Tecate question, what works from year to year

[i58829]

Hey guys i'm not really sure about anything on the tecates but i really like the looks of them. I'm wondering what can be used from one year to the other, to make it easier i'm looking to install an 84 motor/wiring/and some odds and ends on an 86, will it work? thanks TC...

[BigGreenMachine]

To install an 84 motor in a 86 Tecate you would need to cut the frame. The 84 exhaust port exits to the right (your sitting on the bike its to *Edited**Edited* right) and therefore the downtube comes straight down the middle.

The 86 the exhaust port exits right dead center so theres a split downtube that goes on each side of it.

You'd need to fab an exit for the exhaust and possibly lower and top motor mounts as well as the front ones.

Very involved and personally I'd spend the money on an 86 motor, KX250 or KX500 motor for the 86 chassis.

[i58829]

So its the same as a KX250 dirt bike for the 86? will i be able to route a bike head pipe or just the motor itself? Is anything better than the next, any advantages either way? When you're poor you do what you can...

[BigGreenMachine]

The bike pipe might work if not the KXT Tecate pipe will.

[i58829]

The KXT is the 4 wheeler version? I'm gonna see if i can find a parts bike then, sorry if these are dumb questions, but can the bike carb be used? Is it totally different based on an atv and a dirt bike? Will the bike or the atv have different tranny's and or gear ratios? Thanks again, TC...

[InPiEcEs]

The Tecate-4 is the KFX designation, I think.
KXT is for the 3-wheeler.
The carb will work...you .may, or may not need to rejet it.

[BigGreenMachine]

KXT is the trike. The KXF is the quad and that motor will not fit either of the trike frames.

The KX250 carb will work. A 39mil PWK from a KX500 would be a fine option too.

[i58829]

Thanks for all of the help, i'm gonna hope i can find something around that will work. To be honest i didn't care for the higher maint. of my 2 stroke R so i may seriously think about a 500 just because i'll most likely let it sit in the garage and rip around the yard every once in a while. I'm even thinking of going with a flat track style for a build just to do something different...

[scooterroo]

flat track 86 t3 powered by a kx 500 motor.........SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET :beer

[BigGreenMachine]

Very sweet! I'm very very curious just how fast mine will go with the KX500 motor in it and 18 inch tires.

[scooterroo]

well i think the wife has talked me out of selling off my 86, maybe just maybe i will have to do an 86 flattracker with a 500 motor!!!! :beer

[oldsking86]

well i think the wife has talked me out of selling off my 86, maybe just maybe i will have to do an 86 flattracker with a 500 motor!!!! :beer

Oh you better do so!! :lol:

[i58829]

Well i really liked the look of the flat track project for sale on here a few weeks ago, but it was just out my reach to get it home at this point. So i found another one much closer to home and i'm not sure on the motor condition or how complete it is.

To make a long story short i like the tecates, and the stance they have but i'm much more interested in riding a 4 stroke, (when i had both my 200X and early R i rode the X 9 out of 10 days and just rode the R around the yard). For this reason i'm going to make it presentable and detailed, i plan to use things like some duro flat track tires, try to get the shocks dropped a little, and in general get a clean toy that i can fire up every once in a while. Maybe its a mid life crisis? My cousin races go-karts and we know the owners of the track pretty good so i'm sure a few laps will be taken at some point, maybe to run in the track.



Are 86 KX250/500 motors the only year i can use? Anyone know if the 86-8? will work, i dont want to narrow my search down just because i'm not sure if it will work. There has to be something out there that looks like it went through hell (most likely did) but still runs (or atleast sputters), and is dirt cheap...

[i58829]

I was browsing ebay for KX 250/500's and i found this one is an 83 KX250 and it has the split frame like the 86 tecate. Would this earlier motor work? It looks like its aircooled also...

[BigGreenMachine]

That is definately not an 83/84 KX250. Maybe an early KDX?

The 83/84 KX250 is liquid cooled and very similar to the 84/85 Tecate motor. So similar in fact the 83/84 KX250 cylinder will bolt onto the 84/85 KX250 motor.

The 85/86 KX250 motor is also liquid cooled and virtually identical to the 86/87 Tecate motor.

[i58829]

haha i was just going off of what the listing said, so anyway an 85/6 kx 250 or 86 kx500 sounds like the answer, my issue is i'll need all of the wiring and such to make it go so i need to find a beat up bike of some sort...

[BigGreenMachine]

87 to 2004 KX500 will work. Not sure about years previous.

[i58829]

You're gonna kill me after all of these questions, but is there any major (welding, cutting, bending, hammering) frame mods needed to mount a 500 engine? Which wounts do you use? how about head pipes? If there's already a post for this i'll find it in about 3 minutes, anyway thanks for all of your help, biggreenmachine...

[BigGreenMachine]

No worries man, I'll help. :D

The swingarm mount (goes through the rear of the motor) and the lower engine mount on the KX500 motor are the only ones that will line up. The good thing is that the front sprocket will be in line with the rear sprocket if you use the original Tecate swingarm and suspension mounts which is a big time/work saver.

You will have to fabricate front motor mounts and a top mount as well which isn't that big of a deal. The front mounts from the KX500 just might work as well.

The KX pipe should bolt up but the silencer/stinger will need to be modded to fit.


This is what I'm going through to get my 88 KX500 motor into my 85 Tecate. Not too much trouble but more then most would want to do. :lol:

[i58829]

Is your lower portion of the frame from an 86 tecate? or is it off the 500? Looks like a ton of work i really dont wnat to cut anything up but making motor mounts will be no trouble at all as long as things line up...

[BigGreenMachine]

Its the KX500 engine cradle.

You will have to put a notch big enough to clear the spark plug and cap in the frame brace above the motor in the 86 Tecate frame. That should be the only cut you need to make.

[i58829]

The frame deal doesn't sound like an issue i just dont want to hack it up too bad. I was reading some posts of the T4 guys and they are saying the 500 rattles your teeth, are they just whinning or is it really so bad you wont want to ride it? Would i be better off with a 250 thats built a bit?

[BigGreenMachine]

The quad frame does vibrate a whole lot more then the trike frame. The vibrations I guess resonate in the quad frame whereas the trike frame dissapates them somewhat through the forks and you don't feel as much. From what I've heard the 500 trike swaps don't vibrate bad at all. The 84/85 Tecate vibrates A LOT compared to say a counterbalanced 85 250R but its nothing serious. Don't think the 500 could possibly vibrate a whole lot more.


The power gain over a 250 is said to be incredible and you'll never be happy on a 250 again...dying to find out.

[nd4speed]

Here is a good post to read:

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=66754&highlight=kxt500

[i58829]

Thanks for that post ND4 is that your 500? I've located and emailed 2 people, one has a restored 500 that he wants 1400 for and the other is a basket case that needs motor work (i think he said 4th gear is out) so i'll see what happens. Is there any value from the bike after i rob the motor and wiring? The nice restored one has 'mint' plastic and new wheels/tires ect...

[BigGreenMachine]

Complete 500's really don't pull a lot of coin on ebay. The motors do however go for a good dollar.

Buy a complete 500 and rob what you need then sell the rest, just don't expect to break even.

[i58829]

Sounds like a plan i'm waiting on a reply from the guy with the basket case, who knows maybe it will turn out to be something i can use. i can't think of anything off the top of my head, but is there anything on the wiring or a trike thats would be on a bike? or are they pretty much the same as far as the electrical components go? Thanks again, TC...