Like to get some info on the mtd triail flight mini bikes, are they worth restoring, what motors came on them, are parts easily available, not looking to make it a show bike but make it as close to right as I can within financial reason maybe paint, bearings and needs a headlight , it will get used, thanks for any info
mtd trail flight
- Thread starter minibikefever
- Start date
i did a write on them with the little info i could find. you may find it helpful.
http://www.pinrepair.com/minibikes/mtdinfo.htm
http://www.pinrepair.com/minibikes/mtdinfo.htm
the headlight that shows in the MTD products manual (363 and 364-600's and 650's) was a Peterson made headlight with dual toggles (off/on and high/low) they will be stamped on the back as AP4600, the earlier ones will be stamped PM711, they are the same as what companies like bonanza and others used, EXCEPT they are 2 post/side mount buckets. They had a pretty unique headlight ring and the switches can be hard to replicate so they get robbed of the guts for the single post buckets alot.....at least in my garage they do 
They had a pretty cool numberplate for the non lighted bikes too, your dont see them much though.
They had a pretty cool numberplate for the non lighted bikes too, your dont see them much though.
the headlight that shows in the MTD products manual (363 and 364-600's and 650's) was a Peterson made headlight with dual toggles (off/on and high/low) they will be stamped on the back as AP4600, the earlier ones will be stamped PM711, they are the same as what companies like bonanza and others used, EXCEPT they are 2 post/side mount buckets. They had a pretty unique headlight ring and the switches can be hard to replicate so they get robbed of the guts for the single post buckets alot.....at least in my garage they do
They had a pretty cool numberplate for the non lighted bikes too, your dont see them much though.
They had a pretty cool numberplate for the non lighted bikes too, your dont see them much though.
The MTDs were 4 or 5 hp Tecumseh. The 3.5 you have is a Sears Craftsmen branded motor. Not that any of this matters. you can still have fun with the wrong motor! Personally i like 4 and 5 hp Tecumsehs for my bikes though. the 3 and 3.5 just don't get my big butt going very well. Any Tecumseh HS motor can be mini bike material. It just depends what it needs. if you post some pictures we can tell more. Without going into gory detail, generally you want a 3/4" PTO shaft. The other things you can modify pretty inexpensively. But pictures would really help a lot.
I suspect you have the model number written incorrect for the sears, but that engine should be a 1983 if the serial number part is correct, the HS40 is a 1994. When the shrouds changed in the mid 1970's there was no longer room for metal tags in the front, so they did away with them. Thats when stamping the top of the shrouds started, that way went through into 80's and also into early 90's then they started to use decals. Yours is probably a long thin decal with the info on it, after around 1995 you see the big ugly decal showing the EPA compliance etc. as the normal decaling.
Neither of the engines came off a mini bike, so some conversion would be needed.
Neither of the engines came off a mini bike, so some conversion would be needed.
thanks for the welcome and the advice, I have done a couple of restores on different motorized projects that I spent too much on and didnt get back what I invested not including my time but had a good time doing it and ended up owning a couple items that I wanted for 40 years, that's why I'm downgrading to mini bikes, something I always liked,a little more affordable and can probably keep my marriage, lol , thanks again
its been collecting dust for a couple months while I've been trying to put some responsibility behind me, just pulled it out yesterday to start completing it, its about 90%, I picked up a hs40 from member owend who also helped me with a lighting coil and flywheel, being my first build I jumped in so quick that I never thought about before and after photos but I guess the finish product will do, hope to be posting some pics by the end o the week, thanks for inquiring.
I appreciate the inquiry, I could use some advice on the clutch cover bracket in the front, the bike had a h50 on it when I took it over and the previous owner had a bracket going from the footpeg to the bottom of the cover that didnt belong there, I will make a bracket for top where one needs to be from the motor and the back location is already correct, my question being is there a bracket on the bottom or just the top and back mounting spots on that big cover?
To be honest, I never had the proper torque converter cover for my bike so I unfortunately I can’t answer your question.
You might want to contact member cfh he is very knowledgeable about these bikes.
I gave up trying to find an original cover and ended up making up something from Comet parts.
I know some bikes had a bracket on the foot peg but not sure if these bikes were set up that way.
You might want to contact member cfh he is very knowledgeable about these bikes.
I gave up trying to find an original cover and ended up making up something from Comet parts.
I know some bikes had a bracket on the foot peg but not sure if these bikes were set up that way.
I think the TC cover turned out looking good.
That's a really cool looking bike btw.
Excuse me @minibikefever , I didn't mean to hijack your thread.
That's a really cool looking bike btw.
Excuse me @minibikefever , I didn't mean to hijack your thread.
RobertC
I deleted the pic because I didn’t want to hijack the thread either
But I appreciate the kind words!
Using the Comet backing plate and plastic cover requires quite a lot of trimming to both parts.
But this doesn’t help the OP so hopefully some one who has installed an original cover can respond
I deleted the pic because I didn’t want to hijack the thread either
But I appreciate the kind words!
Using the Comet backing plate and plastic cover requires quite a lot of trimming to both parts.
But this doesn’t help the OP so hopefully some one who has installed an original cover can respond