My 86 Tecate Restoration

[brrcuda]

Well, I figured I would post my pics of my 86 tecate restoration and update as I go. This will take a while since I still need to finish my showroom atc250r first and I am also building a 70s mopar on the side - thus my screen name.

The first round of work on the tecate included assessment of the issues and missing parts:
-broken main exhaust hanger
-a few snapped bolts in the triple tree - fender bolts - 3 of the 4 rusted solid
-needs new grab bar
-needs fork boots - ordered aftermarket
-bearings in front are trashed
-rad overflow bottle - eliminated - not worth looking for
-fenders are faded and sun cracked
-sounds like some piston slap - i will check out top end and replace. Compression feels more than my tri-z and 250r. I am hoping to still have a good plated cylinder
-rear shock needs rebuild - spongy but not pogo-ing like I have seen before.

First Ride impressions:

-I took the bike for a spin around my yard and could not get out of first gear - too fast. This bike already feels really fast - lifts the front tire without effort. checked all gears and all is well. Reminds me of the old KXs from the 80s with the way the tank and shrouds are at your knees. I like it. I think I like it better than my 250r, but i have not opened it up in 5th yet - so we'll see.

Oh and the twist throttle actually feels right on this bike - on my 250r it was a disaster waiting to happen.

The tear down starts:

-I can not stand rust - i have a real problem with rusty parts and frames - call me anal. So, the restoration starts. I pulled all plastics and polished each piece including the airbox cover, the tank ,the shrouds, and headlight guard.

-removed all stickers and ordered repro kit from yamatopdog.

- removed all vanity bolts - ordered new nos bolts for shroud,headlight and airbox to dress it up nice.

- removed exhaust and getting ready to repaint - might save the muffler for future since they are rare. Its in great condition - best I have seen on all my bikes.

- Tank - spend at least 3 hours restoring the tank - its green again - Its faded to a light color but no brown seepage stains at all. Took a razor blade to scrap oxidation off, then sandpaper and Novus plactic scratch remover. Looks much better. If it doesnt look good I will put a cover on it.

here are some pic of the restore so far - i will update as I make progress.

Paul

[brrcuda]

I also need a rear brake Disc - has anyone used the T4 discs offered by tecate connection on ebay? Or any other options?

$240 for a new one is not appealing to me.

One more pic

[scooterroo]

nice to see another tecate getting the tlc it deserves. bet its going to be nice when doone. the 86-87 model is always been one of my favorite trikes. very intimidating just sitting still. when i can find one thats affordable, i will be having one. goodluck on your project. not sure if the rear discs will fit, email the guy from tecate connection and find out.

[jsimonh]

Looks like a great project. I think the 86-87 Tecate are some of the sweetest looking trikes made.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[OZQUAD44]

have you got a shot of your tank after you finished it?

How much was your sticker kit? Does he do them for the 87 Models?

Good luck on the Resto, can't wait to see it done.

[Orangecnty250r]

You'll have fun with the restore!!!!

OZ He does make a decal kit for the 87....We made them from the plastics on mine....look real nice to. Make sure its yamatopdogs...they are more accurate than the other guy that does tecate decals....I think they go for about 70 bucks...The only one I want him to redo is the fork decal....I wasnt there for that one. I havent talked to Jared in a long time....going to have to plan another trip down there

[scooterroo]

what about 85 t3 decals? does he make them as well orange? i had a set i paid 85 bucks for but wouldnt you know it, when my garage got cleaned out they disappeared. cant find them for the life of me, and the guy i bought them off of hasnt returned any of my emails, so i am in the market for a nice set of 85 decals, complete set if possible.

[brrcuda]

$79 is what I paid for the decal kit and he had the 87 kit as well. Bought them from his ebay store. Search for "tecate decal" and his store comes up. I always look in the ebay stores incase there is something there - ever since I got an OEM Tri-z seat cover there (ebay stores section) for $15.

OCnty- There is also a KXT front fork and neck decal from yamatopdog on ebay also. Seems to only offer them separate? If you want them , get em - I will wait for the next round.

I dont know about the 85 since I am not focusing on that model. There is a set of 84 tank decals also on ebay from a different vendor taht i say though?

OZ - I'll get pics of the tank when I get home - I am in Denver CO on Business today - so it won't be til this weekend for an update. The tank is still very light colored compared to a new set of kawi shrouds, but better than the mold, gas spill and oxidation that came on it. I think I really lucked out with gas stains though, I am thinking the bike was stored outside without gas in it.

Paul

[Orangecnty250r]

OCnty- There is also a KXT front fork and neck decal from yamatopdog on ebay also. Seems to only offer them separate? If you want them , get em - I will wait for the next round.



Paul

Yes I already have those....he made those for me as well but the front fork decal is the one I want him to fix....doesnt have the black border like stock so I am holding off until they are fixed

[brrcuda]

Well work has been crazy the last few weeks but i got some parts in this week. Figured I would update this thread with some pics.

I spent alot of money on items that I am still waiting for, but my fenders came in and I managed to give the frame a quick re-paint.

So heres the deal - I decided to restore this bike as a rider for now, with the intention of a showroom bike later. That means i put a cheap paint job on the frame to just protect it from the elements - powdercoat it next year. I have a new set of plastics all around except the headlight shell. I will also have a set of rider plastic so i don't feel guilty riding it. Everytime I look at this bike, its calling me to ride it.

Heres what i have done so far:

-striped bike to frame - this was the easiest bike to tear down - every bolt except the front fender bolts came out without effort - those 3 bolts froze and i need to drill them out after snapping them. even the swiinger bolt slide right out and was dry as a bone.
- Repaint the frame - for bikes i ride - i do this - i painted the frame with grey rustoleum. This way when it chips which it will. I can go back and touch up with a quick brush. Next year I will spend the money on powder - not now though.
-new fenders -I looked everywhere for fenders for the best deal - no such thing. I went to my local kawi dealer and got the best deal - retail price with no shipping charge and no sales tax (NH). Don't buy those 86 tecate fenders on ebay - what a rip off on shipping. And bikebandit will not ship fenders.
- new blue fork boots- I am still sanding and polishing the fork bottoms. the seals were fine, so no need to replace.
- new parts from a fellow tecate friend I met online - I am awaiting my golden parts to be in this week. Near new oem shrouds and tank (R+L). The tank is in excellent conditon as well as shrouds. New rad. overflow bottle in package, new intake rubber in package and a rare Bills rev pipe/silencer. I paid nearly 800 for all this stuff, but where else am i going to find these without fighting for them on ebay - so i figured i scored on these. Some of you guys have deep pockets on ebay.
-replaced many rusty bolts and cleaned up electrical harness.
-sanded and polished tank from a black moldy/oxided to a light green color -this will be my rider tank anyways and use the other tank for show.

Next items to do:

finish polishing forks, needs new front wheel bearings, needs new front tire - i have a brand new dunlop for it from my 250r project.

go through brakes, paint handlebars, new gasket set on engine, new piston and rings - if nothing else is needed on motor when opened up. Then paint motor and finish assembly

Here some pics - enjoy

[brrcuda]

a few more pics

I forgot to mention, the rear brake rotor will be replaced (bent from rock damage)with a new/used one and the rear carrier needs paint. Also, I am going to replace the rear shock when I have some extra money. But until then its getting put back together

the third pic is when i brought it home last month.

Thanks

[brrcuda]

After looking at my own pics I had to reply

I am thinking of going with a set of hoosiers flat track on the rear and keep the original tires for riding. They are dry rotted a bit. I think that will look amazing when finished,

I have to say - the 86/87 or any tecate has always been like my white whale. I never could find one around here and when i did, i didnt have the money or it was overpriced. When is the last time you saw one on ebay. I only remember 1 86 this year so far and usually need as much work as this one cosmetically.

I even had a deal with a *Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited**E dited* at my job last year - he had an 85 tecate in his shed he was going to give me for cleaning out his shed to get to it. Then he started seeing how interested i was and decided to see what it was worth - nonetheless he bagged me when i wanted to go get it. He's a loser and chronic bullshiter though - so i don't talk to him anymore.

I also started working a deal with an old kawasaki dealer that had a factory 3-wheeler race team back in the 80s. I actually worked with his star rider at a car dealership when i was a kid.Supposedly he had some crate bikes, but when it was time to drive out to get them - 3 hours - had the cash in hand. He calls and said he sold them for 8k a piece. We even had his lawyer involved so he could not be responsible when selling them to me. I am not kidding - if you go look for the old factory race teams in the 80s, the bikes might be still around. You would be surpised what he told me he had - but i will not indulge in those details - you probably won't believe me anyways. I even know where a tiger dealer was in the 80s - there was a huge 3 wheeler race following in my area that i grew up in - i remember seeing a tiger 250 in the show room when i was a kid.

back to the point - there is just something about these tecates that gets me going. The flashy green flared plastics. The race breed look and feel, and the illustrious name TECATE is awesome. I just love saying that word. The notorious hi-strung powervalved motor, what else could you want.

Sorry for rambling - its early AM.

[DeePa]

is this the tecate you were thinking about picking up when we were riding?

Mike

[Jeb]

Congrats! It's nice to see another 86 being resurrected! Lookin' great!

I need to get one of Jared's '86 Sticker Kits. I bought some from another guy before Jared was offering his. They are nice, but Jared's look fantastic in the pics I've seen.

I've been wondering for a long time about dying Tecate tanks back to green. There's got to be some way to do that.

[85ytz250nj]

very nice job!!! bike looks amazing, i hope to accuire a tecate in the future to add to my collection. i will be doing the same process on my 85 250sx, and ill be copying your guidlines on how you did your rebuild because i have the same views when it comes down to things being "spotless" and "flawless". anyways, good luck and keep us updated.