MZ TS 250

[fmartone]

I recently posted a problem with my TS 250. It continually fowls out plugs. I received two posts one suggesting that the rubber at the bottom of the choke was bad and the other that the Air filter might be clogged. So I have installed a new air filter and I had a new BVF carb that I had ordered from a shop in Germany. Unfortunately I could not get the trottle body to slide out on the new carb so I took out all of the parts, like the jets, needles, float and choke parts and rebuilt my original carb.
I put everything back together and the bike starts very easily, it no longer billows white smoke but it seems to have no power at low RPMs. I have only gone around the block a couple of times with it.

I set the float according to the specs 27mm in the closed position and 34 mm in the open position from the body housing. The low idle mixture screw was adjusted to 2 1/2 turns out and I set the idle screw in until the bike idled on its own. The bike seems to lack power at low RPM and kind of bogs down like it did when the plug became fowled but as the RPMs come up a little it seems to take off. I have been able to get the bike to run okay between 40 and 50. I have not really gone far enough to see if the plug is going to fowl out. I have pulled the plug after each ride and while it is not totally black, it is not grey either which would be a plug that has the right mixture.

Is it possible that I need to remove the exaust pipe and clean it out? I know that there was so much oil in it that there is always a little bit of oil that drips down the end of the pipe.

Does anyone know of a different carburetor that will fit this bike that might be a little less tempermental.

I would really appreciate any answers or solutions for the problems I am having. Thank you all in advance.
Frank

[TS2Fifty]

Hi, what grade plug do you use? I've had no end of problems with NGK's B8HS that mine came fitted with, and since put a hotter grade (B6HS) and the bike's run fine ever since despite the exhaust needing a good caustic session.

Also, what type oil do you mix with and what proportions?

[fmartone]

I use an NGK B8HS and the oil I am using is Castrol 747 2 cycle engine oil at 50:1 ratio. I even bought a special container from the motorcyle shop that shows the mixture ratio for the gallons of gas to make sure the mix was exact. As I wrote in my last post, I went throught the carb and it does seem to be running cleaner. I have only gone around the block twice, probably two miles and the plug looks to be a little brown, not black. It does seem to lack power at low rpms. But seems to run well at 40 to 50 mph. Did I mention the bike only has 444 original miles on it. When I first got the bike it had a charging problem. It ran great but you always had to have a charger with you to charge it back up when you got where you were going. Back then you did not have to ride with the lights on, but using the turn signals and brake would run the battery down. You could ride for a couple of hours. I then parked the bike for 30 years in a shed. Now I have the charging problem under control but can't seem to get the bike running properly. You are the second person to suggest that I go to the B6HS. I am going to ride the bike a few more times and keep checking the plug for color, hopefully it won't fowl like it has been doing. I am just surprised by all this because all of the cuban riders I have spoken with say that these bikes run on anything in Cuba.
I think a lot of the problems I am having is where the bike sat for 30 years in a shed. I cleaned the tank out then recoated the inside with a special epoxy coating for fuel tanks. I put a new clear petcock on it so I can see the fuel is clear.

Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance.
Frank

[manumensa]

Hello Frank:

Castrol A747?? 19€ in my zone!! Is oil only for racing. Your TS never burn this oil and spark plug we said here "se comunica". I think this oil is all your problem.

http://www.radical-rpm.com/index.php?ma ... ba667b68ea

Frank go to the store and buy a cheap 2 stroke oil (better synthetic, less smoke). Your bike is "socialist" not "capitalist"

Saludos, Manuel.

[fmartone]

Hello Manuel,

Your kidding? The problem is the oil I am using? I will drain the tank and try a 2 cycle synthetic oil. Thank you very much for the input. I appreciate all your help and advice. The oil had a funny smell anyway.

Best Regards,
Frank

[manumensa]

"I love the 747 smell in the morning races: it smells like victory!"

In TV races we can´t smell it

[fmartone]

Very funny Manuel. It has not been victory for my 250 TS. It is a very unusal smell, maybe like soy beans. LOL

[manumensa]

[TS2Fifty]

Well you learn something new every day, I'd have thought that the higher quality oil the better. (The only exception being not to swap from "low ash" oil to non-additive type and back, which supposedly allows deposits to break free & get into bearings, and I doubt that's your problem.)

As it happens, I run Carlube low ash oil (very cheap, 99p 500ml!), at 30:1 to protect the main bearings, & that works fine for me. If changing oils doesn't sort your problem then it might be worth a plug chop as long as you keep an eye that it doesn't run too hot in your climate, as I'm in not-so-hot England the hotter plug might be too much for the piston's liking.

As for the mileage, I'd be surprised if the engine's loose enough to make full power just yet so that might be an issue still.


EDIT-: Just thinking about it, the carb. needle position is set higher (richer) to run the engine in & needs taking to the middle notch when done - which notch is yours set in?

[fmartone]

Hello TS2Fifty,

I see you are running 30/1 and I am running 50/1. I have the lover plate of the needle jet set to the 3rd noth. I have been reluctant to chage to a hotter plug because our average temperature here in 8 of the tem months is 85 to about 92% F. I have noticed since I rebuilt the carb and changed the rubber on the bottom of the choke plunger that in three rides that I have taken, I pulled the plug after each ride and the plug is no longer black. The plug is now a light brown which leads me to believe the choke may have been part of the problem with fowling the plugs out. I am going to try changing the oil out to a lower grade synthetic oil and take the bike for a 10 to 15 mile fride this weekend. That has been about the limit of the bike under previos conditions. Then the plug would fowl out and I would cahnge it to get back home.

I will keep everyone posted after my weekend trial run. Thank you all for your input; I really appriciate the help and advise from everyone that has answered my post. Do you have a web site in UK for MZ parts??

Best Regards,
Frank

[bisphaman]

Try this one for starters. Years of experience these people.

http://www.burwin.co.uk

Simon.G

[TS2Fifty]

I don't think he has a website, but I'm told Fred Rogers is the man for 2-stroke MZ stuff over here though I've yet to ring him & find out for myself. (Probably will do this weekend though if I remember...)

[bisphaman]

Top man, Fred Rogers. Used to have a dealership in Manchester ( think it was BJ West, not sure.) Now retired, but is still Mr 100% MZ - certainly as far as the 2-strokes are concerned. Believe he now has all the old 2-stroke parts from the former UK importers BSA Regal, and plenty of other bits and pieces.I know Fred well, though haven't seen him for a while. Still lives in Cheshire and often attends North Wales & Cheshire MZ Riders Club meetings as well as National MZRC events.
Pretty sure Fred doesn't have a website. Any MZ 2 - stroke fan (or 4-stroke for that matter) not in the MZ Riders Club really should be.I'm still a member after 33 years........
Regards,
Simon Greenwood


http://www.mzridersclub.co.uk

[paulo]

I bought my first bike from BJ West on Deansgate in 1985 - MZ TS125 - and took it there for servicing.
Very knowledgeable, very helpful.

[fmartone]

Hello Paulo,

I am not quite sure were Deansgate is. I am in Miami, FL. There do not seem to be any MZ shops here. I have gotten a lot of very helpful tips from this MZriders. I will be taking the bike out this weekend for a 10 or 15 mile ride to see if it still fowls the plug.

Have a great day and safe riding.
Frank