I needed something just to ride around my land to do chores and stuff. I couldn't talk the wifey into allow me to buy a new quad since I just bought a new truck 2 months ago. So I traded a rifle to a guy for this old 86 TRX. It runs really good and in pretty good shape over all. I ordered new tie rod ends fdor it, a hitch and 2" ball, I also bought a the plastic piece that surrounds the gas tank since it is cracked. I changed the oil out on it and ran a can of sea foam through the tank and mixed a little in with the oil right before I changed it out.

I painted the wheels and the quad yesterday. I used a paint designed for Plastic so I'll see how well it holds up. If the paiont doesn't hold up well then I will most likely just order a camo decal set and cover the whole thing in camo film.

I know it's old and obsolete but it will work for my needs I think. I do miss the 500 polaris I use to have. That thing was a work horse.

Here are some pics of the quad.

When I got it home.



After paint

I still have some stuff to do. When the new plastic gas surround come in I will paint it either Black or green. And I need to buy some decals.

 

That looks really nice! I've been thinking about painting my Rancher, but I didn't know how it would look. Was it hard to prepare the plastic for the paint?

 

Thanks! No I just gave it a light sanding and then sprayed several light coats. The directions said you didn't have to sand but I did anyways. The can says to give it 7 days before it is chip and scratch resistant. My friend painted his plastic lawn furniture with it and it has held up really good. He grabbed a leg on one of the painted chairs and started bending it all around and it didn't peel the paint or anything. I hope it holds up well on this quad. Time will tell!

 

I've had an '85 TRX 250 since new, and I love the thing. I have never had to put a dime into it besides the normal maintenance. It does all my work around the house and I wouldn't sell it for the world.

Enjoy!

 

I have read a lot about these old quads and from what I have sen they last forever and are built real stout. I hope to get a lot of use out of it.

Mine smokes a little so I have been thinking about a top end rebuild. Has anyone done this to one of these old quads? I found on Ebay where a guy is selling rebuilt top ends for around $150 and you send him your old one as a core. How difficult are the top ends to take off and put a new one on?

 

Honestly I don't know because I've never HAD to do it. But please let me know what you end up doing because I may have to do the same one day.

Ride Red!

 

Where, besides ebay, is the best place to buy manuals for these old Honda's?

 

you could just google "clymer atv manuals" and check the sites that pop up and compare prices. here's one you can check out...

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/atvshopmanuals.html

 

Krylon fusion for paint works well if you don't have the money for dipping. It does work, unlike many that say it doesn't but you HAVE to follow the directions on the can exactly. I wet sanded mine, cleaned with mineral spirits, applied several thin coats a few minutes apart and then let it sit for 7 full days. I have saw countless people on other forums, try fusion with no prep work and go riding 1 day later, then curse the paint and call it all kinds of names because it didn't hold up. Well DUH what did they expect to happen when they didn't do what the can said to do?
Mine has held up for over a year now.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: trx300man

Krylon fusion for paint works well if you don't have the money for dipping. It does work, unlike many that say it doesn't but you HAVE to follow the directions on the can exactly. I wet sanded mine, cleaned with mineral spirits, applied several thin coats a few minutes apart and then let it sit for 7 full days. I have saw countless people on other forums, try fusion with no prep work and go riding 1 day later, then curse the paint and call it all kinds of names because it didn't hold up. Well DUH what did they expect to happen when they didn't do what the can said to do?

Mine has held up for over a year now.</end quote></div>

I'm currently using the Krylon Fusion on mine. I hope it holds up as well as yours.