Long time ATC owner, first time poster! Looking for some help, staynig for the fun!

[rallye26]

Hey all, my name is Mark. I live near La Crosse, WI.
When I was a kid, my grandpa aquired a 1984 Honda 200ES Big Red that fell off the back of someones trailer. It was in pretty poor shape. We fixed it back up into runnable shape, but not much else. It ran great and I had all kinds of fun with that thing up through high school. I had the ugliest ATC among my friends, and the only 3 wheeler....but it was a blast. I rode it HARD and it really just got to be a tired machine. The brakes eventually failed but that didn't stop me from riding. Big mistake when riding in the hills around here! It went for a tumble down a hill. It still ran, but was rough and its been sitting now for over 7 years.

I recently purchased a 1985 Honda 250ES Big Red that needed a little work. I rode around for a half hour and the thing seemed to run great. Then I started tearing into it to tune it up a bit.

Here's where you guys come in! I pulled the airbox open and all that was in it was a big mouse nest. No filter, and no remenents of a filter...just a nest! I hope i didn't suck much up when I rode it!
I bought a new moose filter online and it came in yesterday. It has a hole in the end of it. I looked online at a diagram and found that I need a "body" piece for the filter. Any body know where I can get one. I couldn't find one of these thing anywhere. Is it okay if I just clamp the foam part on and plug the little hole? Thanks for any input!

Looking forward to all the discussions and hopefully some local events!

(BTW sorry for misspelling "staying" in the title....tried to edit...I guess not! LOL)

[Xowner]

Watch ebay for a cheap airbox with one in it. The cage piece is there to hold the filter open because it "COULD" collapse or fall off the tube when bouncing around. It wasnt available new?

[rallye26]

Thats kinda what I figured. I didn't see anything on ebay but will keep looking.
Every site I've found they list the part number but it is not available. Even called the local Honda ATV dealer and they can't even get it.
Hopefully something comes up or I might have to try to make something.

Edit: just found an airbox with it on ebay...Thanks! Im going to pick that up!

[rallye26]

The more I tear into this thing, the more I find cobbled! Ugh! Some guys just don't treat these right! I find that the nice meyer plastic had some extra holes drilled and half cobbled to the rear rack to hold it up. A bunch of the rack bolts are siezed up or snapped off and one of the rear hinge bolts that the rack hinges on was snapped off. Got that one drilled out, and then snapped a thread chaser in there trying to clean up the threads. Got an actual tap and it cleaned right up though. Then to find another bolt! Wow. Ended up tracking down the Honda part number and bought two new ones at 3 bucks a pop...for a little bolt. WOW.
Slowly but surely Im going to get this girl in proper shape.
I have a airbox on the way so I can get the inner filter "cage" peice, then it will be new fuel, new filters, new plug, and we'll get it fired back up. Hopefully everything works out well. Still cruising Ebay daily trying to find some missing pieces such as the triangle peices in front of the rear fenders, tool box lid, battery, etc. Someday, this girl will shine again! OR at the very least be in DECENT shape.

[rallye26]

Does anybody on here have a cheap place to buy the plastic fuel filter that slips over the petcock and goes into the tank? Mine broke trying to get it out (its all rusty right around the petcock) I got the tank cleaned up pretty well and the petcock is fine, but the filter is broke. I found a filter online for like 20 bucks....for that money I can buy a new petcock that comes with a new filter. Is that my best bet or is there somewhere cheaper to get just that plastic screen filter? Thanks guys!

[philgipson]

put a inline filter in it.good luck with the red that's a fun ride.

[thestud25]

Make sure to clean the carb while you have the bike tore apart. If there was a mouse nest in the air box and no screen then you definitely sucked crap into the carb and probably into the motor. That carb is guaranteed to be filthy and will only cause you problems until you clean it.

[jb2wheels]

I've had good luck buying "grab bags" of bolts for a certain trike off Ebay. You get an assortment of factory hardware at the fraction of the cost of new ones.

[rallye26]

I do have an inline filter in it anyways besides the petcock filter, so your saying I should be just fine with that?
I keep watching ebay and stuff for these parts, I suppose I could wait to have one pop up and just run with out the screen for now.

As far as carb cleaning....its already off and going to be cleaned! I wasn't happy when I found no filter and a mouse nest in the box. I sure hope it didn't run long that way and I hope it didn't do too much damage!
Can't wait to ride this thing again. Warmer weather is getting me motivated!

[dustrunner]

the mouse nest in the air-box will go into the cylinder, then get exhausted into the muffler and hopefully out .. it shouldnt clog the carb or hurt the cyl. cuz its is mostly grass and such.. so i wouldnt worry to much about that.. just clean the carb real good and enjoy riding again...

[wonderboy]

Just as an FYI: the airbox is one of the most important places to inspect before riding the machine if it has sat for a long time. Mice LOVE to build nests in there. They also love to chew on your filter element. Mothballs around the tires (on the floor) where you store the machine should discourage them from climbing up and into your machine. But don't put them ON the machine... they stink and the smell never seems to go away.