1986 250ES Big Red Rebuild

[Smacksta]

Hey Guys, New member from Canada here. My first restoration here and its on the classic big red. got some pix here to start it off.. 5 hours of cleaning the engine lol looks good enough for me.. any ideas ot suggestions are welcome

[kb0nly]

Welcome! Nice to see another BR come back to life!

[jeswinehart]

Hey Guys, New member from Canada here. My first restoration here and its on the classic big red. got some pix here to start it off.. 5 hours of cleaning the engine lol looks good enough for me.. any ideas ot suggestions are welcome

You certainly got that engine sparkling clean ! You may have the little rubber cover that fits over the auto clutch adjuster (engine right side forward the kicker) off while you cleaned the motor but if it is simply missing, contact me when you are ready. I have several (my wife makes them, I do the right side kicker cover).
Looking forward to seeing future progress pictures + ride report.

john

[dustrunner]

yep, you got a great start on it... keep the photo's coming....

[Smacksta]

Thanks guys! Can't wait till my parts come in from Honda. Then I can start the fun stuff (front suspension, fluid changes,
bearings) :/ does anyone know if it's worth it to put in a fuel line filter? Or just leave it as is ?

John, I do not have that rubber piece. I'll defiantly be in touch later on. Thanks!

[kb0nly]

Do yourself a favor, install an inline fuel filter. But spend a little more and get the reusable lifetime type, the metal canister type that can be taken apart and cleaned. Its a worthwhile investment to keeping the carb clean.

[Smacksta]

This might be a dumb question but is my coil ignition cable supposed to easily come off the cap that goes on my spark plug? Would it hurt to put a dab of caulking on the cable and put it back in the cap?

Also,Anyone know if you can clean a carb without taking it apart? I don't want to have to rebuild it it runs ok I just want to clean it up cause it prolly hasn't been looked at for a long time. If it ain't broke don't fix it right lol is there a spray or anything?

[kb0nly]

The cable is supposed to be removable from the coil and the plug cap, cut a little off to get to some fresh wire and then reinstall, don't glue it on!

You could spray down the carb with carb cleaner but otherwise taking it apart is the best way to clean it up good. If its running good i would just leave it alone until a problem presents itself.

[RPMRestorations]

The big reds are indestructible.

[70shaker6pk]

Hi, just wanted to welcome you also! Looks like you getting a good start.

[Smacksta]

161555Parts are in!!! Back to work ;) i have been iching to get dirty lol

[loshe191]

Wlcome ,I looks like you have a good start going good luck on the Big Red.

[canucksfatcat]

I love it when people take the time and effort to get old ATC's back on the trail. It's always a pleasant blast from the past when you run into a Hunter on a mint Trike:)

[Smacksta]

162124162129162130162131162132a little more updates, been super busy at work so i have been kinda pluggin along an hour at a time..lol might be a good thing cause ill want to ride once im done..lol

scraped the hell out of the covers with a razor blade for an hour lol got all the sun damaged crap off it and back to fresh plastic. did some surgery on the cracks with the soder gun, heat gun and some plastic from my old fenders, just need to buff it up and shine her up and put the new stickers on.. worked pretty good.

fork seals were pretty tired. 27 years of muskeg in the forks.. smelt like someone took them apart, took a dump in them and sealed it back up..lol

Spark plug was black as night..

[Smacksta]

Any ideas guys? I guess at some point in the Big reds life this exhaust was changed out. I want to get this Cover on the pipe, but do i drill holes in the exhaust pipe or Weld nuts on the pipe and screw it directly on? I just don't want to have to buy a new pipe if the welder goes to hot...162294

[shadam]

nice thread,
keep it coming ...

[puffine]

Awesome project! Nothing better then getting oem honda goodies. Where in Alberta are you located? Im moving to calgary from ontario and it seems like trikes are almost non-existant here, or outrageous prices if u do find any :S

[Smacksta]

Awesome project! Nothing better then getting oem honda goodies. Where in Alberta are you located? Im moving to calgary from ontario and it seems like trikes are almost non-existant here, or outrageous prices if u do find any :S

Grande prairie, there are lots around here for cheap too. But they go fast I found. Trying to get another 250 and rebuild with after market. Have one oem and one pimped out. Lol I love trikes. They can handle anything.

[trike savior]

yeah you will need to weld nuts on it. you need to use good enough heat (amperage) to get nut to stick, just keep moving your heat around. tack one side and tack the second one, then when you come back do a tack 180* of area you just welded and do the same on the other. keep going back and forth doing tacks until you have a complete weld around nut. if you start seeing whole area getting red hot stop for a minute and let cool
good luck

[kebby28]

Are you saying you make the side cover that covers the kicker? I will take one and one for the left side to if you make them :)

[Smacksta]

Are you saying you make the side cover that covers the kicker? I will take one and one for the left side to if you make them :)

I don't no, but jeswinehart on here does, he makes a few other items you might be interested in as well.. awesome to deal with.

[flatfender]

fork seals were pretty tired. 27 years of muskeg in the forks.. smelt like someone took them apart, took a dump in them and sealed it back up..lol.

Honda used Whale oil friction modifier in these forks too? I had an XR650R when I replaced the original fork oil it smelt like a can of rotting snails. Project looks good!

[Smacksta]

Update- Works been super busy so ive been pluggin along pretty slowly... couple more pics of progress.
- New fenders, repaired the side panels, which turned out awesome. still have to scrape the weathered plastic off the box lid and restore.
- front forks look brand new now, waiting on double ended studs for right fork. one was broken so i figured i would change them all out. Was pretty hard to find 6mm double ended studs.. even in an oilfield town haha
-Brakes were pretty gross.. other than the smell and spores they are in great shape.. pads are like new.
hopefully start putting everything back together within the next week. just waiting on my racks from paint, all new vent lines and fuel line/filter. getting excited to ride!!
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[BigRedRider85]

cant wait to see this thing done...

[Smacksta]

me too lol feels like its taking forever. its gonna be worth it i think tho.

[mooseknuckle]

Cant wait to see the finished product. Thats gonna be one helluva nice trike!

[davidvi]

looking awsome

[shockwheeler]

Nice big red!

[elevatorman]

Awesome job

[Smacksta]

Hey boys, sorry its been a while since i posted. been super busy. next post will probably be the finished product.

[Smacksta]

16959316959416959516959616959716959816959916960016 9601169602169603169604

Well its done guys, If anyone has any questions or want to know what i did or anything at all just ask.. works been insane. sorry i havnt posted for what seems like a year haha

Hope you enjoy!!