Big Red History

[79stingman]

Just got in from driving it. It didnt idle, kind of hard to get it in gear. At first I would squirt gas in the carb, it would run and die(I jumped the battery). The choke plunger is broken, so I can not pull the plunger up, just push it down with a spring to make it seal. Since it didnt run, I cleaned the carb. Then I sprayed gas in the carb, then put my right hand by the carb inlet, push the starter button with my left hand, then very quickly moved my left hand to the throttle, then used my right hand as a manual choke. I got it warmed up enough so I didnt have to put my hand over the carb and it would run if I constantly reved it. I sat on it, reved it up, let the RPM's come down, very quickly put it in first gear and give it some gas and I could get it to go. I only got up to third gear, even got it into reverse and it worked perfectly besides the fact that it didnt idle. I will post pics tomorow. Any help on the idle issue?

Thanks,
Ryan

[TravEX]

Clean the carb thoroughly. Have you ever tore into a atv carb? It might be easier is you buy a carb kit for it, that way you can replace all the jets and seals and gaskets in it after you clean it good and put it back together.

Are you jump starting it from a vehicle? That's not a good idea. Can you not kick it over?

[TravEX]

And, as you know, you'll need to get your choke working if you live in colder climates. The early 85 Big Red's are very cold natured. Late 85's, and the 86 and 87's had "cold start" kits on them, which consisted of a fatter starter jet and a re-routing of the vent hoses to make cold starting easier.

[79stingman]

Clean the carb thoroughly. Have you ever tore into a atv carb? It might be easier is you buy a carb kit for it, that way you can replace all the jets and seals and gaskets in it after you clean it good and put it back together.

Are you jump starting it from a vehicle? That's not a good idea. Can you not kick it over?

I forgot to put that I cleaned the carb before I used my hand as a manual choke.(I edited the other post and put it in) I have cleaned many snowmobile carbs before, but this is my first ATV carb. Same basic setup. I am not jump starting it from a vehicle, I am jumping it from a spare battery. I can kick it over(I did multiple times when it was warm and it died) but the main reason I used the electric starter was to see if it worked and it does.

And, as you know, you'll need to get your choke working if you live in colder climates. The early 85 Big Red's are very cold natured. Late 85's, and the 86 and 87's had "cold start" kits on them, which consisted of a fatter starter jet and a re-routing of the vent hoses to make cold starting easier.

I am looking for a choke plunger. It will be a lot easier when I get one.

Thanks,
Ryan

[TravEX]

Ok, sounds like you're on the right track. Once you get it running good, you'll be in love with Big Red's, they are great machines. I'm kinda like ScottZJ, I want a DOZEN of em! LOL

Like Scott has suggested, you could run a lawn mower battery on it for a while with longer battery cables, to save ya money while your building it back. The stocker battery is at least $60 depeding on where you get it.

[79stingman]

I got pics, how do you post them so you dont have to click on them to make the pictures big, and you can write in between them?

[TravEX]

upload them to a photo sharing site like photobucket.com or something like that, then you just copy and paste the img tag.

[79stingman]

I will do that, Should have the pictures up later today.

[79stingman]

Alright, Here are the pics.

Heres the rear fender


Dash


Gas tank


Shifter- Looks like the previous owner broke it off and welded a Yamaha one on?


Broken brake lever


Front Fender


Inside rear fender


Rear Fender


Sweet headlight


Front


Front Left


Left


Rear


Right side

[TravEX]

The motor is the best looking part on the trike. To be honest, I would cut ever corner possible, and get it running and just use it for a beater. You could get ALOT of $ tied up in it easily. Tires and tank not bad. Do all the cables and controls work? Seals and bearings tight? Looks like a good one to tinker with. RIDE RED!

[SpeedyTide]

+1....keep it as a day to day rider. Lot of work & hassle to get it looking perty.

Still a Big Red though! : )

Good luck!

[79stingman]

The motor is the best looking part on the trike. To be honest, I would cut ever corner possible, and get it running and just use it for a beater. You could get ALOT of $ tied up in it easily. Tires and tank not bad. Do all the cables and controls work? Seals and bearings tight? Looks like a good one to tinker with. RIDE RED!

As far as I know, all the cables and controls work, the front brake either has to be adjusted or it is shot. The rear brake works. I think all the seals and bearings are tight, I havent checked. The side covers are not on in the pictures, I have those, took them off for working on it.

[79stingman]

Got a brake lever mount yesterday, A front fender and a headlight should be coming soon.

[79stingman]

Well, I FINALLY got it to idle, the slow jet was plugged, it didnt used to be. I installed the inner tubes in the two rear tires, installed the used front fender, and installed the new brake lever mount.

[79stingman]

The brake cable is all sticky/rusty and I broke it trying to get it loose. The cable was all rusty and when I put one of the ends in the vice to pull on it I pulled the end right off.