Difference between 85 and 86 Honda 250es?

[tapage]

Well im going to look at one tomorow and the owner said that it was just a big red 250es... and im not sure what the diffrences are it needs one major part that will make it complete, the axel broke when they were riding it and im trying to find a good one of those as well any help with trying to find the difference would be very appreciated.

Travis

[tapage]

is there even a difference?...

[MonroeMike]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/140648-difference-between-85-and-86-big-red

[tapage]

Thanks Mike, still didnt answer my question but it gave me a better bearing on my way.

[dustrunner]

pull the cap on the rear diff. check for water and noises i'll bet the diff is shot.....just my $ .02 ....good luck.....i believe the axles are the same......

[tapage]

im really worried about diff, someone offered me one for $50 a couple weeks ago and i turned them down cause at the time no idea i would be loking at the king trike

[ps2fixer]

Major differences I know of is the actual differentral housing, and the brake hub is different. I remember reading on here one can be ground down a bit for make the diferentral work from one year to the other. No clue on the actual axel, It seems like the basics of where everything is at is the same, just the housing is different. The other change is from 85 into 86 the carb design changed a bit with the vacuume hoses. Besides that I think the rest is basicaly the same.

Here is the 85 design of rear end:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/85-86-87-Honda-Big-Red-250es-rear-end-differential-axle-/221209387384?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item33811b6178&vxp=mtr#ht_104wt_1428

and here is the 86:
http://www.3wheeler.org/vb/showthread.php?44027-Swedish-Honda-250ES-Big-Red-86!-PICTURES!

As you can see the 86 has the hub then brake drum cover, the 85s are brake drum (not a cover) then the hub.

I think the whole assembly might interchange for the entire swing arm, not sure on anything else though.

I have a complete 86 rear end in great shape, but I think I'm going to toss it on ebay to get the high price out of it. Oddly there were none on ebay at all for 86. If you can get one for $50, JUMP ON IT! You can get around $250+ out of it easy.

[manbearpig]

How do you BREAK an axle on a 250es?

I've seen LOTS of bent axles, some bent really bad, but never a broken axle, let alone on a 250es. How hard do you have to ride a 250es to break an axle??

[ps2fixer]

I would say really hard lol, I ride mine pretty hard and never had a problem. One of my machines has the ring gear going back, it is missing around 5 teeth.

[tapage]

they kept riding it without a bearing and it just wore through the axel and rear end untill the axel snapped

very sad story

[Dave8338]

That being the case, you're going to need a rear diff, as well. I'd bet a few, that the ring and pinion gears have serious wear and teeth you could your hand on...

[ps2fixer]

I have an entire 250es 1986 rear end in great shape, but on the down side it isn't cheap. I'm sure you could get a 85 rear end cheaper, or even just buy a parts machine and swap the entire rear ends over (i think 85 and 86 can interchange as a whole unit, swing arm bolts on back). Send me a pm if you are interested in the rear end and I can get you photos of it. Everything on the machine it came from was in the best shape I have seen so far from the ~5-6 big reds I have owned. Engine was the cleanest as well and is shelved till I figure what I'm going to do with it.

[dougspcs]

The differential is interchangeable between the years..no modification required.

The axle, brake assy, hubs and tube are not.

Unless you want to buy the entire rear swinger assy, which I think is a direct bolt up swap, you will need to stick to the exact model year to get the correct parts.

It's nuts what people do to their machines..keep riding until something blows up!!

[jody8877]

DO you still have the '86 rear end complete with axle? If so how much?

[ps2fixer]

Sending pm.