Bringing the 87 Big Red back from the dead

[sleeplessknight]

Hi, I'm new to the site but not new to trikes. I have mentioned in a couple of posts that I am rebuilding my Dad's old Big Red. Here's the story. When I was 15 I bought a beat up 200s from a friend. I'm not sure what year the tryke was bit this was in 1986 The front end was trashed and it didn't run right. My father and I rebuilt the front end and the carb and soon had it back on the trail. So my Dad went out and bought a brand new 87 250 Big Red. A few years later I got married and eventually sold the 200s and an 3 185s I had picked up along the way. A couple of weeks ago we were at a family get together and he mentioned he wanted to dig it out and sell it. I talked him into letting me have it and began working on it. Now mind you, this thing has been sitting for 15 years without running. It is still in excellent shape as he always kept it inside, however he never drained all of the gas from the carb. I began digging in to it and found that aside from needing 2 new tires,( he replaced one a couple years ago when he was going to fix it himself but never got to it) it needs the carb rebuilt, a new cdi, new spark plug and a few other odds and ends.
The plastic is all excellent, the racks are a little rusty. So far I have had the carb rebuilt and put it back on and changed the cdi. Still not gatting any spark though. I used a volt meter and found power going into the coil but not out so I ordered a new one. There's where I am at now. Waiting for a coil. Heres just a couple of pics with it torn apart. I'll post more when it runs.

[sleeplessknight]

Well, I have changed the cdi and the coil. Still no spark. I will admit, I am not a mechanic. I can do little things like changin g the cdi and the coil and putting in a new battery, all of which I have done. Anyone got any idea's as to what is wrong with this thing?

[sleeplessknight]

This is strange. I used a volt meter and checked the voltage coming into the coil. As long as you hold the starter button there is nothing, but the instant you let go of it, for just a second there's voltage. Anyone ever have this problem?

[muthey]

check your wiring sounds like a faulty ground, had this issue with a chinese quad and idiot before I got it had grounded the kill wire to the cdi, which causes it to have constant kill. if your wiring is all good and the cdi is guaranteed to work then I would start testing the stator.

[sleeplessknight]

check your wiring sounds like a faulty ground, had this issue with a chinese quad and idiot before I got it had grounded the kill wire to the cdi, which causes it to have constant kill. if your wiring is all good and the cdi is guaranteed to work then I would start testing the stator.

Thanks, I'll check it out. Appreciate the help.

[buck420]

Hope you get her running she Is beautiful

[sleeplessknight]

Ok, I have been over every inch of this wiring harness. All I could find was this.
Can anyone tell me what this wire could be. It is a black wire with a red stripe. It was obviously plugged into something at one time because it has a connector on the end and the remains of a rubber sleve that has been tore off. I have searched and have found nothing anywhere around it that it could have plugged into. Could this be the problem?

[Chopsaw]

The other half of the connection should be on the female side of the upper plug going into the wire harness itself not the plug . Its either there . or broke / cut off .
Check a wire diagram to see what it feeds .


Had to look myself . Looks like it runs between the alt and CDI . Someone that knows more than me will help you out .

Chop

[sleeplessknight]

Yes. I found it on the wiring diagram in the back of the owner's manual. That black and red wire runs from the cdi to the alternator. This has to be the problem, at least I would think so. Thanks Chop.

[350for350]

Hope that fixes the problem. Good choice on getting it from your dad. I know you'll enjoy riding it.

[sleeplessknight]

Hope that fixes the problem. Good choice on getting it from your dad. I know you'll enjoy riding it.

We used to go riding every weekend when I was a teenager. I had a 83(I think) atc185s and he had this Big Red. He bought it brand new. I used to ride it alot during the week after school. We always had a great time and I know I will enjoy it again. That's the really cool part for me is that this is the same Big Red that we used to ride back then, and soon I hope to be riding it again.

[sleeplessknight]

There's life in the old girl yet! I dug into the wiring harness and found the other end of the red and black wire. It was broke off about 2 inches up inside the harness. I spliced the two wires together and cranked it over. Mind you I wasn't really expecting anything to happen, so you can imagine my surprise when I grabbed the spark plug and it jolted me. I put the plug in, set the gas tank on and hooked up the carb. A little gas in the tank, cranked it over a bit and bam, she was running. I still have som adjustments to make and a few little things to do, plus I need a couple rear tires and she'll be back on the trail. Thanks for the help guys.

[dustrunner]

I was always told they never sold any of the 87's to the public in the usa....most were cut up and some given to fire dept's and police dept's..... thanks for the story

[Chopsaw]

Happy you got it goin . Enjoy .

[effort=results]

congrats . great story and hope u have a son to pass it along to. i love my 87. had 2 in my life . once when i was a kid and one i found a year ago .