Craigslist ad (well kijiji but same thing in Canada ;) popped up today for a 1987 Honda TRX200SX. One too many wheels for my liking but I couldn't resist, the price was right. It was advertised as:
-needs clutch cable
-has power going to solenoid but no power coming out
-rip cord seems to work and appears to have compression
First thing that caught my attention was the missing clutch cable - these things are like 250sx ATC's, centrifugal clutch with no "cable" required.
I called him up and asked if it starts/idles/smokes etc and he said he doesn't know - he put a bit of gas in but gave up after finding out electric start didn't work and a few pulls on the ripcord. Then he told me about how he bought it in a storage locker auction last week and he's not mechanical in the slightest and just wants to make a bit of money off it. He was told it had sat unused for over a decade. I told him I'd show up and try to start it in his driveway - if it starts I'd give him asking price ($600 USD).
Headed straight there after work with the basics (fresh fuel, spark plug wrench, screwdrivers, fuel drain hose, etc). Pulled the seat off and looked at air filter:
Removed that right away and cleaned out all the bits I could from the airbox. Sprayed a bit of quick-start down it's throat and pulled the rip-cord. Very first pull it sounded like it wanted to catch... the 2nd pull it fired up and idled for 4 seconds. 3rd pull and a bit of throttle and it purred nicely with no smoke at all. Paid him asking price and dragged it home. Hooked up jumper cables and the electric start/solenoid works no problem at all, was just a very old and completely dead battery.
Gonna clean the carb, chain and fuel-tank, change the oil and buy a new battery, air filter and rear brake cable (that was the missing "clutch" cable lol). Should be a great "buddy ride" and since it's a Honda will last another few decades no problem :) I think it will look great sitting beside my '86 250SX ATC.
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