got my first trike! 1983 atc 250r

[kingdeacon]

Hi,
im from england and had never came across atc trikes untill the other day. I got my self a lock up to work on my cars in, it had some crap in it i needed to clear out and while doing so i found a trike under a plastic sheet i found out off the guy i rent the lock up off that its been in there under the sheet for 8 years! he said if i want it i can for nothing or lob it out, well i thought i would keep it as it looks cool. anyway i tried to start it with no luck, so i drained the petrol out and put some new fuel in, cleaned the plug, put some fuel in the top of the carb and first kick it started and i cant stop going on the thing! I been on it 5 hours today.

its a honda atc 250r 1983 model
i have been trying to find out more on these trikes which is how i got to this site.
hope people dont mind a newbie like me asking info on my first post? but i just want to find out what i can quick on these amazing machines
1, what bhp is the 1983 250r engine(air cooled) as its so dam fast and pulls the front up in 1st, 2nd and 3rd just with power no clutch action.

2, what ratio of 2 stroke oil and fuel mix should i use?

3, what psi do you guys have your tyres at for mud and grass use?

4, do i need to use the clutch to go up and down gears as it seems fine to just push it up and down with out pressing the clutch

5, what speed to they do in 5th? today i got brave and took 5th gear right into the powerband and could not belive how bloody fast i was going on this old girl

6, what things would you do to a 250r that has sat for at least 8 years with out use? i have done gearbox oil, and oiled the chain but nothing else

hope thats not taking the piss asking all that lot on my first post
any help when you get time would be very helpful

oh nearly forgot its a well used and battered beast with crap yamaha plastics on it as i guess someone crashed it. can i get new plastic fenders for a 83 trike? i dont think i can in england but thought i might be able to from usa?

anyway he is coulple of pics of my new crazy toy





Rob
england

[TravEX]

Well, you came to the right site. WELCOME!!!

Find a good 2 stroke oil, and decide what you wanna run 32:1, 40:1, 50:1 and jet to match that.

I usually run about 3 lbs in my tires.

You've done right to drain the crankcase oil and change it, you might change it again after an hour or so and look the oil over real good. A good carb cleaning would be a good idea too.

Sure you can find plastic for it, and I would get that Yammie plastic off as soon as possible!!!! LOL, J/K!!!

Lots of guys on here to help ya out!!

Welcome to 3WW!

Travis

[Dammit!]

You can get new plastics from Maier. The seat you'll have to get either on here or on ebay.

Horsepower is around 29 (at the crank).

Top speed is in the neighborhood of 60mph stock.

Tire pressure should typically be between 2.5 and 4 pounds.

Everybody has an opinion on 2-stroke mixing. I use Klotz super techniplate at 40:1. Just make sure you use a top quality synthetic.

Opinions also vary about using the clutch to shift. I use it about 80% of the time myself.

Your forks are backwards.

[Chevy200s]

Congradulations and welcome to the site! the 83 250Rs are great machines, I have one and I love it.

I run 50:1 Amsoil Dominator oil and have been doing so for over a year, runs great on it.

I use the clutch whenever I shift, I figured it would be hard on the tranny if I didnt, but who knows?

Once again, nice trike, needs a little work but then again dont they all?

[kingdeacon]

thanks for the info guys
once ive had a bit more fun on it im going to shine it right up and treat it to some new fenders seat ect. frame could do with a sand blast and as i have a blaster be rude not to. are my fork the wrong way round? can you tell from that pic
one thing i was wondering is there oil in the rear axel thing, what would be a diff it it had one? as i saw what looked like a drain plug on it

[hoser]

Congrats !

I bought my 83 ATC250R new in 83, still have it!

I run mine at 32:1

I made millions of shifts without the clutch.

I change the trans oil every 3 tanks of gas and use a quality 30W auto engine oil, when you change ride it for 15 min make sure the oil does not foam some oils foam in gear boxes.

Remove and INSPECT the chain OFTEN so it dont break and you look like a smuck with a broken case, replace the chain long BEFORE it needs replaced and dont over tighten, you want to check the slack with you or someone else setting on the bike.

Remove the Yamahaha sticker from the tank and paint it RED!

Find a seat!

Find a skid plate!

Tires look like they have way to much air strart at about 2 psi and see what you think, how do the forks feel?

Keep riding...

[random-strike]

it looks like a death trap heh

[Yamaha Tri-Moto]

I have an 83 and 84 R and they are tons of fun and quick. Youll love it, nice find.

[trikes4life]

who dare put a yamaha sticker on that beast!!!

[traxxasx]

Ohh wow ii was thinking somwhere along the line of ahh, but that my freind is what the **** is that!! lol i think the front looks the funniest and the seat is like a street bike seat lol, its have pontental, fix it up right!

[russell56443]

Man.some guys have all the luck.wish I could just find one in my area I can afford!!!
Good luck with your new project!!!

[ATC-Eric]

, and good find!


I think you'll like it here.

[kingdeacon]

Find a skid plate!

what is a skid plate? it has a metal plate under the engine.
i'm trying to get hold of a seat for it and will be ordering new fenders soon,once i have sand blasted the frame, tank, wheels, engine, and replace all the odd bolts it seems to have it will be much better.
it is a death trap right now with no front brake, and the fenders off a yamaha are zip tied on! and the seat is to. but it still bloody shifts and pulls really well.

one thing i wondered, how many teeth should the front sproket have? this looks like its smaller than standard. its 13 teeth

only 3 hours till i finish work then im going for a ride in the woods, which should be fun as its been raining hard today for the first time ages

Rob
england

[Dammit!]

There's another skid plate that goes under the swingarm.

Another thing you should check is your bearings. If there's any wobble in the front or rear, that's the reason. Send a pm to dads here on the boards. He'll give you a good deal on whatever bearings you need.

You can download the Honda service manual for your trike by clicking the button in my sig.

[kingdeacon]

wow! thanks for that mate! looks like i got some reading to do
thanks