Help in Identifying 3wheeler

[hiltu]

I just recently bought my first ever three wheeler... the killer part was it was only $50( $30 cash and a $20 Browning Hat) This wheeler runs and starts up like a dream. Just missing rear brakes, recoil, and exhaust pipe. My one problem is im not sure of the model and year it is. My question is how can i figure this out. The "name plate" that should be on the frame is missing. Previous owner is guessing that it is a 1985 honda 185s. The only bit of info i can get off of it is the VIN number. Is there any way this number can tell me the year and size? Or does anyone have any other way that might work. THANKS

[sblt500r]

if you post a picture someone on here will give you a good guess at it.

[Maine_Triker]

Get us a pic and that's all we'll need; unless of course it's so beat up and destoyed that it's unidentifiably.

[MTS]

well if its a 185 s it will be Red, solid axel rear, possibly front shocks(maby solid tho) 4 stroke motor, if you look around the base of the cylinder there shold be a displacemtn number in Cm and it will say Honda on it :)

[Huffa]

You ask: "Does anybody have another way?"

Sure do. This will hook you up for sure!

http://allterraincycles.ca/

[fhportal]

One thing for sure it's not a 1985 185... they didn't make the 185 after 1983... I have an 82 185... I'll get pic and see if I can post for you tomorrow... you got a nice deal on a running trike.... good luck

[hiltu]

i don't have a pic at the moment, it is in the shop, but i tried to see if i can send a pic on here and i can't. Do * click on the "insert image" button? it just says to type the text to be formatted. doesn't ask for what pic or anything, need help

[MTS]

One thing for sure it's not a 1985 185... they didn't make the 185 after 1983... I have an 82 185... I'll get pic and see if I can post for you tomorrow... you got a nice deal on a running trike.... good luck
um yes they did make a 185s in 85 im sure of it...iv seen them!

[Huffa]

Are you guys blind or :confused: what? I just gave you a link to every model Honda has ever made.

[chris200x]

Are you guys blind or :confused: what? I just gave you a link to every model Honda has ever made.

That's a pretty cool site huffa. I'm not blind.

[Huffa]

That's a pretty cool site huffa. I'm not blind.

Yea, it's real handy to have when you want to look up a model. Lots of other cool things too on it though.

Glad you can see. :D

[grundlegrabber]

Yah that's a cool site, hadn't seen that one **. REal nice clear shots of what they all used to look like when they were new. All except the 86 atc 250R tho. Didn't see that one there.

[Dammit!]

Are you guys blind or :confused: what? I just gave you a link to every model Honda has ever made.

There's no 1986 250R. What kind of shananigans are going on over there?

[Huffa]

There's no 1986 250R. What kind of shananigans are going on over there?

Yea there is, it's just not a full brochure like the rest. it's a "family" one.


http://allterraincycles.ca/86atv.html

[84honda 200X]

I thought we were trying to identify a wheeler not discussing a site? Anyways i think its a 85 200S or a 200M if it has hi low range. Just a guess you hsould get apicture or a link to a similar looking trike.

[hiltu]

it doesn't have a hi/low range switch. it was painted blue but front fender was originally red, front shocks, no rear shocks, kill switch, pull start. im going to have a pic up hopefully in a week. The chain broke so its in the shop, and when i get it home i will take a pic. thanks guys.

[Mike_Ham_250R]

Are you guys blind or :confused: what? I just gave you a link to every model Honda has ever made.
LMAO yeah maybe...

[Mike_Ham_250R]

Also I bet you have a 200s of some year... prolly 1985... and also, does it have a suspension in the rear, and the 1985 200's had NO HI_LO gearbox

[hiltu]

no rear suspension

[hiltu]

sorry if this is difficult to identify without pics, hopefully have some up tomorrow, how do * post them? just click on insert image or what?

[Tri-ZNate]

if it doesnt have a rear shock your probably looking at an '84 or earlier model. I think it is a 185s. Oh and I have seen 1984 185s's but never a '85 model. Infact there is an '84 model about 14 miles away from my house.

[hiltu]

the VIN number is: JH3TB04DC321410. Is this of any help?

[Yamahauler]

I just looked it over quick and I think it says 1983 250 4 stroke. but there were no 250SX's in 83....maybe im not reading it right

[wheelie king]

YHauler- I read it the same...
Agreed with you, I am stumped. WE NEED a pic? Curiousity is killing this cat!

Maybe a 200 E or S?

[hiltu]

The VIN number was on the front fork, any chance those got switched out with the originals? or is this most likely the model?

[hiltu]

well i am glad you guys are interested in helping me. I too wanna find out with this thing is than restore it. I will try and get pics soon. thanks

[chris200x]

does it look like any trike on that website Huffa posted. Maybe if you look you can answer your own question. :rolleyes: And we can stop this guessing game. To post pics I use irfanview. You have to resize them to a certan amount of pixels. There is a link to it on the top of the open forum. It takes you through step by step. If you can't find your trike on that website Huffa posted. email me your pics if you can't figure it out and I will post them for you. cr200x@gmail.com

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/announcement.php?f=6&announcementid=4

Here's the link to resize your pics.

[Yamahauler]

The VIN number was on the front fork, any chance those got switched out with the originals? or is this most likely the model?
Well even if the front forks were switched with differant ones, there is no such thing thing as a 1982 250 4 stroke 3 wheeler honda made. They made the 250SX in 85-87 and the 250ES (Big Red) from 85-87.
correct me if I'm wrong.
We really need a pic :)

[Tri-ZNate]

Here is my question. The vin# did you get that off the sticker or the frame itself? either way there wasnt a 4 stroke 250 before 1985 like as said below. Recheck that number would ya.

[edog]

The vin you gave me is jh3tbo4dc321410,the guy at the honda dealer said that he couldn't find it,but if the 04 was a 02 it would be a 1987 250 sx.If it was 06 it would be a 1981 250r

[Tri-ZNate]

The vin you gave me is jh3tbo4dc321410,the guy at the honda dealer said that he couldn't find it,but if the 04 was a 02 it would be a 1987 250 sx.If it was 06 it would be a 1981 250r


He said the chain broke so it isnt an SX nor could it be an R since the R had rear suspension. He needs to look on that website and tell us what it looks most like.

[edog]

I know this,so the vin is not matching the descriptions.

[jenndnn3]

A couple of things on the vin. Double check your numbers. your missig one as well or have mixed something up.

The last six digits indicate in its in its 3 or 4th year of production.
Honda ran 000000 first year 100000 second and so on.
If it is not suspended it is not an r or an x of anytype. So you can rule those out, If my mind is working correctly. Sx are supended correct R's are as well.

I believe it is an 1983 185s
JH3TB010XDC300013~
jh3tbo(these numbers are correct) 4(what is this 4 really)(?? missing number)dc321410 (these are probably correct.,)

[edog]

they are. :Bounce

[hiltu]

I got the wheeler home today... i will have pics up in less than an hour and i will read off the vin number again. This machine does not have the rear plastic and its too plain to say it looks like one off a brochure.

[hiltu]

pic of wheeler im trying to see if the pic worked

[Yamahauler]

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=31055

this is how to post a picture

[hiltu]

Sorry people, my bad, the VIN number is actually on the frame, not the front forks. I don't know if the number is the same this time but this time i read off: JH3TB0104DC321410

[hiltu]

Sorry again, i just looked at the 2 VIN numbers, and i skipped the 01 in the first.... i feel so dumb. sorry guys, its a 185 made in 1983. my one question is, is it 185 or 185s? and what is the difference?

[jenndnn3]

Dam I am good.

Dont feel dumb! Welcome to a great lil trike. now that you know what it is have fu putting the goodies back on it.

Is the front suspended?

[Yamahauler]

It is a 185s. 1980 was the only year where there was a plain 185. I dont think there would be much or any differance between them, just a letter

[chris200x]

sorry it took so long

[Tri-ZNate]

ok so who guessed a 185s? Im one

[ChupaCabra]

Yikes! You're gonna have a fun time removing all that "chrome" :D I wonder what goes through some peoples heads who think painting stuff like that makes it look better.

[ejc042]

It is a 185s. 1980 was the only year where there was a plain 185. I dont think there would be much or any differance between them, just a letter

The 1980 185 was different. It had 25 inch tires, larger frame and no front suspension.

[chris200x]

So tell us are you gonna just get it up and runnin or you going for a full restore? I think either way you have your work cut out for you. GOOD LUCK! Your definitly on the right forums if you need any help that's for sure. Keep us updated.

[hiltu]

i didn't paint it. thats how i got it. how would i get the paint off the engine with out damaging it?

[hiltu]

i plan to restore it as best as i can but ride it while fixing it. ive gone mudding twice with it already. my first bit of fixing is to buy cobra exhaust and a new air filter. already changed the oil and put in a new spark plug....

[hiltu]

after that, when i get some more money, i will get a new recoil, the rear plastic, and seat with the foam. It has a kill switch on the handle but the little button to turn it on off and on is broke off and the internals look messed up... i will see if i can do anything with that otherwise, all i can do to turn it off is pull the spark plug.

[chris200x]

i didn't paint it. thats how i got it. how would i get the paint off the engine with out damaging it?

I would have to guess the easiest way to do this would be to just repaint your motor with many coats of black hi temp. engine paint.

[hiltu]

I just bought the rear brake cables/foot brake off ebay and will be putting that in... also i need new brake pads... so i will order them soon.... slowly but surely. Ive driven it for 3 days straight with no problems other than having to refill the tires.

[RideRed250R]

first of all you did NOT see a 1985 185s, they stoped those because they had a 200s and 185s and who wanted to pay the same price for a lower cc bike.
adam

[MTS]

first of all you did NOT see a 1985 185s, they stoped those because they had a 200s and 185s and who wanted to pay the same price for a lower cc bike.
adam
im in canada and i have seen a 1985 185s.

[BigRedRunner]

Why has no one mentioned looking the displacement figure cast on the jug. Err, unless I'm blind and missed it.

[hiltu]

Updates to my wheeler: Bought a DG RCM exhaust pipe (in the mail still), new kill switch/light switch, rear brake foot pedal, aligned rear axle (chain kept falling off because axle was on a weird angle, welded frame in one spot, gear shifter was rubbing on the engine casing so i straightened that out, painted rust-oleum on rusted parts than covered it with flat black paint, put hi-temp flat black engine paint on the entire engine. Thats what i got done in 2 weeks on the side. My car is starting to die on me, slow oil leak and burning oil, small gas leak and the engine has 165,000 miles on it. So what i did to the wheeler is all that is going to get done to it for a while, looking to buy a cheap used car/truck when i save enough money..... don't worry, i have ABSOLUTELY no plans of selling this 3wheeler, its staying no matter what. :D

[hiltu]

Updates: carb is junk... needs rebuild but instead im ordering a 200x carb, a bit bigger than the 185, bought a recoil, and eyeing up the electric starter from Goki

[hiltu]

its been about 2 months since the last update and whether or not anyone is reading this, i figure i would update what i've done. With the money being tight i didn't get as much done as i would like. Got the carb in and it runs perfect now. the recoil kit was missing the pulley and it costs another $37 so i never got around to that, or the electric start. I did get a seat but i used duct tape. mechanically its great. i don't see myself investing much more money in it, as i want a bigger, faster wheeler, prob. a 200x or 250sx.