Big Red Question

[kmcrab]

Hi...I love 3WW and all the trikes here! I have been reading these forums a lot in anticipation of my purchase. Great Site.
I have recently aquired a 1984 Honda Big Red 200es. I also have a KLT 160. I have always had a dirtbike, atc or atv so I feel really stupid asking this first question. A little background first: When I looked at the trike, the owner said that it had not been used in awhile, (kept in a heated garage) he checked the plug, opened the tank and he then pulled the pull start rope once and it fired up ran for about 15 sec and I said ok shut it off. He said he was sure it would need a battery. Battery dated 7-8-07. Anyway, I brought it home and last nite I drained all fluids and pulled the rope....It has no tension what so ever but it recoils fine. The rope just pulls straigt out, does not catch ever. I then hooked a charger/starter to it and all lites came on and it turned over fine. I looked at the plug and it appears to be fouled, sanded it a bit and still nothing different.
My questions are: Do you have to do something special to use the pull start? The prev owner was bent down by the bike for a sec, but I did not pay too much attention. Does it have to be in high?low? ?? The engine was in nuetral. I even put it in gear and pulled the rope and it did the same thing, Also, if you are sitting on the bike, on the right hand side on top of the motor there is a lever with a black handle that you can move up and down. What is that? It is close to the plug, I am assuming compression release but not sure.
Thanks for any help...I really like the Honda Big Red, was not expecting any issues with this trike but I have never had one (Big Red) and I am stumped about this issue. My Lt230 had hi/lo reverse. My gut feeling says there is a problem, but you guys seem so knowledgeable about these trikes I thought I would ask first before I go any further. The bike is is in really great shape, very clean one owner older man and this he used it for deer hunting. Has original tool kit. He did not have this for sale, it was an impromptu kinda thing, so I believe this is the condition the bike really was and not pimped up for a sale. Also, he is a friend of a friend. He had it covered in his garage. He is bringing another trike that goes with it for parts. Thanks Again!

[leevarnado]

did you check to see if it was firing

[AutoXer]

Does the pull start "spin freely" after you pull it? That lever is indeed a compression release .

[kmcrab]

No, the wheel does not spin freely...It just does not catch on anything when you pull the rope, but recoils as normal when you let go or hang on to it. You have full control of the wheel with the rope, there is enough tension that you can hold the wheel in place easy. Just does not catch. HELP! I have never seen this happen.

I did not check for fire as I am sure the plug is fouled and I did not have another to replace it with then. I had heard it run so that was not my biggest concern at that point.

Thanks

[MonroeMike]

Sounds like the pawls aren't coming out and catching the pulley.

[harryredtrike]

first welcome to 3ww.you are right about the decompression lever by the plug.and the prawls are not engaging the starter cage,not a big deal.this is a ten minute fix.pull the pull starter off 5 or 6 bolts and look inside.when you pull the prawls should extend from centrifical force and retract by 3 springs<wires>,rust dirt or the springs are off.:welcome:

[kmcrab]

Thank You very much for the welcome and the help...I will defenitely pull the cover and check that...Yesterday in my travels I was at a MC shop talking to a mechanic and he said the same thing about the springs....Im glad a 3wheeler guy said the same thing!! Does that happen a lot to pull starts? Anything I should do to prevent it?

[oscarmayer]

yea they get rusty and fall appart so it stopes it from working.

[kmcrab]

Thank You So Much for your help. You guys are awesome!
Is this problem (if it is the prawls) something that might continue to happen or if I clean them really well should be a long term fix? Do the springs on these break often? If they are broken, where would be the best place to source new ones? The previous owner is bringing me a parts trike, (he says it is all complete). I will use the elec start all of the time, but I do like the idea of a back up and oh yea I also am OCD when it comes to my stuff
I have attached a picture of it. This is before any clean up. All comments welcome.
What are these worth. I am wanting to know for insurance replacement. I had not even seen one for years until I found it and 3WW. Both of which I consider excellent finds!

[MonroeMike]

Take it off, inspect it, clean it up. If it's missing parts, use the one from your parts machine or mix and match to make a good one.

The pawls may be "stuck in" from lack of use, so you might want to pull start it every so often, to keep it operational.

As far as it how long it will keep working, no one can say, after all, it's 25 years old.

[kmcrab]

Thank You, I will post what the outcome is.

[sandpuppi101]

1st off welcome too the site !! 2nd on your Big Red you have a different kinda pullstart with only 1 dawg in there compared to the 3 that the other's have explained.Big Red's '82-84 and the 200M's which all have somewhat the same mechanism, are natorious for that sticky dawg.What happen's is that the inside is plastic and over the year's they wear and get mud,sand ,rust and other grimy crap in there and they stick,but the wear on the plastic is the big thing.I have 3 or 4 Big Red pullstart's rite now gaurenteed that will do the same thing. Here's what ya need to do,pull the recoil assy off and take some Kroll oil or pb blaster or WD-40 and shoot it on the underside of that plate that houses the dawg/pawl.It would'nt hurt to shoot some on the bottom ,where the big spring is either.Once you have done that tip the recoil on it's side and let gravity help with the dawg,give it some quick snap's and see that the dawg release's easily from the housing.Remember: Quick snap's.. Put it back on the machine and pull it normal a few time's and see how it work's,if it still stick's and your just pulling rope remember: Quick snap's until you feel tension.It's common on those I believe because it's a bad design from Honda for 1 plus with having E/Start you don't use it much,so there's just a couple factor's.That's what experience has shown me with those recoil design's I hope that help's..