nd4speed Tecate 3

[bkm]

Nice to see it still has the airbox. That's a hell of a score.

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[nd4speed]

Sadly the air box is not without issues either, inside the cage is missing and the threads for the wingnut are ripped out.
Also the boot looked good at a glance, but I have to clean and look closer

I have a K&N style setup that should bolt into the box though.

So this box also needs fixing or parts.

[bkm]

Damn that sucks. Someone cut the snorkel down on mine. I could use an uncut outer shell if you part that one.

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[nd4speed]

do not let your swingarm bearings go bad. This trike suffered cracked left hand engine case half along with having the chain thrown and breaking the case more (previous owner). I put JB weld all over it just to see what will happen. I am a hack and dont feel like taking the running motor all apart even though I have most of the parts to fix it (need crank bearings and seals). Say what you will.

Anyway I remove rusty stuck swingarm bearings with just propane heat and this impact fitted into a 3/8" drive 3/4" socket.

HK2030 bearings are what I have but apparently they are 26mm OD and I need 27mm OD TA2030Z (IKO Brand)

Ordered genuine OEM IKO Kawasaki 92046-1128 off ebay for $20 shipped, most list Action Bearings brand for $25 shipped.

Axle nut was hardest to remove yet.

Finding what I believe is factory thread locker on things like the rear sprocket bolts. And getting the feeling this thing has never been apart. Looks like they blew off the chain and wrecked the case then slapped another chain on it. Then paint the gas tank and lose the brackets. Petcock seems to function perfectly.

[fieldy]

Are you saying the frozen swingarm bearings caused some of the case damage where the bolt ran through the cases? I saw the tri-z that was posted recently here, jumped and the frame collapsed and that's got me worried what I'm gonna see when I go to take my swingarms off for maintenance, or if I jump!
Owning and caring , some just own. Does anyone know what metal the cases Kawasaki's are made from and does anyone know an experienced with cases business that can weld them near Indianapolis or anywhere else, through the mail even? There are a few holes in my left case, can't wait to see the bottom and back of the motor. I too will be trying to keep running as is for now but maybe I can get a good lead.
Its a good thing the guy sprayed bright yellow paint on the motor in random splotches. Calico lover my guess.

[nd4speed]

I have seen this case break more than once but I think I may retract that statement because I do not know for sure if bad swing arm bearings cause this. I am kinda guessing it is from the chain break. I just got rid of 84/85 cases with same damage but do not remember thrown chain damage. Shown in pictures

Ok I see thrown chain damage.

The cases are cast aluminum, and you will have to take the entire motor apart to have it welded, unless it is just holes in covers.
Use JB weld like I did. I had a clutch cover where some boner did not have the foot peg on and used the kick start lever and blew a hole through it. They JB welded it. KX250

But on another note I once saw a guy riding a Raptor 660 that was really ragged on and not maintained. He turned at the top of the sand hill and the chain fell off. He was looking at it like he didnt have a clue , so I helped him put it on just to have it fall off again when he turned 10 feet later. So I went over to him again and grabbed the quad and started pulling on it showing him the bearings were so bad the sprockets would no longer line up enough to keep the chain on. Not as bad as the LT250R I tried to get running for someone at the sand hill. Put a plug in it. Then I kicked the motor and started laughing cause the front of the motor lifted up. The motor was only held in by the swingarm bolt at that point. Some people ride miles out into the woods on those things.

Oddly the right side of this Tecate is rustier than the left. The swing arm bearing on the left rusted and stuck, but the right side seemed fine. Just like the axle is rusty on the right.

[fieldy]

I guess the chain gets thrown off, ruins the case saver then they discard the case saver, later throwing chain, ruining case. Is this the right conclusion or does the chain fly off ruining case saver and chunking holes in case all in one wonderful nano-second?

[nd4speed]

Not sure because I have never had it happen. I have had my chain fall off once on hard whoops on a LT250R but it did no damage like that just some rash. This is more about the chain breaking then it bunches up on the front sprocket and gets forced right through the soft aluminum.

I swear to god this Tecate has the original sprockets, the teeth are either gone or barely there.

So chain getting wedged between case and swing-arm causes it by pushing back on bolt??

[nd4speed]

Well why stop at a Tecate when you can have another 1986 KX250 for $300? It was a local bike within 15 minutes so that helped.

Fingers crossed on this KX since it is missing the electrical system. The rectifier thing threw me at first then I spied a 21119-1074 CDI for 1984 Tecate I believe. Has compression and shock, forks, brakes worked. Went through all gears. Clutch basket not grooved. Good chain and sprockets.

Bonus decent silencer, oversized gas tank, leather tool bag (no treasures inside though), hand guards and skid plate.

Holy crap I have way to many of these things.

I think the KX250 motor will go in the Tecate if it runs, it will get the tecate main crank gear and clutch basket.

Then I can use the KX250 frame to get my KX500 motor started and test the tecate stators ,cdis, flywheels I have.

Where do I get lapping compound for the flywheel ?

[tecaterob]

Nice score

[nd4speed]

Found carbon fiber reeds in there.

Carb had normal varnish and trash but floats fell out cause they missing the little plastic caps to hold them on the posts.
Carb slide showed little wear, pretty nice for 30 years old.

Hoping to make 2 good carbs out of this pile.

Covers/frame show little wear , lots of stickers intact, someone loved it enough to add a bunch of plastic/metal aftermarket bolt-on accessories.

Shock shaft looked good and leak free.
A fork seal leaking

[86T3]

I remember reading somewhere in kxriders that people used to put tecate ignition on kx500 s so they would be able to run lights. (Ironic, isn't it?) Jut a though incase you want to fire it up quick. Also, in your fourth picture you're showing a not very well known interchangeable part the first gen tecate owners are always looking for, the adjustable link. They sell much cheaper on ebay than tecate ones but are the exact same part number. And the picture of your 500 shows why they have those threaded holes on the side that I always made me wondered what I was missing. Ben showed me this last winter. Good find

[nd4speed]

Yes, I think the middle threaded adjusting bolt might actually be a different length, but it does not matter. The like 85/86 KX 125/250/500 all had that link with a mud flap. I think it is my swap thread. They are very common and not worth as much as some people have paid. I have sold a few of them...

I put a Tecate stator mixed with Ricky flywheel and the new CDI that was on the bike and got it to fire (after testing a stator that would spark but was bad).

The KX500 motor should have good ignition, I could not kick it over very well the way I had it on the stand. I just want to start it.

Still need lapping compound. Can I use Permatex valve grinding compound? Seems like I could.

[nd4speed]

The $300 KX250 is up and running through all gears, fed by the stock 39mm round slide carb (has the dreaded Mikuni drip). Wasnt able to hit powerband here on my block (risk losing to the cops). Anyway it needs to be Loctited up and swapped over anyway. This motor is going in the Tecate.

[nd4speed]

Well the motor is in the Tecate....as always there are struggles. The forks dont seem good and one squeaks when rocked on hard. Great, guess I will be swapping forks too (maybe the whole triples).

The biggest struggle I had was getting a throttle cable to work with the T4 style thumb and the 39mm VM Mikuni. Every cable I had was too long (84/85 Tecate being the longest) or too short. The KX250 cables were too long because of not using a twist grip. Made one work but it's only temporary. Another member pointed out he just cut the cable and melted some lead to the end. So cut then solder/weld a ball on the cable.

The T4/bayou/prairie kawasaki style thumb I have gets in the way of the brake too because it sits low and fat. Unlike most sport quads where the cable mechanism sits up high over the bars.

Anyway searching for ideas for a thumb and cable setup if anyone has any. Ok, off to search threads about it.....

it looks like this T4 one
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