Does anybody have a pic of the way honda tensioned the chain on the '80 ATC185 I imagine it is simular to the early run of the ATC200 so that pic may help as well.

The reason I ask is when I got my 185 the PO engineered his own tensioner. Basically he used the two top bolts of the axel as a hinge. Then took a 1/4 inch bolt welded a washer at the end and placed the washer over the bottom bolt. He then ran a nut down to the washer. Then welded another washer to the frame and fed the bolt through and put another nut on. If you tighten the nut so it jams against the frame washer it tensions the chain. The use the nut on the other side to hold it in place. Then tighten the four big bolts. Over all the system works, but when I ride the trike alternates between mud hole and crashing from the sky with me on top of it. I have upgraded the bolts to 7/16 grade 8 and still if I ride 20-30 minutes I bend the tension bolts into modern art the axel moves and my chain comes off.

 

I have to replace the bolts to tension it again. I was just wandering if anybody had a pic of how honda did it so maybe I could clone it.

 

The tensioner is not designed to hold the axle there, it is just for moving it with the axle bolts loose. Once the chain is properly tensioned, the axle bolts need to be tightened sufficiently to hold this in place, and put no strain on the tensioner bolt. Check the manual below for the torque specs for those bolts, as well as drawings from the Honda catalog to make sure you have everything in the right place.

Here is the link to download the complete original Honda manual for the 185.

http://www.oscarmayer.net/atc/manual...ice_Manual.pdf

Check section 3, page 9,(3-9)

Also here is the link to the Honda OEM parts catalog and diagrams for your bike.

Hammond Indiana, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, Polaris, Ski, Tucker Rocky, Parts, ATV, Motorcycle, UTV, Accessories, Apparel,

good luck.