1986 250r Balljoints

[TOOLMANGTO]

Just bought a 86 250r , don't know much history on the bike....but it needs a couple ball joints.
anybody know how to tell what style ball joint it takes or how to identify stock vs aftermarket ?
also if it is stock, where is a good source other than OEM....man the Honda ones are high $ as I found out today !

Thanks

[86 Quad R]

what you'll need to do is get an automotive tie rod end for a late 70's - early 80's mazda or ford courier truck and mod it a bit. heres a pic......

[TOOLMANGTO]

now that's cool ! Exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for.
not sure I understand what has to be modified though....
Do you just grind the kind of tapered part after the threads.. flat so the washer sits flat against it with the nut ?

[matt250r21]

I bet the Honda balljoints are cheaper then a hospital visit.

[86 Quad R]

Originally posted by TOOLMANGTO
Do you just grind the kind of tapered part after the threads.. flat so the washer sits flat against it with the nut ?

notice how the OEM ball joint is flat on two sides of the shank? the aftermarket joint is to be flattened in the same manner, the full length of the threads. otherwise, it will not slide into the arm. you'll need to have just enough material taken off to make the fit. i opt to do this using a mill machine.



Originally posted by matt250r21
I bet the Honda balljoints are cheaper then a hospital visit.

not quite sure what that is sposed to mean........:confused: please explain. :huh

[TOOLMANGTO]

I am curious as well.... is the tie rod not the way to go if your going to be jumping etc...?
just about anythings cheaper than a hospital trip from the dunes, but I just thought there had to be a better choice out there than $107 for a Honda balljoint when for $20.00 you can buy a ball joint for most all the high dollar aftermarket a-arms....
Speaking of that, my joints now don't have flats on the threads...I don't think the a-arms are stock after looking at stock pics, anyway to tell what brand they are or what joint I could use....like one of the $20. ones :)
Do all the aftermarket a-arms take the same ball joint or is everyone a little different or something ?

[86 Quad R]

post a pic of your a-arms. if they are aftermarket then the OEM joint wont fit anyways. most aftermarket a-arms use the the same type of joint. which is 16mm right handed thread.

[TOOLMANGTO]

pics

well that didn't work:(

[TOOLMANGTO]

2nd try for pic

[86 Quad R]

those dont look like anything that i've ever seen. are they threaded for the ball joints?

[TOOLMANGTO]

where the ball joint comes thru they are just a hole....no threads.
The threaded part of ball joint has nuts on both sides to hold it in.

?

[86 Quad R]

ohhhh ok. you need to determine what size the old ball joints are and get the same to replace.

check out this LINK (http://www.rickystator.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=41&osCsid=a3ddc32322245c92694d387c37e79508)

[TOOLMANGTO]

cool I'll measure tonight

Thanks !

[matt250r21]

I'm not saying it would not work, but when I had a balljoint front end on my R I use to snap those upper 14 mm Laeger balljoints like they were twigs. Those moded balljoints just looks too weak to me.

[TOOLMANGTO]

Greeeeaat :( , not looking forward to ever snapping one. That would suck big time to land off a big dune and plant the front end. I wreck enough without stuff breaking ...ha

I measured last night and my ball joints are 14mm....
so is my only choice the mazda tie rod ?

What is the deal with the VW transport tie rod, I see on the link to Ricky Stators tie rods? is it stronger or anything or just a different design (from reading looks like it may just have the flats on the threads already for the stock a-arm maybe ?

[TOOLMANGTO]

found out last night they are HSD strong arms.
I can't get their web site to come up....shows up in google search , but it won't open the actual web site...some images still show up in image search even.
Anybody know if they are still in business or how to get in touch with them ?
or alternatives to replacement parts for those arms ?

[86 Quad R]

the joints i use are the mazda/ford courier tie ends and are 16mm so they wouldnt work on your 14mm setup. as matt stated, i'm not crazy about running the 14mm. just a thought but, is there possibly enough meat there on you a-arms to have them modded for 16mm's?

[TOOLMANGTO]

doesn't look like there is enough material there to open up that far.
I finally got a hold of strong arm, their web site must just have been down, so I'm just going to order their ball joints they are reasonable enough ($14. each)

Thanks for the help.

[86 Quad R]

kewl. :cool: