A Big Red is in my future?

[HondaClaw]

I'm new here, and I'm going to buy a 1986 Honda Big Red 250ES tomorrow, and the person I'm buying it from can't find the key, it needs a final drive shaft and swingarm bolts. Without the key I can't tell if it runs, is this a good buy?? (everything else is in good shape I'm pretty sure the fork isn't welded and as far as I can see everything else is fine. Does anyone know where I can find a 1986 Honda key switch?

[chuckiedog04]

ebay. would work

[muthey]

disconnect the key ignition and you should be able to start it. I won't pay good money for anything I cant start or don't know what the internal condition is, also remember if the motor is out and a bunch of parts in a bucket, no matter what they say it used to run like there is a reason it's in a bucket, just a thought for future reference.

[zackwhite]

u can still start it all u got to do is cut the wires off and use a scrow driver and it wood start and then wire the key back up later

[HondaClaw]

Well the engine is still attached so that's good, and yeah I assumed ebay would be the best place too look. I'm planning on restoring this to good trail ready condition as I am doing with my 88' 300 Fourtrax. Now I can't do anything that involves taking apart the engine but I can do almost anything else that needs to be done to restore the machine :D

[tri again]

Well the engine is still attached so that's good, and yeah I assumed ebay would be the best place too look. I'm planning on restoring this to good trail ready condition as I am doing with my 88' 300 Fourtrax. Now I can't do anything that involves taking apart the engine but I can do almost anything else that needs to be done to restore the machine :D

Hey there.
I have 2 b reds with all 4 ignition key wires hanging out in thin air not touching anything or each other.
so you do not need a battery or key to see if it's worth buying.
I bought them that way but those ignition switches simply UNplug so please don't cut the wires

It will kick start that way if the kill switch is on (not off)
so you can at least check for spark, hopefully hear it run etc.
Engine knocks, valve or timing chain noise/slapping, that kinda thing.

Any locksmith should be able to get you a key if you can see the number on the key cylinder.

Final drive shaft? It's got 2 'u' joints, like anything else but no grease fittings on them.
Just gear oil in the differential.
3 POINT 3 ounces so it's not very much and they do need every drop.

Check the gear oil in the differential. 17mm wrench
If it looks like chocolate milk or there is None, you'll have a lot of work to do.
Swing arm bearings? I mean bolts?
I bet they mean bearings.
They look like regular tapered wheel bearings and are possible but not real fun to change.
See if the whole trike rocks side to side with slop where the swing arm meets the frame.

Check for spark, hopefully get it to run, and ultimately get it to run thru all the gears,
see if it shifts, don't worry about the brakes., they are not the deal breaker, but everything else surely can be.
If it looks really sad, get it cheap and buy another one.85 thru 87 parts mostly interchange.
and the sx models are real similar engine/drivetrain wise.

They are the ultimate Dream machine and worth whatever you have to put into them.

There seems to be a sweet place when a trike looks like it needs too much for parts and $$,
another one comes along cheap enough make one or the other work out great.
I seem to get them for 2-300 each, a day or 2 of clean up fix it work, very little parts $
and on and on it goes. I think I'm up to 7 or 8 running 1985+ models with no real reason to stop.
Sell one and buy 2 more.

Look at the prices for them in Canada.

Good luck and let us know what you find.
You got a camera?

[muthey]

Just like I said disconnect the wires no need to cut there are plugs you may have to unwrap some tape, but you'll kick yourself later if you cut wires

[tri again]

Just like I said disconnect the wires no need to cut there are plugs you may have to unwrap some tape, but you'll kick yourself later if you cut wires

X2 for sure.
Just unplug.
Thanks muthey

[dougspcs]

I'm new here, and I'm going to buy a 1986 Honda Big Red 250ES tomorrow, and the person I'm buying it from can't find the key, it needs a final drive shaft and swingarm bolts. Without the key I can't tell if it runs, is this a good buy?? (everything else is in good shape I'm pretty sure the fork isn't welded and as far as I can see everything else is fine. Does anyone know where I can find a 1986 Honda key switch?

Without telling us what you are paying how can we tell you 'is this a good buy'? You left the most important part out..

Anyway to recap. Not running(no key) hope that's all with engine and trans., driveshaft..you sure it isn't rear differential??, and swingarm bolts..

If you said $200, I'd back the truck up and help you load her up. You can always resell for parts and get your money.

But if the guy is hitting you for say $750 with that many variables..maybe not. And most important, is in good condition? Plastic all beat, tank all full of rust, tires look ok, brakes?? but you can't check that until you ride, seat, lights other parts missing..

Once you have seen a few of these you can kinda do a mental tally of the dollars might take to get her running the way you want..then add that to what you paid. Is it still a good deal?

You left us hanging way out with no information..could be a steal, maybe a money pit.

The ignition is easy, as the guys said..either hotwire or go to the dealer and buy a new ignition/key assy. I just got one for my 250sx OEM for $70..

I got my 1st 350x for $1300, others from Ontario thought I stole it!! But nearly $1400 later..plastic, seat, tires, rims, tank paint...not a steal anymore. But at least it's how I want it..so still a good deal.

Not trying to bust your b@lls, just help!!

[HondaClaw]

I'm paying about $140 and yeah I'll do all that and I will not cut the ignition wires (whoever owned my 300 before me did that I bought a whole new ignition switch) Yeah I will check the gear oil. And I'll get some pics up! Thanks guys! :)

[dougspcs]

At $140 you're stealing it from him..I would. But why so cheap?? Is he hiding the fact the engine is toast??

Either way if it turns out to have much more wrong..resell it and get your money back.

Back the truck up!!

[HondaClaw]

I ended up getting it for $120 since he didn't have the key. My uncle (who is very pessimistic when it comes to old wheelers) has doubts but he also had doubts about my 300 which still runs like a champ!
Alright now if I can only get some pictures up!

[gomer202]

ya lets see some pics of this thing

[muthey]

did you try and kick it over, is the motor moving freely?

[dougspcs]

$120..you criminal. How do you sleep at night?

[HondaClaw]

I've kicked it over a few times, the motor has compression and all that, I'm trying to get pics up, just I'm not sure how haha

[HondaClaw]

I kicked it over a few times, the engine has compression which from my limited knowledge is good, and I'm trying to get pictures up but I don't know how :/

[gomer202]

send me a pic of it and i will post it up for you!
andrewketola@gmail.com

[HondaClaw]

Sure I'll probably end up doing that, because I click to insert an image and it says "insert URL here" and it's like why do I need a URL?

[gomer202]

ok ya just send them to me and ill post em up!

[HondaClaw]

I just sent the Email thanks man

[muthey]

pics would take up too much space on the server so we have to upload them to like photobucket and then insert the url

[HondaClaw]

Ah I see, that might be why most forums use photo bucket haha well I don't have an account on there soo yeah D:

[gomer202]

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[gomer202]

i rotated them for you to so they are easier for people to see

[HondaClaw]

Sorry I didn't get any good ones, and don't mind my cousin in the pictures he is actually the one who pointed this steal out to me, and he also helped me "steal" my first ATV :P

[HondaClaw]

i rotated them for you to so they are easier for people to see
Yeah my phone doesn't like to listen.. Sorry about the bad angles.

[gomer202]

no problem thats great price for that thing

[HondaClaw]

I knew I wasn't getting ripped off! :D

[muthey]

looks like you are getting a few extra parts too

[gomer202]

no way in hell is that a bad deal i would say thats is a $300-$400 bike

[HondaClaw]

He told me he paid $400 for it, and that he wanted $200-$250. So I offered my Xbox 360, my mom intervened to prevent that but it was for the best because after that it lowered to $150 and when I got there he couldn't find the key so I got him down to $120 :D

[gomer202]

im so jealous!

[HondaClaw]

Alright now to the nitty gritty part. I'm gonna see if it runs ASAP I probably should buy a manual.. But so far the obvious things I need are swing arm pivot bolts, and a drive shaft yoke.

[gomer202]

have you cleaned the carb yet??

[HondaClaw]

Oh yeah I should probably do that too, I also should clean the carb on my 300 while I'm at it, and this trike came with 2 carbs! (I don't think he realized what he had) One carb is installed and the other is attached to the other big red handle bar it came with)

[gomer202]

ya clean that and then try and start it!

[gomer202]

it should start it is a honda after all

[HondaClaw]

Yeah I know right? I saved my 300 from the snow drifts of Woodford VT where it was beaten as a plow, and let sit uncovered for 6 years at the base of the mountain.. It fired right up! Hopefully my Big Red will be my next success story!!! :)

[gomer202]

thats what happened i got a 200e for free that sat under a tree for 15+ years cleaned the carb jerry rigged a gas can well mine was being hot tanked and the thing fired right up like it ran the day before good old honda's

[HondaClaw]

Yeah now if only my budget will allow me to have this Big Red ride able soon, if not then well it WILL be worth the wait I mean I do have a perfectly fine 300 to ride in the meantime. I'm really glad I bought this piece of history =]

[gomer202]

you will definately be happy with it and good luck om getting it going we definately need pics once you get this thing freshened up a bit if you decide to

[HondaClaw]

I wouldn't dream of letting this baby go to waste I'll fix her up, no matter what I'm stubborn.. My mom told me I couldn't buy it (cluttered back yard - my fault XD) So I brought it to my cousins haha and I will deff post pics!

[gomer202]

sweet looking to see this thing come back to life!

[HondaClaw]

It feels like a mess but all it needs is TLC.

[gomer202]

my 200e looked like a kawasaki it had so much green moss on it i got it for free and ended up selling it a month later for $650

[HondaClaw]

That's the kinda stuff I hope I can do within my near future :D

[Nubbinz]

take a paper clip, bend it into a rectangle. feed it into the ignition with pliars. when its all the way in, stick the tip of your car keys in and turn it. ive done it before it works

[gomer202]

That's the kinda stuff I hope I can do within my near future :D

And considering I'm only 15 and I'm fixing and selling trikes and I'm making money which supports me to buy better bikes so far I have gotten 3 free bike a yamaha 200e, a Honda 200e sold for $650 and a Honda 200s sold for $700 all of the money from those I put into a new bike it's the perfect way to do things buy and sell beaters it's what got me into this hobby!

[HondaClaw]

No way I thought everyone else was older on here haha I'm only 17 I jumped on the 3 wheeler wagon a little late then :P

[Stonewall]

I'm glad not everyone in our generation is wasting the 3 wheelers we have left! (like that dumass with the #1 result for 3 wheeler on youtube) I'm 17 too, and on my second 3 wheeler restoration. Trikes are awesome!

[HondaClaw]

No way that's sweet dude, yeah I'm like crazy about this Big Red I can't wait,I was thinking that when I'm done it will be my main trail machine haha (my quad is only 2WD anyway)

[three_wheelin45]

yea theres a few youngsters on here.. hell im only 16 myself..

[HondaClaw]

Everyone seems older with how much they know about 3 wheelers haha

[three_wheelin45]

Everyone seems older with how much they know about 3 wheelers haha

^^ tell me about it I give half my family atv help and there like 20+ they all come to me for atv help and I go to them for car and truck help LOL so it all pans out ;)

[Stonewall]

I've been around 4 wheelers my whole life, I also have a 6 wheeler, and I've had a fascination with 3 wheelers for a long time. I just finally restored my first last year. (1974 ATC 70) Plus you learn alot about this kind of thing growing up on a farm....

[HondaClaw]

I think where I come from you learn how to cob job your machines to work until they die haha I'm gonna break that mold and actually do this machine correctly!

[gomer202]

Everyone seems older with how much they know about 3 wheelers haha

Ya that's what I thought people seem older until you find out how old they really are

[dustrunner]

if you get it running and want a key take the switch to a honda shop and they can make 1 for you for 10 $..