Hey Ive been looking into getting a tecate 3. I know the 84/85 had the wierd radiator on top of the handlebars and the 85-87 had a regular dirtbike type cooler behind the fork. For the later year tecate 3s, how much different is the power then the 87-88 tecate 4? are the later model 3's eqipped with powervalve like the 4s??? any info on the engine difference would be apreciated. I know that the early tecate 3s and newer tecate 3s have different power but what about between the later 3s and the 4s

 

The 86-87 Tecate 3s and the 87-88 Tecate 4s were very similar. main difference was that the Tecate 4 had a counterbalancer.

The T3 had a bore and stroke of 70 X 64.9mm, the T4 was 67.4 X 70 mm
The T3 had a compression ration of 9.2, the T4 was 8.7 (1987) then 8.9 (1988)
Both used a Mikuni VM34SS until 1988 when the T4 went to a Keihin PWK35
The T3 had 13 degrees of ignition timing, the T4 had 18 degrees and then 20 degrees for 1988
They had slightly different port timing

The T3 had a 5 speed tranny and the T4 went to a 6-speed and the final gearing was different

I think the top ends are interchangeable, they both used the KIPS power valve.
I think you can get a ton of power by going to the KX250 top end and the bigger KX carb.

These bikes were rockets. I had three T3s a 1984 and two 1985s. Never could get my hands on a good later model, they are scarce. and a pain to get parts for.

 

so then you think if i can get my hands on a running 86 T3 that only needs cosmetic work for a good price I should swipe it?

 

I guess it depends on if you like project bikes! LOL Grab it, they are fun, but owning a Tecate Three Wheeler is kinda like owning a boat, Your two favorite days will be the day you bought it and the day you sell it[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]:

I sold all my trike stuff so I could concentrate on my V-force. It is alot easier to maintain and modify one bike, then several. have fun!