Well, it starts.. '85 ATC250r resto-mod

[ezmoney1979]

Thanks Sir!

Believe it or not and this may sound dumb... but all I am using is Rustoleum brush-on oil base in gloss black. If you check my build thread from last winter (esr 350r build) I posted quite a few pic of the painting. I took an 86-later gray bottom end and turned it black, plus painted the bare aluminum ESR cylinder.

They keys seemed to be

A: clean parts,
B: 4 coats and letting each coat bake nicely by the woodstove, and
C: using a descent quality, small bristle modeling brush... And of course ALOT of patience! LOL! Happy to report that my black paintjob on my big bore has held up on the crankcase and topend beautifully so far!

I know PC is better, but after helping my cousin put together a TRX a couple years ago that he had alot of PC done on including the entire engine, I'm not sure I want to go that route... We had quite a bit of monkeying around scraping PC from places it doesnt belong making engine re-assembly much more time consuming and diffcult. Pieces didn't want to mate together, much less ensure a good seal. Alignment dowels and their corresponding holes having PC on them was the biggest issue. I think I'll just clean and re-paint things periodically as far as the engine is concerned....

More pics should be coming later today.. Maybe even pics of the completed engine!

Oh yeah, that was you with the unorthodox painting method! Looks good to me, I like your style I'm with ya on the powder coating. I might do it on something that never gets rode, but I like to touch up the clutch cover on my Tecate after every dune trip to make it look new again (PJ1 case paint), can't do that with powder! Once again, nice job

[09RappySE]

can't do that with powder!

Don't need to with powder.....

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Well, the mill is pretty much ready to drop in!!

I will say this, as much as I love my Honda, the transmission is alot more of a pain to drop into the crankcase half and have everything be right. I went through my first Tri-Z engine late last fall for my brother in law and those are ALOT easier!

My order from Rocky Mountain should be here thursday this week. Once I get those I'll be able to get the chassis on it's wheels and then consequently drop the engine in.

But anywho.. Here are some pics I took at various stages as I got it back together today.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Well I got my new fork boots, fork seals and 3/8 rear lug nuts from Rocky Mountain today... But starting work at 3:30 this morning and getting home at 5:30 wipes me out... especially when I have to do the same thing tomorrow!!! I despise trucking sometimes! :P

I'll probably get the front end squared away tomorrow when I get home from work. After all, it will be friday! Should have the chassis back on her wheels then! Whoop whoop!

[ONEBAD350X]

Sure is looking nice!!

[Jason125m]

Looks pure tits Joe! Nice!!!! Love the allen bolt kit.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Sorry guys, I'm just plain wooped tonight.

I did replace the seal in the remaining fork and install the fork boots though. Also, loosely mounted the front wheel. Thats all I had the gumption to do today. I'll probably get the engine installed and the rear wheels mounted sometime this weekend.


But I was just sitting here thinking about Phase II of this resto-mod that will commence next winter. I'm planning on getting the frame PCed, getting new plastics and doing a little engine modding.

The engine going in is stock porting and .050" over. I have another cylinder that has an oversize sleeve capable of being punched out to 295. I know I'm going to see about getting one of the two cylinders ported by Jason Hall based on recommendations of others. I've heard from some people that he does wicked porting on the OEM cylinder...What I'm unsure of is if I want to either A: get the oversize sleeve cylinder punched out to 265 and get it ported, or B: just stick with the cylinder this engine is currently running and get it ported. Im thinking they will be almost the same as my .050 over cylinder is already at 255cc if I recall correct. And the reason I would do 265 on the other cylinder instead of going right to 295 is I want to have some overbores still available with that cylinder....

What do you guys think?

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Made some good progress this afternoon. Getting close now!!

Mounted up the rear wheels, installed the engine, exhaust, hooked up control cables, etc....

I sure like the looks of the 350x rims. She measures 50-1/4" sidewall to sidewall. The ITP's on the 350r have more offset to them and that one is pretty close to 52" even.

Won't be long now boys!

[ONEBAD350X]

cool, the 350x wheels look nice!

[MIK6]

Looks awesome!! Cant wait to see your toys in person!

MIK6/ Mike

[ceaserthethird]

Don't for get to install the Piston that you left on the rear tire,

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Yeah Cesar, I'm saving that piston for my CPI Sabertooth build I'm gonna do someday! LOL!

That's out of a 280 Cummins L-10. I like to use old pistons for garage ashtrays. I worked my keister off to get that one so it's my favorite.

[09RappySE]

Looks great Joe....I guess I need to hurry or you are going to finish before me.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Well, aside from a couple minor odds n ends, she's pretty much done! Mr. Clean has me covered with the remaining pieces I need..

But I want to take a moment and extend my sincerest thanks to Mr. Clean and Ceasarthethird for the great deals they gave me on a bunch of parts and services I needed! Without you guys, this trike wouldn't be anywhere NEAR where she sits now! I owe you guys and I hope that someday I am in a position to return the generosity. Thank you both!

Now for how she sits now, pretty much done...

[RIDE-RED 250r]

First startup attempt=FAIL!

I tried to get her fired up tonight, but after about 12 kicks I figured something was amiss. Sure enough, no spark.

I'll troubleshoot it tomorrow and let ya know!