86 Tecate build thread

[R-tifacts]

With the end of one project (87 250r replica, build thread coming soon!) comes the start of another, I bought this 86 Tecate off fellow member scooterroo last sunday.125500 He had began going through the bike already but I want to change some of the colors, plus I want to really get to know the famous "Tecate" so after owning it for a day I tore it into peices monday night.125501 As of Wednesday I had the frame blasted and about half of the rest of the parts done. 125502 Thats all I got for now fellow trike heads, will keep updating this thread as I move forward. By for now.:TrikesOwn

[dcreel]

Awesome.. Can't wait to watch as you progress. Are your plans to make a nice rider or to restore it back to oem?

[R-tifacts]

Awesome.. Can't wait to watch as you progress. Are your plans to make a nice rider or to restore it back to oem?

Well I'm not to sure yet, as I found out with my 250r it can be much more costly to do an oem resto and I am not positive all that I am missing just yet. I do want to ride it and i would like to go all oem but depending on cost and rarity of the parts I might cheap out and go aftermarket with some stuff.

[bkm]

I will also be waiting patiently. We need more Tri-z/ Tecate builds. Too many cookie cutter 250r and 350x builds.

Maybe I'll get lucky with the raffle trike and I can start my own Tecate build thread.

[bigredridr]

seems like as soon as i get done sand blasting and returning one box of parts to you. You give me another box to do. lol hope this looks as good as the R when its complete........and yes your parts are almost done

[atc007]

Shoulda,woulda,coulda!! I snoozed,and I lost. Nice buy,, Is the engine staying blue?? lol, Nice Blown Camaro,,you don't mess around.

[fabiodriven]

Man, I really liked that white frame a lot. To each their own I suppose. I'm sure whatever you come up with it'll be great anyways.

[R-tifacts]

Man, I really liked that white frame a lot. To each their own I suppose. I'm sure whatever you come up with it'll great anyways.

It looked good in a picture but it was a spray paint job and it was flaking, plus white would never stay white, im gona have it professionally painted where I work and im going oe colors, motor as well. more pix soon!

[atc007]

That's EXACTLY what I had planned had I been able to make the trip! It's a very good start. Gonna be a beauty!

[R-tifacts]

Few more steps forward got the parts all sand blasted by bigredrider 125701 125697 then primed and even got some paint on the frame and swing arm and axle.125698125699. Re-building the shock tonight125696. Thats all for now folks....

[R-tifacts]

Moving forward over the weekend lots of rain so nothing better to do than work on the trike126020126019126018 Got a new coolant bottle and chain guide from jeswinehart today, looks amazing! what a great tank. I thought these tanks were made from unobtainium but i guess jeswinehart knows where to get it lol126017126016. Curently waiting on more parts needed to push forward.

[playasridebmx]

i like your calendar.. trikes lookin good too.. didnt know john was capable of doing the coolant bottles pretty awesome

[jeswinehart]

X's 2, nice calendar. :) Thanks for the compliment too !

john

[just ben]

nice job so far. did you figure out what you need for the engine yet?

[R-tifacts]

I ordered a few parts off ebay and got some more from frank destra, but I am still in need of a kick start kicker, a flywheel keyway(wooddrift key), stator, coil, rear master and linkage to the pedal, and rear fender suport bar.... and what ever else I run into durring the build. If anyone can help let me know.

[R-tifacts]

126268Came to a stand still last night but then a pile of parts showed up in the mail today. Back in action tonight......Does anyone know if the kicker lever off the quad is the same or will work on the trike?

[250rRoostmaster]

Lookin great!

[dcreel]

126268Came to a stand still last night but then a pile of parts showed up in the mail today. Back in action tonight......Does anyone know if the kicker lever off the quad is the same or will work on the trike?

I'm not sure about the Tecate-4 but Kawasaki.com shows all 4 years of Tecate use the same part number for the kickstarter.

[Xpress]

I wonder if the bikes used the same kicker too? Seems like Kawasaki made a lot of pieces/parts universal, so I personally would not be surprised to see a bike kicker slip right on.

[Red Rider]

I wonder if the bikes used the same kicker too? Seems like Kawasaki made a lot of pieces/parts universal, so I personally would not be surprised to see a bike kicker slip right on.My friend's '87 Tecate's kickstarter vibrated loose, fell off, and was lost. After he got tired of push starting it, and parking on top of hills to easily bump start it, he finally stole the kickstarter off of his KX250 (85 or 86), and used that. It bolted right on & was aluminum too. I think it was a little bit longer than the Tecate lever, but it still fit through the tunnel in the rear fenders just fine.

[motoman1012002]

them tecates we fast but you had to hold on

[mdunn]

Build looks great so far...getting ready to paint my frame also. Was wondering what paint you used on yours. Looks pretty close to the original color. Keep the pics coming!

[250rmanfmf]

Dang, Thats some quick process, Looks great!

[R-tifacts]

Build looks great so far...getting ready to paint my frame also. Was wondering what paint you used on yours. Looks pretty close to the original color. Keep the pics coming!

The paint is an 08 subaru silver metalic I'll see if I can dig up the ppg paint code

[nstyle73]

A t4 kicker will work. The kx250 and kx500 kickers will work, but are longer and have a bit more offset with the kicker angling upward rather than straight upward like the T3 and 4 and hit the fenders in my experience. I took a kx500 knuckle and bored the tecate kicker to 5/8 and used that. There is a kicker on ebay right now. Nice build.

[R-tifacts]

Thanks for the info nstyle73, bought the kicker on ebay from the t4, if it doesnt work ill sell it to you lol j/k.....latest problem need upper motor mount for the 86......same as 84 85 ? anyone? need 86 mounts (lost this auction)126555 far right mounts for an 85 126556

[just ben]

mounts are different.

[R-tifacts]

thanks ben, I found the correct ones last night moving forward

[R-tifacts]

Bunch of parts showed up the other day, havent had much time to post anything latley but heres where I'm at126643126642 Got the tank primed and about to try this new sealer, its made in NY and is made for plastic tanks, its supost to not let the fuel vapor blead through the plastic so you can paint and or put decals on a plastic tanks. The kit was $55 not sure if anyone has tryed it before but I'll keep you guys updated 126644126646126645

[honda250sx]

Caswell products are phenomenal. I have used alot of there stuff. Never their gas tank sealer though. This is looking great! I am working on an 86 myself.

[atc007]

Man,,that tanks fightin ya already!! Looking good! I still wish I had it,,,but the more you spend the less I wish!! Lookin awesowe so far !!

[R-tifacts]

Caswell products are phenomenal. I have used alot of there stuff. Never their gas tank sealer though. This is looking great! I am working on an 86 myself.

You have a build thread on here? how about parts you need? or better yet parts you dont need that I might

[honda250sx]

See my Sig

"MEAN GREEN"

[ezmoney1979]

Looking great so far! Good job on the frame color- looks sweet! I have a nice rear fender brace if you are interested. Thanks for sharing!

[R-tifacts]

ha thats funny I found that yesterday and read it didnt put 2 and two together that it was you, your doing some real nice work there you cant be planing on riding that are ya? great work so far man!

[honda250sx]

Oh I will ride it. I wont be riding it with the new plastics. I bought those to stash away while they were available. I have a few fender sets. Just cause when there gone, there gone in OEM. All the 250R guys thought that stuff would be around forever. WRONG. LOL. I plan on putting her together and ripping it. Minus the twist throttle.

[R-tifacts]

Trying to put the decal kit on the bike and the manual is not very helpful at all anyone got pictures of where these stickers are supost to go?126654

[nstyle73]

You might try Bike Bandit's parts fische or Frank Destra could probably help you. Several of those go on the rear fenders, but I have seen various installation positions, no doubtedly incorrect in most cases.

[Red Rider]

Trying to put the decal kit on the bike and the manual is not very helpful at all anyone got pictures of where these stickers are supost to go?Looking at my 1987 Tecate brochure, the decal with the chain tension information goes in the tunnel on the left side of the rear fenders. I can also see a big, square, silver decal on the left side of the rear fenders behind the "Tecate stripe" decal (in your case the "250 stripe"), but I can't make out what it says. On the right side of the rear fenders, behind the other "Tecate stripe" is a rectangular, silver decal, but once again, I can't make out what it is. I hope this helps.

[Red Rider]

Like they say, pictures are worth a 1,000 words.

[R-tifacts]

Yes sir, helps a ton, thanks alot guys.

[R-tifacts]

Well I got the tank painted and sealed, sealer worked great made a nice rock hard blater in the tank. No fuel yet im going to let it cure as I go through the motor.126823 also got the decals and plastics on, its a roller! brakes are complete just missing the rear hose, if I cant find one I will have to have a stainless one made.126822126821 On to the motor which is going to be a project within its self. Does anyone have any intrest in the original tires? they do have some dry rotting but are deff useable and have good tread left. I just dont care for the look of them 126820

[Mr. Clean]

Whats the story with the bowling pin in the gas tank pic???? Great build!!!

[JasonB]

lookin slick!

[R-tifacts]

Whats the story with the bowling pin in the gas tank pic???? Great build!!!

They were baking a few things in the booth along with my tank. Our painter also does air brushing, he did up that bolwing pin to put on the end table at his house lol guy has skills here is a pic of my drz fender he did for me.126824126825

[jeswinehart]

Yes, you will be very happy with the sealing plastic tank. I done a Tecate plastic tank 4, maybe 5 years ago and it has not bubbled off the decals (to the best of my knowledge,,, I sold that tank last winter)
I used redcoat but have heard very good feed back on Caswell.

[sportvette]

Just awesome! Great work!

[R-tifacts]

sale pending on all 3 tires

[R-tifacts]

Took the T3 over to CaverRiders shop to start re-building the motor. Had all the cases blasted, starting to get them in paint now. Got the new piston,wrist pin and bearing still waiting on all the other bearings and seals from kawi. Found almost all the missing parts however I still need a governor lever for the power valves PART 13236 on this page
http://oemparts.buymotorcycleparts.com/dillonbrothers/Kawasaki_OEM/KawasakiATV.asp?Type=13&A=22&B=10

Its disco from kawi and I gota have it, I have other parts/cash/beers to trade.:beer
129828129831129829129830

[R-tifacts]

Been hunting down some hard to find parts and dealing with the recent flood that pretty much wiped out my home town. Haven’t had too much time to work on the Tecate, I did get a DG pipe for it and made a silencer. Got a new stator from Kawi and got a sweet re-built fly wheel from jeswinhart thanks again man, great work as usual. Thanks also goes out to atctrikes for the water pump shaft and kicker gears I was missing. Just got the coolant hoses from roose hose via 86t3 which look and fit sweet, It does run just have tune her in. I have not been able to find a governor lever for the power valve so I think I am going to have to make one, unless someone has been holding out on me and now would like to sell it :naughty: that would be great, it is literaly the last peice I need. somebody......anybody........? 131551131552131553131554131555

[sportvette]

sorry to hear of the flooding...bike looks great. make the part and ill buy one! this was one of my engines. had that part welded or something. i could donate one of these to get them reproduced also...

131556

[R-tifacts]

If you can send the the correct part I can make it I just need one to measure/follow. I will make a hand full I've been looking for a few months now with no luck. does that one that is welded work correctly?

[sportvette]

I don't know if it worked correctly welded. I had it replaced. I'm heading over to my garage to ship some parts out. So I'm gonna rip this part off an engine and get it out to you. I'm hoping it comes off right from the top pv cover. I'm gonna check the manual to see what it says. There isn't anything to worry about here - reverse thread or anything? Anyway, I'll get it out this week. I'll pm for your address. Thanks - rock on!

[ezmoney1979]

Well I just went to the garage and looked in my extra case and guess what I found?
http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae240/ezmoney1979/KitchenandT3governerlever008.jpg

[ezmoney1979]

Hey sportvette, that is a reverse thread nut. Many a Tecate has had them snapped off. Very common mistake.

[sportvette]

Ah... Thank you. I knew one of the discontinued parts was reverse! Need to watch out for that!

[R-tifacts]

Oh so sexy! you found the missing link haha no really its the missing link I need or at least one to measure and copy.

[86T3]

I have the one i broke still. If ezmoney doesn't want to send his good one out i could ship you mine. I snapped the stud off the top but have both pieces still. I had to rob the one off my other motor so i'll need on in the future.

[R-tifacts]

Good to know I pm'ed ez waiting on a responce, will keep you updated.

[just ben]

I just took a look at one I have. would be very easy to duplicate

[R-tifacts]

yea I can make one i just need to get one to copy, I want to make sure it is to spec, cant have any 250r's pulling me on the straight-a-ways haha

[just ben]

I could send one if the other guy doesnt come through

[sportvette]

I've got one out of an engine. I had to stop over at my garage so I got it. Pm me an address to ship, unless you have one coming already. It looks like that part being welded in there would have worked fine. It seems to just move back and forth with the rod.

Any thoughts on making the part this attaches to? Or is that too difficult? It seems that both have broken and sold out/discontinued through Kawasaki. Part number 49114.

[jeswinehart]

R-tifacts, I am very impressed with your work shop and of corse your build. And now this thread is really going over the top with the reproduction of a discontinued extremely hard to find part !
Oh yeah, you guys know I am all about that :) ~ Just awesomeness !

[just ben]

[QUOTE=sportvette;

Any thoughts on making the part this attaches to? Or is that too difficult? It seems that both have broken and sold out/discontinued through Kawasaki. Part number 49114.[/QUOTE] the link is very simple, the other parts of the system would require a mill and a lathe at the very least. not mention a skilled operator. The lack of call for the parts kinda puts a damper on them being made,for a reasonable cost anyway. EDIT: oops I guess I deleted too much off the quote

[R-tifacts]

Got a govonor lever coming from ezmoney! I will be using it but will take measurements and at least atempt to make a few extras. Im just stoked to have found one thanks ezmoney. Does anyone know the failure with the oe part? I assume the power valves carbon up and stick and that breaks the nipple at the end of the lever?

[just ben]

I think its more of misplacing them than the part failing.

[loizl]

i think its the left tread. on one of my tecate the treadet part is broken off. i think many people turn them wrong or fasten them too much

[MIK6]

Yep.. the nut on that is reverse thread.. i have 1 nos here as a spare if that helps w a repro.
If the powervalves are timed rite put the lever where it belongs and weld a small tack to the arm. You can pry it out of the grove and still remove the cover. I got a motor back from a shop "fixed" like that.. lol

MIK6 / Mike

[R-tifacts]

The part I am refering too sits on the threded stud and steps down to the power valve pushrod with a tit that sits in a grove in the pusrod. If you were to break the reverse thred nutt it would have no effect on the part I am refering to. The one I found broken the tit was snaped off. I think the power valve gums up and that is the weakest link in the system. I will take some pictures once the part comes in. If you snap the stud your sol, I could not reproduce that part but the link I could.

[MIK6]

I believe i have that part NOS too. i know i have a few levers off parts motors out in the shop.
Does anyone have any spare bent or rusted forks? I need 2 fork tops, my bleeders are ripped off on my 86clutched rider build

MIK6 / Mike

[ezmoney1979]

Hey MIK6- I have your fork caps- well, three sets of forks really. Your pm box is full- I need your address- sorry for thread crapping- Eric

[aldochina]

rediculous build man! you crank em out too!! ya, must have gotten pounded pretty good out your way from irene! guy i worked with for yrs recently started working at the gilboa dam! he's from your neck. Scowfoe is the name! you must of made out ok to be back at the tecate'. thats good! glad you found the last piece of the puzzle!

[bigpimpin]

Nice build.

[DakotaYota]

This thread is completely awesome! What a great build!

I sure hope I can get my hands on a tecate some day. Rode one a while back as well as a 250r....both are fun and wild. But deep down, I cant deny that I am a team green guy! Love this kawasaki!!!!

Congrats!

[R-tifacts]

Got the govonor lever from ezmoney, thanks man! gonna get it together and dial in the carb. Had a small set back with the shock hose, it was seeping fluid very slowly so I had to tear it back appart. Lost my nitrogen charge and having trouble finding another hose the correct length. I ordered a stanless steel brake hose by length, it uses the same 10mm banjo fittings so I am hoping that will work, im just not sure about the inside diameter of the hoses.....we will see. Hope to have some pictures of her in action soon!

[sportvette]

this fella seems to have a new hose...posts 4 and 12. ill see if i can find out what he used.

http://www.3wheeler.org/vb/showthread.php?42259-My-86-t-3-getting-a-facelift

No response... Sorry...

[R-tifacts]

Just bolted the last part (front sprocket cover) on the Tecate over the weekend, She's done! and paciently waiting for the ice this winter.....132770
I have some random extra parts I had duplicates of or didnt use. Rather than sit on them forever I would like to send them to a good home. If anyone needs anything pictured below let me know and I will get a shipping quote. Im not trying to make any money so If your willing to pay shiping I will send you the part/s. This being said I do ask that you need the part for your bike. I will not send anything to someone so they can turn around and sell it on ebay. Also I am not intersted in shiping international, sorry. I am just trying to help out some fellow Tecate owners.
132774 oe headlight shell - was cracked and fixed but is useable
132775 oe Pipe - has small dents but useable for sure
132776 Homemade coolant tank cover - if you have a coolant tank that was repaired but looks nasty this looks and fits pretty good.
132777 Jug - has power valves in it bore could go either way your call on hone or sleve, coolant bleeder is broke off in water outlet.
132778 Brake rotor - has some piting, coolant tank cap, gas tank mount, chain roller and slides, caliper bracket, grips for twist throtle, reeds cage and intake -dont know if leaks or not, swing arm bearings(no end caps), Some kind of water pump adaptor or turbulator maybe?

[bigredridr]

a 250R and a tecate in your living room...... huh looks like you could fit a Tri-Z in the middle..............do i see another build?

[oldskool83]

I dont know what i like more, these oem restores sure like nice! please put them in a glass sealed box so you dont gotta dust them lol!