My Big Red Hunk Of junk

[bigred12095]

Alright so I know these people that run a garage/ towing service and the towed a 1984 big red a few months ago that someone stole, flipped, then left. it's been a few moths since then and they sold it to me for 50$. I knew this thing was pretty rough in terms of condition but now that i changed the plug and got it running It blows out a lot of blue smoke and does not have a whole lot of power. All the electric has been ripped out but the pull start works. I want to restore electrical but before i do that i need to get it running right. do you think its blown up? rings maybe? do you think it will have to be bored? I havent really taken a wrench to it yet because im not very mechanically inclined. I can follow instructions but i need some guidance here. Help me!!

[fabiodriven]

The only way to revive a 25+ year old machine is to go through it soup to nuts. I'm sure it will need rings and a hone at the very least. It could very well need a bore. If you want a respectable machine, rip it down to nothing and rebuild or inspect everything. It may actually be easier and cheaper for you to buy a better maintained machine and use yours for parts, if you're really planning on becoming an enthusiast.

[shovelryder]

And if yer not mechanical, this may me just the one to learn on!

[bigred12095]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/84-HONDA-ATC200ES-BIG-RED-ATC-STD-PISTON-CYLINDER-JUG-/400189309002?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d2d24404a&vxp=mtr and new rings? I have always loved riding atc's but never had the oppurtunity to actually try working on one till now. I have someone who can help me install it but is it worth investing in?

[dustrunner]

sounds like a challenge.. huh ??? go for it it's alot of fun.....

[Keepah Rolln]

Good bike to dismantle and work on...You said it was flipped and left..maybe its got oil in places that are not supposed to have oil. Clean carb, air box, change plug and oil..Maybe it will come out of it but probable need to be redone...

[bigred12095]

Thanks for all the support guys! I'll be sure to talk about the outcome :p

[kb0nly]

Run it for a while, change the oil, drive it around the yard for a while, see if the smoke goes away, if it keeps smoking constantly its the rings, if it just smokes for a bit on startup after sitting then its likely the valve stem seals. My 84 200ES had the leaky valve stem seals, and it will puff a little smoke on really cold days yet, mostly likely a little blowby when its so cold that the rings are not sealing perfectly, i will probably do a bore and hone and new piston and rings next year, for now its just fine after rebuilding the top end to fix the oil leaks it had.

For $50 you might as well tear into it, you don't have much to loose!

[sammiefish]

sounds awesome!! youve only got 50 into it now so youve got alotta meat on the bone to fix it up....
like already said... do the basics, change the oil, clean the oil filter screen, clean or replace the air filter,
adjust the cam chain (way easy, just turn a bolt from outside), new fuel, even adjusting the valves is
super easy on these. then run it for a while... she might surprise you...

even if you do need a bore, piston, rings, valve seals, etc... you'll still be way ahead money wise.

as far as electrical... if it runs you're in good shape already... the rest you can get back together!!

Great find!!

[kb0nly]

You can ship off your cylinder to G&H and for $160 they will do an inspection, bore, hone, and return it with matching piston and rings all ready to slap back on. They also rebuilt the heads for the same price. I plan on shipping them a cylinder i have as a spare and let them bead blast and machine it, then next spring i will rip down the 200ES again in an after and put a new top end on it.

I had a feeling i should have done it the first time, i pulled it apart to replace the base and head gasket because of the oil leaks, but after that was done and it got down to the 20's here it starting puffing a little smoke again at start up, it does about 4-5 puffs of smoke then the exhaust clears up, i think its the rings letting a bit of oil by. When its warmer, 50+, no smoke at all ever. I thought about changing the oil viscosity for the winter, it has 10w40 in it now, i should swap it to 5w30 and see if that helps at all.

[sammiefish]

You can ship off your cylinder to G&H and for $160 they will do an inspection, bore, hone, and return it with matching piston and rings all ready to slap back on. They also rebuilt the heads for the same price. I plan on shipping them a cylinder i have as a spare and let them bead blast and machine it, then next spring i will rip down the 200ES again in an after and put a new top end on it.

I had a feeling i should have done it the first time, i pulled it apart to replace the base and head gasket because of the oil leaks, but after that was done and it got down to the 20's here it starting puffing a little smoke again at start up, it does about 4-5 puffs of smoke then the exhaust clears up, i think its the rings letting a bit of oil by. When its warmer, 50+, no smoke at all ever. I thought about changing the oil viscosity for the winter, it has 10w40 in it now, i should swap it to 5w30 and see if that helps at all.

sounds like you have my sickness as well... needs to be perfect....

as far as you viscosity... id be thinking 5w- for winter.... or even 0w....
im not sure how cold it gets for you but my some of my kohler tractor guys would say
0w-30 synthetic .... as far as the puffs... no big deal... you just want the
stuff lub'd when the motor is cold in the first couple minutes.... thats for 200es guys
or any 4 stroke guy......5w is probably great or as the manual states.... :)

[kb0nly]

It gets plenty friggin cold here. Having a week of -20 air temps is not out of the ordinary.

I know those few puffs of smoke are nothing to worry about, but yeah i'm picky so i will go through it again to get that fixed as well next year. I will get some 5w-30 in it this weekend, its supposed to be up to the 50's so it should be warm enough to drain and fill.