1997 EC250 power valve bearings...
 

I did my first top end since I bought it and the power valve has no bearings on one side. Has anyone seen this? Pic attached. You can see the bearing on the one side. On the other side there's a bushing? No bearings. I don?t have a legit manual. I have a later manual showing two bearings on that side but I don't know what was supposed to be on this particular bike.
Attachment 9668

not sure about 1997, but more recent bikes have 2 bearings on the side of the bush. so you would need 3 bearings like the one you have
https://www.motocrosscenter.com/shop...-parts-manuals

I'd swap the existing bearing over for size, to see if it would work, then as Swazi sez try it. Can't see why it would be different. But 'despice' (probably Spanish for Parts list) pdfs may be available for that far back.

I have a 99 engine parts rich and it shows 2 bearing if that helps, the bearing are the same size I buy them off ebay for cheap.

Thanks all. I had a feeling. Makes no sense it would be different. I should tear it back down and do bearings. It ran great for a good while when I bought it and it's been like this. I have a feeling I'll be lazy about it. But damn, I should not be.

Should just pull out the side with pipe off or tap through.

Up till 98? it used that bushing instead of the two bearings, Here?s a link for the original parts diagram for the older gassers https://www.neubert-racing.com/gasgas/1997/ec250/

Ahh, 000033098 VENTIL

So it is original. But why? Can you swap it with two bearings?
Probably same question was asked in the factory in 1998.

The bushing made it this long. Why switch to bearings?

I'm imagining it is flogged now. Maybe it isn't, be a judgment call. But the factory obviously chose to change it early on in the model life. I'd be guessing for price or reliability.