85" Tecate Saga

[smoknrv4]

Well I have posted a few times on here about various things,and I thought I should maybe post a progress report from day 1, and add any further questions and such in one thread.
I bought this 85'Tecate about 3 weeks ago and as usual it needed a lot more work than originally anticipated and money has been falling out of my pocket since. LOL! Oh well, lovin every minute of it!
The picture below is how it looked when I first bought it, not a bad lookin machine if you ask me, but needs some work, it was not running yet. It had been painted nice and had new plastics, but it needed some work cause I am,by nature,too fussy. One thing that makes me happy is it runs. When I first mounted the carb and tried to start it, nothing would happen. I had spark and fuel but still nothing. That's when I removed the flywheel which came off too easy, and found the key sheared. After further inspection realized the magnet glue was cracked and ready to fall off. I had to clean up the end of the crank as it was all bruised on the end from someone abusing it, then the inside diameter of the flywheel also needed cleanup. I re-mounted
the flywheel lined it up with the key slot, and it fired right up! Didn't run it for long though didn't want the magnets to fall off and wreck everything. In the mean time while I'm waiting for a flywheel from jeswinehart, I am going to attack the forks, they are really pitted so I have a nice set to replace them that just need new seals put in.


Things it needed:
New carb - have it
Front chain slider-have it
Front frame pipe mount-have it
Proper bolts and nuts- have those
Rear brake master cylinder- on its way
Brake pads- have them
Front fork that aren't pitted all up- have them, just need to put in new seals
Lights- on their way
Proper wiring harness-on their way
Flywheel-on its way from John with magnets re-encapsulated
This is what I've come a crossed so far.

[smoknrv4]

Some pics of my pitted forks and installed chain slider. Also found out that the brake calipers need a rebuild now, hopefully when I get them apart the Pistons aren't pitted.

[smoknrv4]

Well front caliper piston is pristine but the back one is no good. Found out the rad leaks under pressure also and a mounting tab is broken. So another rad coming also.

[efhondakid]

Real good looking tricycle I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the T3s.

[smoknrv4]

I got my flywheel from jeswinehart and what a beauty!! He does nice work on these!
So I got it running and it'll only run in the high throttle range, if I let it idle down it'll quit. Any ideas?
Thanks

[jeswinehart]

Thanks for the kind words smoknrv4.
If carb idle adjustment is maxed/cable adjustment near throttle just plain ain't "doing it" perhaps try moving the clip on needle jet down one spot.
Here is a A+ posting that has helped me a lot with 2 strokes
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/55086-Carb-Jetting-101-Terms-Tips-and-Jetting-Theory

[fieldy]

What size and brand of new carburetor did you install?

[smoknrv4]

[QUOTE=fieldy;1423983]What size and brand of new carburetor did you install?[/QUOTE

It's a Keihin PWK quad vent airstryker 35.

[nd4speed]

You are going to have to jet the carb....nice Tecate you have there!

[RubberSalt]

I got my flywheel from jeswinehart. I couldn't be happier.

The Tecate was notorious for throwing flywheel magnets. Fortunately, jeswinehart came up with a solution!

[smoknrv4]

Installed new sprockets and "X" ring chain today. Also worked on the front and rear brake cylinders preparing them for rebuild. I have new brake lines also to install, I just keep finding more things that need attention, lol!!

[smoknrv4]

Seriously??!! Lol!!

Are these worth this much??
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/142065914234

[DohcBikes]

I dont know but "ITEM IS NEW . WAS MOUNTED BUT NEVER USED". Is a crock of shlt. Mounted means used, every time.

[smoknrv4]

Restored the brake calipers over the weekend, they are ready to bolt on. Just have the fork seals to do now.

[jb2wheels]

Seriously??!! Lol!!

Are these worth this much??
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/142065914234

Not when I can buy a KX 500 case saver for $20 or so...

[smoknrv4]

Any tips on bleeding brakes would be appreciated big time!! Been bleeding the front for 3hrs so far and just a bit frustrating.:(

[jeswinehart]

Okay, i will describe my way since i have learned how to copy + paste on this phone very well.
Short peice of clear tubing over bleeder and other end into a cup with fluid in it,,, open bleeder.
Beste to keep fluid in ressy while you slowly pump lever.
You will see air bubbles in cup and the fluid levle rise. If the cup on floor is near over flow simply dump it back into your container you are keeping rezzy full with.
Once you are sure air is out of system, close bleeder and see if you have resistance,,, you should. It may be a bit sponggy so a couple more loosen bleeder, squeze lever and tighten bleeder before teleasing handle may be needed.
Did you teplace/inspect the tiny o rings where piston shaft slides thru ???

[smoknrv4]

Yes, that's how I've been doing it. But I still don't have any fluid coming out of the bleeder valve clear tube into a container. It's leaking out a little around the bleeder screw thread though.

[jeswinehart]

As much as i hate saying it you must be sucking air in the caliper.
If the teeny weeny o ring in the caliper housing is broke or missing it will suck air. Thats where i went wrong along time ago.

[jeswinehart]

I just took a moment to look at tecate brake breakdown. No stem on the piston. It had to be one on the x modle hondas that i had in mind.
But at anyrate it sounds like air is getting sucked in.

[smoknrv4]

Yeah everything is rebuilt on the brake system.

[danbur55]

Did you make sure bleeder valves were cleaned out??

[efhondakid]

Any time I do a new line or have lost fluid for what ever reason in the master cylinder I put a flat head or similar in between the brake pads and get the caliper up higher than the MC. Bleed as you would normally but having the caliper higher lets the bubbles want to naturally run to the top as opposed to be forced down to the bleeder.

[smoknrv4]

Thanks for the good tips guys! I'm a goof, I thought I had cleaned the bleeder screw but turns out after another inspection that I only cleaned the cross hole at the bottom and forgot to clean the dried mud out of the hole down the middle. Goter' done now, took 10mins to have front brakes working great! Lol!
I was able to finish reassembling the front end tonight, after fork seals and repaint the bottom of the forks.

[smoknrv4]

so I figured out tonight what was wrong with my trike not wanting to run below 1/4 throttle as mentioned earlier. I decided to turn the idle screw in all the way until the spring was fully compressed and it ran better but still quit. So then I removed the spring completely and screwed it in all the way and it idles nice and ran sweet! Now, wondering if the plastic idle screw was shortened at a time or something? It measures 1.25" long from under the head to the tip. This is all I can think of why it has to be turned all the way in, is it has been shortened.
At any rate I got to take her for a rip tonight for the first time and almost crapped my pants lol! I'm stoked!!

[RoscoW]

Nice looking Tecate, A rare find here in Ontario. Where did you pick that one up?

[smoknrv4]

Nice looking Tecate, A rare find here in Ontario. Where did you pick that one up?

Hey there fellow southern ontarian! I found it on Kijiji from a guy in Barrie, but it ended up needing a lot of work, but it's worth it, I'm seeing the end of the tunnel now. Lol! Wouldn't have been a good trike for someone that wasn't inclined with these things. Looks like you have quit a collection there, awesome!

[RoscoW]

Did a couple Tecate's. The green one is still floating around Ontario in a collection near Oshawa and the red and white one was sold to a fellow who passed a couple years ago and I'm not sure where it ended up. Found that I would always bring one with me but always chose to ride the Honda. Yours is looking really nice, great attention to the detail items makes for a really nice build.

Ross..

Green Tecate build thread
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/106007-Got-a-green-one-in-the-stable

White and red Tecate,

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af77/Roscowbuggies/Tecate%202/DSC00876.jpg (http://s995.photobucket.com/user/Roscowbuggies/media/Tecate%202/DSC00876.jpg.html)


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af77/Roscowbuggies/Tecate%202/DSC00877.jpg (http://s995.photobucket.com/user/Roscowbuggies/media/Tecate%202/DSC00877.jpg.html)

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af77/Roscowbuggies/Tecate%202/DSC00871.jpg (http://s995.photobucket.com/user/Roscowbuggies/media/Tecate%202/DSC00871.jpg.html)

[nd4speed]

so I figured out tonight what was wrong with my trike not wanting to run below 1/4 throttle as mentioned earlier. I decided to turn the idle screw in all the way until the spring was fully compressed and it ran better but still quit. So then I removed the spring completely and screwed it in all the way and it idles nice and ran sweet! Now, wondering if the plastic idle screw was shortened at a time or something? It measures 1.25" long from under the head to the tip. This is all I can think of why it has to be turned all the way in, is it has been shortened.
At any rate I got to take her for a rip tonight for the first time and almost crapped my pants lol! I'm stoked!!

You may want to jet your carb. Removing the spring from the idle screw that just pushes the slide up in the body is not the recommended way to jet from closed to 1/4 open throttle. You probably need a different pilot jet and/or needle.

[smoknrv4]

You may want to jet your carb. Removing the spring from the idle screw that just pushes the slide up in the body is not the recommended way to jet from closed to 1/4 open throttle. You probably need a different pilot jet and/or needle.

I figure its not right, last night I fiddled for a couple hrs not getting anywhere, Im learning but I'm confused why I can't get it to full rpm at wot. Ive went from a 162 main jet to a 168 and still same. Im going to try again tonight and do some plug examining, and adjust the float again maybe to allow a little more fuel. Its a PWK quad vent 35 carb. Also the jetting thread is helpful too.

[smoknrv4]

Did a couple Tecate's. The green one is still floating around Ontario in a collection near Oshawa and the red and white one was sold to a fellow who passed a couple years ago and I'm not sure where it ended up. Found that I would always bring one with me but always chose to ride the Honda. Yours is looking really nice, great attention to the detail items makes for a really nice build.

Ross..

Green Tecate build thread
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/106007-Got-a-green-one-in-the-stable

White and red Tecate,

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af77/Roscowbuggies/Tecate%202/DSC00876.jpg (http://s995.photobucket.com/user/Roscowbuggies/media/Tecate%202/DSC00876.jpg.html)


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af77/Roscowbuggies/Tecate%202/DSC00877.jpg (http://s995.photobucket.com/user/Roscowbuggies/media/Tecate%202/DSC00877.jpg.html)

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af77/Roscowbuggies/Tecate%202/DSC00871.jpg (http://s995.photobucket.com/user/Roscowbuggies/media/Tecate%202/DSC00871.jpg.html)

Wow! nice tecate!

[smoknrv4]

What's a good compression range for these engines?

[RubberSalt]

185-190 psi

[smoknrv4]

I'm using Motul synthetic at 32:1, what are you guys using for these beasts?

[RubberSalt]

I do 24:1 with Klotz, 927, or yamalube 2r. Pretty much any quality oil. I run rich with oil - Love the high RPM.

[smoknrv4]

Ok, the saga continues. I am loosing my mind with frustration on this one trying to get it to run below 3/4 throttle. One day it doesn't run too bad, (mind you still won't idle, with lots of throttle slack and idle screw all the way in with out Spring), but it just bogs out. It'll run good at 3/4 to full, I believe I have it jetted nice actually, but below that it wants to just die. Every combination of needle height tried and pilot jet setting. I can ride it if I manage to get it in gear without stalling and it works good through the gears as long as I don't let it die. Could this be a stator/Cdi/coil problem at all?? Am I chasing the wrong thing?? I bought the PWK carb used, in awesome condition and rebuilt it boiling it out and everything. Could it have the wrong needle or slide maybe???
Looking for some answers that I haven't already tried.

[smoknrv4]

SO after finding the crank seals are leaking I've tore the engine open to find the crank badly pitted where the seals go on the flywheel side. Also the piston is rough and the jug looks like it needs a refresh.
Can someone explain to me what the deal is with these first gen jugs? Are the plated? Can they be rebored? What can I do with it? What are my options?
Thanks!

[bkm]

They are plated from the factory. If the plating is bad, it can be replated, or a iron sleeve can be pressed in and over bored in the future as long as pistons are available.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[fieldy]

I would replate if you were going to keep stock bore. Nikasil plating will cost $325- $350.
Sleeving is cheaper.
Someone said that most of those older Tecate cylinders would break a bridge or port and that most were already running sleeves, if i recall correctly.

[ghoward]

Could anyone point me in the direction of good used 84-85 t3 fenders/ engine parts? Thanks

[jeswinehart]

I would replate if you were going to keep stock bore. Nikasil plating will cost $325- $350.
Sleeving is cheaper.
Someone said that most of those older Tecate cylinders would break a bridge or port and that most were already running sleeves, if i recall correctly.

The KX jugs had the bridge problem,,, occasionally if poorly attempted porting (that was not needed since it is a 6 ish + horsepower bolt on upgrade to stock KXT trike) or sleave with iron liner.
Fresh nikasel cylinder is much better performing then iron sleeved jugs for some reason,,, from what I recall hearing several times long ago.
I have never had iron sleeved jugs to compare against,,, only re-nik'd new.
The stock 84/85 has no bridge at exhaust outlet. For all intent + purpose the 84/85 250 KXT is a de-tuned 83/84 250 KX dirt bike motor.

[smoknrv4]

I'm going to go for a re plated jug. Doing some homework on it and I think it's the best way to go IMO.