Hi all.

I have a few questions about the 85 QRacers...

The first one.. Will a later 'T-Style' seat fit on an 85 Quadracer? I think it might seeing some pics.. but I'm not sure if it requires modifications... Maybe a replacement of the rear plastic? (and if it's a drop on replacement.. does anyone have a spare? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img])

Next.. How the heck does this head gasket align!? The holes around the gasket are different sizes and there is no 'Index Marks' to light it up with...? The studs are spaced evenly making it fit on any of 12 different ways! (6 ways then flip it over and 6 more ways)

Lastly... I've heard this bike has massive reliability problems. Are these reports true? I'd love to be able to keep it... but honestly... I'm scared. I don't want to have a bike that eats top ends or cranks or trannys or clutches or etc. etc... The frame doesn't have any cracks in it that I can find nor does the swingarm. The plastic is in bad shape.. unless you realize it's 16/17 years old then it's not in that bad of shape anymore. If it's as bad as I've heard reliability wise It's going to be put together and sold to build a TRX-R out of my 86 ATC-R.

Chris

 

The engine suffers from no reliability problems. The gripes that people have with the engine are the fact that it lacks the power valve and the reeds as compared to the '87's and up. The swingarm is a weak point as are the front shocks. If you can afford and find a nice Honda go for it but there really isnt any reliability problems with the Suzuki. I know of few people that retain the factory shocks on any sport quad (they either have after market or they want aftermarket). With a few gussets you can make the swingarm strong as well as the chassis. Like I said, if you have the money go for the Honda or a later model Suzuki.

The T style seat will fit any model year LT without modifications. I dont have a spare, sorry.

I also dont know about the alignment of the head gasket, if it fits one of 12 ways that it seams to be symetrical and doesnt matter which way you put it on. I'll consult the manual real quick here. Ok, the manual says to place the new gasket with the "EX" mark facing up and toward the exhuast port. I just looked at a brand new head gasket I have and there is no mark on it so I dont really know.

 

Cool.. I'm going to try to find one of those seats then...

As for the headgasket... on one half of it it has large water passage holes and on the other side it has small holes. I THINK it's for the extra cooling the exhaust side requires.. though that's just a guestimate and doesn't mean anything... For all I know, the upper spigot on the hear may flow more to one area and leave the rest lacking. I don't know and want to make sure.

As for the reliability and what people dislike about the 85 and 86... No stock 250r had a powervalve so lack of one shouldn't be a hangup.. the siamese reedvalve/piston port is not so cool though. Oh well.

Chris

 

Sorry to say it, but my 85 was a POS. Anyhow, if you are going to turn a beautiful ATC into a quad, which is what it sounds like, I hope you never sell it.. That would be such a waste of an ATC 250 R

RoostKing...

 

The '87 up LT250R had an exhaust valve (I've always heard it reffered to as a power valve) from the factory.

I noticed the same thing on the head gasket I have and in the manual it has the slotted holes toward the intake. If you take a look at the pics in my signature I added one for you.

 

i used to have an 85. as far as engine reliability, well i'll put it this way, i never once had a major engine probelem that wasn't my fault, and i never had to rebuild mine once. the onlyt problems i had with it are i snapped the frame in 4 places and i threw the counterbalancer out of the case... fixed the case with some jb weld and just ran it without the balancer. it shook a lot and caused 2 frame cracks but i welded those good as new. the other 2 cracks were in the weak spots (shock mounts) also welded those up and never had a problem with it again. as far as the seat i'm almost positive any year seat will fit any year quadracer.

 

<< Sorry to say it, but my 85 was a POS. Anyhow, if you are going to turn a beautiful ATC into a quad, which is what it sounds like, I hope you never sell it.. That would be such a waste of an ATC 250 R

RoostKing... >>




Now... if it were a beautiful trike I wouldn't... But about the only thing good on this thing is the motor. All the plastics except the tank are broken, the frame has been broken and rewelded, the forks are tweaked and one of the schrader valves are busted off, the rear brakes are thrashed as are the acle bearings.

I didn't get a good one for the reason I didn't want to destroy a good ATC... the one I picked up is going to get a second chance at life as a quad instead of possibly parted out and junked. It's engine needed rebuilt when I got it.. now it runs.

Chris

 

Thats cool, good luck and have fun...

RoostKing...

 

I have an 86 Suzuki lt250 wich is essentially the same as the 85. I have had NO problems. I am doing the first top end rebuild since it was built 15 years ago. It was still running good, but didnt have the snap it use to. Nothing has ever broke on the frame, and the suspension is fine. I dont get these people that have so many problems. They must really be rough on the quads.

 

I believe the big holes in the head gasket go towards the intake side. The smaller holes on the exhaust side slow down the coolant so it draws more heat into it as it passes through. It's been awhile since I had mine apart. I will try to look itup when I get home later.