Hey guys! I've been looking for a forum like this for awhile and it looks like I've finally found it. This looks to be a very informative source.

Anyway, last fall, I aquired a 1986 125M ATC from a friend and I Love It!! This thing is so much fun! I bought it for $300 in excellent running condition with brand new tires. The only problems with it was the fact that it smoked a little, the electric start wasn't hooked up, and the front brake wasn't hooked up due to a frozen cable. The headlight and everything else works like it should.

So, I'm wanting to do the following. I want to fix the front brake or remove the drum, and put a new piston and set of rings in it. I have found the piston kit and also a wiring diagram. I don't believe that the electric start is going to be a problem. To be honest, I don't ABSOLUTELY have to have it working. One pull of the rope and she fires right up. Besides, the key and switch is missing.

To get down to the nitty gritty, this trike runs out excellently. It does blow some smoke, but I haven't noticed any oil consumption. Is it really worth putting a new piston kit in? I weigh about 200lbs. and I've noticed that it wants to pull hard on steep hills, but could this simply be the fact that it's a smaller-sized engine than some of it's bigger brothers?

All in all, I believe that I got an excellent deal at $300. I don't have to have the electric start working, but I would mind fixing it just to have something to piddle with. I'm not sure on the rings. What do you guys think? I've rebuilt several car engines and small lawn mower engines, but no Hondas. I notice a few things different between this engine and an engine like a Briggs and Stratton or Kohler, but nothing that I can't compensate for. If I do this task, I will go ahead and put new gaskets in the engine and check for other worn parts. It seems to be getting harder to find parts for these little gems, but if I have to, I'll go to the dealer.

Thanks in advance.

Nightrain

 

If you don't mind the smoke. Just check the oil and keep riding [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

The 125 is not the most powerful of trikes. If you want some more power, try changing the rear sprocket to a larger one. Check ebay for used parts in order to fix the odds and ends.

Congrats on the purchase.

Enjoy[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

 

I meant [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]