my new BIG red

[mooseknuckle]

So... I finally pulled the trigger on this '85 big red I've been eyeballing on CL. Man what a torque monster! Anyway, she runs and drives great but she needs some work. I've got all three brake cables on order along with the return springs and soon I will order the rear brake shoes. The shifter was stripped so I pulled the shifter off my 200s. It works, but, it is a cobbled up mess that someone had welded up in years past. the starter looks fairly new and spins great, but, doesn't engage. Also the kicker seems to slip on occasion. From my research here I feel that I need to replace the one way bearing on the kick starter. And finally, I need to replace the fork seals and fluid and possibly the springs:wondering

Future plans for this trike are 12x7 2.0+5.0 black steel wheels. 26x12-12 Swamp lites on the rear and 27x10-12 Swamp lite on front. Along with heated grips, hand guards updating the power outlet and a few other goodies.

Great site and would like to say thanks to Stonewall, dougspcs, Howdy, Fabiodriven, Tacatedan and El Camexican for your helpful and entertaining posts.

[thestud25]

the starter looks fairly new and spins great, but, doesn't engage. Also the kicker seems to slip on occasion. From my research here I feel that I need to replace the one way bearing on the kick starter. And finally, I need to replace the fork seals and fluid and possibly the springs:wondering


Great site and would like to say thanks to Stonewall, dougspcs, Howdy, Fabiodriven, Tacatedan and El Camexican for your helpful and entertaining posts.

You may be missing the primary gears that are needed to engage the motor. You will know if you need to replace the springs, mine were shattered. Welcome to the board.

[mooseknuckle]

I hope this works, heres a pics

[mooseknuckle]

Thanks stud!

[thestud25]

You are welcome!

[BigRedRider85]

NICE RED! Love these machines...

[kb0nly]

Take the little oblong cover off that has the electric starter gears in and inspect them. I have come across three 250's over the years that those gears were pulled out, usually because of a bad starter clutch located behind the flywheel, that clutch can go bad and lock up and drag the starter when running, or sometimes the starter clutch won't engage and someone took the gears out trying to troubleshoot and never put it back together. So inspect under that cover, if the gears are there then its the starter clutch.

The kick starter is the one way clutch, very common, comes up a lot on here. If you need the service manual to get working on these problems its on my server below in my signature, just click the link.

[mooseknuckle]

Redrider, thanks, she looks a lil' better in the pic! Still in decent shape though,plastics are all older maiers.

kbOnly, thanks much, I'll definitely be downloading soon as I get back to my computer. Hell I'll see if I can download to my phone as well!:beer

[rcurtis16]

i had 25x12-10 mudlites on the back, and i could feel the clutch drag, and jump all the time, and was a s.o.b to get up to speed, i had good clutchs before i put the tires on

[JasonB]

looks good man, have fun! sounds like the issues you have are all somewhat small over all. Congrats!

[mooseknuckle]

Thanks JasonB! Yeah, so far nothing to serious to deal with. Hey, Jason, real nice avitar you got there!

[Worden18]

Awesome! Just bought a Big Red myself recently. Love it. Have fun working on it and riding, and congrats on the purchase.

[kb0nly]

Redrider, thanks, she looks a lil' better in the pic! Still in decent shape though,plastics are all older maiers.

kbOnly, thanks much, I'll definitely be downloading soon as I get back to my computer. Hell I'll see if I can download to my phone as well!:beer

Your welcome! Thats why i got them up there so everyone can get them. I view them on my phone all the time when i'm working on stuff... LOL

[mooseknuckle]

Awesome! Just bought a Big Red myself recently. Love it. Have fun working on it and riding, and congrats on the purchase.

Worden thats awesome, pics please!

[mooseknuckle]

a couple more pics

[Smacksta]

That beautiful trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotr ailpro!! Love the big red!! Awesome to work on too!! If it had tits it would take over my life for good ;)

[mooseknuckle]

Thanks Smacksta. You did a great job with your side panels, wish i had side covers to work with! I guess I'll have to contact jeswinehard aboit his kicker cover at some point.

[Worden18]

Worden thats awesome, pics please!

I normally wouldn't rob anyone's thread, but since you asked mooseknuckle, here's a few pics of mine. Runs great, has new rear plastics. Needs a lot of work, which is fine with me. I love to work on it. I bought new shock boots; need to put them on yet. The other night I cleaned up the airbox and put in a new Moose filter. Anyway...

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gorfmaster/3%20wheelers/BigRed4_zps512aa162.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gorfmaster/3%20wheelers/BigRed3_zpsfbb05f94.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gorfmaster/3%20wheelers/BigRed5_zps5dca9ccd.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gorfmaster/3%20wheelers/BigRed2_zpsc1018447.jpg

[Smacksta]

Thanks Smacksta. You did a great job with your side panels, wish i had side covers to work with! I guess I'll have to contact jeswinehard aboit his kicker cover at some point.

Thanks man, was a lot of work. It's retarded how much those panels go for out there. I'm gonna start looking into making molds. I love new hobbies.

[mooseknuckle]

So as I mentioned, I plan to be running swamp lite 26x12-12 rear ad swamp lite 27x10-12 front. Can I get some feedback on that? I know I've some ways to go before I worry about tires but it kinda gives me a base point to plan my build around.
What I didn't mention is that this trike will be used for backwoods/trail riding as well as utility use. I live in NH so I will have a mixed terrain from very rocky steep inclines to very muddy low lands. I really enjoy riding technical terrain. My property has many downed trees, rocks and water/mud holes. Obviously there will be snow and ice in winter but I plan to to get 4snows for that. Thanks all!

[mooseknuckle]

Worden, thats a trailpro trailpro trailpro trailpro trailpro trailpro trailpro sweet machine you got there! thanks for posting pics! I love to look at BR's! Cheers!:beer

[mooseknuckle]

Smacksta, if you make molds let me know. I'd be more then happy to test fit a pair on my trike for product development purposes :lol:

[mooseknuckle]

Hey Worden, big thanks for serving our country! Just wanted to let you know the sacrifice of you and your family is appreciated. Carry on.

[jeswinehart]

Thanks man, was a lot of work. It's retarded how much those panels go for out there. I'm gonna start looking into making molds. I love new hobbies.

Easy there Josh :),,,,, George the kicker cover I make is 75 dollars shipped. When you are ready remind me too include the little rubber clutch adjustment cover it appears you are also missing (at N/C)

Yep, love my Bigred too. john

[mooseknuckle]

Thanks John, it will be a few weeks but I'll definitely be contacting you.

[davidvi]

looks good

[shockwheeler]

Gotta love the big red

[Smacksta]

Easy there Josh :),,,,, George the kicker cover I make is 75 dollars shipped. When you are ready remind me too include the little rubber clutch adjustment cover it appears you are also missing (at N/C)

Yep, love my Bigred too. john
Haha I wasn't talking about your prices. eBay. It's insane. Cracked panels for $100+. Feel like giving a course on molds john? Btw that clutch adjuster cover i got off ya looks pretty sweet Lol

[3Queen]

NICE Big Red!!!!! :beer

[mooseknuckle]

Thanks everyone for the compliments, help and suggeations. Please feel free to share your big red pics here. I'm always looking for new inspiration!

[jeswinehart]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/150303-How-to-reproduce-parts.
Let me know if I can be of any help !

Moose, I made a couple of upgrades to my stock Bigred that I like, put a 85 SX differential in for slighly higher gearing and made my own tool box for front rack that has proven invaluable.
I had a Hondaline one but gave it to my buddy for her 85 Bigred.
Got the speedo set up (had that on there for along time and the foot peg cushions, those are a sweet add on too if you happen to come across any.
And a few other "personal" touches,,,
163457163458

[mooseknuckle]

Hey John, great link. Also a good looking machine you've got there. I've also been playing with the idea of a lockable box on my front rack. I'm torn between welding two set of pegs together or making floorboards. The rubber pads looks like a good idea though, and they would be pretty easy to make. I definitely need to add a Mr.swival beer holder!

[rouseanator]

looks good I have a vid I posted on here on how to change the fork boots and I changed the fork oil it actually uses automatic transmission fluid like around 6oz of it for each the vid will show you how to take the shocks off and I just posted another vid on how to change the oil in a 200x shocks and it is pretty much the same once the shocks are off the bike

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/153337-1985-honda-250es-big-red-fork-shock-boot-cover-replacement-with-how-to-video

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/group.php?discussionid=988&do=discuss

hope this helps you...... also I would change your differential oil/ gear oil its easy doesn't take much and cheap and these trikes have oil filters too(engine oil).

[Smacksta]

So much info! I know what my nights will consist of now lol thanks John!

[mooseknuckle]

John, how do you like the gearing after the rear swap?

Rouse thanks for the links, i had actually watched your vid on the fork boots a few days ago! I figured you'd be a member here.

[jeswinehart]

Okay Josh, got it now. http://www.ebay.com/itm/251233600546?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

definitely can see what your talking about ,,,

[mooseknuckle]

So I pulled the plug of the rearend today, only to find thick brown sludge like "oil". I will be flushing that out and replacing with fresh gear oil.
Also found the shifter I had replaced stripped also. When I pulled it off noticed the shaft was slightly stripped as well. Are the shift shafts still available. Or is there one that will interchange? Thanks in advance.

Also, John, how much difference does the rear end swap make. Do you like the gearing?

[jeswinehart]

+ Moose, the difference is not huge, but definitely noticeable. I would say around 4 to 6 mph increase thru out the gear range. Still not close to a SX gearing (because of gearing in that motor is slightly higher as well if I recall correctly).
On the long flat stretches of Michigan trails I can cruise a wee bit fast with out reving the motor to the point of it screaming.
Howdy showed seral of us a little trick at a ride once about stripped shifter lever/shaft.
Spread the pinch part a little wider, cut a narrow strip of alu from a pop can and wrap it around the shaft and put shifter lever back on and re-tighten.
It is a band-aid fix for sure but you may very well be surprised as too how well it works and save taking a motor apart.

[mooseknuckle]

Haha, now that you mention it I've heard of the soda can trick and forgot all about. I'm still gonna want to replace the shifter and shift spindle, but, that will enough to be able to run around the yard a few times to flush old fluid from rearend. In other words, fill with clean oil, run drain refill, repeat.

[mooseknuckle]

I want to adjist the valves but the rotor cap is frozen in. Screw driver just wants to strip it out. Anyone have a trick to get this cap out? I'm not crazy about heating up the case but if thats what I gotta do...

[mooseknuckle]

Maybe I should be more specific, the rotot isn't frozen, it seized in. Any ideas how to loosen this thing up? Thanks in advance.

[mooseknuckle]

Take the little oblong cover off that has the electric starter gears in and inspect them. I have come across three 250's over the years that those gears were pulled out, usually because of a bad starter clutch located behind the flywheel, that clutch can go bad and lock up and drag the starter when running, or sometimes the starter clutch won't engage and someone took the gears out trying to troubleshoot and never put it back together. So inspect under that cover, if the gears are there then its the starter clutch.

The kick starter is the one way clutch, very common, comes up a lot on here. If you need the service manual to get working on these problems its on my server below in my signature, just click the link.

So i had the left cover off today. I found that my starter gear reduction gears are in place. I also found that he starter clutch behind the flywheel free wheels counter clock wise but catches and will turn the engine over clockwise. My queztion is can it be installed backwards?

[kb0nly]

I dont think its possible for it to be reversed, or in other words flipped over, but i guess anything is possible. Only way to know for sure is going to be taking it apart. But if it catches the wrong way then the motor should be spinning over the starter when its running.

[coby6290]

Great looking Big red, I have 2 also.