1983 200x No 3rd Gear Whats Wrong??????

[1oilguy]

I JUST BOUGHT A 1983 200X WITH NO 3RD GEAR. THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM PURCHASED IT THAT WAY 15 YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN RIDING IT 1 2 4 5 EVER SINCE. NO NOTICABLE FILINGS IN OIL. I TRIED 3RD AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS TRYING TO ENGAGE BUT CAN'T. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS? HOW HARD TO FIX?(TIME?/ i'M A CRAPPY MECHANIC) iF I CONTINE YO RIDE IT SKIPPING OVER 3RD WILL I CAUSE ANY DAMAGE? THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR REPLY!!!!!!!! LOVE THIS SITE!!!!!!

[SWIGIN]

the early 200x's had a problem with 3rd gear going out....i cant remeber what was the problem but i do know all you have to do is use a tranny out of a 84 or 85 to fix it

[SWIGIN]

you know what.... i just remebered i got a 85 tranny out in my old tool box that i had for a spare since back in the 80s.

it cant be used much at all and i have no need for it

its just the 2 main shafts and all the gears

[Rookie]

Ya you have to replace the tranny :( . My 83 did the same thing and I thought I could get away with just replacing the shift forks but it didn't work. Solid Snake here on the boards had the same problem. He turned me onto what the prob was. You have to split the cases to change it. I'm waiting to find a 95 or newer xr200r trans to put in mine. Do a search and theres threads that explain everything. I can't think of the titles off hand. Its not that hard if you take your time and make sure you get a shop manual. Its a must.

[jason85atc250r]

yed youhave to. 83's have a totally different tranny from a 84-85 200x's

[Solid Snake]

You need to split the bottom end open. Get a manual first. Parts from the 83 tranny will work in 84's and 85's and vice versa. However, You should know that if you need to change any of the kickstarter gears in your cases, that the kickstarter gears on both the main and counter shafts, and also the kicker shaft, have to be changed with gears all from an 83 or can be mixed 84 and 85 ones, but you can't mix 83 and 84/85 kicker gears. Those are the only parts that don't interchange, but...those kicker gears will swap onto the tranny shafts of 83, 84, or 85 trannys.

Other thing you should know is that the larger kicker gears on the 84 and 85 models are too large for the 83 cases, I had to have my cases modified slightly by having a small chunk ground out. See my thread about that.

I had this problem after fixing my kickstarter gears last summer, split the cases and fixed that, then the 3rd gear slip started, split cases again and ended up swapping for an entirely different 85 year tranny in my 83 cases with mixed 84/85 kicker gears. Confused yet...? Sorry, but you have to split the cases anyway....or buy a new bottom end.

These are my threads for this:
http://3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=68681
http://3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=71136

If you ever get the bottom end apart just PM me and I'll help you out, I've pretty much learned all there is about the 200x bottom end since my dilemma. Good luck.

[1oilguy]

Thank's for your replies. Ya I'm confused!!!!!!!!!!!!! If i split this apart,do i just replace 3rd gear set? (my kickstart works fine) This sounds like enough trouble that maybe i should just drive it 1,2,4,5 until it grenades. ( the previous guy did it for 15 years) He thought that some pin or spring had come off. These must be crappy tannys in this year as this bike has been used very little. Still has original tires and no tears in seat and plastics.

[Rookie]

No. You should replace the whole trany.

[Solid Snake]

I was just letting you know what you would have to do to mix and match tranny parts. The easiest thing would be to get a whole tranny or bottom end that is known to be good.

If you just replace the 3rd gear set it may still be messed up when you put it back together. Definitely replace the whole tranny though, the worst feeling is when you get it back together and the problem is not fixed.