To all 200X enthusiasts

[clong]

I am new to 3 wheeling and have always ridden 2 wheelers. I have a ’98 YZ250. I recently came a across a 1983 200X for free. The motor was seized from running out of oil, the tranny was locked up and the kick starter slipped every other kick. A friend of mine who helped me and we tore the engine apart and replaced the cam, timing chain, exhaust valve, oil pump, piston, rings, 1st and 2ed gear, the kick starter assembly, carburetor, intake manif. and all seals and gaskets. I gave my friend $400 for all the work and I spent almost $400 in parts, but I love the thing now. She is a bit of a trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro to start (12 to 1 com) but I have found the bike does not need any choke to start. The choke just floods it. I also notice the kicker isn’t slipping but once in a while trying to start it, it might jump a tooth. I’ve heard that’s normal and that before kicking it you always want to apply a little pressure to set the teeth before putting your weight into it. Other than that it’s an awesome bike and I love 3 wheeling now. Next up is cosmetics. I just got a friend to buy a 250R to join me riding 3 wheelers in the California desert.

[smokinp]

:trikesown

[clong]

I see a reply but no text.......

[vartiak15]

got any pics? does it start easier now after you replaced the kicker gears? was it really hard? what compresion do you got and did you notice a big difference?

[clong]

Yeah it does start easier but it can still skip a tooth if your not careful. It used to just skip a tooth and fall to the ground like every 3 kicks. Now its tight and ratchets really nice but I still tap it to make sure the teeth are set before kicking. If you ever do a rebuild on a 83 to 85 200X you'll want to replace the ratchet spring and maybe the gears while your in there. Honda has had many problems with their kickstarters on 200X's YOu I don't know the compresion rating I got after the rebuild but I can find out.

I do have a picture of it. Can I attach it in here or should I email it.

[Wickedfinger]

Its been my experience that with all of the 3 200X's I've owned over the years ('84, and two '85's) ALL of them were a beyotch to start. It really is an art form perfected through many, many years of fruitless kicks.

[clong]

It was allot of work buy my motor was really torn up and needed allot. I have nothing to compare to how it ran before I did all this but now it runs really smooth and doesn't smoke at all. No hesitation when I floor iit through the gears.

[clong]

How can I get a picture of my bike to show everytime I post, like as a signiture?

[Wickedfinger]

You need to have it "hosted" somewhere, then write the URL in your signature.

[3WheelsForever]

Hey clong. Congrats on the 200x. I was just wondering, what could be wrong with my brothers 200x. We just put a 12:1 comp piston in it and it really doesnt feel like it has much compression. It smokes alot on start up then doesnt smoke as much when it warms up but it is still noticable? O yah the smoke is blackish in color.

[200xalltheway]

cool!

[samster143]

If yoou kick it very lightly to get the piston near TDC this will give you some initial positive resistance that will make kickstarting much easier. You will feel it if you play with it a little.

[clong]

Mine once in awile will give a quick little puff of smoke that is backish in color but just on the first rev. I don't think thats oil burning. I have heard thats excess fuel that burns if it floods a little bfore the bikes fires up.

I'm not sure why your comression feels weak with the 12 to 1 pistion. I have never kicked a 200X that was stock to compare with. Does the bike have adequate power?

[clong]

samster143 or anyone
Starting a 200X - You were saying to cycle the pistion till you get hard resistance, then kick it. If i do that it pretty much only kicks 2 to 3" more and I can feel the piston pop down and it fires, but is this correct becasue I was told you kick it till you get resistance, then push it like and inch farther, then bring it back up and kick it. Who knows. 200x are weird sometimes.

[3WheelsForever]

The bike has allright power but Ive heard other people talk about their 200xs with 12:1 comp and from what I hear its perty hard to kick. Im guessing the black smoke is coming from it running to rich. Im still trying to figure out why its low on compression.

[samster143]

Clong, I think you got it. The process is a little hard to explain. I get mine to near TDC, by giving it that little kick (it is usually like 1/2 way down now) then a firm kick (like you said only 2-3") and we fire right up!

[Wickedfinger]

.... one thing I have noticed as well is to give the throttle a little crack open (like an 1/8th at the most) while kicking it. Works for me for some reason.

[clong]

Went camping last weekend out in the CA desert. This is the first real ride on the bike after the engine rebuild. I have to say it ran beautifully. On one ride I rode it like 30 miles roundtrip and it never even stalled. I drag raced my friends 250r and took it off the liine but he caught up quick and passed me. On the top end my 200X is faster but only becasue of gearing. I also really got the starting down. I noticed giving it a 1/8 to 1/2 inch throttle makes for a guarantee start at least with in 2 to 3 kicks. The only weird thing that happened is that my front valve cover cap seeps a little oil out of it. Anyone ever hear of that. I suppose I can put a little silicone seal on it.

[samster143]

That cap takes an O-ring to seal it. I probably have an extra. They come with the gasket kits. Could it be the rocker box cover? What type of sealant did you use? I believe YamaBond to be the sealant of choice here.

[clong]

I'm pretty sure its from the valve cap and not the rocker box cover because the oil is coming from all around the valve cap. I'll have to pop that cap off and have a look. The motor was just rebuilt. I wonder if my friend didn't put the o-ring in or soemthing.