New Guy - general questions

[CrkdLtr]

Greetings,

I spent a couple of days reading and searching your board prior to the update. Just wanted to ask a couple of questions that may be basic or stupid. :wondering

I'm looking at an ATC 185 that someone is selling for cheap. I know nothing about 3 wheelers other than the rider safety issues from the past. in searching, exclusively, for information on the 185 I seem to be coming up short. The current problems are no brakes (possible pads need to be changed) pull rope broke and carb needs to be rebuilt and reinstalled.

I've not found a lot of specific information on this model ATC. My intentions for it were to use it for hunting. Getting deeper into the woods and hauling out game.

I have a couple of questions though. My initial goal was to buy something cheap (3wheel or 4wheel) that needs to be fixed up a little but I wouldn't care about cosmetics. So far this bike meets that goal. Should I want to add on or upgrade it later, are there any interchangeable parts for this frame/motor from other ATC models? Specifically on this bike it has a solid suspension steering fork. I think later I would like one with shocks. Also I don't know the true condition of the motor. I was told it did not smoke and ran fine until the pull rope broke. Are there any other motors I could replace the pull rope assembly with in lieu of repairing the current one? Are there certain motors I can swap out on this particular frame if I wanted a larger motor later?

Any info or links would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Hair Bear Bunch]

Hi, Welcome to the site.
I'm not familiar with the 185, but there is a link to manuals on the site somewhere. The pull rope should be a straight forward fix with the correct manual, just beware of the spring flying out if you dismantle it. As far as interchangeable parts go I just don't know. I'm sure that there'll be other members about later who are better placed to help you and get you going.
Good luck.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

If you just want it for hunting and stuff it should serve the purpose. You can take the pull start case off and wrap a rope around the flywheel there and pull it to start it. be careful doing this but that should work for you to see how it runs. That would be a temporary way to start it until you get a new rope. i used to start my Odessey like that all the time. Just pull and if it doesn't start rewrap the rope and pull again etc. As far as parts go, 185's are fairly easy to find parts for as far as 3 wheelers go. But it doesn't have rear suspension so if you're inexperienced on a 3 wheeler make sure you get used to it and never try do ride past your limits or you will get hurt. As far as putting a bigger engine on it, it really wouldn't be worth it with a 185. I don't know if a 200cc will bolt on, i believe some might, and I've hear about people putting 200cc top ends on them too but for your purposes it would be too much off a hassle and costly. You'd be better off to wait and find a 200S or better yet a 200X because the X has full suspension. Those have an abundance of parts available and can be obtained fairly cheap. Also a good recommendation is a Honda big red. Honda made so many of them they are basically a dime a dozen as the 3 wheeler world goes. Good luck. Be safe and hope you find what you're looking for. Welcome to the site.

[hondahaulic]

any 185/200 honda atc engine will bolt right in with minimal mods as long as it is chain drive. 200s front forks will bolt right up for front suspension.

[daniel_250r]

you might want to gear it lower if you are going to be hauling a lot, my friends 185 is quick but can't haul much

[MonroeMike]

Welcome to 3ww.

I think you should get a Big Red.

[Zach]

I was the proud owner of a 200s and the current owner of a 200m both models without rear suspension kind of a little bit bigger brother to the 185 you are looking at.The great thing is you are looking at a Honda, parts for Hondas are still pretty plentiful when it comes to Engine parts and most other things you will need to keep it going. My suggestion would be to check out Ebay for parts you can find pretty much anything you need there also ask here the guys on this board have all kinds of stuff just laying around in their garages. For the application you are looking at the 185 should work just fine for you. It is not a speed demon but will have plenty of power to pull you as well as big game out of the woods. I saw someone post you should get a model with rear suspension. I would advise against this for what you want to do with the trike. Suspension eats alot of power if you plan on pulling a trailer or dragging game out of the woods you want all the available torque to be working on the pull not being absorbed by suspension. The Honda is easy to work on and will run pretty much run forever will a bit of maintenance. Welcome to the site.

[Zach]

oh and the Big Red is cool because depending on what model 200cc or 250c you had the options of Shaft drive or chain drive and also a high and low range gear selector. As well as stock front and rear racks to carry cargo.