Bad Idea

[rugman316]

I bought a 250sx from a guy a few weeks back kickstart didn't work so I fixed that also the starter gears had chewed up the flywheel and I replaced that and it runs great now. Anyways I got it fired up tonight and took it for a test dirive finally and guess what I didn't check. The damn thing has no third gear. From what I have read this involves a total engine tear down to fix which I think is probably over my head. So if anybody has any suggestions on what it might be that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[bcredneck]

is that the only gear that dont work one thing to check is the bolt that holds a star shaped piece to the shift drum mine was loose on my big red it causes all kinds of problems like not going in to some gears poping out of gear going into neutral between gears then it could only shift up going down hill next it stoped shifting all together when i starting pulling the
shifting parts out to see how much money it was going to cost me i notest the loose bolt tightend it never had another probem with it after that its part 8 in this link http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1985-honda-motorcycle-atc250sx/o/m1913#sch8216

[bugler30]

got a parts 250sx motor but it has a bad 3rd gear too :/ looking at a 2002 400ex with a bad third gear, have a 200x with a bad 3rd gear.

Its a Honda thing.

[Chazz of Blades]

I have a 200x with a bad second gear. It just WILL NOT shift into second rolling. Now sitting still it will. It's odd.

[sx250heath]

My parts SX will not shift into 3rd

[ratvespa]

got a parts 250sx motor but it has a bad 3rd gear too :/ looking at a 2002 400ex with a bad third gear, have a 200x with a bad 3rd gear.

Its a Honda thing.

yeh, yamaha had that problem in the 80's with 2nd gear. Although it's mostly larger CC motorcycles. I guess ive been lucky with the 20-odd something honda I have owned, never had a 3rd gear problem. splittling a bottom end is not that bad, make sure you have a manual, clean workbench, and you might need a puller to get the rotor off. But like other said, check the shifting star, often it's on the shift shafts side, under the cover. It depends what it's doing when you go into 3rd, does it bang and clank? or just do nothing?

[rugman316]

Thanks for all the replies. It does nothing in third basically goes into neutral and I'm not sure fifth is working right either. I am praying that something is wrong with the shifter mechanism I just had that cover off and so it shouldn't be too bad to pull it off again.Should the shift lever slide in and out a little bit or be tight because it does do that. I am hoping something is loose or broken. Seems wierd because the guy I bought it from was a really good guy and told me about the other problems but made no mention of that gear not working maybe I did something when I was in there. I guess I will find out soon enough.

[rugman316]

I should also mention that I did get it to catch in third a couple of times rolling it around in the garage. I don't know if thats a good thing or bad.

[hang&rattle]

I too had a bad 3rd gear in our 85' 200x. I still rode it like that and the motor's bottem end went ka-put. I found a little old school shop. He has rebuilt my Tecate motor and now I think is going to put a 200x top end on my daughters auto-x. Sometimes a good old school shop is cheaper. My attempts were pretty expensive trying to learn (and cost alot of time). I have seen good 200x tranny's on this site for $30. Don't know about the SX, but someone has got to have one for cheap. And like I said, a good old school Mechanic can keep you repair price down (if you may have a sorta lack of confidence on a new project as I did), the fix will be worth the $ though.

[Chazz of Blades]

You are describing my 200x situation perfectly, pm me if you find an answer.

[rugman316]

Well that bolt is tight so that rules that out so I guess I need to decide what to do with it. I could part it out. Sell it complete "as is" for parts or if someone wants to fix it. Or take a chance on a used motor and swap them out. Or try to fix it myself which I don't really have the time or know how to do. I am leaning towards a different motor but I doubt the wife is leaning that way at all. What do you guys think. Oh and by the way I was quoted $1500-$2000 to fix it by the local Honda dealer Lol.

[Chazz of Blades]

Never.
Take.
It.
To.
A.
Dealer.


I've never gotten a fair price for repair work at a dealers, I much prefer a mechanic.

[matt86200x]

Well that bolt is tight so that rules that out so I guess I need to decide what to do with it. I could part it out. Sell it complete "as is" for parts or if someone wants to fix it. Or take a chance on a used motor and swap them out. Or try to fix it myself which I don't really have the time or know how to do. I am leaning towards a different motor but I doubt the wife is leaning that way at all. What do you guys think. Oh and by the way I was quoted $1500-$2000 to fix it by the local Honda dealer Lol.

Where are you in sask? I know my way around those 200's very well, or might be interested in buyin the bike off you. What year is it?

[rugman316]

This thread kind of went a bunch of directions. It is actually a 1985 250sx. I am in the Regina area. Would you have the know how to possibly fix it for me? Maybe we can work something out either way.

[matt86200x]

ya i might actually have another good motor for you. I just pulled my 250es motor to make room for my trx 300 engine. I live in Winnipeg

[bcredneck]

if you got it to pop in to 3rd in you shop your gears and shift dogs should be ok probaey a bent shift fork or a worn shift drum
never try to bend back a fork it will brake of when your ridding and ruin your tranny i fixed a shift drum by adding weld and grinding it back down this only worcks if you know a damd good welder

[the great gazoo]

I had the same problem with my '85 SX, no 3rd gear. I took it(I had to remove the engine) to a small time bike shop & The guy replaced my shift forks. 1st kick, the kicker lost it's gearing & wouldn't park itself. I took it back, the guy "fixed" the kicker & it ran great for 2, maybe 3 rides, then it dropped out again. I said "screw it", I'll live w/ no kicker(after all, if ya have a battery, who cares, right?). I rode pretty hard for 3 years, then 3rd started kind of not catching every time(I thought, "Oh crap, here we go" ), but I let it slide until one day about a year ago it lost 3rd again. I got a trans donor from a board member, but haven't done anything w/ it yet, no time because work's too busy & I just haven't had the time. I'd really like to know what the heck went wrong.
Good luck w/ your SX, I think you'd probably be better of replacing the bottom end/complete engine before handing it over to some one who might not know what he's getting into, TGG............

[rugman316]

I would be interested in the motor matt. If you want to private message me with what you would want for it and shipping maybe purolater or something and we can go from there. As long as third gear works haha. Thanks