Not new to trikes, but new to maintenance - advice wanted

[Lock]

New to the board and just picked up a bike I've lusted after since Jr High school. I've ridden three wheelers since I was 5, started on a ATC 70, graduated to a 110, a Tri-moto 175, and finally a '84 200X. I always dreamed of having an '86 200X or '85/'86 350X. Against my wife's wishes (she likes quads), I waited for a nearly pristine example and purchased a really nice '86 200X a couple weeks back.

Now, all my trikes in the 80's were like new (since they were essentially), and didn't require much maintenance other than adjusting cables and changing the oil. Anything major caused my Dad to load it in the truck and haul it to the local dealer. Now, this 200X is old enough to drive, vote and drink, so... it has a few nagging maintenance issues. And I'm not willling to spend more on labor to fix something than it cost me originally to purchase. Besides I'd rather learn to do it myself.

I'm looking for a any pitfalls to avoid when performing the following:

Rebuild a front caliper
Drain and replace fork oil and possibly seals
Clean the oil screen
Fix the parking brake (no workie at all)

I have the honda manual. Sometimes, being new to this stuff, the manuals don't always warn you about what 'could' happen, or assume you may know more than you really do.

Also, any issues to watch out for on a 200X of that vintage?

Great site BTW

[Rawlins350x]

I too worry about "what could happen" I currently have my engine pulled and am getting ready to rebuild the top end and the carb.

With the parts not being made anymore and my lack of money it sucks to think of screwing something up!


Welcome to the community! I'm relatively new as well

Lew:beer

[Shftatsix]

Welcome to the board fellow Washington rider.

[PRIMETHIOUS]

I'm new to the forum as well. Welcome aboard!
It's great that your rides are in such good condition!
It's always better to start off with basic maintenance and see some positive progress before tearing apart your bike. If your comfortable with the basics then go for the fork rebuild. I just rebuilt my daughters 86 200x forks with some advice from the guys here on the forum. You will need to buy seal driver or make one out of 1-1/4" white PVC.
The parking brake is prone to leaking so I purchased block off plate and will be eliminating the parking brake altogether.

[Yamaha_Rules69]

You can get by not using (having to buy) the seal driver to drive the new seal by simply using the old seal as the driver. You just tap down on it lightly using a hammer until the new seal is fully seated. Make sure you lube up the new seal using fork oil before attempting. i've done it many times and never had one problem. If you have a manual, just follow it, and never skip a step. The oil screen is very easy, you just take it out and blow it off with compressed air or carb cleaner will do the trick. :welcome: TO THE BOARDS!!!!!!!!!! Hope this helped a little. ------- Jon