TaoTao ATA-250D Mods & Q&A
 

I got myself a TaoTao ATA-250D and got my boys each a T-Force 125 for Christmas 2015. I will be posting my mods to this thread for everyones input. I will also be using the threat for Q&A on issues such as mods, maintenance, repairs, etc.

Feel free to post questions, mod ideas, mods, pics. Anything related to the TaoTao ATA-250 or the TaoTao Rhino 250.

So, my rides:
Mine - 2015 TaoTao ATA-250 200cc Camo Manual 4/N/R
Son #1 - 2015 TaoTao T-Force 125 110cc Camo Automatic D/N/R
Son #2 - 2015 TaoTao T-Force 125 110cc Spiderweb Red Auto D/N/R

Front Mounted Hitch
 

Here are pics of my front mounted tow hitch. I use to move my trailer into the back yard after I unload after a trip.

I purchased one of those Bolt-On Bumper mounts from Walmart, inverted it and used the mounting bolts and tabs that came with it to simply "clamp" it onto the support bars for the brush guard. Works perfectly!

Welcome!


That receiver is pure genius!

X2! My plans just may have changed.....

Front Mounted Hitch
 

View from the inside bottom.

Love it, great work! I will follow this thread.

Free time!
 

So one of my boys broke his leg, so he's going to be out for a couple weeks so I have decided to tear my TaoTao apart and start working on massive upgrades and mods. There are some that I have already done that I will be reviewing and revamping due to some issues. You can expect multiple posts with multiple pictures with multiple explanations over the next couple of days and weeks as I build lots of things!!!

The List!
 

Here is a list of modifications and revamps that I am contemplating:

Already done: Front Hitch!

1. New front sprocket and chain
2. New headlights and tail lights
3. Rework my custom rear deck (pics will be up today to explain)
4. Rear tow hitch
5. Gear select indicator, possibly with speedo (R/N/1/2/3/4; currently it only has a red light for R and a green light for N)
6. Move air intake tube and filter to the inside of the under seat storage (better splash protection, i am not snorkeling a 2WD Chinese atv!!)
7. Upgraded suspension all around
8. Rear wheel spacers (2" each side)
9. New exhaust (at least, the muffler!)
10. Whatever else I decide to do!!!

and the muffler is OFF already haha! Is that walker for your son? Sorry about his broken leg, hope that was not from the quad. Looking forward to the good work. I could not find anything smaller than a 12 tooth front sprocket for the bike. I think it will take some looking into for a rear one which sounds like our best option at this point. Love seeing the progress!

Front sprocket
 

The muffler strangely enough is only a slip on. once you take off the two mounting bolts above the rear tire the muffler slides right off. it's not clamped or anything.

My wheeler came with a 15 tooth 428 front sprocket with a 428 chain 118 link and a 40 tooth rear sprocket. I am leaving the rear sprocket alone. I've taken off the Chinese chain and the front sprocket and I am going to a 13t steel JT sprockets front sprocket with a heavy duty high-performance 428 118 link JT sprockets chain. I got them both on Amazon for less than $30 total. I will post links as soon as I get home.

And yes the little kids walker is for my son with his broken leg he is in a wheelchair while at school and on a walker at home!

Chain & Sprocket
 

JT Sprockets JTC428HDR118SL 428 HDR 118-Link Heavy Duty Drive Chain
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00

JT Sprockets JTF259.13 13T Steel Front Sprocket
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00

They will be here tomorrow, I will pop em on and post a review of performance.

Custom Rear Deck Seat/Storage
 

So the stock rack on the back of the ATA-250d is not quite big enough to fit an ATV rack pack. I have one that has a padded seat on it and I tried to use it with the stock rack but it just looked horrible. I decided to take off the stock rack and build a custom deck to mount my rack pack. While I did not take any before or after pics, I am sure you can figure it out by looking at the pics.

The wood is pressure treated 1/2" ply. I cut holes for the tie down straps to go through the wood deck. The angle brackets are truss decking brackets from Home Depot. I attached them to the wood deck with stainless flush top bolts, lock washers and nuts.

PROBLEM: the stock rack bracket the holds it all to the wheeler is SHIT. The first bump I hit with my 50 pound daughter on the pack seat and the TaoTao bracket bent and broke damn near off. After I got home, I tried to shore it up with some angle iron and U-Bolts. It worked, but looked horrible (recurring theme here). I have taken it all off and I am going to fabricate a custom mount bracket out of galvanized angle iron and them mount the deck back to it.

Rear Hitch!!!
 

Alrighty, I now have a shiny new custom built rear hitch for my ATA-250.

Take a look at the pics, they should be self explanatory, but feel free to ask questions.

Step 1: Bend the Rear Brake Hose Mount up slightly out of the way.
Step 2: Galvanized Angle Iron; Measure, Cut, Drill Holes
Step 3: Mount using SS U-Bolt to a cross bar on the swing arm
Step 4: Mount to Lower Suspension brace (make sure your hole puts the angle iron low enough to get a wrench on the adjusting bolt for the rear axle so you dont have to take the hitch off every time you need to adjust rear end).
Step 4: Mount hitch to angle iron using Grade 8 SS bolt, lock washer and nut

***NOTE: BLUE THREAD LOCK EVERYTHING

My hitch is 16 inches from the ground. My trucks hitch is 22 inches from the ground. Not too shabby!

Total cost from all parts at Home Depot: $42 (hitch and ball were most expensive)

When I get the new front sprocket and chain tomorrow, I will pull my trailer around and make sure the hitch will hold the weight. It does hold me bouncing in it like a mad dog. It doesn't move!!!

NICE! The "Anhoard Hitch" will be on my Rhino soon! Nice job! Man.... I've been racking my brain over this and I've way over complicated it! This is so simple!