Big Red, specs-production year

[kamik333]

I have been looking for a Big Red and found someone with one for sale. Not sure what year it is but he says it has reverse. Looking at the specs page on this site, it looks like reverse gear means it is '84+ but also noticed that it looks like the dual range went away in '85? Which year model do you think is the best for utility use? Thanks...

[farm mike]

I have been looking for a Big Red and found someone with one for sale. Not sure what year it is but he says it has reverse. Looking at the specs page on this site, it looks like reverse gear means it is '84+ but also noticed that it looks like the dual range went away in '85? Which year model do you think is the best for utility use? Thanks...
my favorite is my 200es, I think it's an 84 w/ the hi-lo reverse down by your left foot on the case. It's shaft drive. I think the 83 was chain drive. The 85 250 is a nice rig as well but lacks the lo range??
that said any Big Red is good machine and I wish I could find a couple 3-4 more!

[kamik333]

Thanks for the input...from what I am gathering, it looks like the '84 is nice with the dual range but then again, from '85 on the rear got springs and a bigger motor. Not really sure but it also looks like the drive housing changed in '85 too...not sure if better, but changed.

[bobbyg]

I believe that the '82-83 are chain drive with hi/lo gears in the subtranny. If it has reverse it is at least an '84. All seem to be good utility rigs. My old '83 pulls my 5'x8' trailer carrying my lawn tractor around without any trouble in both hi and lo. All good machines in my opinion. The old chain drive ones are easier to work on since the newer ones are shaft drive and you may have a harder time finding parts. Ebay usually has lots of part for older big reds

[kamik333]

In my area, finding a 3-wheeler is pretty rare. There just weren't that many of them purchased and because of our wet weather, not many survived and most simply rusted away. The nice 185s I scored earlier this month recently arrived here from another (drier) state. That being said, I went to check out a Big Red over the weekend. His owner responded to one of my ads but did not know the year of if it ran because it was sittting for a while, in the rain...

This is what I found, an '84 Big Red with nice tires (90%, changed about 2-3 yrs ago and hardly ran since), with all the cables frozen, front forks stuck and he said the last time they tried, no spark (over a year ago). The tank has some rust, the seat was missing but the fenders were intact. The frame shows some rust but for the most part, surface rust. The racks are goners from rust. And the rope was gone from the recoil starter so could not confirm that the engine was not frozen but I was able to shift it into nertral. I was able to confirm that it was dual range tranny with reverse but it was getting pretty dark by the time I stuck my head under the rear fenders and it sure looked like a shock absorber lived there...did the '84's have rear suspension?

He's asking $200 offer and I am inclined to pass because of all the work and parts needed to get it running again. Then again, I keep thinking that if I find another, this could be a great parts source because this is the model I have been looking for. Now if I can get him to take an offer...what do you guys think?

[Billy Golightly]

If its got rear suspension its definetly a 85-87 unless its and earlier one with an aftermarket suspension kit (very rare and unlikely). It sounds pretty rough but if theres anything at all left, its do-able. Best way to tell what it is would be by a picture. You can see if the VIN is still readable up by the steering neck on the frame but if the rest of it is in as bad of shape as it sounds it will probably be nearly impossible to see.

[kamik333]

I am not sure about the rear shock because of the poor light but the sticker did say '84 and it did have the dual range and rev. The cargo racks were rusted bad but the frame did not look too bad. The good tires and it being an '84 is really making me consider making him an offer...maybe $100? If I find another later that could have used parts for this '84, it would make me weak if I passed...

[Pete]

I'm sure for $100 you could part it out and easily make your money back on it. Are the racks rusted through? If not, sandblast them and have them powdercoated!

[Billy Golightly]

Well the 85-87 didn't have a high and low sub trans like the earlier ones. The 84's are kind of a special beast. They had a shaft drive and reverse. Single year only thing. The 82-83s were chain drive and didn't have reverse. The 84's are ATC200ES and the 82-83s are ATC200E. Like Pete said...even if you buy it and its to much work to fix, you could part it and probably make your money back out of it and then some. I hate to see stuff getting parted out but its better then sitting in someones garage and never being used until its complete trash.