I know this video’s a few years old, but THANK YOU. I just rebuilt my suspension tonight. Your video was spot on. Thanks for putting this video together.
Damn man that by was the best video by far nice job really appreciate watching something and learning enough that I can go do the damn job thanks again
Awesome. I am changing front tire and found all this leakage too. I am going to rebuild the forks while I have the front wheel off. Did the fatter dust boots you used rub the tires? A set of generic dust boots are like 7 bucks....ones especially for BR are MUCH higher. Thanks for the video!!
I believe the boots were Daystars. I paid $30 for them. My front tire doesn’t hold air for long. So when the tire starts to deflate, the boots start rubbing. I put holes in both boots on the second ride. 🤦♂️ As long as you keep good tire pressure you should be good. I plan on trying out a 10” wide tire on a different rim this spring.
The boots and seals came from eBay. They are Daystar royal blue. rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F333243386748 and the seals are All Balls rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F173693202648
Hey What could I do to get those forks out of there because they are stuck and I can't get them out of there I already tried almost everything because I need help early, thanks
Are you saying you can’t get the fork tubes out of the triple tree? If so, you need to pry open the slit in the triple with a large screw driver or pry par. Hammer it right in there. Be careful not to scratch the fork tube itself. Forks should pull out with some wiggling and down force.
I just took my Big Red out today and did some pretty significant riding. She performed flawlessly for the most part, but the front shocks did bottom out quite often. Does that probably mean the springs need to be replaced? Or does that just mean the seals are leaking? And will doing what you did here fix my situation?
I’m no expert but I would assume if you are bottoming out the shocks, they are low on oil. The springs help maintain the stance but over time weaken and compress. I noticed that when I was done doing seals that there was still a little suspension droop. As in when you pick all the weight of the front end and set it down, the suspension compresses a little with just the weight of the bike. I would imagine new stiffer springs would fix this problem.
I don’t. Try asking around three wheeler forums. I’m sure you could still get replacement OEM springs from a Honda dealer. They might fix your problem. But if you are a heavy guy (225lbs+) I would look at replacing with a more “heavy duty” one. I think they call them progressive springs. Let me know if you find some that fit. I might try them myself.😉
I can't unscrew the bottom bolt! in all the videos, people just unscrew with a hex key and that's it! I have it scrolled together with the rod into which it is screwed! I don't understand how it can be disassembled! what is the problem?
I would imagine yes. You might need to make your own studs from bolts by trimming them to the proper length. Use two nuts and jam them against each other to remove the old studs and to put in the replacement ones.
eBay. Type in “250es” and the item your looking for. People part out machines all the time so parts are pretty available. The new fork seals and boots where also from eBay.
![1985 Honda ATC250ES - Full Tune Up [Part 1] BIG RED](/img/n.gif)
Need more videos of this quality for basic maintenance on these machines. Great video...it helped me a ton!
You made a great video with everything we all need to know so we can do this ourselves... Thank you!
I know this video’s a few years old, but THANK YOU. I just rebuilt my suspension tonight. Your video was spot on. Thanks for putting this video together.
Thanks for the trick with the screw driver. I was having a hard time getting the forks out. Job done.
Very good video! The one that I have needs a little love after all these years and the forks are on that list.
Looking like an 86 sx with all that blue and a white tank. thanks for the how too, I need to do mine this coming season.
Yeah, kinda does look like a SX. I was going for a 350x theme. My goal was to make fork rebuilding seem more manageable.
@@nate32185 it was, well done.
Very nice video, ty! Rly wish you would make more videos of you working on ur big red.
Thank you. I have started a video of more big red maintenance. Hopefully I’ll finish it soon.
Great vidoe I need to find new seals and rebuild mine.
Damn man that by was the best video by far nice job really appreciate watching something and learning enough that I can go do the damn job thanks again
Thanks for the great video! Will help with my 200es ,hope you do more videos on atc work......thanks again.
Thanks for watching. I will do more atc videos, I promise. I just picked up 3 more atc’s last week.
Great vid! Going to rebuild mine this weekend.
Thanks, just what I was looking for.
Thank you ! Very good information
Excellent video. Thanks for the documentation.
Your welcome!
Thanks dude, I just bought an '85 Big Red, plan to restore it and the front forks are locked up.
You’re welcome. Good luck!
Did you get them free’d up? We got a 85 big red with seized front shocks stuck in the down position
Good for another 34 years.
Great video! Thanks for the info!
Excellent video, thank you!
This is a great video. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Thanks for commenting.
Wow! Great job!
Really a fantastic video.
Thank you!
Thanks for the help
Your welcome. Thanks for watching!
Thanks, this helped me out a lot!
Great job thank you for the info
Awesome video! Thanks
Great video, very helpful
nice vid, i will be doing this to an 86 sx.
Awesome. I am changing front tire and found all this leakage too. I am going to rebuild the forks while I have the front wheel off. Did the fatter dust boots you used rub the tires? A set of generic dust boots are like 7 bucks....ones especially for BR are MUCH higher. Thanks for the video!!
I believe the boots were Daystars. I paid $30 for them. My front tire doesn’t hold air for long. So when the tire starts to deflate, the boots start rubbing. I put holes in both boots on the second ride. 🤦♂️ As long as you keep good tire pressure you should be good. I plan on trying out a 10” wide tire on a different rim this spring.
thanks for the video! do you have a link for the seal replacement kit you used?
good video i was able to redo my shocks
Awesome! Glad I could help.
Where did you get the white tank?
Thanks for the great video. hope to see more! where can i order the parts to rebuild my 1984 200m forks? thanks again,
Try eBay first, or your local Honda atv/motorcycle shop should be able to get you the seals you need.
What the heck!! I thought everyone says these aren’t rebuildable once locked up. Where did you get those oil seals? Awesome video, thank you
The 200 big reds front shocks are unrebuildable
👍🏻
Good video
Where did you get the parts and what part numbers? Thanks, great video!
The boots and seals came from eBay. They are Daystar royal blue. rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F333243386748 and the seals are All Balls rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F173693202648
Thanks so much!
Any tip to unscrew the long bolt mine is lock very hard
My bike, 1983 185, has 3 springs, not 2. What is the difference? I did not pay attention how I took it apart.
Hey What could I do to get those forks out of there because they are stuck and I can't get them out of there I already tried almost everything because I need help early, thanks
Are you saying you can’t get the fork tubes out of the triple tree? If so, you need to pry open the slit in the triple with a large screw driver or pry par. Hammer it right in there. Be careful not to scratch the fork tube itself. Forks should pull out with some wiggling and down force.
@@nate32185 Thanks bro im going to try it
Would the fluid amount be the same for a 200s I've heard 3 Oz and 3.8? Thank you
I believe the 200s, 200m, and 185s all take 3oz per fork.
I just took my Big Red out today and did some pretty significant riding. She performed flawlessly for the most part, but the front shocks did bottom out quite often. Does that probably mean the springs need to be replaced? Or does that just mean the seals are leaking? And will doing what you did here fix my situation?
I’m no expert but I would assume if you are bottoming out the shocks, they are low on oil. The springs help maintain the stance but over time weaken and compress. I noticed that when I was done doing seals that there was still a little suspension droop. As in when you pick all the weight of the front end and set it down, the suspension compresses a little with just the weight of the bike. I would imagine new stiffer springs would fix this problem.
@@nate32185 first of all thank you for getting back to me so soon. Do you by chance know a company or have a link to who sells those springs? Thanks
I don’t. Try asking around three wheeler forums. I’m sure you could still get replacement OEM springs from a Honda dealer. They might fix your problem. But if you are a heavy guy (225lbs+) I would look at replacing with a more “heavy duty” one. I think they call them progressive springs. Let me know if you find some that fit. I might try them myself.😉
Where did you source the parts?
I bought the fork seals and boots on eBay.
What was the total time to rebuild the front forks?
What clear fluid did you use to clean the parts with?
Mineral spirits
I can't unscrew the bottom bolt! in all the videos, people just unscrew with a hex key and that's it! I have it scrolled together with the rod into which it is screwed! I don't understand how it can be disassembled! what is the problem?
If you are referring to the 6mm Allen bolt at the bottom. Try soaking the bottom of the forks in PB blaster or diesel fuel. Mine came out real hard!
@@nate32185 thanks! how did you fix the stock inside?
Is it possible to Change the studs on the front fork that hods the axle??
I would imagine yes. You might need to make your own studs from bolts by trimming them to the proper length. Use two nuts and jam them against each other to remove the old studs and to put in the replacement ones.
where our you getting your parts from
Mostly from eBay.
What oil do you use to put into the forks?
I used automatic transmission fluid. Typically you would use a fork oil but ATF works just as well.
Where can I found parts of this honda big red 85? I need parts of the fork
eBay. Type in “250es” and the item your looking for. People part out machines all the time so parts are pretty available. The new fork seals and boots where also from eBay.
Care to offer a dude a favor and give me a link to where you got your rebuild kit from?
how much willyou charge to do mine?
😂 That’s why I made the video. To teach people to do it themselves.
Hello men, can You help me find spare parts for that motorcycle? near Houston Texas
Try eBay or a Honda/3 wheeler Facebook group.