Got a '86 Tecate roller: help identify swing arm?

[Dammit!]

She's a real looker ain't she? :lol:

Not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet. I basically have two choices. Part it out on ebay or stick it in a corner somewhere until I get around to doing something with it (and it'll be a long time since I have three others in front of it that need work).

Anybody spot any parts that bring good money on ebay? Maybe it would make more sense to sell it off to fund fixing up the others.

By the way, the only plastics that have no cracks are the radiator guards/fins. The shrouds, fenders, headlight garnish all have cracks.

[Dammit!]

More pics.

[Xowner]

isnt that the inpossible left tank fin? that you cant find?

ruff start but could be a start

good luck

[3Razors]

Its got an aftermarket swingarm:) Not sure on the make though.

[RideRed250R]

hmmm i got a idea TECATE500

[Dammit!]

Its got an aftermarket swingarm:) Not sure on the make though.

I thought something looked weird about it. Anybody got any idea what it is?

[Xowner]

franks maybe?

[Meat-BoX]

Sell it to someone for a KXT 500 project. We need a Green 500cc Trike to see how she hangs with the other Big Guns.:w00t:
Whats up with that Headlight Jammy? Thats different.

[Dammit!]

Whats up with that Headlight Jammy? Thats different.

That's the stock setup. It just looks weird without the plastics on it.

[smokinp]

if you would like to sell it....I have first dibs:D:D

[Dammit!]

if you would like to sell it....I have first dibs:D:D

I'm leaning towards parting it actually. It was kind of an impulse buy but now that I think about it, I don't think it would be wise to take on another project. I don't know. We'll see what happens I guess. I have a tendency to change my mind a lot. :lol:

If I had the resources, I'd be looking at dropping a KX500 motor in there. :Bounce

Hopefully someone will come along that knows what kind of swinger that is. All I can tell you is that it's nice. Very well built.

[Meat-BoX]

Show us some more pics of it so we can tell. :pics:

It would be cool to see someone here build it into a 500cc monstor. With the Swinger it might make the roller worth more and im sure there are a few people who would love that roller. It looks pretty clean.

[BigGreenMachine]

Steel swinger, looks like a Westcoast to me.

[thefox]

Steel swinger, looks like a Westcoast to me.

Looks like a westcoast to me too, I don't remember seeing one on a 2nd gen Tecate before but the way it is made looks like the other westcoast I have seen.

[Dammit!]

I've never seen a Westcoast for a 2nd generation Tecate. It's slick though, whatever it is. Nice clean welds. Overall everything is in pretty good shape. The rust on some of the parts is minor.

Could anyone tell me the length of a stock 1986 T3 swinger?

Edit: 2/19/07 - Turned out to be a DuraBlue swingarm.

[Phil@Sweden]

I would love to buy it - but i live in Sweden:cry:

I have a nice KX500-92 motor just waiting for a Tecate500! :Bounce

If you can arrange the shipment, you know who to sell it to :beer

[3Razors]

The KX500 motors bolt right into the 86-87 Tecates. Very easy install. But the vibration is horrendous!!

[3Razors]

To me it looks like an old JP racing swingarm.

[OZQUAD44]

Don't part the old girl out, give her a new lease on life. It looks like its not too bad. You can still buy brand new rear plastic for it and your right side radiator shroud looks OK (when sitting on the bike the shroud near your right leg is the one obsolete-I know I bought rear plastic and a left shroud for my 87 tecate in 2004) Please dont part it out. Its got basicly the 86 model KX motocross bike engine in it so parts can be found. If not put a nineties model KX250 motor in the sucker, I've seen that done on this site before. Those trikes in good nick don't grow on trees you know

[Dammit!]

You guys are telling me a KX500 motor drops right in with no mods? Stock motor mounts and everything? What about the pipe?

[3Razors]

It bolts right in. Ive seen about 3 of them done around here. I think the cylinder head mount is only slightly different. You will have to do a custom pipe for it. either a side pipe or modified kx500 pipe. I say go for it!!! 70hp right from the factory!!!

[OZQUAD44]

It bolts right in. Ive seen about 3 of them done around here. I think the cylinder head mount is only slightly different. You will have to do a custom pipe for it. either a side pipe or modified kx500 pipe. I say go for it!!! 70hp right from the factory!!!

Have you seen any kx250 motors go in to them? I can't see a kx500 motor being the most easy engine to ride in that chassis. By the time you lengthen the swing arm the required 6? inches, won't it be only suitable for sand drags?

[MTS]

Have you seen any kx250 motors go in to them? I can't see a kx500 motor being the most easy engine to ride in that chassis. By the time you lengthen the swing arm the required 6? inches, won't it be only suitable for sand drags?
Extended swingarms are for Pussy's:lol: i say 500!!! wish i could buy it :(

[edog]

Nice grab,Dammit.I have a 1988 kx 125 dirtbike motor that would look good in that chasie.

[3Razors]

KX250 engine drop in too. But the cut off year is 1996, in 1997 and after the motor mounting points changed and didnt fit the 86-87 tecates. Its nice to be able to use a fresh motor and components from a late model mx bike:)

[RideRed250R]

i know you see $$$$ doug but i only say you drop in a kx500 motor you can find a 500 around me for baout 600 bucks and thats the whole damn bike it wil be a older 500 (90-92) but i mean your done right there and she would FLY and you would be THE first on the site to pull it off...
adam

[BigGreenMachine]

Extended swingarms are for Pussy's:lol: i say 500!!! wish i could buy it :(

:lol: :lol:

[Dammit!]

i know you see $$$$ doug but i only say you drop in a kx500 motor you can find a 500 around me for baout 600 bucks and thats the whole damn bike it wil be a older 500 (90-92) but i mean your done right there and she would FLY and you would be THE first on the site to pull it off...
adam

It's a dilemma. Let it sit around the garage for god knows how long before I get far enough ahead that I can afford to start on it, or see what I can get out of it and use that money to get one of the projects I already have going. :wondering

It would be an enormously expensive build I think. Just the plastics alone cost a fortune on these things. It would be nice having something that could keep up with Kasey though... :Bounce

[BigGreenMachine]

A lot of coin could be had of that swingarm. The 84/85 guys could get that complete rear axle, carrier setup which is a wider unit. Whatever you do its your decision, I'd love to have a 500 trike but...$$$...$!

[OZQUAD44]

plastics pricey eh lets think about that: $140 for the rear plastic, left shroud $14.50, 92 MDL KX500 approx $600USD, and say $250 for a lick of paint and fabrication here and there. Put in a bit of elbow grease and you've got a 70HP rocket that would blow most other ATVs into the weeds. I'd pay a $1000USD for that. Add another $500 to that figure and your still laughing........ What were you saying about other projects?

[3Razors]

If you parted it out the only real money maker would be the swingarm. Not to sure it would be worth the time and effort?

[hrc85250r]

i agree with razor, dont wuss out, keep it and put a 500 motor in it. it doesnt have to look mint for it to go forward. get it in good mechanical condition with a 500 motor and wait on the plastics/paint. i say keep it around while you keep an eye out for a kx500 for the swap, by then you may just have a little extra coin for the swap.

[Dammit!]

I think you guys are seriously underestimating the cost.

$600 KX500? Guaranteed the motor would need at least some work.

Custom pipes cost how much?

Extended swinger?

New bearings/bushings?

New seat, left and right rad shroud, headlight garnish, rear fender and front fender?

New tires, chain, sprockets, brake work, blah blah blah.

If such a project cost less than $2500 I'd be pretty shocked. Cheap compared to a new quad, yes, but still expensive when you're struggling like I am at the moment. It would be a long time before I got around to it.

It's tempting and I might end up doing it but lets be real here. It ain't gonna cheap. Especially when you throw in my obession with not only making a trike run great but look just as good too (seriously, I can't help myself). If I can hold out a while financially, it might happen. If not, well at least it will help some other people out.

Imagine this with a 500 in it...

http://webserver1.dancris.com/~dammit/tecate/tecate.jpg

That's really all the temptation I need. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[cragster]

everytime i see that tecate i love it! I gotta get me one of them sometime!
I say do what you want to do. a 500 would be cool. but look at that stock one its only 250r its awesome!

[Dammit!]

I say do what you want to do.

If it was only about "want" then it wouldn't even be a question. :lol: ;)

[Rm250RF900R]

You are in a dilemma arent ya. Hmm. What I would do is, if you low on funds, just keep it anyways. You have a lot of life left to you. Who cares if it takes a year to finally start the project. Having it in your garage is not a big deal. Just whenever you find the funds, and time to start the project, then go for it. Maybe some of us 3WW guys will help with the funds..

[Jeb]

The chain slider almost looks like a Tri-Z slider. :wondering Definitely better than the stock set-up. I can't decide if it's a WestCoast swingarm or another brand. I'm leaning toward another brand but not sure what.

The gatorz on the forks are another cool old-school item! :beer

[Mr. Sandman]

It's a dilemma. Let it sit around the garage for god knows how long before I get far enough ahead that I can afford to start on it, or see what I can get out of it and use that money to get one of the projects I already have going. :wondering

Dammit, you are looking at this all wrong; Sell off the other projects to fund the Tecate 500. Tri-Z's and 200X's are a dime a dozen, but when was the last time you saw a 500cc Tecate (and the Tecate 500 article posted last week doesn't count).

[Dammit!]

Sell off the other projects to fund the Tecate 500.

Have you SEEN those things? I think I'd need a little more than they'd bring. :lol:

A Tecate 500 is extremely appealing to me. We'll see what happens.