KDXRIDER.NET

Hello,
I Just picked up a fairly clean '97 220 for 1k last night. This bike has been sitting for a couple years. I got up early this morning (actually I couldn't sleep knowing the kdx was in the garage waiting for me) and did a compression test, inspection and cleaning. I will mostly be riding Michigan trails with my buddies who all have either 250 2 strokes or 450 4 strokes. I'm happy to be the odd one out . I've been searching and reading this forum for the last month and I've learned a lot! Thank you guys for sharing your knowledge and building the database! My next step is to jet the bike using the guide that Indawoods posted , as the bike is a little sluggish and spoogy right now.

welcome aboard Nick
you should have posted this yesterday, I could have taken you up to cedar creek

let me know when you want to go out riding with a second green bike, im always looking for people to go with

bike looks very clean for its age
any idea if its on the stock piston ?
the 220 have a nasty habit of dropping piston skirts unannounced so that is definitely something to look into

Thanks!
Not sure if there is a wiseco in there yet or not. I'll probably pop the top this winter and take a look.

Good deal. Welcome! I would advise not waiting until winter to check the piston. If its stock, you can replace now for about 150. If it lets go, you could be looking at more than you paid for the bike to rebuild the bottom end, re-plate the cylinder, and replace the piston. If you pull the tank and seat you can remove the cylinder and head together so you won't have to replace the head gasket. Costs nothing but a couple hours for peace of mind.

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on top of that, in the winter we need to mount studs and go tear up the trails

Congratulations. It looks very clean!!

I would double check on 120 psi, though.

Nice bike, congratulations and welcome.

Julien D wrote:Good deal. Welcome! I would advise not waiting until winter to check the piston. If its stock, you can replace now for about 150. If it lets go, you could be looking at more than you paid for the bike to rebuild the bottom end, re-plate the cylinder, and replace the piston. If you pull the tank and seat you can remove the cylinder and head together so you won't have to replace the head gasket. Costs nothing but a couple hours for peace of mind.

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That's a good point.

Jason wrote:Congratulations. It looks very clean!!

I would double check on 120 psi, though.

I did the compression test a few times this morning, always 120psi with completely cold engine. Do you say double check because it's a little on the low side?

Welcome to the site.

If it were me I would be looking at doing a top end when it got down to 130 or so. And being a 220 I would be at least checking the piston to make sure it isn't stock. And it you have the cylinder off you might as well toss in a new piston.

Bummer. Can anyone recommend a good source for a complete 220 top end kit?

EDIT: This will be my first time tearing into an engine. I should need piston, rings, wrist pin , wristpin bearing, base and head gaskets, correct?
Am i missing anything?

A top end gasket set should get you what you need. It will also have the gaskets for the KIPS parts and some other gaskets / o rings.

oops forgot about the kips gasket. Thanks!

check sig for newb how to...

elusive wrote:Bummer. Can anyone recommend a good source for a complete 220 top end kit?

EDIT: This will be my first time tearing into an engine. I should need piston, rings, wrist pin , wristpin bearing, base and head gaskets, correct?
Am i missing anything?

look for it at ebay, today saw a complete kit for $126.

A manual...should be the first thing you get

Well I started the tear down to install wiseco piston today. Apparently the stock 220 piston had already broke but the bike still ran and has 120 psi......






Here is what is left of the piston skirt. This is inside the pipe







What should i do now?

Replate, new piston, split the cases and do the main bearings and crank seals, consider a new rod and bearings. How is the head?

It still ran because it is a KDX and they just don't know any different. They just run out of habit.

rbates9 wrote:Replate, new piston, split the cases and do the main bearings and crank seals, consider a new rod and bearings. How is the head?

It still ran because it is a KDX and they just don't know any different. They just run out of habit.

LOL

Head has minor scratches. Can the jug be replated with that big chunk missing? Is sleaving an option?

It will probably cost a little more but they can weld the missing parts back up and bore the cylinder before they replate it. Personally (and I think you will find most agree) I would not put a sleeve in. There is more problems then good with sleeves and for the price difference it really isn't worth it.

Another option is to get another cylinder. You can try to find a good 220 cylinder or a 200 will bolt right on in it's place. But with a 200 you will also need to get the head and the main KIPS valve.