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View Full Version : 85/86 350x project tips tricks and advice...



tony8008
08-04-2014, 01:51 PM
ok, so this is pretty much all the info on what im getting and what ill need.....(for the most part). Im looking for that veteran input and advice. This is going to be an every day rider, but i want it to be something to look at as well...thanks in advance!


86 Honda atc350x motor runs but does smoke lightly when running. it will need new piston and rings. included will be
carb, throttle cable, clutch cable, oil cooler, kick start lever and shift lever
I will also give a stock bore cylinder since the current one on the motor has already been bored to next size.
the motor has a 12:1 piston, megacycles cam, and aftermarket valve springs and hardened rockers.
I would recommend going to a 10.25:1 piston. the cases has no chain damage.

other parts with it: all 1985 model- frame, forks, triple tree, handle bars, wiring harness, airbox and tubes, swing arm, shock, axle( removed) front hub and axle, front caliper, rear hubs,and new brake line, front fender, I think I have a front rim to go with it.
you will need: gas tank, seat, rear fender, rear wheels and tires, front tire, headlight, front master cylinder, rear brake setup and exhaust.

jb2wheels
08-04-2014, 03:18 PM
Keep it as stock as possible.

Replace all the wear items - bearings, brakes, chain, sprockets, etc.

Take it apart and paint stuff. Looks like crap when the black engine is painted in the frame and the frame gets all the overspray.

I have an 85 I refreshed (http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/142148-JB-s-350X-Refresh). It was a $700 runner with a chain hole in the case cover. I took it down to the frame and back up again. I did not go into the engine. It's almost 100% stock except the plastic tank, Uni air filter, fatter pilot jet, Progressive fork springs and shorter Ohtsu knobbies.

It is the most reliable 3 wheeler I've owned in since I started over again about 6 years ago.

It runs great and I flog it mercilessly in the sand with knobbies. I have paddles for it that are still virgins. Don't need em.

The engine I did not go into smoked so I swapped in the engine from my 86 project.

When I tore the engine down, it had a Wiseco 10.25:1 in it. It will go back with fresh rings and a dingleball hone.

It's quiet. It runs every time I want it to. I never have to clean the air filter since it's in the stock airbox.

Even the 10.25:1 pings on 91 octane piss the call premium gas in Oklahoma. It needed 93 octane premium I bring with me from TX when I go to Little Sahara.

Anyway, I like my stockers.

jb2wheels
08-04-2014, 03:21 PM
And have the frame braced (http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/91917-350X-Frame-gusseting-and-reinforcing-Another-one?highlight=frame+gusset)or DIY.

tony8008
08-04-2014, 04:11 PM
thanks for the advice! i have looked into a premade gusset kit from tpc although someone posted on a forum here that tpc was gonna stop making them. i dunno how true that is but i sent them an email. any thoughts on where i can save some moola on the plastics other than just buying from ebay?

jb2wheels
08-04-2014, 10:19 PM
Both my 350X frames have the TPC gusset kit. One I shipped to TPC for the install and 1 I had/helped done locally. I don't know anything about his production plans.

I have not shopped for plastics for a while. As I recall, the real savings are in the shipping costs - like if Rocky Mountain ATV is having a free shipping deal. That's where I got my last set of 350X fenders.

tony8008
08-04-2014, 10:28 PM
i kind of figured the only place i was going to save on the plastics was the shipping! i guess ill be watching for sales! hopefully i hear back from TPC so i can order a kit! what are your preferences on wheels and tires?

smrover1
08-04-2014, 10:36 PM
I sent TPC an email awhile back with no response

jb2wheels
08-05-2014, 09:43 AM
As I recall, calling Bill at TPC was always the better option.

As far as tires go, I'm not too picky about the front. My 85 has an ancient NanKang knobby. I've used Chen Shins on my 200Xs. My 250R has a Kenda Front Max and my 86 350X will also when I put it back together.
This isn't too bad a deal for a front: eBay Nankang Link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/181240466353?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)

I have 20x10x9 Ohtsu Knobies on the back. They are fantastic. Sand, dirt, trails, rocks, pavement they just don't care. These are stock 85 or 86 250R tires. They were still available new when I put the X together a few years ago and they were not expensive - $60 each as I recall. The are NLA no longer available. Which sucks because I want a set for my 86.

I've ehard good things about the 20x10x9R radials used on the TRX450R. I might try a set of those.

BOB MARLIN
08-05-2014, 11:38 AM
The TPC gussets are a good value. You get a lot of gussets for the money. If they don't offer them anymore they would'nt be that hard to make yourself. If you are using an '85 frame I would definatly do the gussets. If it's an '86 you might get away without them.

tony8008
08-05-2014, 12:18 PM
Well TPC emailed back and said the kits are still available so i will be ordering one today. i guess i will keep shopping around for the wheels and tires..but since im deployed right now i have nothing but time to look for parts and spend money!

tony8008
08-05-2014, 10:28 PM
welp i just ordered a mess load of parts from rocky mountain atv ....safe to say im getting excited to get started on this project when i get back to the states!!

tony8008
08-07-2014, 08:10 PM
any thoughts on exhaust? i havent found to many options out there...

tony8008
08-08-2014, 09:08 PM
Parts are starting to roll in!! i cant get home fast enough!!




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350for350
08-09-2014, 08:52 PM
First, thank you for your service. I'd like to say that I served too, but the closest I got was being a civilian contractor in Iraq. Not the same, but kind of doing my part too. I can kind of understand some of your feelings and I do have a MUCH better appreciation for our military now. Second, your choice of trikes is a good one. Mine's stock except for a Uni filetr and a 400ex carb. You won't regret it. Since mine's stock I don't have a suggestion for an exhaust. You might try to pm Flyingw. He has built several trikes including some 350x's.

tony8008
08-09-2014, 09:36 PM
so the how much of an improvement is the 400ex carb? from what i have read its a bit of a tight fit. i may just have to bite the bullet on the exhaust and spend the money on a DG setup...

BOB MARLIN
08-10-2014, 08:08 AM
I've had 3 different aftermarket exhaust on my 350x's. The DG complete setup is a good deal for the money on ebay. They look the best, especially the chrome and it's only about $240 for the head pipe and the tail pipe new. The performance is good but they are EXTREEMLY LOUD and have no spark arrestor. The I have had 2 different super trapp set ups. They both have tailpipes that slip on to the stock head pipe, then the silencer slips onto the tail pipe. One has a larger silencer that slips onto a strait section of pipe. This one hits the rear break resi so you have to move the resi to the inside of the frame. The other one has a bit smaller silencer that slips onto a "coned" section of tail pipe that fits perfect with no modifications. The super trapps can be "tuned" by adding or removing disks to get what you want, and are a forestry approved spark arrestor.

I think if you took a poll on the subject, the super trapp would come out on top.

tony8008
08-11-2014, 08:09 PM
Some of my plastics came in today! im going with black...cant wait to start this build...198840198841198842198843

devilman
08-11-2014, 09:31 PM
Glad to see you getting parts for it. I would pick up a new rear caliper from hellbound racing on ebay. As far as exhaust, i didnt care for the krome dg i had. The end piece rusted very fast and the headpipe had a leak at the weld when recieved new. I wasnt the only one that had that problem. I sent it back and dg fixed it. I now i have the dg headpipe married with a supertrapp midpipe and muffler. No mods to fit. And it sounds much better.

tony8008
08-11-2014, 10:08 PM
well i will have to look into that! yea i been scouping up parts pretty fast!

smrover1
08-12-2014, 08:35 AM
http://atvondemand.com/news/?p=8053/ This link has been very helpfull if u havent already checked it out

BOB MARLIN
08-12-2014, 08:49 AM
Here's what it will look like in black


198850



198849

tony8008
08-12-2014, 08:24 PM
Dang! that is a slick lookin machine BOB MARLIN! i was thinking about a pearl white for the frame....thoughts??


Thanks for the link smrover1! im gonna check it out!!

BOB MARLIN
08-13-2014, 08:55 AM
If you are going with black fork boots like I did, order them from "Zone off road". They fit the X perfect and they are less that $4 each !.

tony8008
08-13-2014, 02:04 PM
man i already ordered some...oh well...

kazander
08-14-2014, 11:23 PM
ck out the black one I built. If it was a daily driver I would go with stock compression and a mild cam. This is a lot of time and work but is well worth it in what you get..

tony8008
08-16-2014, 09:59 PM
well i just ordered a black clarke tank and a dg exhuast..i figure i can keep the header and change out the slip on later if dont like it...ordered the back plastic the other day too...stacking up parts!!

tony8008
11-13-2014, 07:59 PM
Finally back from deployment and getting some work done on the bike before I head back to ill. Engine and swinger pulled and most of the paint is stripped now. More pics to follow. Now if I could get my gusset kit that I already paid for..204488204489

wonderboy
11-13-2014, 11:55 PM
Well TPC emailed back and said the kits are still available so i will be ordering one today. i guess i will keep shopping around for the wheels and tires..but since im deployed right now i have nothing but time to look for parts and spend money!

So, based on your last post, you still haven't received the gusset kit? It's been over 2 months... I was contemplating these guys too, but two months doesn't sound like a good turn around time to me.

tony8008
11-14-2014, 09:44 AM
Wonderboy I paid for them in the beginning of October, that when he told me they were ready to be shipped. The last corrospondence I have says he sent then and I should have received them by now. I'm not saying it's his fault maybe a shipping error. Anyhow that's my next step so I'm at a standstill204509

BOB MARLIN
11-14-2014, 10:03 AM
When you do get the gusset kit make sure that the gusset that goes one the right side , above the foot peg, has the clearance (hole or slot) for the brake line. Mine did not, and it sucks to find out after you just spent $200 on powder coat.

tony8008
11-16-2014, 12:21 PM
Gusset kit arrived, Bill at TPC made it right! Now if I could just get all this red paint off!!!

rdonald1979
11-16-2014, 12:25 PM
Have it blasted.

tony8008
11-19-2014, 01:21 PM
I mean, obviously i can do that. right now i am enjoying doing it all myself. Does it take longer? Yea, absolutely it does. It will be worth it when its done though.

tony8008
12-06-2014, 11:27 AM
205513 .....needless to say the frame had some issues that needed to be addressed.

tony8008
12-21-2014, 10:12 PM
gussets are on and the frame is powdered! just waiting on a few bearings and then i can start the assembly. 206480206481206482

BOB MARLIN
12-23-2014, 03:14 PM
Have you tried to put the rear brake master on yet ?.

tony8008
12-27-2014, 09:19 PM
206778206777206779206780

Some progress pics!

tony8008
01-27-2015, 12:54 AM
Ok so here are some update pics. Pretty much down to brakes and decals at this point!209044209045209046

onformula1
02-03-2015, 01:10 AM
Looking great! Thank You for the pics & your service.

Who did the seat cover?

MythicJoker
02-03-2015, 02:43 AM
Awesome bike, love the black and white offset. And that custom seat sick! Great work, I hope my 350 will look as good as yours in the near future.