Need a picture of both timeing marks on a Yamaha bear tracker

Replace the bulb ?

broken wire from kill sw to ground or corroded sw

Its always T

The timing is not adjustable. I would start with a clean air filter, clean carb, good spark plug, check and make sure that your cam timing matches your flywheel.

Hi Ryan , the timing gear marks will possible not mark hundred percent when timing chain is worn much . the tensioner should be inside when you check the valve timing .

I apologize - my answer to the previous question didn't really clarify your actual question - Your VIN can be found along the frame rail - left hand side - about a foot or so ahead of your left foot guard -



If it's still there - your model number is here:

If you can read your VIN - and here's a tip to know you're getting the whole number and it's not rusted away a digit; your second digit should be a (Y) - if you write down your VIN, second digit is Y so you know the placement is right - the 10th digit is the year. And here are the breakdowns for that 10th Digit:

(For all Yamahas - not just the Timberwolf):
88 - J, 89 - K, 90 - L, 91 - M, 92 - N, 93 - P, 94 - R, 95 - S, 96 - T, 97 - V, 98 - W, 99 - X, 2000 - Y, 01 - 1, 02 - 2, 03 - 3

From 1992 - 1998 the Yamaha 250 4-stroke, shaft drive, trail bike was the Timberwolf.

From 1999 - 2004 the Yamaha 250 4-stroke, shaft drive, trail bike was the Bear Tracker.

*****SAME ENGINE, SAME TRANSMISSION, SAME REAR END, TIRE SIZE, PULL START - THINGS THEY DEFINITELY CHANGED IN 1999 WHEN THEY STARTED CALLING THEM THE BEAR TRACKER: - PLASTICS BECAME A LITTLE LONGER I BELIEVE; AND THE SEAT WITHOUT A DOUBT BECAME LONGER. THE CARB WENT TO A CONSTANT VACUUM - INSTEAD OF THE SLIDE CARB WHERE THE THROTTLE CABLE WENT THROUGH THE CAP LIKE THE TIMBERWOLF. HARD TO REMEMBER - BUT I THINK THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BECAME UNADJUSTABLE - AND NOT MUCH ELSE CHANGED. IN 99 THEY EVEN KEPT THE BRAKING SYSTEM THE SAME. SOMETIME AROUND 2000, 01 OR SO THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHANGED FOR THE FRONT WHEN YAMAHA WENT TO DISC BRAKES. HOPE THIS HELPS. ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR TIMBERWOLF JUST LET ME KNOW - I'VE OWNED, REBUILT, BOUGHT, SOLD, TRADED A TON - I'VE CURRENTLY GOT A 99 BEAR TRACKER THAT IS THE MOST DEPENDABLE 250 4 STROKE I'VE EVER OWNED AND A 1996 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 350 4X4 - I'VE REBUILT THEM FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP. THOSE BIKES ARE GOLDEN IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM AND DO A LITTLE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. ALL THE BEST - JUSTIN MCCARTNEY

THE 99 I MENTIONED THAT I STILL HAVE:


A 98 I BOUGHT WITH THE ENGINE IN A MILK CRATE THAT I BOUGHT, REBUILT & SOLD:


A 2004 I BOUGHT, REBUILT AND SOLD:

All the best - let me know if you're ever in a jam with yours; not too much I haven't seen, fixed or had to deal with.

You will need to find the timing marks and have the firing specifications to line it up. Most timing marks have the Top Dead Center position marked with a large raised triangle mark. Take out the spark plugs and use a pencil with an eraser to determine (by feel) when the piston raises all the way up the cylinder... this is the TDC position. Line up the chain so that the TDC triangle corresponds to the actual piston travel inside the cylinder. Once you have them aligned, dial back the timing the few degrees specified in the manual. Put the plugs back in and fire it up. It it sounds "off" then repeat the process, something wasn't aligned correctly.

It is a 2003 Bear Tracker 250

Transmission Rebuild (complete motor tear down) replace the gears & shifting fork for the damaged parts.

Ignition coils never go bad on a Yamaha ---Never.
95 % of the time it is a bad Stator/Pulser coil in the L. H. side cover of the motor. Can be checked with a ohm meter.