1985 Honda FourTrax250...

[4x4mechanic]

Tripped and fell into a deal I couldn't refuse... 1985 TRX-250. Invested the grand total of free99 but had to drive to Norfolk to get it and the also free99 enclosed Freuhauf trailer it was in. So I'm in it for about $100 in gas and buying lunch for my buddy who's Aunt had it. Guess this will become a build thread...

Everything I've read online says these things are as reliable as an anvil, typical for mid-80's Honda stuff. For being 40 years old it's in pretty damn good condition. I need to remember to take lots of pictures and post them up.

So far it needs a gas tank and fuel valve, both were trashed. No gas cap for 12 years will do that. Fortunately a plastic replacement is available and cheap. $100 for the tank and another $15 for the valve. They're supposed to be here this afternoon. The old valve was off, and hopefully the carb isn't trashed. If it fires up and doesn't make angry noises then it's game on!

More to follow...

 

[Leadfoot21]

They’re nearly bulletproof. The number 1 way they end up parked is when you don’t check/service the rear differential. They like to take on water/mud and people drive them until they explode .

 

[4x4mechanic]

They’re nearly bulletproof. The number 1 way they end up parked is when you don’t check/service the rear differential. They like to take on water/mud and people drive them until they explode .

Haven't pulled the plug to check the oil yet, but it'll get synthetic in it whatever happens. Thanks for the heads up.👍

 

[4x4mechanic]

Well, so much for cheap Amazon fuel petcocks... The outlet for the hose to the carb on the new one would almost fit into the original one.

I've got an OEM one coming, will be here later this week. That's what I get for being cheap.

The good news is that I fixed the front brakes without spending any money. When I got it the brake lever had >NO< resistance, I figured the master cylinder was shot. Turns out the brake adjusters were froze up and the shoes were a mile out of adjustment. All four broke loose pretty easily and went right back together with some lube. Adjusted them up properly and now the brake lever moves maybe half an inch and both front brakes grab almost instantly.

It does feel like it could use new hoses, but since they're made of unobtanium I'll have to live with it or spend a fortune and go AN...

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

That was my freedommobile when I was a kid.

Bought when I was a teen. Cannot express how much I loved that bike, and it was completely bulletproof. I gave that bike such a beating, sinking it, letting it cartwheel down hills, overloading the fuck out of it then driving right through the bush over stumps. I could get 100% of the water out of the engine oil with a single change.

13.5 inch Spydertrack tires running 0.1 PSI.

One day the kickstarter jammed in the down position, so while I was getting towed I decided to see if it would bum start. Big fat crunch came from whatever was jamming the kickstart. It fired up and from then on I had to keep a battery to start it.

It's a crime that every single atv made today doesn't have a kickstart, and that they require a battery to function. Can't even drive an electric shift foreman if the battery is dead because you can't shift.

Need pics!

 

[redneckK20s]

Well, so much for cheap Amazon fuel petcocks... The outlet for the hose to the carb on the new one would almost fit into the original one.

I've got an OEM one coming, will be here later this week. That's what I get for being cheap.

The good news is that I fixed the front brakes without spending any money. When I got it the brake lever had >NO< resistance, I figured the master cylinder was shot. Turns out the brake adjusters were froze up and the shoes were a mile out of adjustment. All four broke loose pretty easily and went right back together with some lube. Adjusted them up properly and now the brake lever moves maybe half an inch and both front brakes grab almost instantly.

It does feel like it could use new hoses, but since they're made of unobtanium I'll have to live with it or spend a fortune and go AN...

You can order custom length braided lines with swappable ends from a local motorcycle shop if need be.

 

[4x4mechanic]

No major updates as of yet on the FourTrax, been covered up with cleaning up from that bitch Helene...

I did get the new OEM petcock in and installed in the plastic tank. Filled it up with gas, turned the petcock on, and GAS EVERYWHERE!!! Shit, turn it off, fuel hose is 8mm instead of 7.5mm... Ordered some, threw a zip tie on it, opened up the petcock again and now it's pouring out the bowl overflow on the carb. CRAP! Tear half the bike down to get the carb off, it's missing the idle screw, the bowl is full of trash, but otherwise looks pretty good. Needs a rebuild, order a kit and discover that it's cheaper to buy a used junk carb than to get the idle screw and associated stuff from Honda. Found one on eBay, ordered it up. Was here last Thursday, then we got hit with the hurricane.

Hopefully I'll have some time this week to mess with it some. Yeah, I know, pics or it didn't happen!

That part should be easy now, I just got hooked up with 400Mbps fiber so now my internet is SMOKIN' fast...