Swedish Tecate -85 Restoration, might need some help!!

[Dirty]

Bought this a little while ago, with todays exchange rate i paid ~$2100 for it.

The history of the bike as the seller told me was that some guy working in belgium or holland had bought the bike new and brought it back home to sweden but since he felt it was to much for him to handle it had just been standing for most of its life until its 2nd owner bought it but he also didn't use it much so if that is correct it has VERY few hours of usage and from the condition i belive him.

Apologize for the crappy cell phone pictures but had forgotten my camera.

Looking like this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2912640738_a9fc02a4ea_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2912640814_8a261d61e8_o.jpg


As is start looking it over i encountered some problems right away:

The air filter is pretty much toast is it possible to buy a new? Or am i stuck with buying some foam and make my own? If so what kind of foam should i use?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2911792311_d62ef71a3b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2912640942_26a63f4a62_o.jpg


Also the chain guide is damaged:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2911792417_bbdb22456e_o.jpg

And the chain feels bad so ill replace that also, what size and lenght is it? Well lenght i can count.



A little rust can be seen on the swing arm and the frame so ill see if i have that blasted (is it called that?) and powder coated. Is it possible to powder coat mufflers? Or am i better of with some high temp paint?

Might also try to buff up the plastic but start with the frame and engine first ...well the engine runs well so ill just clean that up.

Thanks in advance

/Johan

[3Razors]

Air filter is easily replacable with a UNI unit, that one looks like its original from 1985! The chain guide is another story as its discontinued, so you'll have to get creative and make your own or adapt one from another bike. The chain is a 520 O-ring and you need 98 links. Use high-temp black paint on the pipe, powder-coat isn't designed to handle the temp.

[DeePa]

honestly id say adress any of the rust and keep it as the survivor that it already is...worth more than a restore in my opinion

[Dirty]

Thanks, have been looking at some workshop manuals i have found. Seems like i have a -85 or older, the -86 had another radiator.

But maybe the bike wasn't bought until -86 or something. Is there anyway to find out the year the bike was produced from it VIN number?

Have the bike at my fathers place but can post it later on.

Good to know so i order parts to the right bike.

Maybe its possible to glue the chain guide back together if i place some thin metal sheet cut out to fit underneath it.


/Johan

[3Razors]

Its a rare red 1985 model. And a very NICE all original one too!

[Dirty]

honestly id say adress any of the rust and keep it as the survivor that it already is...worth more than a restore in my opinion


Might be able to get it powder coated very cheap, wont make a museum object out of it but i dont have the heart to use the crap out of a machine like this.

For that i have another machine:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2687016312_f4689665f1_o.jpg


Or this one but it only has 2 wheels:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2770727558_2284f3bc54_o.jpg

This poor KTM i can guarantee wont be in very good condition if it survives 2 decades of my abuse.


/Johan

[Dirty]

Its a rare red 1985 model. And a very NICE all original one too!

Change the year in the title, since i got i wrong.

The guy i bought it from had a newer tecate also, in great condition also but it wasn't for sale.

/Johan

[fabiodriven]

That thing is beautiful. Keep your eyes open on Ebay for the chain guard, they are out there. I'd fix the chain guard, put it in a bubble, and stare at it:drool: . I wouldn't even put a wrench on it or ride it if I were you.

[Blown 331]

Very nice indeed. I just picked up a red 85 myself.

[nd4speed]

You should be able to buy a new foam filter or maybe even a K&N. I have a new No Toil filter in the package part # NT340-03. And I bought another new foam one like two years ago that is on my Tecate (Uni brand?).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KAWASAKI-83-85-KXT250-Tecate-Uni-Filter_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c39Q 3a1Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286 Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem250302791767QQitemZ250302791 767

You should be able to find a chain guide also (likely ebay usa).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-KAWASAKI-TECATE-SWINGARM-CHAIN-SLIDE-GUIDE-1984-85_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQ itemZ150238023111

Chain is 520 standard 90 link. Usually local stores have longer chains and I cut it down to 90 links. So you usually end up counting the links anyway.

[erectordale]

That's the cleanest red original tecate not restored I've seen in 20 yrs

[DeePa]

definition of a survivor in my book

[Dirty]

VIN number: JKAXTMA13FB512086 could the last to digits be the year? if so its an -86.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2919161109_a71f4e096a_o.jpg

Some rust on the swing:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2919161119_1cbf200d7e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2919161127_c75a6c48c8_o.jpg

And the muffler, not that much but still:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2919161131_e79bbd5a2c_o.jpg

To bad they didn't have powder coating from the start, inside of the frame have some rust ...think its part of a sticker stuck there also:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2919161141_aaa0e8751c_o.jpg

Overview:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2919161113_eb641bb41b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2919185455_f32a10c4d2_o.jpg

Headlight:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2919185149_41dd0bd76f_o.jpg

Sparkplug looks really new so that is probably changed:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2920031864_63d780e565_o.jpg

Rear end feels a bit spungy even if im not that heavy. Maybe its possible to rework the rear suspension with maybe a heavier spring?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2920031724_2cd315f646_o.jpg

Or maybe ill wait with messing with that until i have been able to drive it some more.


Was able to get the KTM running today at least just some minor stuff to assemble on that one some hopefully ill put some more miles on it before the snow.

Over and out from sweden. /Johan

[edog]

That's the cleanest red original tecate not restored I've seen in 20 yrs

You must have missed this one.

Mike from Vintage Motorsports has the nicest one I have seen.
http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=69261&highlight=vintagemotorsports

[rdlsz24]

Not an '86.... they were completely redesigned and only available in green... and sweet as hell:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/rdlsz24/Tecate/Mint.jpg

Rob

[Dirty]

Found this site: http://www.motoverse.com/tools/vinDecoder.asp

And got this result:

1985 KAWASAKI
KXT250-A
VIN:
JKAXTMA13FB512086

World region:
Asia

Manufactured in:
Japan

Year:
1985

Make:
Kawasaki

Model:
KXT250-A

Body style:
All Terrain

Drive type:
RWD

Cylinders:
1 Cylinders



So that at least takes away any doubts that its something strange. But i know that some cars have had trouble with years on parts. Like my father bought a -98 Volkswagen from germany and when he bought some parts for it they didn't fit since he needed parts from a -99. Was some trouble with the change came earlier in germany so some german sold cars from -98 had changes that didn't reach sweden until -99.


What do u say about the rust?

Should i just grease everything up and change the chain and airfilter and try to fix the chain guide and ride. Is it worth the effort to get it "rust free"?

Sleep well, at least that is what im going to do ...its a little over midnight in sweden.

/Johan

[edog]

Use WD 40 on a rag to get some of the rust off.

[nd4speed]

You might want to sand and paint the swingarm while you have it off and wait for parts. I would worry much about the rust and just ride it. Your choice on what to do.

[Dirty]

Its close to winter and i have other machines to run. Will work some more with it before i decide what to do. thanks for the help so far.

/Johan