Honda 350X ATC Cam Chain & General Engine Question's

[arlaunch]

Howdy folks,

I am in the process of a full 1986 350X engine rebuild.

I looked in the shop manual and could not find anything regarding cam chain inspection or specs. My guess is cam chains are fine until they can't be adjusted tight any longer?

Honda still sells these chains. Should i get one? Or save the $96.00????

I want this engine to be really, really nice. On the other hand i don't want to buy a bunch of high dollar parts that i don't need. This is not a high time motor i am rebuilding. Doing this because it made metal. I have the cylinder off now. Cases will be split soon to find out what happened.


Maybe some folks could help me weight the advantages and disadvantages.

I like math. I wish there were some good solid specs to maintain.

[Flyingw]

Don't waste your money with a OEM chain. Honda bought the chains from a manufacture and put them in Honda packages. Get a DiD or a moose chain. Absolutely nothing wrong with them.

[arlaunch]

Thanks FW.

I have been digging up posts for the last hour or so and see that used to be the popular thing to do.

I have a post started from when i found metal in the oil filter with pics and all.

I will incorporate this whole engine build in either this thread or that old one.

Thank you for saving me a bunch of money.

Very glad to see you are still on here.

[Flyingw]

There is no inspection criteria in the book. When the tensioner is fully extended, the chain is done. Just remember, piston all the way up, CAM lobes down, timing mark in the hole on the stator cover, and align the tick marks on the back of the CAM sprocket parallel with the head.

[arlaunch]

Has anybody seen the O'ring that goes with the base gasket.

This whole motor was powder-coated. I mean..... The guy put the whole engine in the oven.

I noticed there is an O'ring at the base of the cylinder. Kind of melted and deformed up in the crevice between the sleeve and the cylinder body.

[Qdude79]

There is no inspection criteria in the book. When the tensioner is fully extended, the chain is done. Just remember, piston all the way up, CAM lobes down, timing mark in the hole on the stator cover, and align the tick marks on the back of the CAM sprocket parallel with the head.

Which direction is "fully extended?" What does it look like?

[barnett468]

.
post photos of the chain guides

use a magnet to determine if the metal is aluminum or steel this will help you narrow down where to look for the damage

this is as cheap as a did chain gets . 65.00 no tax free shipping

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-ATC-350X-85-86-TRX-350-86-89-DID-Motor-ENGINE-CAM-CHAIN-SCA04-/142169681886?hash=item2119f92fde:g:qIYAAOSwMVdYG5r 9&vxp=mtr

http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/qIYAAOSwMVdYG5r9/s-l225.jpg



PREVIOUS KAWASAKI INTERNATIONAL R & D PROJECT ENGINEER AND ATV DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR

[atcmatt]

If your that far into the motor you may aswell replace the chain. When I did my 250es rebuild I replaced the chain with a DID one and 6 years on it is still perfect. I also replaced the guides with OEM ones and it is such a quiet motor now.


Matt

[HairyJR]

I noticed there is an O'ring at the base of the cylinder. Kind of melted and deformed up in the crevice between the sleeve and the cylinder body.

The O'ring is not needed, not many manufactures used them when installing pressed in sleeves. When building big bore motors with oversized sleeves O'rings are not used. Be sure to remove all melted material as it may have contributed to your failure.

"HJ" 237560 :beer