//ArrowChat Code
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 28

Thread: So whats the deal with pull starters - why are they so much $$$ on ebay?

  1. #1
    Billy Golightly's Avatar
    Billy Golightly is offline Always finding new and exciting ways to not give a hoot in hell Catch me if you can
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Live Oak, FL
    --
    15,066
    Blog Entries
    14

    So whats the deal with pull starters - why are they so much $$$ on ebay?

    Is it just because people don't know or wont figure out how to re-assemble them, or because that many parts are discontinued?

    I'm looking at some of the 185-200 series ones on ebay, and they are going $100+, some close to $200. Even 90 and 110 ones seem pretty spendy.


    What am I missing here?

  2. #2
    Dave8338's Avatar
    Dave8338 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Central MN
    --
    378
    I think you're exactly right. Most can't figure out how to rebuild a recoil. They can be a little tricky in the spring rewinding to get them "tight" enough, but not all that difficult.
    That being said, even a replacement handle for the 185-200 series will run you nearly $20.00. Makes me want to scour and scrounge for a few and completely rebuild / restore them. Flip them on the Bay.
    The Goal... All I Need Is The Time...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada
    --
    3,001
    Good question. Seems to be an often forgot about part that's easy to find, or so I think? I have a thesis about why the ATC 70 ones go missing but not the other models. I figure that due to the little buggers being finicky with carb/points adjustments, the pull starters fail by them being pulled to death for no starts, removed and lost/forgotten about. Just a thought.
    Trikes
    1970/71 US 90 (Aquarius Blue)
    1970/71 US 90 (Future Project)
    1972/73 US 90 Camo Project (110 Big Bore)
    1972/73 US 90 Green
    1977 ATC 90 w/83 110 motor (Fugly)
    1982 ATC 70
    1983 ATC 70 (Ladybug)
    1973 ATC 70

    1965 Marketeer 3 Wheel Golf Cart with 1986 Honda 250 drivetrain

    TF 2015

    Other
    1983 Honda Z50
    1978 Honda XL75

    Feedback http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ck-for-coopool
    http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...k-for-coolpool

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    EastGreenbush, newyork
    --
    3,494
    I see countless machines for sale on craigs with no pullstarts, or pullstarts in a box. Especially the 70's and 200's. So gotta figure demand is high between those looking for one because they just picked up a cheap machine thats missing the pullstart, and those who wont attempt to rebuild the ones with busted components.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    South Florida
    --
    6,722
    Ahhh yes that's why I have a box full of nos recoils , better than money in the bank !
    78 atc 90/180cc Dickson Full Suspension
    76 ATC90/180cc Nicholson
    77 atc 90 Dickson Full Suspension
    84 KLT 110/123cc Powroll Racer from 80s
    87 atc 125m stock
    84 atc 200x Curtis Sparks
    84 atc 200x Powroll My race bike from 80's
    83 atc70/108cc Powroll blue Xmas Special
    81 atc185s HP-ATC full suspension

    Performance Shop is Open PM me for Service

    My Feedback http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ck+shortline10

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Parma, MI
    --
    31
    Funny that I find this post since I have one going in the same section looking for parts to repair the recoil on the '84 200S I just bought last week. I too was wondering the same thing as to why the complete recoil assemblies on E-bay that I saw were $125+. So what is the alternative? Does someone have a pile of recoils with a foot of rope hanging out of them that need to be re-wound or the spring repaired?

    Unfortunately, I am now looking for parts to repair the recoil on this 200S becasue the spot welds broke on the steel piece that guides the "dogs" - free from the pulley and it looks like several "repair" attempts were made (i.e. bending up many parts with ) so now that I have the piece welded back to the pulley, it still does not work right.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Osceola,Missouri
    --
    95
    A guy on a facebook trader tried to sell me a 200s pullstart for 150 dollars. I took my time and found a whole 200s from a farmer for that price. I knew 70 ones were high but 200 ones too? I try not to buy any 200s around here if their missing pullstart because their so high

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Northeast
    --
    17,438
    I wish they would reproduce them with a chinese knockoff like the motors, carbs and light switches.....
    All our government does is distract us while they steal from us, misspend our tax $ and ruin our country

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Lancaster, PA
    --
    1,738
    Yep everyone takes them off, can't fix them and forgets where they left them or they are still at the local lawn mower shop waiting to be picked up. You can buy most of the internals for the 90s and 200s aftermarket. Not for the 70s. I have a large box full of pull starters waiting to be rebuilt and put on ebay, with new decals,lol but I haven't gotten to that project yet. I buy them at motorcycle swap meets when I see them. The ATC70 ones I keep because they never have them when you buy one.

    1985 Tiger 250LC
    1985 Tiger 200LC

    1985 ATC 350X
    1985 ATC 200x
    1973 ATC 70 (resto project)
    ATC 70 Full A+ Suspension Mini Tiger
    and many more!!!
    1991 District-6 Open 4 Wheel 4-Stroke Expert Hare Scramble Champ

    Blue Line Graphics
    Custom and Reproduction Decals
    http://www.bluelinedecals.com/

  10. #10
    Billy Golightly's Avatar
    Billy Golightly is offline Always finding new and exciting ways to not give a hoot in hell Catch me if you can
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Live Oak, FL
    --
    15,066
    Blog Entries
    14
    Quote Originally Posted by Dirtcrasher View Post
    I wish they would reproduce them with a chinese knockoff like the motors, carbs and light switches.....
    Thats kind of where I'm going with this Steve - are there that many components inside that are discontinued driving the price up, or is it purely peoples laziness and lack of knowledge?

    Its been years since I had one apart and seriously looked at it - but I know of nothing off of the top of my head that wouldn't be fairly easy to repop from what I can remember...

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Buffalo, NY
    --
    1,990
    I found a nos one for a 125m quad on ebay a couple yeara ago for $45 bucks and it fit the atc 125m motor perfectly. The only difference is that the writing is red on it. For the people looking for 125 or 110 pull starters those may be a viable option if they're still available
    Looking for a Bassani silencer for a 2nd gen tecate, the style with the movable mount. 1st gen will work

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Eau Claire, WI
    --
    1,188
    Geeze... a recoil only takes 15 minutes to clean and reassemble.
    86 Honda ATC 200X Frankentrike (Project)
    80 Honda CB650C Conversion (Project)

    3WW Feeback Thread For DasUberKraut

    Retired Machines - 02 Honda TRX 300EX, 85 Honda ATC 250SX, 84 Honda ATC 200X Astro Kit, 85 Honda ATC 70, 85 Honda ATC 200 Auto-X, 83 Honda ATC 200E Big Red, 84 Honda ATC 125M (X2), 82 Honda ATC200, 81 Honda ATC 185S, 81 Honda XR250R

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Back in VA baby!!
    --
    711
    Geeze... a recoil only takes 15 minutes to clean and reassemble.
    Only if you don't pop out the recoil spring....that thing is a pain to put back in
    S3 repros
    Trikefest '12 '13
    86 350x
    87 250sx
    84 70
    78 90
    Reproducing hard to find parts...check out the store

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Red Lion pa
    --
    1,542
    I just attempted my first rebuild of a 200s recoil a few weeks back for a machine sitting in my trailer. It needed a new pull rope as the decomp was not working when starting. I would manually lift the decomp but as soon as I hit the compression stroke it would rip your arm off. Anyway replaced cord after it tore and decomp still did not work. Pulled up a utube video and found out starer was missing the decompression spring. Found (1) and only (1) on ebay and promptly bought it. (Not even weezy had one loose to sell) Part is discontinued. I agree with Blue27. Folks trying to repair it, can't, tossed it, and bought a working one somewhere. Could be becoming the next high ticket item (recoils or recoil parts) of a growing list items we can no longer get. Mine was also missing the rubber stopper that keeps the decompression cable in the plastic ring inside the recoil. Still have not found one of those.
    insanity - Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

    My Feedback Thread.....http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ck-for-MRSOUND


    86 honda big red
    85 250sx
    82 250r
    86 klt 185 black (project)
    86 klt 185 red
    85 klt 160 (Floyd)
    85 klt 110 X2 (projects)
    86 klt 110 X2
    84 klt 200
    84 atc 70
    DUCKSTER!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Grand Rapids, MI.
    --
    680
    I have bought quite a few machines that had broken pull starters still on them and I would guess that it is just because people have no clue how to rebuild them. Usually it is nothing but a broken rope. I imagine most people just don't bother trying because if they did they would know it is not difficult, takes me about 5-10 minutes typically. I sometimes get machines that are missing the pull starter all together and I think that is probably also because people failed to fix them and they end up in a box or who knows where in pieces. It definitely can get pricey if you have to buy another pull starter or if you are missing certain parts.
    1986 KLT 185
    1984 200S

    Feedback Thread: http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...k-for-Ebaccm26

//ArrowChat Integreation Code //