1985 atc 250r issues need help

[RIDE-RED 250r]

To convert to the '86-later swingarm you will need an '86-later carrier, brake caliper mount and I'm pretty sure the caliper too. I'm not 100% you need the caliper so someone correct or verify me on that.

[rjs89ia]

just need the 86 bracket that bolts to the caliper.

[09RappySE]

The caliper part numbers are different....but they look the same in the drawing.

[fordtech90]

Well im afraid I have bigger fish to fry before i do an extended swingarm. I love and have always wanted a liquid R trike but I traded a perfect bike for a not so perfect at all bike. I have to tape a thread on water pump cover, and upon looking at left side case the case saver mounting bolts top and bottom are broke and one is cracked the damage causes no case leakage but I know that down the road Id like to replace the case...does honda still still the case? Does anyone here have one for sale not ruined?...Just really wish I had infinite money to bring it back to perfect...cause now that I started on it I wont stop til its right.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Honda cases are discontinued...

But ESR is making them now.... Doesn't look like they are available as of yet but wouldn't hurt to call and ask... Check it out http://www.eddie-sanders-racing.com/...er%20cases.htm

[fordtech90]

Yeah I called and talked to an old school honda tech at a atv shop around here today he looked them up and they are discontinued thats what I was going to ask besides risking getting a junk case on ebay where else can I look. Also was told and thought others might want to know that 10w40 isnt an acceptable oil for case oil should use 80 or 85w transmission oil NOT gear oil. And also I believe the past person put bout 4 times too much because was told it only tanks a half a quart or a little more to fill it. Going to run the case til it gets actually broke but want to buy one for when time comes. Picked up two br8es NGK's today and coolant just got to find the case oil because so far no parts place I have went carries it.

[09RappySE]

Strange...according to the manual it calls for 10-40 oil??? did he say why?..I plan on using Klotz Flex Drive 30 Synthetic Gear Lube.

[fordtech90]

Well i didnt think it made sense when I read it either, or when I saw it on here or other places. Oil has came along ways in almost 30 years for one, and for two why would you use gear oil or motor oil for a transmission/clutches...doesnt make sense. Transmission oil is specially made just for transmission..added friction modifer to help with your clutch friction plates and whatnot...I just think 10-30 and 10-40 was put in anything that had a motor in the 80s...so thats what got used lol

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I have a Honda service manual for the 3rd gen 250r and it specifically calls for 10w-40 oil in the transmission. Now, viscosity ratings haven not changed over the years but as I understand, conventional automotive motor oil nowadays has other additives in it to reduce friction, help with emissions compliance and whatnot.

SO, I use 10w-40 motorcycle or ATV oil that specifies "wet clutch safe" in the description on the bottle. I am running a 350 big bore and my transmission and clutch are holding up just fine running 10w-40 wet clutch safe oil.

Now having said that, I would not hesitate to use Honda HP transmission oil in my R, espeically if I was to get into racing in very warm weather. But I am just a recreational rider and I change my trans oil roughly every 4-5 hours of operation.

I see no reason why 10w-40 was acceptable for Honda to recommend in a 250r trans in the 80's and not acceptable now for use in the same machine. As long as you make sure it is listed as wet clutch safe, the oil is the same.

I will say that there are as many different trains of thought on this topic as there are types of oil out there to run. Heck, there are quite a few people here who have run ATF for years with no issues.

Bottom line is, if you use an oil that is safe for use with wet clutches I believe that your regular mantainence regiment more directly effects transmission/clutch life than the type/viscosity oil you are using.

[Ed200x]

I use the Honsa HP oil here in Arizona. The reason Honda called for 10W-40 oil back in the day is because the gear/transmission oil back then was made to run in cars. Time goes by and science / chemistry improves things. 85W-90 gear oil is made for the stresses and shearing action that gears meshing create and seriously, 'ol motor oil is not the best thing to use if you can somehow use a gear type lubricant. Well, now you have that option. Considering the stress a 250r can put on a gear set I'll go with the wet clutch safe gear oil eg: Honda HP trans oil. However Ride-Red 250r is correct !00% when he states that regular maintenance and oil changes affect the life of your clutch / trans etc., etc, more than anything. In closing, the viscosity index for gear oil is not the same index used for motor oil. 85W-90 is similar to 20W-50 motor oil. Gear oil is rated more for shear strength and pressure resistance.