3 wheeler Question

[anyfishaldo]

My brother and I are looking at an old Big Red 3 wheeler to use for ice fishing. Kids have turned our trucks into minivans and we just want to get in and out to spots safely. Four wheeler is out of the question for now. Any thoughts.

[Jarrod32]

I use a 1984 Honda Big Red 250 for ice fishing. Pulls a portable around fine. It will have some trouble in deep snow, but it does the job nicely.

I have even used it to pull my 6x8 permanent out on the ice. That is probably more than I should pull with it, but it does the job. I have also used that Big Red to pull my 15' aluminum boat in and out of the backyard.

Just watch the deep snow, and you will be fine. I would post a photo if I knew how...

[Kyle Sandberg]

jarrod, email me and I'll post it for you. [email protected]

To get an idea of the power those things have, up at my grandparents, we were pulling stumps out of the ground with it. Lets just say I got to go 2 wheeling.

[McGurk]

If you can get a clean, running Big Red 250cc for less than a grand, DO IT!!!! And if not, send it my way!

[JustinG]

I have a 1985 Honda 125 4-wheeler (2wd) that works just great! I have the tires chained, so it goes just fine. You can go almost any place with those machines except when the bottom of machine starts getting hung up in deeper snow. Most of the time, there are snowmobile tracks or hard packed trails on the lake where you can go almost anywhere with them!

Later,

Justin

[MASON38]

I use a '85 Big Red 250S. It pulls my CLAM 5600 and Pro with no problem through four inches or less of soft snow. These things are torqued so low, I have hauled loaded hay wagons and water tanks (full) on trailers back in my farm days.

She has been well used, and even a lil abused. I was 17 when I bought it, and that was 23 yrs ago.

[JustinG]

Mason38,

Man, is your old 3-wheeler in NICE shape! That is one of the nicest ones I have seen in a long time! Are the seat and the plastic fenders original? My machine is pretty faded and one of the fenders is cracked. There is duct tape on the seat too! But, that old machine of mine will start with 2 pulls in -25 below weather! Those old Hondas are tough little machines!

Justin

[anyfishaldo]

Thanks guys, we have been debating what to do since I moved back from FL. We were on Mille Lacs at Christmas last year when ice was 8"-12" and we could only walk. We met up with a local who said they were killing then out about 4 miles. He rode off into the sunset on a four wheeler and we caught 6 inch perch. Needless to say we need to do something.

I got the three wheeler idea after watching a guy scoot right out past me on another trip. Our Stepdad has a great trailer and we have all the other gear and portables. I really appreciate your help. If any one is selling one let me know.

[Bobb-o]

question for all of you three-wheeler guys, i have a 1983 big red 185 that i got for 3 cases of beer, but i cant seem to find a recoil for it, anyone have any suggestions?

[MuleShack]

my brother has a 1983 honda 200. It runs, but needs a lot of coaxing and a valve job. He told me many years ago that they stopped making parts for these machines. Not sure if that is accruate or not but he doesn't know where to get parts either.

[Bobb-o]

thats unfortunate, cuz this baby runs great when you can get her started.

[The Grebe]

One place you can try is Honda Town over on Franklin Ave./East Lake St. in Mpls. Thats where I get all my parts and service. One would think that if anyone had access to parts it would be them.

Dennis Kirk is also another outlet your brother might want to check out.

I have a 200 Honda and as long as a person doesn't get goofy with the thing, it is dynamite for ice fishing.

When you are by yourself, it is alot easier to mess with then a sled, or a 4 wheeler, it's light enough to muscle around if you have to and has plenty enough power.

Those big balloon tires with the 2 1/2 pounds of air presure, will ride over just about anything. I know that I really like mine.

One thing though....you can get hurt really quick on those things if you let your guard down, or get to crazy! I believe it is one of the reasons they quit making them, alot of people getting hurt and some getting killed.

[dairyman]

Hey I have a honda 3 wheeler for sale in the other forum its located down by big lake you can call me at 763-607-6157 for any further info---yes its in good shape!!

thanks

[Kyle Sandberg]

Here you go Jarrod. Nice looking rig.

[Sonicrunch]

Wow, nice rig guys. I spent the ages 12-15 on a 1985 Big Red.

By the way, the 85 Big Red was a new design, and the first year of the 250 sized engine. It also had rear suspension, a granny first gear, reverse, shaft drive, and a backup kick start.

84 and earlier Big Reds had a 200 engine, backup recoil start, no rear suspension, a high and low range gearbox, no reverse, and was chain drive.

The 85s and 86 Big red were identical except the stickers. These machines were bulletproof. I would argue the quality in these machines is far greater than the Hondas produced today. The exception being the crappy cable actuated brakes.

[McGurk]

Hey Bobb-o, Technically speaking, what you have is an either an ATC185 or an ATC185s. I had an '83 185s for a year that was a blast. No suspension, but fun to drive. Parts are around but hard to source, do the hsolist thing or there is a couple of sites that have alot of info on older 3 wheelers. Do 2 searches; one for each of these terms: "3wheelerworld", "3wheeler org". They may have a line on a recoil, or maybe a workaround like a push start if you haven't thought of that already.

[MNmikew]

I restored an 85 250R with many parts off hsolist. There is usually quite the selection there.

[Scott K]

I dont know for sure if I can post this but, this link has most all parts for almost every atv. Very helpfull to all! http://216.37.204.206/Mcmart/Partsfinder.htm

[JustinG]

Bobb-o,

Try Mohawk Salvage in Hibbing. I bet they will have that recoil.

Justin

[MASON38]

Yep its all original parts, but I tell you when I was in high school that machine took a beating. Then I kind of grew up and realized just what a great working machine it was. If you look closely at the closest fender, you will notice all the pop rivets, there is a sheet metal plate underneat it. I rebuilt the carb last year, all the parts came from the local honda dealer, and I too, have seen a lot of stuff on hsolist for it too. I would have mounted my trap on the rear if it wasnt so hard to stear with the extra weight loaded on. That black case on the front, is from a saw that I have. I took a rotary tool, trimmed all the molding out. It holds my first aid kit, extra artic spurs, ice ancors, and a auger repair kit, with extra blades, tools and spare oil. I made the auger rack out of wood, painted it black and then u-bolted it into place. The rest is bungee history.

[Northsider #13]

I have an old Honda 3 wheeler. Not the big red, just the smaller one. I paid $400 for it 3 years ago. It pulls my boat lift and dock out just fine. As far as pulling a portable, a piece of cake. It is really a good tool. Nothing fancy, but it does the job.

[Squirtis]

Bobb-o,

I've been repairing Motorcycles and fun other toys for a while and I stumbled on BikeBandit.com a while back and have been so surprised at the OEM parts they have access to. I looked up the 83' ATC185S and you can get almost any part for the recoil. I have ordered from them (they are in NY) for a couple fo years now and have never been disappointed. You may want to check out their HSOforum and order from their fiche. Let me know if you do and how it works out.

Curtis

[fisherjmb]

My dad has an '85 big red. Just got it repaired this year. It has electric start and it needed a new starter switch, new battery and a carb overhaul. He did it at a place in Ham Lake. He originally got it from Rapid Sports in Coon Rapids way back when and he called the Rapid Sports in Ham Lake and they said they don't repair ATV's anymore so they gave my dad a number for a place in Ham Lake. I don't know the name of the place but he had parts there. Might have a recoil, don't know if they ship out.

[Jarrod32]

Thanks, K-Dawg. And I think I said mine was an '84...but it is in fact an '85, as Sonicruch described...

By the way, the 85 Big Red was a new design, and the first year of the 250 sized engine. It also had rear suspension, a granny first gear, reverse, shaft drive, and a backup kick start.

That describes mine. We used it on the farm when I was growing up...my dad removed the rear suspension and replaced it with a solid shaft so he could haul a sprayer around on the rear rack. Needed to replace that before I took off across any frozen lakes...

And the 'granny first gear' will pull things that a 250cc engine has no business pulling. And I'm always using the kick start, because...as fisherjmb kind of alluded to...the electric start rarely works any more.

[fishinalot]

If its in good shape its worth $2500 or more. A buddy of mine sold one for $2700 (mint) last year and he could have sold a bunch more. They don't make em anymore and they do get around the woods a bit easier then a 4-wheeler.