1983 ATC185S fixer upper

[Footy]

I have been wanting a 200X for a long time but the right one has not come along so I picked up a 185 yesterday. It runs and rides but not well enough that I would ever leave my yard on it. All of the big money items seem good on it but I have noticed lots of smaller issues.
1. This engine seems to have the same type of decompression release set up as the XR200 dirt bike and 200X. The cable is missing. I was wondering if it would be possible to use the decompression lever from a atc200E that you manually move to provide easier starting?
2. The pull rope is not retracting into the recoil. I see rebuild kits on ebay for repairing this. Are the ebay kits good or do I need to do something else?
3. I need to buy an air filter. Is honda or uni preferred?
4. I need to change the oil. I do not have a manual. I assume about 1.5 quarts is the engine oil capacity?
5. I need to buy some random parts and hardware, ( shift lever, engine mounting bolts, front brake lever, etc). Are these parts from the 200S interchangable ?
6. The engine runs good, revs out well and does not smoke but for some reason does not want to idle. I adjusted the idle screw but with little effect. Any thoughts on what would cause this condition? I have not dumped the fuel tank yet and I am sure that would help some.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Photos and more to come.

[Footy]

269611

I will get better photos later.

[shortline10]

Probably best to scrap the idea of fixing the decompression system , their are a lot of parts in the recoil that are obsolete besides just that cable .
The idle issue is mostly likely the small jet is probably clogged so I would recommend a rebuild kit made by shindy and a new petcock with filter or at least run an inline filter to keep trash out of the carburetor .

[Jim mac]

it's amazing how quick the pilot jet can get clogged. I'm trying to sell a 200s right now, I put a new carb on it a few months ago and the darn thing didn't want to idle. pulled the carb yesterday and found the pilot jet clogged. cleaned it and it runs great again. jim

[Footy]

Thanks for your thoughts. I will rebuild the carb as soon as I get time and the shindy kit.
For first question about the decompression lever, I do not want to use the cable operated automatic decompression setup the was originally on the 185. Nothing is on my 185 now except for the short lever on the valve cover. What I would like to try is to get a used manual lever from a 1981 185S or from a 200 big red. I am just not sure what is involved with changing to the manual lever setup.
For question #2 about the pull rope, it is not functional at all right now. I have to repair or replace it but I do not know what is the best process for this? Should I look for a complete functioning recoil for sale on ebay? Or get the cheap rebuild kit for recoils also sold on ebay? I assume honda does not sell these parts any longer.
Right now the only way to start my 185S is the pull it with another ATV.

[Jim mac]

sounds like the recoil is just gummed up. since it's not retracting anyway, you could just pull it off and spray wd40 into the center spindle and work it back and forth. that is if the thing still has the spring tension on it. sometimes it's just dirty. jim

[Jim mac]

on your carb, just pull it apart, clean the jets, and the needle and seat and put it back together. it might run fine. jim

[83Atc110]

For the recoil, just buy a new spring for it, and for the carb, get a rebuild kit. They're not expensive, either.

[83Atc110]

For the recoil, just buy a new spring for it, and for the carb, get a rebuild kit. They're not expensive, either.

[robgdds]

I just got done rebuilding a trashed out 83 185s so I just went thru all of this. Take the recoil apart and degrease the whole thing. Go on ebay and get and new rope handle and spring. The spring is tricky to get in, there was a good video on youtube on how to do it. As for the carb the rebuild kit didn't work because the float seal was bad so I purchased a new one (zoom Chinese pz26 copy)for like $35. It took a while but I got it jetted perfect. Now it starts with one pull and runs like a top (after I fixed the electrical problems).

[Footy]

This is all good advice. Thanks so much. For the recoil I do not plan to use the cable actuate decompression release. Should I leave those parts out of the recoil when I repair it or are they necessary as spacer inside of the recoil housing?

[MrConcdid]

I use the recoil rebuild kits on ebay, there's a company based in Tennessee that make a good quality kit, search for them.
I not worry about the dscomp system, but do plug the whole in the recoil to keep water out, a rear brake inspection plug from any pickup truck found in the help section at any parts store is a good fit.
MrC.

[Footy]

I use the recoil rebuild kits on ebay, there's a company based in Tennessee that make a good quality kit, search for them.
I not worry about the dscomp system, but do plug the whole in the recoil to keep water out, a rear brake inspection plug from any pickup truck found in the help section at any parts store is a good fit.
MrC.

Hey thanks. Also my son and I enjoy watching your channel. So do you leave the extra decomp parts in there without the cable or do you remove them?

[Jim mac]

if your not going to use the decompression stuff you could always sell them and recoup some of your money back. from what I understand some of those parts are a bit pricy. jim