LT500 motor in 3-wheeler?

[DixiePlowboy]

I've been reading quadracer hq ever since I got mine, and have seen some of what needs to be fixed. Dr.Q's pipe isn't currently being made, and it's my understanding that buying one(if you can find one) is a 4-figure affair.....no pipe's worth that much to me. A Paul Turner seems to be a great pipe for a reasonable price. Dynoport doesn't look bad either.

I was thinking of going ahead and having the two rear cylinder mounts gusseted and upgrading to the bigger head studs while mine's apart. I've got to rebuild the crank for a bad bottom rod bearing, but at least my crank ends have zero wobble/play.....so even though I'll put new crank bearings and seals in, maybe my cases are still good where the bearings sit.

thanks for the info.

[3Razors]

Here's the deal on LT500's. I've dealt with them and still own a 87. The 87 was the most powerfull because of the larger intake cage. Suzuki was dealing with breakage issues so they went with a smaller intake on 88 on to lower the power output and make it more reliable but there were still a few other quirks that need to be fixed. If the bike is left completely stock with no porting you can do the following things to have a strong runner:

Crankshaft case inserts for main bearings whether be brass or steel. LT500's have a bad habit of wallowing them out
Make sure to have a 88-on "big hub" flywheel as the 87 the rivets were smaller and shear and come apart
Absolutely get rid of the stock wrist pin washers and get some billet alum ones, the stock ones grenade and tear EVERYTHING up when they go cases, crank, you name it.
Must run at least 100 octane whether avgas or race. They have very poor head design and detonation is guaranteed on pump gas with these.
87 stock carb is complete junk and will never jet right, get a 88 on one or a PWK Keihin.
Only use a Wiseco forged piston. LT500 has bad rod angle and will shatter a cast piston and destroy motor.

If you get some porting and headwork you will also need to get in addition to the above:

O-ringed head. 87 only had 6 headbolt and 88- had 7 but they still blow the headgasket.
Welded up rear cylinder ears by the mounts because the cylinder will crack in that area.

LT500's can make same power as KX and CR with some motor work but just have to get that stuff fixed before any mods get done. Also I don't bag too much on Suzuki, in the 90's and especially today there stuff is built very good.

If your looking for someone to set you up with this kind of work. Jerry Hall in phx here is a wizard with the LT500. Dr. Q highly recommends him too.

[DixiePlowboy]

10-4 3Razors. I appreciate the help.

I'll holler at you via pm later on for a few specifics.

[tripowersport]

How is your Tri-Zilla going?

[Darius1502]

I'd love to cut the front off of mine...that would be amazing...someone must do it!

[Afrothunderkat]

I heave never been a fan of anything Suzuki, except for some of their street bikes. Pretty much anything they make for off road use is a pile of junk. I grew up with friends who had LT250's and they would break down every day we went out. I had a Quadrunner 230 at one time and although it was mint, it was a heap of crap.

Now now, that is not true fabio. Why would Carmichael, Hannah, Pastrana, and the hundreds of other zook pros ride yellow?

It's difficult to be successful in a market when you have a super force such as honda, with total market domination and manipulation, paying incentives to dealers to sell honda only, changing the sport in their favor for financial purposes to further their market control. You can argue business is business, but to call a manufacturer..... "junk" based solely on your experience with a light duty trail quad and friends owner ship is ignorant.

For how I ride I own the best bike, and the best trike. To call one of the big 4 trash because I like a certain color? Hog wash.

[pcs]

ive ran and drag raced lt 250r, lt500r, and now my ltr 450 quad. all have had withstood my abuse with no issues. i just make sure i change the oil, use correct fuel, and keep air filters clean. i agree with you afro that non of the big four make trash. the zilla can make lots of power and none of the 3 jap sport atcs stock for stock would stand a chance against a zilla in a drag race. i know zilla motors have issues but most motors start to have issue the more power you try to extract from them.

[Bryan Raffa]

Just weld a KX intake on it... then it will RIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and yea Dynoport pipe!

[fabiodriven]

Now now, that is not true fabio. Why would Carmichael, Hannah, Pastrana, and the hundreds of other zook pros ride yellow?

It's difficult to be successful in a market when you have a super force such as honda, with total market domination and manipulation, paying incentives to dealers to sell honda only, changing the sport in their favor for financial purposes to further their market control. You can argue business is business, but to call a manufacturer..... "junk" based solely on your experience with a light duty trail quad and friends owner ship is ignorant.

For how I ride I own the best bike, and the best trike. To call one of the big 4 trash because I like a certain color? Hog wash.

My opinion is not ignorant. My opinion is based on real-world experience and the real-world experience of my older brother who has been wrenching on bikes since before I was born.

My opinion is based on the countless times I had to tow Quadracers, Quadrunners, and Quadsports out of the woods growing up. I was the kid that all my riding buddies would call when we were growing up if their top end went south or they had other issues. I would go to their house and fix their stuff for nothing just so we could keep riding. Or I'd bring it to my house and do it. I have PLENTY of time wrenching on Zooks, more than enough time to form my own opinion.

My brother wrenched on the Super Bike circuit for years. He still works on bikes in his garage and his level of professionalism in the bike/ATV department is second to none. Basically, he really knows his shite. He would tell you the same thing I am about Zuki's, and so would a lot of other people who have spent time with a wrench in their hand. With few exceptions, Zuki's are just junk. I've owned them too, so my opinion is not ignorant at all. If I didn't like them because they were yellow, that would be ignorant. So many disappointed friends growing up who just wanted to ride, so many cuss words uttered as my knuckles start to bleed, so many tow ropes having to be used. I'll never forget that stuff. I've been there and done that so please don't try to tell me how I should feel about a certain brand.

Now if ignorance is what you want to talk about, we can do that. Ignorance would be accepting ownership of a trike and promising to pay for said trike, but then never paying the person who was kind enough to front it to you. Ignorance would be pulling holeshots on your neighbors lawn while he's not home and then hiding behind your mommy and daddy when confronted. Those are things I consider to be ignorant, not an opinion based on years of experience and the experiences of your elders.

[TecateDan]

Ignorance is not respecting other people’s property!!!! Making an intelligent statement about 30 years of personal riding and wrenching experiance is not ignorant. I ride a tecate and many a people were skeptical that it would stay running. I grew up with Fabio since 87 so he's said a lot of what I would say. Some bike requires more maintenance than other. My tecate is one. It's un counterbalanced and shakes things loose but with a lot of preventative maintenance and a keen wrenching ability I have no problems running with the other guys Honda etc. The Zuki's though just came apart at the fame and the motors explode that has nothing to do with an ignorant experience it has to do with riding since before you were born and watching those things fall apart. I'd invite you on one of our rides so you could see what dependable machines are like but you've made it clear you'd rather be a pain in the butt than a true rider with camaraderie which is what 3 wheelers are supposes to be about at this point. Just look at our ride thread and you'll see what a good group of friendly people can accomplish san's Zuki

[thestud25]

None of you girls know what you speak of! My Suzuki ALT 500-450=50 is a tank and will bury all trikes!

[Dirtcrasher]

Not really worth it imo. The LT500 is the best 500 motor for a quad because it has a counterbalancer BUT it has some factory flaws that need some attention to be a reliable runner. The CR500, KX500, YZ490 have much more power in stock form, are built stronger, and vibration isnt much of an issue in a 3 wheeler.

Absolutely; Those motors have issues as I have seen it 1st hand. I remember going riding with a guy who has great mechanical skills, maintains his stuff and the LT just decided to blow 3rd gear. Thats just one of the failures I've seen....

[Darius1502]

Just weld a KX intake on it... then it will RIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and yea Dynoport pipe!

HOLY Moly...who did that?

[Darius1502]

Dr. Q's stock 'beater zilla' is freaking crazy fast....these motors can run like beasts:

[Darius1502]

The famous beater Zilla....