I quit

[JacobMonster]

Thinking about getting out of 3 wheelers.
Not riding, just these machines.
Why?
Because I have finally come to grips with the fact that as much as I would like to be a mechanic, I do not have the time, patience, or skill to do so.
I know this after many attempts.
Also, with my personal life, having little free time or money anymore, I'd much rather have a reliable fixed machine, that when I do find that ever so rare free moment to go ride, I can actually go ride and not spend all my time and money fixing broken stuff.
And will all my friends who are ever so willing to help me fix my bikes, are either fairly busy, or so far away that its almost not worth it.
On top of that, the one place close enough here that will actually work on these bikes, I dont like.
And my Honda mechanic no longer has the free time to put into these bikes.

Then with all the drama on the forums in the last few months, and all the crap that went down at Trikefest this year, it has put a "bad" taste in my mouth for the event. Granted, the problems were not from the people of Trikefest. A lot of you are my friends or Im aquainted with and are really good people.
This all could just be cabin fever and the fact I bought a bike for TF and havent been able to touch it since.
Or the fact I tore down a perfectly good bike to play mechanic then fell on my face.

What do you guys think?
I'm torn because I do love these machines. Its just the circumstances don't seem to be right anymore to have them.
Do you think I just just push through and fix the thing? Or just sell out and come back when I do have the time and money?





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[JacobMonster]

Tore down a 250r engine that I could never figure out how to put back together again.
Boils down to if I can convince myself its worth the extra $1000 in repairs or if Id rather buy a 2 wheeler or put that towards another bike. I have $400,$500 worth of parts to buy to make it a decent bike. Then I have the top end and crank that'll need rebuilding im sure.
Yeah, Im crying over spilt milk. Figured either someone would go, "Yeah, sell it and come back to it, you'll enjoy it more later" or "keep it, you'll regret selling the bike".


Note: Simply put, im frustrated with the current status of the bike and I am looking for advice. Because I know theres enough people who have had projects at a tipping point, whether to continue or get rid of it.
I like taking in as much info as I can before I make a decision and like to see what other people decided in similar situations so I can make the best one for myself

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[ironchop]

Knock it off kiddo.

Most of us tore down something we can't remember how to put back together.... Especially at your age. Aren't you in your early 20s?.....Patience and wisdom comes from age and experience. I once "rebuilt" my CR80 Honda the first time in 88 or so... Took a hone and promptly honed right thru the Nikasil coating that I didn't understand so I seized it two hours after initial fire up. Very expensive mistake but what I learned was worth so much more.

I'm trying to make TF this year. You can hang with us again. I'm bring a couple young newbs with trikes with me (unless my daughter's baby birth gets in the way)

You're always welcome at my place Jake.

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[Aulbaugh]

Definitely don't sell anything. For me when stuff goes south I step away for a bit and relax(blame it on my OCD). Everyone has been there and you just have to push through the problem, then you'll be happy you did. What about some of the members on here reaching out and having them help with your rebuild?

[fabiodriven]

Stick around Jacob. You're a good kid and a smart kid and I was looking forward to seeing you again at Trikefest this year. I still owe you a better welcome to my camp (didn't know it was him).

[83ATC185]

Hi Jacob, its Jacob.

It doesn't matter what you do in life you never know whats around the corner. Anything you choose to do as a hobby has its ups and downs. I myself have 2 trike projects going that i haven't touched, one in 3 years the other in 2. I haven't ridden in months. Due to pouring all of time and money into getting the motor in my Electra rebuilt, and my entire home remodeled at the same time. After taking the car on two 10 mile trips it started knocking. A 3 month, $1700 screwup due to inexperience and bad advice. Mostly bad advice concerning an oil passage and tang on the #1 rod bearing.... My point? The cars getting a big block soon and the house is almost done and i can get back to doing what i love to do.
I should mention i tore down a perfectly good running Oldsmobile 350 that needed freeze plugs.

There's no "right time", sometimes you just gotta dodge the trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro to catch the apples.

[Danny2stroke]

Doesn't matter how many wheels your have. This is motor sports. Things break. You're either all the way out or you're not. There's nothing "reliable" after a certain period of time. They say blood sweat and tears for a reason. My advice is don't sell anything. Ever. Unless of extreme circumstances when you need fast cash. But especially don't sell rare pieces of motor sports history.
If you can't fix something, save up and pay someone who can. There's not many people who can fix their machine top to bottom. I didn't do the bottom end on my r, had a friend do it. Am I ashamed? F no! My trike runs mint lol and what's better than that.



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[JacobMonster]

You're always welcome at my place Jake.

I keep forgetting that for some stupid reason lol. Thanks Doug


Definitely don't sell anything. For me when stuff goes south I step away for a bit and relax(blame it on my OCD). What about some of the members on here reaching out and having them help with your rebuild?

I do occasionally. Last few months I havent just because the money and time hasn't been there, so i was slowly losing my drive to get the project done.

Stick around Jacob. You're a good kid and a smart kid and I was looking forward to seeing you again at Trikefest this year. I still owe you a better welcome to my camp (didn't know it was him).
Why thank you. When you hang out with me this year, we'll see if you still think that lol jk


Hi Jacob, its Jacob.

It doesn't matter what you do in life you never know whats around the corner. Anything you choose to do as a hobby has its ups and downs. I myself have 2 trike projects going that i haven't touched, one in 3 years the other in 2. I haven't ridden in months. Due to pouring all of time and money into getting the motor in my Electra rebuilt, and my entire home remodeled at the same time. After taking the car on two 10 mile trips it started knocking. A 3 month, $1700 screwup due to inexperience and bad advice. Mostly bad advice concerning an oil passage and tang on the #1 rod bearing.... My point? The cars getting a big block soon and the house is almost done and i can get back to doing what i love to do.
I should mention i tore down a perfectly good running Oldsmobile 350 that needed freeze plugs.

There's no "right time", sometimes you just gotta dodge the trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro to catch the apples.

Thank you for expressing that, as I'm pretty much in the same boat lol. Ever since TF, every time I'd get $300, $400 the car would take it, my truck would, or some bill. I just needed the kick in the butt to get going again and I have it now.



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[ironchop]

It took me 5 yrs to finish my 200X because of money that needed to go to other more pressing projects and bills. At one point, I lost interest in it and pushed it to the back of the garage after my wreck and didn't touch it for three yrs until my son reminded me that I promised to take him to Trikefest someday. So I figured I would at least finish it to make good on my promise and I'm glad I did. What a great experience that was!

Just put it away and don't look at it for awhile if it's getting on your nerves. It doesn't cost anything to shelve it for a bit till you get back your three-wheeler mojo

Off road machines are expensive and break alot as mentioned by someone else above so that's something you'll never get away from.

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[kb0nly]

Take everything and box it up nice, stash it away in that dark corner of the garage, and go about life for a while. I think everyone has stuff that gets to them now and then, i can tell you i have walked away from projects more times then i can count, but eventually i come back and appreciate the fact i didn't get rid of it. If its bugging you seeing it all the time thats where stashing it away comes in. I have motors torn down and cleaned up and stored in bags and buckets that eventually i will get the time and money to finish, i wouldn't ever want to sell them though for the simple fact that at the rate at which stuff ages and appreciates in value due to trying to find it again that i would rather have a bucket full of parts to come back to then endlessly searching for another one.

Hence i have what i call the litter bucket collection. Cat litter buckets with lids, cleaned out and made into nice storage buckets for parts. Cases get wrapped in plastic if they don't fit and get sat on top of said bucket full of its guts. Tearing it down and doing all the cleaning is the long hard part for me, getting the parts and putting it back together goes pretty fast when the money presents itself.

I stepped away from the forums for over a year, just slowly coming back now and then now. I got separated, moved, and divorced, and managed to keep everything as well as my happiness that grew afterwards. I still haven't got back to finishing some of those projects, but its nice to have one to pull out on a cold winters day when i'm bored out of my mind.

Take a break, it will all happen in time.

[plastikosmd]

^ agree
I quit and come back to hobbies all the time. I do what I find interesting at the time. My only regrets are selling something I wish I just stashed away for a rainy day. Don't let it stress u out, life is short

[x-rider]

Agree with everyone else, but will add to do what is best for you. If that means taking a break, asking for help, paying someone to do it for you, selling your trikes to buy a reliable bike or quad, or better yet a trike conversion. Only you know what's best for you. At least take some time to think about it. Good luck on whatever decision you make.

[Rob Canadian]

Take a step back Jacob. We all have been down this road from one time or another... I know I have. I have a monster truck R/C that is collecting dust.

Don't sell anything unless it is the last resort.

I did not even ride my dirtybike this year. Enjoyed the trike too much. Got out when I could.

I think cabin fever set in.

[Dirtcrasher]

Once you get a trike together CORRECTLY, it's of my (and many others) opinion they are extremely reliable!!

Trikefest seems as if it took a bad turn last year and IDK if I'll ever go there again.

Pete got fired, the old lady received the same fate and I've read that there will be no night riding, (there goes barrel racing and the shoe tree) and the cleanest bath we could get in the river will be a walk now. Fabio has a legal road trike so he's all set and others can all jump in the back of a truck; But it doesn't seem as if it will be the way it's been for many years. Maybe we just got lucky at Haspins with the management they had because I have heard about the rules at other places such as "Badlands".

Like a few others, I always preferred to go for a 10 round trip since it's a nearly 900 mile trip for me.

Also, I am fully committed to the NEEDT series beginning this year in the 3rd week of April. Ever subsequent race appears to be at the end of each month.

I can only travel so much due to a business at home I need to be home for certain portions of this....

[JacobMonster]

Once you get a trike together CORRECTLY, it's of my (and many others) opinion they are extremely reliable!!

Trikefest seems as if it took a bad turn last year and IDK if I'll ever go there again.

Pete got fired, the old lady received the same fate and I've read that there will be no night riding, (there goes barrel racing and the shoe tree) and the cleanest bath we could get in the river will be a walk now. Fabio has a legal road trike so he's all set and others can all jump in the back of a truck; But it doesn't seem as if it will be the way it's been for many years. Maybe we just got lucky at Haspins with the management they had because I have heard about the rules at other places such as "Badlands".

That was part of the issue. It was my Dad's first TF. Since we had mechanical failures, we didn't get to enjoy those events and doesn't seem like we will.
Course I dont see quite how they will stop those festivities as I thought nobody was ever around at night.
The River getting taken away and the apparent crack heads who wander amongst the crowd steal everybodys stuff just sucked. I will most likely go back this year, as one bad year shouldnt spoil the entire idea, atleast for me. Hopefully it will be better this year.


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[JacobMonster]

Take a break, it will all happen in time.


Take a step back Jacob. We all have been down this road from one time or another

I think cabin fever set in.

Yeah, it was just frustration and not being on real ride since TF last year.
Im going to go confirm some parts I need to order and hopefully get them placed this weekend.
Maybe I'll get a bit more motivated when I see new parts arriving on my doorstep.

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[Scootertrash]

I'll add my .02:
Wrenching:
When it comes to wrenching you need the proper manuals for the vehicle. Even vintage manuals are available for cars, trucks and even vintage shop tools. If you are tearing down anything mechanical without a proper manual it's a recipe for disaster. I've been wrenching for almost 40 years, first starting getting taught by my Father and Grandfather, and tons of self teaching and took all the shop classes in school (Do they even offer wood shop and metal shop in school anymore?). The first "tool" ever taken out on any project I was involved in was the factory repair/service manual. Auto repair shops and dealers still have manuals available for their mechanics and they're supposed to be professionals. The manual for your particular project may not be cheap, but it's cheaper than a very exspensive screw up if you didn't have one. Trust me, I know of what I speak. ;) :D

I've made a lot of mistakes wrenching, some rather expensive. Knowledge ain't free, and I've even seen school edumacated mechanics make expensive mistakes. Take your time, double check your specs, and take your time. If you get advice on the interwebs, trust but verify. 3WW is one of the few sites I've seen where someone asks a mechanical question and there are several answers posted that are consistent in the advice offered, probably because we have a smaller membership of educated guys due to the particular type of wheelers we restore, modify and ride.

Drama:

I wasn't at TF, but I've perused the thread. So some D-bags showed up and acted like f-tards? Big deal. Yea it sucks, but in life there is always the chance some douche will come along and ruin a good thing, particularly in this day and age. It sounds like the incident is being dealt with, only time will tell if they show up next year and if they do how it's handled.

Internet drama:

All I can say about this subject is "Really dude?" Nobody forces anyone to read a certain thread. If you find a thread too dramatic, move on to another. Just because you have people who disagree on certain things doesn't make a thread dramatic. This community agrees on one particular thing as a basis for our comaraderie: We like three wheelers. Everything else is up for debate, every subject will have 2 and some times 3 sides of a disagreement. Every forum has one or two twatwaffles who think they are smarter, more knowledgeable and have a bigger schwincenlimper than all the others. Opinions are like a-wholes: Everybody has one and they all stink. If you don't like someone, use the ignore button, it works like it was intended. ;)

Bottom line: Don't give up or quit. Never. Not at anything. The sense of accomplishment you get after being successful far outlasts the tiny setbacks of failure. Why? Because I said so, dammit! I'm the biggest successful failure I know!

Carry on.

[Scootertrash]

Schidelhooper, knob gobblers and cork soakers oh my!

239895

And I agree with glamy:keep the 250R!!!!

[ironchop]

We almost got a twatwaffle for president that one time....And then we didn't

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[ironchop]

You ready to work on this again or did you sell it?

I still live in the same place, FYI.

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[mendoAu]

I had a 1951 BSA A-10 and rode it awhile before deciding to take it apart and rebuild it. Didn't have the equipment or expierance I have today. Why the hell did I get rid of that piece of history. (in boxes).

[6bt]

I'm only a month late, but I'll contribute anyhow. Not sure how old you are, but I'm in my 30s. No one around me was a mechanic. I learned on my own. Taking stuff apart, ruining things, spending hard earned barely above minimum wage $$ as a teenager to fix my screw ups. I bought auto repair manuals at garage sales for 50 cents apeice, for vehicles I didn't own. Just to read them and hopefully learn something. IMO, people learning this stuff nowadays have it made. There's YouTube videos, and helpful forum members, you can even save a few bucks on used manuals.

I did my first bottom end in my 1988 cr250 when I was 14. It ran and I rode it a whole season before running lean from airleaks. A local "shop" fixed my cases by welding them and warping them. Got to buy new cases making $6 an hour..$500. rebuilt it again at 16.

Same bike, at 14, I "rebuilt" the rear shock. It had no rebound dampening when I was done. Sent it out, rebuilder said I did a fine job rebuilding the shock..except I put the rebound shims in backwards. Lol!

I say keep at it. Nobody's asking you to design an engine from scratch, all you gotta do is get it together in the correct order. If you get in a bind, plenty of us can help you out.

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[mollie8000]

im not that far from you pm me if I can help

[ironchop]

im not that far from you pm me if I can helpI haven't heard from him in awhile which is why I drug up this old thread. He was getting ready to become a daddy last I talked to him and I lost his number somehow

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[yaegerb]

I'm only a month late, but I'll contribute anyhow. Not sure how old you are, but I'm in my 30s. No one around me was a mechanic. I learned on my own. Taking stuff apart, ruining things, spending hard earned barely above minimum wage $$ as a teenager to fix my screw ups. I bought auto repair manuals at garage sales for 50 cents apeice, for vehicles I didn't own. Just to read them and hopefully learn something. IMO, people learning this stuff nowadays have it made. There's YouTube videos, and helpful forum members, you can even save a few bucks on used manuals.

I did my first bottom end in my 1988 cr250 when I was 14. It ran and I rode it a whole season before running lean from airleaks. A local "shop" fixed my cases by welding them and warping them. Got to buy new cases making $6 an hour..$500. rebuilt it again at 16.

Same bike, at 14, I "rebuilt" the rear shock. It had no rebound dampening when I was done. Sent it out, rebuilder said I did a fine job rebuilding the shock..except I put the rebound shims in backwards. Lol!

I say keep at it. Nobody's asking you to design an engine from scratch, all you gotta do is get it together in the correct order. If you get in a bind, plenty of us can help you out.

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Actually this thread was stale a year ago. Last time I talked to Jacob he was getting out of three wheeelrs but maybe we will see him pop up down the road.