new at this and need help

[way1bd]

I have a 1988 KX 250. I have worked on a lot of sleds but this is my first bike.

The bike has two problems. the first is milky oil. I have ordered a new water pump shaft seal and am going to pick it up tomorrow. The other problem I am having is the kick starts slips. I did tear down far enough to get the kick start shaft out and all of the gears and ratchet mechanism seem to be fine. I did notice that when I pull the clutch only the outside three plates move towards the outside. I am wondering if this is normal or a problem, also would this cause the kick start to slip? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, the manual I ordered has not done me a whole lot of good.

[Sapper69]

The 3 plates is normal. They just happen to be the ones that break loose when the pressure plate is relieved.

As for the kickstart mechanism. They do wear out and slip. Sometimes you have to kinda short stroke it up and down till you get that at the top engagement. Even as an 88, you should still be able to get one. I'm not sure what years they interchange up to though.

[nd4speed]

Your kick start gear is slipping because of the oil being thick and contaminated with coolant/water. Had this happen on two different 86 Kx250 motors. Changed the water pump oil seals and put in new oil and the kicker slipping disappeared completely.

[MoToMaStR]

Seems to be a pretty common problem with mid 80's to early 90's kawis. Im guessing these bikes are "the survivors" and they have just gone through so many owners/kickstarts that the metal has physicaly wore away enough to slightly round the edges of the ratchet....thus slipping on kicks!! I had the same problem on my 91 kx250. Initially, i came here for help. I think nd4speed suggested contaminated oil, so I tried changing oils. I tried 10w30, 10w40, tried transmission fluid.... was still not having the best of luck with the slipping kickstart. I ended up ordering the kick gear and ratchet. was like $48 each, so under 100 bucks and i havnt had the problem again. what a P.I.T.A job. I hate taking my clutch off when its not messed up. All hail makita impact tools! haha

[nd4speed]

I saw some KX500 guys regrind the gears flat.

slipping kicker on a 90 kx5

Slipping Kickstarter

[way1bd]

Thanks a lot for all the help. Just a little update in case any one who is having the same problem finds this thread. I removed the assembly and found that the ratchet gears did look a little worn so I lightly filed them. The spring behind the gears also seemed rather weak so I went down to the hardware and got a spring with a lot more tension on it for two dollars. The problem has gone away for now. Im not sure if it was filing the gears, changing the spring, or new oil that cured it, but it didn't take long and was rather cheap.