About Christopher Expertise I can answer all general maintenance questions, also any general problem questions regarding most emergency problems as well as some uncommon problems regarding most motorcycles but with specific knowledge and experience with older Honda and Yamaha motorcycles. I am also very experienced in field analysis of problems and solutions to get the bike going till you reach a safe spot or home.
Experience For starters, please don't call me Christopher. Chris or "Falcon" will do nicely. That said, I have been riding since 1981 and am licensed in the U.S. and in the UK for motorcycles as well as 3 other classes of vehicles. Since I began riding, I have owned 10 motorcycles of various makes and models, all but 3 of which have been older, second hand machines of questionable servicability. also, I ride 7 days a week, not 2. Rain or shine. but please do not ask me about specific parts and specifications regarding your bike. My expertise is in maintainence and field repair, not parts ordering. I will not be able to answer parts pricing and matching for specific machines. On a final note, I have recently discovered that a Honda V65 Magna will ford water up to nearly 2ft in depth. But you must keep the revs up and the speed down.
Question I have a 1991 Yamaha yfm250b that was running well until yesterday--just quit and would not start. Gas was in the airbox. Took the carb apart and cleaned it, put it back on and still the same problem. Starter fluid doesn't work. Also, compression seems almost non-existent, but the engine has only 130 miles on the ring job. Is it a stuck valve, and how can I fix this? Thanks for your insight.
Answer Hi David.
How clean is the air filter? A severely dirty air filter can cause all of those issues and more.
As far as compression, if you haven't checked compression with a compression testor, then you do not know if it is getting a loss of compression.
There is the possibility of the valve timing being off as well.
I seriously doubt that the carb is the issue, or ever was.
If the air filter is clean, or reasonably new and clean, then get out the repair manual and approach the other possibilities, or get it to a shop to be looked at by a properly trained mechanic.
