A Big Red's Story. UPDATED PICS 01/29/2007

[TravEX]

Here's my latest pick up. I appropriately named it "Fireball".

A retired, local farmer (about 80 years old now) picked this up about 15 years ago. 85 Big Red with less than a tank of gas ran through it, garage kept, $1500. He used it on the farm to check the cows daily and minor chores around the farm, no mud or water, just field riding, maybe woods occasionally. It was shop kept it's whole life with him. He had a habit in the cold winter of using a rocket heater to heat the trike up so it would start easier. That was ok till about 3-5 years ago, the rocket heater found a gas leak. You can see the results! In the pics I had already removed the front rack and headlight, so I just laid em up there for the pics. There are lots of parts I can use. The rear end is clean, nice shiny gears and tight bearings. Wheels are in great shape. The racks look like the have never had anything even sat on em. The motor still has oil in it and turns over easily with the kicker. He wants the motor back, I dunno if it will be good or not. The rear shock blew. The battery was melted all over the battery box, I removed it before the pics. Tragic end to it's life, but I'm gonna restore what I can to life. Hopefully for many more years of use!

The farmer has an 84 Red in great shape and his son has 2 85 Red's in good shape.

If this was a Carfax commercial, I guess it would say,

85 250ES BIG RED

SMOKIN HOT DEAL!!!!


What do ya think?

Travis

[ATC-Eric]

Thats a bumer. Looks like theres a lot of salvagable parts though....

You get it for free?

[TravEX]

Yeah, I had some free parts he wanted, and he wants the motor back. The left hub and racks are what I will use now, and salvage what I can for future use to keep mine going for another 22 years!

[team-red-rider]

travex would u sell the fuel tank and battery box by any chance? even if theyre not great my tank is trash

[team-red-rider]

oh hey john i checked that axle its a 1/4 longer would it work every thing else lines up

[TravEX]

trr, I'll let you know if I do.

[team-red-rider]

ok thank you travEX

[TravEX]

That's true John! Rough on them in different ways. The weird thing about Fireball is, the tires have been replaced, and the lug nuts and castle nuts look to never have had a socket on them, they look untouched. The brakes look to never even have been adjusted, the adjusters looked like stock location. The sliders and front axle and brake assembly are like new. The rear gears look shiney new. The rear diff fill plug has never been touched, no socket or plier marks. I checked the rear diff oil, still spot on on fluid level. It rolls good. The tranny clicks through the gears easily. I may try to talk him outta the motor. It may be good. Sure cycles easy. 2 of the tires may be useable for spares on my runner.

[atcmatt]

Hey John! You got a picture of that trike that got run over by the tractor?

Would be a sight to see...

Matt

[84honda200s]

you got one hell of a smoking good deal. ok that was a good deal on your part. like you said you got some good parts there. hell the thing looks pretty good for being in a fire.

[atcmatt]

Cheers John.

Matt

[trikes4life]

What a shame ek: :eek: :eek: :mad:

[TravEX]

Well, the transplant is complete!

Fireball donated his NICE rear end tonight. I found the problem with my old rearend, the bearing stopper of the left side of the axle was gone. The axle was wore real bad, left hub pretty much gone, rear diff seals weren't good, and everything looked like crap.

The rearend I put in was like NEW!!! Every seal and bearing like new. I put it on there even though the right hub is siezed, I can pull it off later with a gear puller, maybe, when I have to replace brake pads. Speaking of, I now have rear brakes! The pads off Fireball are new, I believe factory, the adjusters have never been touched. Water has never touched this rearend, still clean shiny paint inside the shaft tubes! Took it far a spin, and it feels tight and rode great!

Now for the frontend transplant. I'm gonna use the front axle and brake assembly off of Fireball, they are in much better shape than the one's on my runner.

I'm gonna need headset bearings. Any chance I can get them at a bearing factory outlet? Or do I have to order them from Dennis Kirk?

Travis

[TravEX]

Just an update.
Off Fireball I have used (they were in GREAT shape):
Forks
Front axle
Front brake cover
Front rack and headlight bucket
Parking brake lever
Battery box (I didn't have one)
Rear axle with all seals and bearings
Rear diff
Both hubs
Rear brake complete assembly
Rear rack (soon to be redone and used)

My runner is looking alot better thanks to these parts. I was about to have SERIOUS rearend problems. The left bearing stopper was missing and had thrown all sorts of things out of alignment in the rear. Soon, I'll relocate the battery back to stock location with the battery box. Here's some pics of the front end.

Before (mine): It's hard to see, but the rack is bent and is has a metal plate welded on top of the headlight bucket.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM0631.jpg
Before (On Fireball):
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM0841.jpg
After:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM0876.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM0877.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM0878.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM0880.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM0882.jpg

[84honda200s]

nice fireball rices from the pits of hell lol

[TravEX]

Yeah, and I think that may the reason we trike addicts are the way we are. We love taking something that is old and maybe worn out, and giving it new life!

I'm torn on whether to use the stock rack off of Fireball or leave the big rack on. Red would look better as far as stock looks goes, but I love the rack that's on it, and it is perfect for hauling tools, deer, chainsaw, that kinda stuff. What do ya think?

[84honda200s]

leave it on if it is a huge hepl to you.

[team-red-rider]

hey even tho its worn out couls u part with *Edited**Edited* old axle or at least loan it to me untill i purchase the one from Mr. Swinehart?

[TravEX]

I don't wanna part with it right now. I have some other projects hopefully in the works in the next few monthes.

[TravEX]

hey even tho its worn out couls u part with *Edited**Edited* old axle or at least loan it to me untill i purchase the one from Mr. Swinehart?

I found this on ebay and remembered ya, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150045594280&fromMakeTrack=true

Travis

[RedRider_AK]

Dang, your Red looks nice with that painted rack and front headlight guard. :lol: I approve!

[TravEX]

Thanks alot!

[TravEX]

I'm still resurrecting parts off of Fireball, I just finished some other stuff. The battery was in the trunk on my running Red, and no battery box. I used the battery box off of Fireball and got a new battery and put it in the right place. I sanded and painted the rack off of Fireball and used it. These are how my Red sits now, I shoulda cleaned it up better for the pics, instead of just cleaning the plastic.

Now I just need new decals and Clay to do my tank!

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM1208.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM1206.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM1205.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM1204.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m51/TravisLillard/HPIM1203.jpg

[edog]

Looking real good!!!!!!!!!!!

[ceaserthethird]

Any CatFish in that pond ?

[TravEX]

Oh yeah! Largemouth and bream too!

[TravEX]

Looking real good!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks edog!

[jasonb01]

Looks good! What did you sand the rack with? By hand or with a tool? Sandblast? I need to get rid of the surface rust on my Big Red racks and paint them. Also, what paint is best? Just regular old Krylon gloss black?

[TravEX]

I just hand sanded it, and acetone, then Rustoleum gloss black. I should have sandblasted em and maybe got better paint, but I was kinda in a hurry and not worried about showroom class results, just cover up the rust.