Picked up a roller Tecate and.............

[gimmeamidget]

STRUGGLING to locate parts. Guy I picked it up from said it had a KX500 engine in it and I think he pulled it and dumped the roller off on me. Its an 85 and I would like to find a 250 to put back in it. I believe the KX250 81-84? motor is the same but having hard time finding a cheap core bottom end to try and fit in and build. Any advice or does anyone have a engine or bottom end they are willing to part with?

[puckshot]

Hi i dont have an engine but many other parts for a good price

[MrConcdid]

Best advise, is join several Kawasaki specific forums and websites, place want ads, get notifications on ebay. Its will be a hunt, those are about a 10th as common as Honda parts.
That looks to be in amazing condition. Please save it, and sell it to someone who already has an engine.

For giggles, would a modern KX250 engine fit in there?
MrC

[oldskool83]

Anything can fit, nothing bolts in. Two different asspects

[RubberSalt]

The exhaust doesn't come straight out of the jug, so anything with an exhaust port facing the down tube of the frame will require modification.

83-84 kx 250 will bolt up and has a more aggressive exhaust port. it has a bridge and aux ports. This engine has a wider trans ratio.
84-85 Tecate engine - These actually say KX on the cases. The Tecate exhaust port doesn't have a bridge.

Many KX engines bolt up but require modifications for the exhaust to fit.

[gimmeamidget]

Thanks Rubber that is good to know. I got the pipe with it that was made to fit the kx500 but it’s in bad shape.

[Antreas Sp]

Hey buddy, seems that frame is modified (as you mentioned)for the kx 500 engine as i see the cradle is a Y shape made for engines that have the exhaust at the middle and not at the side as this frame originally is made for and Rubbersalt correctly mention. So you can fit tecate 3 '86-'87 engines and to be honest any newer KX engine since the frame is missing the bottom engine mount and you will have to modified this and probably the other 2. Don't be concerned it's really easy to do for someone who knows how to weld correctly. Oh and of course a 500 engine also.Oh and don't throw that exhaust, it's only cosmetic wear,if you can upload photos from the other side cause that is the inner side that you upload. And the stinger is a very easy to modify so i think is a plus to have the front portion made cause that's a difficult one!

[350for350]

I was thinking that maybe it was a bike frame (KX500?) that had been converted. That was going off of the blue color which doesn't really mean much. Check the chrome on the forks. The chrome on the 85 Tecate forks wasn't very good and liked to flake off. If they are Tecate forks.

[gimmeamidget]

Yes I was happy the pipe was included as it appears some time was spent modding it to fit. The silencer side is broken off but can be easily fixed. I will keep looking for a motor. Probably be easiest to just drop a 500 back in there but seems to be very hard to find, Lots of 250 motors out there so Il most likely go that route. Thanks for the info guys.

[gimmeamidget]

Im not familiar with Kawasaki stuff at all but im guessing the guy married a kx500 cradle to the tecate frame but I havent spent much time looking everything over. I think he just painted after building. I have heard the forks pit easily but these seem to be not bad. Soft suspension though I might need to add stiffer springs.

[350for350]

Being soft was something else that the forks were known for.

[legacy51]

I would try to find a kx250 engine if I was you. 92 - 04 are all very similar. I have a stock 02 kx250 and it is the easiest to ride 2 stroke that I have ridden and very quick. It doesn't seem right, but it is only a bike length or two behind brand new 450s. The exhaust location would work with your frame already.