A whopper of a deal (1985 Tecate)

[dcreel]

So, I browse Craigslist and Ebay looking for that one deal.. The good one. I never get it. Until today.
The listing popped up on Craigslist in Wichita Kansas. I sent him an e-mail asked him if he would take $600. He said yes.
It's an 1985 Tecate.
It has Maier low pro rear fenders, Keihin flat slide (PJ), DG pipe and silencer, Head porting with reed spacer (anyone ever heard of bt?, bt is dremeled into the jug with a ? dremeled next to the intake port) Works Performance rear shock.

I didn't know half of it when I talked to him.

The bad:
The forks are on backwards (disc on the wrong side) and the forks are in serious need of an oil change and stiffer springs.
No kickstarter

He said it runs but quits. He said the front wheel would not stay on the ground.
The carb is leaking fuel at the float bowl, and the choke seems to be stuck in the on position.
Rear brakes don't work.

Needless to say I feel like I just won the lottery!!! Pictures to follow.

[edog]

If its all there it sounds worth it.

[dcreel]

Pictures: :w00t:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1793.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1797.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1801.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1800.jpg
Forks on backward
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1799.jpg
Motor and carb
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1795.jpg
bt porting, reed spacer, and the question mark
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1794.jpg
Works Performance rear shock
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1796.jpg
swingarm (is it stock 1985?)
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1803.jpg
parts
jug, head, stock carb, airbox, stock pipe, another aftermarket silencer painted black
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1804.jpg
silencer
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1805.jpg

[tri-Z ripper]

Not a bad find at all for a kawi!!

[tecat-z]

Looks to have a nice extended axle, nice franks +2 arm, and a possible "extra" kx cylinder. Kinda tough to see, but it looks like exhaust sub ports from the pic??? Works shock and a pretty good exhaust. Yes it is rough, but thats how it goes. You have a very solid foundation to start with. The parts alone are worth what you paid.

[fabiodriven]

Nice, dude. That's a fricken steal. Swap those forks around for sure. If you can find a pipe other thatn the DG, I'd highly reccomend it. I dunno if you're a Tecate guy or not (well you are now), but I promise you won't be dissapointed. I had the axle spacers on mine (looks like you've got em) and I found it much better without them, just my .02. Congrats!

[scooterroo]

is that an extended swinger on that thing? kinda looks like a moose53 extension from the pics. (member here on the boards.) sweet looking t3, them forks are nothing to turn around, and the carb sounds like the float is sticking if its leaking. take it off and clean it, all in all you got a nice deal.

[WIkid500]

WOW that thing is sweet! nice find!

[dcreel]

Oh.. I'm a Tecate guy. Here is a picture of the new Tecate's older brother. I've owned the red 84 tecate for 20 years.
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1807.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1808.jpg

I measured the swingarms, the swinger on the 84 is a +2 Westcoast and both swingarms measure 20" long. So yeah, I got a +2 swingarm as well. Does the good news ever end? :w00t:

I'm just stoked. I bought the 85 to put my Klemm KX motor into, but I don't know..I have always wanted a KX green Tecate. I may just get this thing going and see what she will do..

[tanks350x]

very nice find! wanna make $20 :lol:

[dcreel]

As far as I can tell, I just made about $400.:crazy:

[edog]

The red 84 has got me hot under the collar!!

[BigGreenMachine]

That thing was somebody's baby at one point because those are some top shelf parts.

Nice score. Your red 84 is a beauty too!

[kasuki]

hey look at the chain slider is it blue.does it look to be aftermarket or of another bike.it does not look to be the stock black rubber one what do you guys think

[dcreel]

Alright, we got the forks turned around the right way. But busted a valve stem off the top of the tube. I read somewhere of a guy who made and sold caps for the tecate fork tubes. Does anyone have any info on this?
Does anyone have any info on stiffer fork springs as well?

I also noticed that both seat covers are made by CEET, but the one on the 84 goes farther up the tank and is thicker than the one on the 85. Any info on that either?
I'm also still looking for any info on the filter that goes inside the UFO tecate airbox. The one in it disintegrated, so... I sent UFO plastics an e-mail, and they informed me the company was sold a long time ago. They have no info on them and don't plan on releasing any new ones.

The steering stem bearings need replaced as well. How hard a job is that? Do you need a press to do the job? I have all balls bearings for the 84 that I am restoring, but don't know anything about steering stem bearing replacement.

Thanks for the replies guys and any info you can give me. Hopefully I can talk my wife into riding one of my Tecates or the 200X. She wants a quad to ride. She says 3 wheelers scare her.

The Banshee is a friend of mines. It runs on alcohol and flat moves out.

[Vealmonkey]

That's pretty sweet for $600 bones. Nice find. A little love and that tecate will be just fine. Sounds like you're the man for the job on this trike. I'm also digging that little primer truck in the background.

[scooterroo]

progressive still makes springs for the front forks, nicer ride compared to stock as well.

no press needed for the steering stem bearings. loosen up the lock nut, pull out the triple trees and the bearings should pull right out with your fingers. they are not the free floating ball type like in some bikes, but rather in a carrier thingy. i have no idea of its proper name, lol. but you will see what i mean when you take the triples and stem off.

still say you should send that airfilter box to dc plastics to have it reproduced, hint hint, lol. as for a filter for it, cAnt think of anything off the top of my head, but improvise, sure you can come up with something.

[dcreel]

It would have to fit on the frame, to be able to be screwed onto the box. The frame is 6 inches in diameter and 1 3/8 inch deep. The frame fits into the filter. I'm sure the filter was made by Uni as it was a filter with another filter on top of it.
pics of the frame:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1809.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1810.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/100_1811.jpg

I may just have to send an e-mail to UNI with the dimensions.

So the overall dimensions of the filter would be 6 1/4 to 6 1/2 inches in diameter and probably 1 3/4 inch in depth

[RID3R]

Nice tecate! Need any little parts let me know, I got a few fork caps if needed.

[BigGreenMachine]

Your 84 looks to have thicker foam, possibly a Hi-Flite desert seat.

Stock filter won't work on that cage?

[dcreel]

No.. the stock filter is way too small to fit on the cage.

Both seats are made by CEET. They both say CEET on the back of the seat. I figured they would be the same.

[ThreeKing]

I can tell you that bt is Bob Troxell, who still owns a motorcycle dealership in Kansas. In the 80's he supported 3 wheeler short-track racing by building custom motors and doing porting, including de-bored 200cc cylinders. All Tecate kickers are the same 1984-88. Try a clamp-on Uni pod air filter. Re-route the thottle cable to take out the sharp bend. That trike is a nice starting point.