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View Full Version : Restoring my 200X



brettsky43
05-15-2008, 12:23 PM
This site is AWESOME!!
I have a couple of questions that I am certain some of you experts can answer. I have owned my 1984 200X since it was new (best Christmas gift EVER!). Always filled with Amzoil (back then) or Mobil 1 synthetic. I spent a lot of time on it in 84-86, then my attention switched to girls and my 77' Trans-Am. I always kept the bike in the garage, after being ridden, my Dad always made me thoroughly wash the bike and the dowse in WD-40. (like puttin' oil on our guns after we used them) . Started her up every time I came home to my parents where the bike was stored. My little brother drove it some in the mid-1990's. I brought the bike up to Toledo in 1999 and kept it at a friends/ in-laws house, where his brother-in-law one day decided to take it on an un-authorized ride. The bike had been smoking pretty bad (needed rings). He ended up throwing a piston through the sleeve while I was chasing after him, then he ran into the woods (I never saw him again) and I loaded up my broken bike and took her home. I put a head from a 185 S and new 200X piston, rings and gasket kit. The bike runs great, starts on the 2nd kick, doesn't smoke, but seems to leak oil at the spot where the head meets the top end since the rebuild ~9 years ago. What can/should be done to fix this?? I have the original head w/ a broken sleeve; would it make the bike anymore "valuable" or "original" to have this fixed and replace the head from the 185 S that seems to be working fine (other than the mild oil leak)?? Is it possible that the oil leak is related to the 185 S head and sleeve I put on it?? The guy who sold me the head built and raced motorcycles, told me there was "no difference" in the head I put on the bike, and the OEM 200X piston I put back into it worked without any problems. I recently bought a used OEM headlight on E-Bay ($90 !!!). I started looking at what some of the 200X's were selling for, and it seemed as though the more "original" the bike the more $ it sold for. According to my insurance agent, I need to get this bike insured. The 200X's have been watching on E-Bay have been selling in the range of $500 to $1,700. I called a guy about 200X parts in Indiana, and he told me about this site, and I have enjoyed every minute spent here. I had no Idea there were still people out there who still enjoyed "driving on 3 Wheels!". From what I have been reading on this site I could get back into this three wheeled fever that I seem to have once again caught. I had considered (at the suggestions of my wife) selling the 200X. We don’t have much room in the garage, and I don’t want to put it back in a friends barn where I had been storing the bike since my mom sold her place 2 years ago. My neighbor will let me keep it in his shed if my wife gets too cranky 'bout keeping the bike in the garage. I have been having fun shopping for parts and restoring this 200X. I am going to finally replace the front and rear sprockets & chain because the chain is unable to be tightened with the adjustment on the swing arm (at the end of the threads). I have done some work on the carb, and thanks to the help available on this site, my idle issues have been resolved! (damn pilot screw!) I want to get this bike restored as best as I can, and still not be afraid to take it out and have fun, or sell it to someone for a fair price. That’s my 200x history. QUESTIONS: What should or can be done about the oil leak? What is something like this REALLY worth $?, Where can I get a brake hose (reservoir to pump NOT the one w/ Banjo fitting) that will work with this bike. I recently got a NEW reservoir for the rear brake at Bike Bandit and want to replace the hose, is this possible (they say the hose is no longer made)? Once I get this thing done, where can I connect with other 3 wheeler enthusiasts in mid-NW Ohio area? Thanks in advance for your input! ~Brett~

MudBuggy
05-15-2008, 01:25 PM
does it look like its coming from the gasket, possibly wear and tear on it or does it look like the top has a small crack in it? The only real way to find out is to take the jug off and start looking plus since its been 9yrs plus it couldnt hurt to do a mild rebuild.

brettsky43
05-15-2008, 02:32 PM
It leaked oil from the time I replaced the the head and gaskets in 1999. It is a mild leak that is notaceble after it has been rode for ~ 1hr or so. Doesnt seem to cause the oil level at the dipstick to change much at all. I think I read in another post somewhere that there someone else was looking to buy a 200X and the pictures they posted showed a similar type of oil leak. It was stated something about "o-rings?" that needed to be replaced along with gaskets. I have the shop manual, and dont see any o'ring type gaskets.. If I were to get a new gasket set, pull the motor and go over it again, is there anything else I should order in advance that would be good to change while its broke down??

MudBuggy
05-15-2008, 02:37 PM
just depends on how the inside looks, 9 yrs can sometimes do damage and sometimes not.

3Wheelers4Life
05-15-2008, 03:15 PM
when my 200X was running, it leaked oil from the head. i used a vesrah gasket and i think it was the gasket itself, but im not completely sure. so it could be the gasket.

brettsky43
05-15-2008, 03:20 PM
Should I invest in an OEM gasket kit if they still make them, or can anyone reccomend a reliable alternative?? THANKS!!

3Wheelers4Life
05-15-2008, 03:34 PM
Should I invest in an OEM gasket kit if they still make them, or can anyone reccomend a reliable alternative?? THANKS!!

well, MOST of the time you cant get better then oem. but an aftermarket one should be ok. idk if it was the gasket or not on mine, im just saying it could be a possibility. aslong as the head has a good surface, you clean it off good, and have a good gasket it should be ok.

Yamada
05-15-2008, 05:13 PM
There is a rubber o-ring around one of the dowel pin securing the head onto the cylinder. My 200e had an big oil leak but the head gasket was blown and when I dismounted the head the o-ring was cut.

brettsky43
05-15-2008, 06:15 PM
I will try and attatch some pix of my bike. Thanks for the heads up on the o-ring at the dowel. I see it now on a schematic at bike bandit. Just not sure how to proceed from here. In the pix you can see the "wet spot" on the head. Bike runs great, so I may just play around for a while and tear down & rebuild when it gets cold. This shouldnt hurt anything as long as I pay close attention to the oil level right??

SeaBass8
05-15-2008, 09:13 PM
Wow that is a very clean original trike.

and welcome to the boards!

SeaBass8

TravEX
05-15-2008, 09:45 PM
Great looking X! Welcome to 3WW!

Like you say, the small leak will not hurt anything, and is probably just the gasket. My 200S had that and my 185S has it, haven't really checked my 200X for a leak yet.

Of course, we all will say KEEP IT! You WILL regret it if you get rid of it, hehe.

brettsky43
05-15-2008, 10:07 PM
Thanks!! I am so psyched to have finally found a forum like this :beer I am considering making the trek to the up coming trike-fest. I dont know anyone around here with an interest in going though. I have read some theads with a guy named "Howdy" who live in Celina, which is not far from Lima. But it would be nice to ride locally with some other guys and get to know some other trike riders before driving all the way out there. Is there a spot on this site to get to know and ride with people in near proximity?? I rode with some guys w/ 3 wheelers when I lived in Toledo at the Maumee state park and other trails, but have not kept in touch with them. I moved back to Lima a few years ago, and have not done much riding. There was an ATV poker run a couple months ago that I went on. Over 200 riders, I was the ONLY one on 3 wheels!! I only saw 1 other bike (2-stroker 4 wheeler) that did not have electric start! Took the old girl out for ~ 40 mile ride, she ran GREAT after sitting for ~ 2 years. I really love this old bike, but I am giving some consideration to selling it.. Just dont ride it enough anymore.. Hope I can get plugged in to some other trike enthusiests in this area and give me reason to keep holdin' on!!

TravEX
05-15-2008, 10:12 PM
Howdy has a 'few' trikes, hehe. You need to give a shout out to the OTC (Ohio Trike Crew), there are alot of em and they ride/race ALOT! You're lucky where you live. I think I'm the only active member here from my state.

MudBuggy
05-16-2008, 02:03 AM
clean clean, it really doesnt look bad, you could always take brake cleaner and spray down the jug then let it run and try to spot were its actually coming from.

brettsky43
05-16-2008, 10:00 AM
Where can I get a brake hose (reservoir to pump NOT the one w/ Banjo fitting) that will work with this bike. I recently got a NEW reservoir for the rear brake at Bike Bandit and want to replace the hose, is this possible (they say the hose is no longer made)?

MudBuggy
05-16-2008, 01:59 PM
you could probably get a car break hose that may fit or just hit the local harware store.