Honda · Honda two-stroke (Elsinore CR / MT / MR 1973-1984)

CR / Elsinore MT / MR two-strokes

Library entry covers 1973-1984

20 factory 45 guideline

Published source

Honda MT250 Owner's Manual 1973 (Honda Motor Co.), Maintenance Schedule pp.31-32

Factory owner's handbook. Covers 1973 MT250 Elsinore owner's manual (street-legal MT); CR motocross racers follow race-use schedules in their own manuals.

Open the source

65 items for a 1973 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.

How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)

Engine cycle: Two-stroke
Engine lubrication: Two-stroke premix (oil in fuel)
Oil filtration: None (no filter)
Valve gear: None (two-stroke porting)
Ignition: Magneto (incl. magdyno, flywheel magneto)
Charging: None (magneto only / no battery charging)
Battery: Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
Fuel system: Single carburetor
Cooling: Air / oil cooled
Primary drive: Gear or chain inside engine, shares engine oil
Gearbox oil: Separate gearbox oil
Clutch control: Hand lever, cable
Final drive: Chain
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Swingarm, twin shocks
Front brake: Drum (or band / stirrup)
Rear brake: Drum (or band / belt rim)
Wheels: Spoked, tubed
Sidecar: No sidecar

Maintenance schedule

1973 Honda CR / Elsinore MT / MR two-strokes

On the road: every 150 mi

1 item

Check two-stroke oil tank / carry premix oil

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Running a two-stroke out of oil seizes it. Injection bikes: check the tank. Premix: carry oil and a measure.

On the road: every 300 mi

2 items

Check tire pressures

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Lubricate drive chain

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Lube warm, ideally at the end of the riding day so it soaks in overnight. Sooner after rain.

On the road: every 600 mi

1 item

Check chain slack and rear wheel alignment

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

On the road: every 1,000 mi

1 item

Check road kit: plugs, points file, master link, tube patches, wire, tape

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

On the road: every 3,000 mi or 6 months

1 item

Walk-around: check nuts and bolts for vibration loosening

Pre-ride / on the road

Factory

Manual: All nuts, bolts and fasteners: check security, tighten. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi

Every 1,000 mi or 6 months

2 items

Check gearbox oil level

Primary and gearbox

Guideline
Adjust rear drum brake and rod / cable linkage

Brakes

Guideline

Every 2,000 mi or 12 months

2 items

Replace spark plugs (two-stroke)

Engine

Guideline
Lubricate control cables and lever pivots

Controls and cables

Guideline

Every 3,000 mi or 6 months

13 items

Check / bleed / adjust oil injection pump cable

Engine

Factory

Manual: Oil pump operation: check. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi; dealer item; oil tank filter cleaned every 6,000 mi (10,000 km)
Inspect, clean and gap spark plugs

Engine

Factory

Manual: Spark plug: clean and adjust gap, replace if necessary. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32
Check throttle cable(s) free play and return

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Throttle operation: inspect cable, adjust free play. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi
Clean / inspect air filter

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Polyurethane foam air filter element: clean and oil. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: more often in dusty areas
Clean carburetor float bowl(s), check float level and jets

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Carburetor: check and adjust. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: dealer item
Replace fuel filter

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Fuel filter screen: clean. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32
Check battery electrolyte, top up with distilled water

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Battery: check electrolyte level, add water. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi
Clean and gap contact breaker points, oil cam felt

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Contact points and ignition timing: clean, check, adjust or replace. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi; dealer item
Adjust clutch free play, lubricate cable and lever pivot

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Clutch: check operation, adjust. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi; dealer item
Clean drive chain thoroughly (remove and soak, re-lube)

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Drive chain: check, lubricate, adjust. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 200 mi
Grease swingarm pivot

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Manual: Rear fork bushing: grease, check for looseness. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32
Adjust front drum brake

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake control linkage: check, adjust free play. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi
Check spoke tension and wheel true

Wheels and tires

Factory

Manual: Wheel rims and spokes: check, tighten spokes and true wheels. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi; dealer item

Every 3,000 mi or 12 months

11 items

Check engine mounting bolts and plates

Engine

Guideline
Clean fuel tap filter / sediment bowl

Fuel and air

Guideline
Check / set ignition timing

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Adjust clutch pushrod / clutch adjuster

Primary and gearbox

Guideline
Check chain guard, chain oiler (if fitted), rear chain case

Final drive

Guideline
Inspect chain and sprockets for wear (measure stretch)

Final drive

Guideline
Check steering damper (friction or hydraulic)

Front end

Guideline
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork boots

Front end

Guideline
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivots

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Grease and check center / side stand and springs

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Check wheel bearings for play

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 4,000 mi or 12 months

2 items

Replace spark plugs

Engine

Guideline
Lubricate brake cam spindles, check linings and drums

Brakes

Guideline

Every 5,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Check cylinder head bolt torque

Engine

Guideline

Air-cooled iron and alloy engines can lose head bolt tension; follow your manual's sequence and whether it is done hot or cold.

Every 6,000 mi or 12 months

9 items

Decarbonize exhaust ports, pipes and baffles

Engine

Factory

Manual: Cylinder head, piston, rings and muffler: decarbonize. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: dealer item
Change gearbox oil

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Transmission oil: change. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi
Change fork oil

Front end

Factory

Manual: Front fork oil: drain and refill. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: first at 500 mi
Check steering head bearing adjustment

Front end

Factory

Manual: Steering head bearings: adjust. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: dealer item
Check swingarm bushes for play

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and damping

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Replace brake linings / skim drums (wear based)

Brakes

Factory

Manual: Brake shoes: inspect, replace if worn. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32: dealer item
Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codes

Wheels and tires

Factory

Manual: Tires: inspect. Factory: Maintenance schedule pp.31-32
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check drive

Controls and cables

Guideline

A dry speedo cable whips the needle and eventually kills the instrument.

Every 6,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Lubricate and check automatic advance unit

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Magneto: clean slip ring and pickup brush, check HT lead

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 10,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Compression test (or leak-down)

Engine

Guideline

Every 10,000 mi

1 item

Replace chain and sprockets (wear based)

Final drive

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Replace air filter element

Fuel and air

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 3 years

1 item

Replace points and condenser

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 15,000 mi or 5 years

1 item

Inspect clutch plates and springs

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 20,000 mi or 4 years

2 items

Repack / replace steering head bearings

Front end

Guideline

Many old machines use loose balls in cups and cones. Taper roller conversions are common.
Repack / replace wheel bearings

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Cup-and-cone and taper roller hubs need periodic repacking and adjustment.

Every 25,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Replace swingarm bushes / bearings

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 25,000 mi or 10 years

1 item

Magneto overhaul / re-magnetize, replace capacitor

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Weak spark when hot is the classic symptom. Old capacitors fail with age, not miles.

Every 30,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springs

Front end

Guideline

Every 12 months

1 item

Check speedometer / odometer against a known distance

Controls and cables

Guideline

Old speedos drift with tire size and drive wear. Use phone GPS over a measured 10 miles / km.

Every 2 years

3 items

Inspect fuel tank for rust, sealer failure, leaks

Fuel and air

Guideline
Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground points

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracks

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 4 years

1 item

Replace fuel lines

Fuel and air

Guideline

Old rubber and modern ethanol fuel do not mix well.

Every 6 years

2 items

Replace inner tubes and rim tape with tires

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.