New Member, New Trike- 1984 ATC 200s ($180)-Kinda Rough

[jakeadake]

Hey guys! Been lurking on here for a few weeks since I picked up my first ATC since I was a kid. Got the ATC 110 going, and have been looking for my dad an ATC as he has taken an interest in mine. I put up a wanted ad on craigslist and got a call from a guy with an '84 ATC 200s. He claimed it was in very good shape and needed minor work as he broke the pullstart. He wanted $200, so I figured I'd better take a look. I met the guy on the road in the rain and quickly found out it wasn't as "nice" as he claimed. Couldn't check it out good in the pouring down rain, but I figured for $200 it was worth it. Got him down to $180 and took her home. Man, did I notice the roughness/redneckyness today! Welded gear shifter, odd-ball headlight, broken/half missing pull start, no airfilter, painted tank and plastics, dry rotted tires, wheel bearing....the works. Dawg'on, I thought I had a bargain lol. Least it has a Cobra exhaust, right

Whaddaya think? Did I get stuck?

[QCR77]

welcome to the board ! and it looks to me like you got yourself a nice little project. just get it cleaned up and running good and itll be well worth the $200

[TheRealFatShady]

If it's running/will be running easily, I'd still say its worth it. To me, to have a running off-road toy in any condition, is worth $250 or so.

I know a lot of guys are real obsessed with 'mint' and 'oem' parts. But to me, a running bike is a running bike. If the tires hold air, the engine starts, and it moves (and has brakes) then it's good to go. I'm sure having a 'flawless' bike is nice for your ego and indeed is something to be proud of, but I'd prefer to get a cheap running bike for less money.

That looks about the same or better than almost all my trikes. If the gear shifter still does it's job, then it's fine. You can always drop the engine, strip the frame. Sandblast it all, grill-paint on the engine, and then re-paint the plastics and frame. Ditch the headlight, too.

Just my thoughts. I know some will disagree, and I do indeed have plans to make one 'nice' three wheeler for myself. But in the meantime, I ride anything that works.

[200XMichigan]

I would say for $180 you didn't get screwed but you didn't get a screaming deal. Just a fair price. And someone has to bring it back to life. Its got a lot of potential. I've seen people post worse trikes for more money. Get it running and 1 more ATC will be on the trail.

I hate welded on shifters though. Its like someone just rides it and its just flopping around and loose, until they strip it out, then they weld it on. How do people not notice until their shifter stops working that it is loose. Could have just tighten the bolt and it would be fine. But other than that it just little odds and ends. Headlight doesn't really matter unless you are going for 100% original, as long as it works.

[jakeadake]

Thanks guys, glad to hear I did Okay. I have a question, what is the small shaft beside the pull start housing? It's like a mini shifter shaft, and mine has nothing on it? HI/LO?

[TheRealFatShady]

No, the 200s does not have a hi-low gear selector. I originally thought that it was a piece to shift into reverse, but then I read that the engine doesn't have reverse. Needless to say, I do not know what it is for. I have it with nothing on it on all my engines, perhaps it's from the decompression lever. I can't say for certain because none of mine had it still hooked up.

[trikes4life]

netural indicator, had a piece of plastic are one point with an arrow. the was N on the recoil case it would point to when in netural.

[leviblue]

250R headlight is cool could get at leat $50 for it....thats a cheap easy project

[TheRealFatShady]

What's wrong with the pullstart/what's it missing? I have one that is missing a few pieces, maybe one of us can find some cheap replacements.

[jakeadake]

I'm missing the entire decompression assembly, backing plate, center spring, D-Washers, and have a broken recoil spring. Lol, I need pretty much everything but the housing...

[MonroeMike]

There's a manual for that here.

http://72.52.143.80/~trikes/Manuals/...p%20Manual.pdf

[atctim]

If it runs - you did OK on the price. It is a bit of a mutt with mix and match parts - but that makes it unique for sure. From what I see -

1983 atc200 / 185s gas tank
ATC110 front fender
ATC250SX headlight

Those are really good machine. Clean her up and tune her up - great little bikes!

[ailll1]

the headlight is from a 85 250sx
it looks exactly as mine (headlight i mean...)

[tri again]

I agree that the dumbest thing is people who STOMP on the shifter to click it into gear.

Pretty sure thats why they changed them to UP in 85

The best fix I've seen is drill a hole between the split and the shaft and pit a bolt in

I also cheated out and got an LED light for cheap, 12v and about 7 inches in diameter for headlight

Most of my stuff looks just like that one
I reFUSE to make them pretty

No one ever looks at them like the tricky ones at the dunes and hence, I call them theftproof for that reason.

uglier the better I say.

If someone makes fun of it???

let 'em walk, or buy and build their own

[jakeadake]

Alright. So I had some time this weekend to work on the trike. First I took off the carb and manifold and found they PO used a Chevy SBC radiator gasket on the manifold. Also found just about every bolt to be stripped and RTV on everything. Well I did the usual tune up stuff to prepare it to run. Got ready to bump start it and wow I have no gears! I have first gear for like a second when I pull it and it slips out. Does the same with second. If I push the shifter down again it sticks and hangs up-no 3,4,5. Jeez I can't even bump it off, and looks to me as the tranny is shot. I guess I'm the idiot for not checking before I bought it...thought the guy was honest....

So am I screwed? Is there anyway to fix the gears for cheap? Maybe adjustment?