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View Full Version : Is my 85 Tecate worth fixing ?



Davidcz75
05-29-2013, 03:28 PM
OK I just picked up this 85 Tecate .... once i got it home I noticed a couple things I didnt when i bought it. There is some sort of air filter to the front of the gas tank with a lil k&n airfilter on it. The radiator works well but its loose as the connectors to the frame are broken ( looks like i have another one in my parts box) Then i look and the airbox is gone ... luckily its in a box of parts the guy gave me lol . So basically there is a hose with a K&N on the end where the airbox was. Lastly is the clutch ... think it has a groove in it or something .. only in first and doesnt do it all the time. Now i have a box of parts ..such as the stock muffler, forks , and all kinds of other stuff. The gas tank is faded but works and the rest of the plastic is good. Now for all the negetive ... this thing flat out hauls butt. Just as fast as my 250R, though that was a much nicer bike. So I am just not sure if i want to spend the money to put it back all correct or find someone else who it could serve better...opinions please

sp8twn
05-29-2013, 03:33 PM
Any pics??

JasonB
05-29-2013, 03:39 PM
pics will make or break this thread lol. I say hang on to it, the air filter is not a big deal from the sounds of it. And how is the rest of the bike mechanically speaking ? loose and janky? Feel solid? aside from the radiator

tommerp
05-29-2013, 03:45 PM
Yeah no kidding PIX MAN! .. First thing I thought of when I read the title was KEEP IT! The things you mentioned.. minor minor details.. A motor with a rod through the side.. different story.

I'm sure there would be plenty to take it off your hands here too ....

Davidcz75
05-29-2013, 03:57 PM
lol aside from what i mentioned it all seems sound . I just dont see why in the hell they took the airbox off. I guess once i got it home and saw the lil stuff i was kind of bumned. Ill post pics but like i said its not all that bad. Kind of hate the gas tank being discolored ... the rest of the plastic is nice and kawi green . It kicks over first or second kick as well.

jb2wheels
05-29-2013, 04:07 PM
You got an 85 with good plastics that runs and you wonder if you should keep it? That's 2 of the biggest issues already covered (can't get plastics and bad ignition).

Doesn't sound like it has any real bad issues.

Davidcz75
05-29-2013, 04:13 PM
Yea now that you mention it ..... I might just be a wee bit critical

Davidcz75
05-29-2013, 04:17 PM
170380170381170382

tommerp
05-29-2013, 05:49 PM
Geese Louise... she's a beaut!!!

ScreaminRed
05-29-2013, 06:05 PM
Definitely worth keeping!! :)

RIDE-RED 250r
05-29-2013, 06:24 PM
YES YES YES WORTH KEEPING AND FIXING!

Check with Mr. Clean to restore that tank... His plastic restore work is second to none!!! I sent him a 250r tank that was VERY chalky and it came back looking like an NOS part....

jeswinehart
05-29-2013, 06:44 PM
One reason they may have left the air box off is they could NOT get it back in place, kinda a trick to getting them out/in on the 84-85 models.

john

Davidcz75
05-29-2013, 07:27 PM
Ok lol guess I was overly critical and I'll take the advice on having the tank restored

RoscoW
05-29-2013, 08:02 PM
Tecate "Green" tanks are more discoloured than faded, The fuel has browned the plastic all the way through, I don't think it will polish out. DC plastics has a simple cover that matches the OEM colour. just another option. Definitely a keeper. If you do one thing to it, remove the flywheel and send it to jeswinehart here on the boards and have the magnets epoxied in place, when the come loose they don't go out without taking a few parts along with them.

Ross..

Davidcz75
05-29-2013, 08:36 PM
Ok I'll look into that for sure

jb2wheels
05-29-2013, 11:05 PM
What a POS - set it out by the curb - in about 20 hours when you see a white stalker van with TX plates circling the neighborhood!

My Jeswinehart flywheel showed up today and it's too pretty to use - almost.

oile
05-30-2013, 12:00 AM
also you can get a new clark fuel tank on ebay right now

Ghostv2
05-30-2013, 12:47 AM
It looks nice, just get the minor stuff fixed and your ready to go. I wouldnt even think about selling it. No experience with these machines but from what i noticed all the tanks look like that over the years.

RIDE-RED 250r
05-30-2013, 04:51 PM
I wonder why the Kawi tanks do that and it seems the Honda tanks don't??? Different formulation of plastic?? I see plenty of sun-faded R tanks, had one myself... But I haven't yet come across a Honda tank that went brown.

Davidcz75
05-31-2013, 09:38 AM
LMAO ..... now thats funny . I feel that way about my big red ... i love it ... all nice and clean with a polished engine . Im still gonna take it and get it filthy ... but not yet lol

Davidcz75
05-31-2013, 09:42 AM
No clue .. it doesnt look brown ... it almost looks like it might clean up but who knows. .... I also looked at those tank covers and all i could find was the ones that appear to be blemished .. says it has ripples ... weird.

Davidcz75
05-31-2013, 09:48 AM
Looking .. dont see it ... but ill keep looking lol .

Mr. Clean
05-31-2013, 12:48 PM
I got your PM, I would be more than happy to spend a little time on that tank.

I have done a red one and the results were good. I have not done a green one though.

RIDE-RED 250r
05-31-2013, 04:22 PM
I got your PM, I would be more than happy to spend a little time on that tank.

I have done a red one and the results were good. I have not done a green one though.

If there is only one person that can do it, you can! :beer

Davidcz75
06-03-2013, 01:00 PM
well you can always give it a shot ... from whati hear if you cant get it done then it cant be done lol . I actually have two tanks so I could send you pics of the one on the wheeler and the spare i have and we can go from there.

Davidcz75
06-04-2013, 10:22 AM
Here is a spare tank i have as well


170724

ps2fixer
06-06-2013, 01:35 AM
Wow... that is like a $1500-2000+ trike....

If you want to see a machine that is questionable about fixing.... here are a few of my riders O.o

Details in order...

200x, one with the plastics = smoking engine, other engine is solid with broken exhaust struds. No brakes, broken plastic, it is a fixer cuz I got them cheap :)

250es big red.... they are never too far gone! Not going to ever restore it, it is my mudder trike :)

250sx ... has big red plastics on it, welded on rear racks, 1 way bearing bad for the kick starter side of the engine (i have the parts to fix it). Car tires could be an issue :D

250x taking 2 quads and building 1, both had engines blown up from the valves dropping and hitting the piston

350x .... everything is rigged on this machine, got it cheap, but already have $1000+ in parts to fix it and havn't installed one yet lol.

Davidcz75
06-06-2013, 12:15 PM
Wow lol .... there still cool ....

ps2fixer
06-06-2013, 01:47 PM
Heck yea they are cool :D, I would rather beat on one that is ugly than one that is like new. I have a few "nice" ones that still are not fantastic lol, both need small things too.

sweetip2000
06-06-2013, 04:09 PM
damn look at that thing. That is a really nice find.

jb2wheels
06-06-2013, 05:36 PM
So, it's not going to be at the curb after all, huh? Nuts. I think I can get it in my Civic if I pull the rear axle and lay it on it's side (which is about a 10 minute job on a Tecate!) which cuts my gas cost 65%.

Davidcz75
06-06-2013, 07:57 PM
Lmao yea I guess I'll force myself to keep the unsightly thing .... The tank is driving me crazy lol ... Hate it ...

Davidcz75
06-06-2013, 07:58 PM
I also am wondering what kind of tires to put on it ...

Jeepermc
06-14-2013, 04:24 PM
Do yourself a favor and get that flywheel checked ASAP. They can wreak havoc when they come loose.

Davidcz75
06-14-2013, 05:05 PM
Yes i will take care of that .. i know they make one that is for lack of a btter word sealed .. so they cant come apart .

Mr. Clean
06-14-2013, 06:56 PM
The tank is driving me crazy lol ... Hate it ...

If it is driving you that crazy, take the thing off the trike, remove fuel valve and mounting brackets and send it my way. I will PM you my address. :welcome:

Davidcz75
08-11-2013, 06:28 PM
Ummmmm any news on my tank ? Not complaining but I can't seem to get a hold of you

yammerhammer88
08-14-2013, 11:04 PM
KEEP IT!!!!!!!! depending how much you want to spend to fix and tailor to your tastes but any trike is worth fixing just what are you willing to put into it is the question at hand. btw that is a real clean trike and looks like it was at the very least cared for more than most trikes that survived 30+ years

88RGuy
09-28-2013, 02:39 AM
yes on the flywheel magnets.. they are notorious for that.. but man.. a great atc right there.. powervalved motor right?? sweet!!

Dexter
10-02-2013, 08:42 AM
Well if you do one factor, to it eliminate the flywheel and deliver it to jeswinehart here on the forums and have the heat, epoxied in position when the come reduce they don't go out without getting a few areas, along with them.