GZ Nightmare

[bmw633]

Hi,

I bought a 2001 GZ250 with about 10,000 miles from a guy for $600, took it home, and changed the oil and replaced the chain, which was kinked. The bike ran pretty good for about 500 miles when one of the exhaust valves broke off, rattled around and embedded itself on the top of the piston. The head was chewed up. Anyway, I found an engine on EBay with 4000 miles fro Pinwall Cycle Parts for $399 plus $187 shipping. I had the shop install it for $350 and then rode it home. The first trip out it started losing power, so we took it back to the shop, and they compression tested it, only 110psi!!!

What do I do now? I hate throwing money at it.

Seth Anderson

[bonehead]

I'd get a different bike. Be leary of 12 y/o bikes with less than 1000 miles a year. Anyway, you are looking at a valve job on the ebay engine, and related costs. Sorry for the bad luck.

[bmw633]

Here are some photos of the carnage inside of the engine.

[mrlmd1]

Was there any warranty at all on the engine you bought or was it in "as is" condition, whatever that was? It would be unusual for an engine with only 4000miles on it to be that bad. And why didn't the shop that installed it check it out or have it running before putting it into the bike? Did they check out valve clearances or do anything on the engine ahead of the installation?

[jonathan180iq]

110psi is obviously not good. But it's not the end of the world either.

You have a warped head or if you're lucky just a faulty gasket. Both of those things can be taken care of, but you will have to spend at least a little more money.

[raul10141964]

check the valves clearances

[Road_Clam]

Hi,

I hate throwing money at it.

Seth Anderson

Sorry to rub salt, but take this experience as a painful lesson learned... a 2001 GZ250 for $600 is priced extremely cheap and you unfortunately are finding out why...

There is a million bikes out there for sale that claim " needs the carb(s) cleaned". When in fact this actually means "The engine has major issues other than the carbs". I find it truly amazing that every seller makes a quick easy diagnostic claim "carb(s) need cleaning", yet the sellers do not take the initiative to actually clean and FIX the "carbs" ??

[jonathan180iq]

Agreed. It baffles my mind why something as simple as a carb cleaning wouldn't already be done if you were selling a bike. The difference for the seller means "spend $10 and 20 minutes and make an extra few hundred dollars" or "Nah, I'll burn free money."

If there are issues that can't be diagnosed by yourself, take a friend who knows more about bikes with you.
A buddy of mine was dead-set on buying an older Honda Shadow, that ran great, until I test drove it. It had a warped frame and would have pulled a rookie ride straight into the pavement on the first turn. Even after explaining that, his eagerness to own a bike almost made him fork over the money for it...For new buyers, remember there are tons of bikes out there and you don't have to settle on the first great deal you come across. If it's too good to be true...