT one.

[mr.z]

[sickpup]

[Big Pete]

[sickpup]

Hi Pete

Yeah your right just been a long time since I saw wire guages but even these I wouldn't use to check piston to barrel clearance what with pistons being narrower at the top than the bottom and slightly oval in shape.

Point is (as you agreed) the bikes a 4-stroke so its a waste of time to strip the top end to check piston to bore clearance ( and my point) especially if you use the wrong tools so get an inaccurate reading.

[mchaggis]

If you're taking the pistons out, don't you use vernier callipers to measure their roundness? I can't remember what the micrometer on a stalk thing for measuring the bore is called now though. Are the rings not supposed to be a sliding fit, so clearances should be c. 0?
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