1983 200x to buy or not to buy?

[BOB4ST8]

i am fresh to 3ww, as i do not yet own a trike. there is a 1983 200x for sale locally. the guy says it needs work. he rode it on and off untill 1 year ago, when he says the rear tires locked up. he tells me the motor kept running so here is my first question.......is this possible?

if this is possible......any preliminary ideas on how major this is? i am very mechanically inclined, with quads and snowmobiles so the work sounds like a fun adventure to me.

the guy hasnt started it again since the supposed "lock up", and he said he has to have $300 for it. is this a reasonable price? i think i could get it for 250, but repairs?

and my final question : is a 200x going to be sufficient for my first project? i am an athletic 28 year old that is 6 ft, 185........not way too small for me?

[RodKnockRacing]

tires locking up could be a seized brake caliper or seized carrier bearings i would guess

[200XMichigan]

Possible the rear caliper just locked up. If you are mechanically inclined you will have a blast with it. I picked up my first trike last fall, 1983 200X and I love the thing. I would say it's not too small for you. I'm a little smaller, by about 20 lbs and I love the 200X. Not to say you aren't going to eventually want a 350X but for the money and the fun the 200X can't be beat. Especially for $250. The chances of finding a 350X for that price are near none.

Maybe take the chain off and make sure it goes through the gears. That way you can determine whether it just the rear caliper or its internal to the engine. And if you took the brake off and rode it around he might want to keep it. If the problem is internal in the engine I would say $300 is a bit high (but t depends on how common 200X are in your area), but if its just the rear caliper then its a good deal.

[BOB4ST8]

i have a feeling that it is internal, or the guy would want more money or just fix it himself.

if it was an internal problem would the engine still run?

i should be able to roll the trike and see the chain slack/tighten to tell if the axle moves.

if it is internal, is there any fixing that i can do? or is it that i am looking for a new bottom end/whole engine?

thanks a ton for the info......im getting excited!

[mopar_man]

or is it that i am looking for a new bottom end/whole engine?

You could always tear into it and see if it's just something that can be replaced. It's already buggered so taking apart can't hurt it, right? I would see if he would take $250 since it could have other unknown problems without being able to ride it.

[200XMichigan]

A lot of people just don't know, something breaks and that's all they know. It could be fixed if it was internal. But you would have to split the cases and totally disassemble the engine.

[BOB4ST8]

i think for the money i will drop the hammer. i kinda want to see the innards anyway, and i'm sure you guys will help me get it back together!