1984 Tecate pics

[GeniusBlock]

I went to a friends house to pick up a really clean 1999 Sportsman 500 that I bought from him for $1500. He mentions that he has a 3 wheeler behind the barn that his boy used to ride (he's an empty nester now). He asked if I'd like it. Hey, never turn down a free trike. So we loaded it up and took it home. It's a little rough in some ways. The rear plastic is all busted up. The front could be restored I think. The tank is standard faded. It's got the original Dunlops on it I think. I started tearing the carb apart to clean it. Every thing I tried to undo, broke. Finally ordered a new carb spec'd like the Jimmy White book lists. I dialed down the main jet since the motor is stock. Runs like a champ. I had a really clean '84 250R. This thing is way scarier than the Honda. So, I've got a bit of work to do. Don't plan on a full restore, just make it a rider. Got the flywheel off and getting an encased one from jeswinehart on the way. Got the stealth black Maier plastic from eBay. The guy accepted an offer of $260 for it. Which was ok, but then I had to explain that purchase to the wife. :lol:

I'll post a few more when we get it looking a bit better. I hate that the Maier stuff comes un drilled for the mounts. Looks like the grab bar is going to interfere with the fenders too.

GB

[aramid]

wow, you literally stole that thing;

that bike looks to be 110% bone stock with every single orig part on it [except for the carb] that I can see.

The grab bar is original.

The tires may fall apart from age.

The bike sat outside for 100 years, this is why the fenders disintegrated.

If you buy a straight thru silencer, and jet it properly, it will run way better, but don’t throw the orig away.

The hoses on the carb go under the metal clip on the back of the engine in case you didn't know.

[jeswinehart]

so that is the free one,,, wow ! That is what we call a score,,, wow.
looks to have a reed spacer in there too :)

[GeniusBlock]

Hey thanks for the tip on the hoses. I'd never seen a Tecate other than in pictures. In fact, I still haven't other than this one. I like that it is a little different.
I cannot imagine this thing running hotter than it already does. I told my boy (16) that if he is even *thinking* about getting on it he better have a helmet.
~GB

[aramid]

Hey thanks for the tip on the hoses. I'd never seen a Tecate other than in pictures. In fact, I still haven't other than this one. I like that it is a little different.
I cannot imagine this thing running hotter than it already does. I told my boy (16) that if he is even *thinking* about getting on it he better have a helmet.
~GB

you're welcome

yeah it will run better with a std silencer and it will actually rev even farther.

i saw you were getting some type of jimmy white carb but not sure exactly what one that is but a carb that is 2 mm bigger than stock will be perfect if you run it without the silencer . . anything bigger will cause it to have a bit less bottom end . . the stock carbs actually work really well especially if you are wanting bottom end power . . anything else will reduce bottom end.

if you do not use the lite, i would remove it . . it will be the first thing to hit your head on or break if you crash.

check the torque on the swing arm pivot bolt and rear carrier bolts periodically . . they can come loose.

is your orig rear shock missing or bad? . . you can get them rebuilt.

the site below has some new old stock inventory if you need something you can't find.

http://www.xtremeusa.com/

[oile]

An Jemco pipe/silencer performs very well on 84/85 Tecate's and you can still buy them new.

[GeniusBlock]

Not sure how to tell if the old shock needs rebuilt or not. It seems ok. It's a little soft but I'm 6'2" and about 220. I haven't checked the swing arm bolts yet. Good tips.

Thanks for the info.

Here's the other side of the beast.

~GB208717208718

[jb2wheels]

That's a great Tecate - has the skid plates and the fender brace and the lights. Nice find.

[GeniusBlock]

This is right after we got the new carb installed. It didn't start on the first kick...about 10 or so. Clutch plates were all stuck together. You can tell when my son put it in gear.


http://youtu.be/UAI0GrJ8hS8

[aramid]

Not sure how to tell if the old shock needs rebuilt or not. It seems ok. It's a little soft but I'm 6'2" and about 220. I haven't checked the swing arm bolts yet. Good tips.

Thanks for the info.

Here's the other side of the beast.

no problem . . Ok, well there’s a couple options for this . . it may be that the shock is ok, they were not designed for riders over around 180 lbs people so kawi sold an optional heavy spring . . also, the 84 bikes had a bottoming out problem which was improved in the 85 model . . below are the p/n’s for the springs but they are pricey and hard to find . . you also need to look at the vin number stamped on the steering head to verify what year it is so you get the right spring if you find one . . they are incredibly rare and you are not likely to find one on ebay either.

the site I posted shows them as available but I wouldn’t hold my breath . . it also may have leaked the gas out . . if you remove the spring then push down on the shock and it returns by itself it has gas . . if you need it rebuilt one place that can do it is posted below but I can’t get the link to work so they may be out of biz . . of it just needs gas you can get recharged at most bike shops.

There is a damping adjustment knob on the top of the shock that can firm it up a bit too.

I think there is also a shock from another bike that will fit but I have never tried this.


shock rebuilders

http://www.suspension101.com/


these guys may be able to do it also.

http://www.racetech.com/page.aspx?id=56&menuid=62


http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/kawasaki/KP-92081-1736.html

92081-1736


http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/kawasaki/KP-92081-1857.html

92081-1857

[aramid]

.
If the front is too soft also, you can run heavier fluid like 15 wt and the level 5/8” higher than stock.

You can also preload the springs an additional 3/4” with a piece of pvc pipe . . get the front wheel off the ground, loosen up the top pinch bolts on the forks, put slight pressure on the fork tube as you remove it because it is preloaded a little . . if its still too soft and you have air fittings on the top of the nuts, you can add some air . . less than 10 lbs should help . . if you don’t have air fittings you can buy them for a couple dollars then tap your nuts and install them with some silicone sealer . . you can also buy different front springs . . I don’t know if these are heavier or just different.

You can also have both front and rear springs custom made from eibach . then can calculate/estimate what you need.

You can also preload the rear spring a bit . . I would try around another 1/2” – 5/8” . . put the rear in the air, clean the threads off the shock, spray some wd40 on them and on the top of the spring, then you can loosen the bottom nut on the spring with a drift or big flat blade screwdriver etc . . once its loose you can turn the spring and if you are lucky, the nut will turn with it . . if not you can take the spring off if needed.

https://www.denniskirk.com/harley-davidson/progressive-suspension/forks/1984-kawasaki-kxt250-tecate.mmy

http://eibach.com/america/en/powersport/products/atv

[GeniusBlock]

Sweet! Thanks for all this. It is much appreciated.

[nd4speed]

Some people put a 300ex or banshee or raptor rear shock on theirs.

Check out this thread:
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/94809-Kxt250-Tecate-3-What-Parts-Fit-Swap-Interchange

You got a great deal on a Tecate !!! It is nice shape and already running !

Used parts for 84/85 are easier to get, and it doesnt look like you need much.
Maybe you just need to adjust clutch cable?

[emmie357]

I have a 300ex shock on my 85, very happy with it... easy to install, and can be found cheap.

[Meat-BoX]

300-400ex shock installed on mine after I rebuilt and restored my original then swithched to a raptor rear then installed the Honda rear shock. No good and no where to mount res due to short line for the raptor. You can grab a Honda shock off e-bay like new for pretty good price. I think it mounts upside down? I have 2 original tecate rear shocks, one rebuilt, polished and powder coated and one all stock. If you want to stay stock im looking to dump them as Im gonna stick with the Honda shock out of ease and the mount on my from is busted off. I had the one totally redone and beautified yet it still leaked so I just went to a more basic rear shock after the raptor shock drama.

[3 Wheel Drive]

208812

The banshee shock bolts up, it's just slightly shorter than the 85 T3.

[GeniusBlock]

Is the 300ex shock shorter too? Also, 3 Wheel Drive, what is that rubber strap near the bak of where the fuel tank sits? I have that but it is broken.

[jeswinehart]

If I recall correctly the 300ex shock is a fuzz longer. I have had them on my Tecates , Heck I think there is one on my Black Tecate right now.
That rubber strap slips over the rear of the fuel tank to hold it down. Quite sure I have a spare hanging on a nail in the storage area,,,,

[GeniusBlock]

Looks like the frame has been repaired where it extends back to the grab bar. Looks like I'll be doing a little welding.208957

[aramid]

Looks like the frame has been repaired where it extends back to the grab bar. Looks like I'll be doing a little welding.

since you haven't had one of these i'll let you know that tihis is not uncommon but it is probably the only place it will ever break . . in case you don’t do much of this type of work, here’s just a few suggestions for you.

Cut it off at the break and clean the ends up . . by then there will be maybe a 3/16” gap between them when the broken off piece is properly located . . get a tube that fits inside the frame tube and cut it off around 1” long . . insert half of it in the bike side and put a tack weld on it then slip the broken section on and fill the 3/16” gap in with weld.

Another option would be, clean it all up then get a tube that will fit fairly snugly over the outside of the frame then cut it around 3” long . . then cut it in half lengthwise so it is now half of a tube . . grind around 1/4” off of one side only on both halves . . hold the rear section in place and tack the top half pipe in place so it is around 3/16” away from the rear most rectangular seat bracket, then tack the bottom one in place with one end around 3/16” away from the other half bracket on the bottom if the frame where the break is . . this new bottom half pipe will then extend under the rectangular teat most seat mount bracket giving extra support . . weld it all up.

The second method will prevent it from ever breaking again even if it gets hit by a train and will look clean, but you could use both methods if you want to be extra secure.

The axle nuts and wheel hub nuts are also notorious for coming loose on these so I would be sure to use the cotter pins on the hub nuts and blue loctite on the outside axle nut.

It looks like the seat pins on the bracket are bent down a little too . . if they are bent much, i would heat them first.

the rear fender uses rubber bushings, collars and hex bolts to secure it . . something close can be bought at many hardware stores and auto and motorcycle parts stores . . see them in the parts fiche below.

http://www.xtremeusa.com/OEMpartfinder.htm#/Kawasaki/KXT250-A1_Tecate_(1984)/FENDERS_(%2784_A1)/KXT250-A1-1984/080182D-8
.

[GeniusBlock]

A little progress on the Tecate. I can sit on some foam now. Geez this this is fast. That power band is just violent. I gotta be honest, this thing scares me.

GB211451211452

[oile]

Welcome to the Tecate world !