Trying to save a 350X

[lisnup65]

Heres the deal;
I took the top end of my 350X motor apart to freshen it up. Well it basically needs everything. Cam, valves, rockers, cam chain, cam chain tensioner, bore, piston, rings, etc!

Well I have been searching for parts at a reasonable price, but its pretty hard. Noone has a good top end for sale as this seems to be a common problem on a 15+ year old machine. The head is fine so at least 1 good thing is left to start with.

Well I can get a new machine that is OK shape for $900.00, but it smokes the same as what I had.

To redo the top end I have around $900.00 in parts.

I can get a new motor that is a "Tech school" motor that has never been ran for $1500.00. Its expensive, but I think $900.00 to redo just the top end is expensive.

I just dont want another good machine to be put to rest because of extreme gouging of parts.

What would fellow enthusiasts recommend?

I bought the machine for $900.00 2.5 years aga and it has been good to me, so any input is appreciated!

[lisnup65]

Heres the deal;
I took the top end of my 350X motor apart to freshen it up. Well it basically needs everything. Cam, valves, rockers, cam chain, cam chain tensioner, bore, piston, rings, etc!

Well I have been searching for parts at a reasonable price, but its pretty hard. Noone has a good top end for sale as this seems to be a common problem on a 15+ year old machine. The head is fine so at least 1 good thing is left to start with.

Well I can get a new machine that is OK shape for $900.00, but it smokes the same as what I had.

To redo the top end I have around $900.00 in parts.

I can get a new motor that is a "Tech school" motor that has never been ran for $1500.00. Its expensive, but I think $900.00 to redo just the top end is expensive.

I just dont want another good machine to be put to rest because of extreme gouging of parts.

What would fellow enthusiasts recommend?

I bought the machine for $900.00 2.5 years aga and it has been good to me, so any input is appreciated!

No input from anyone? :?:

[Howdy]

You can find "School Motors" every now and then on Ebay for $500 to $1200 .
I would probably go that route to save money. Buying the other 350x is a gamble. It could have the same problems.
Howdy

[lisnup65]

You can find "School Motors" every now and then on Ebay for $500 to $1200 .
I would probably go that route to save money. Buying the other 350x is a gamble. It could have the same problems.
Howdy

Thanks for the input. The other X was not worth the monies the guy was asking. It had a damaged case by the chain that was JB welded and he hid it with grease and oil. The oil line fittings leaked, the motor sounded fine, but the valves rattled like I have never heard. I know Honda valves do get noisy, but these could be heard over the loud after market exhaust. The machine is woth while for about 1/2 of what he is asking.

[hrc200x]

Have you tried making an offer on the school motor? I still think one of them would be the coolest to own, I'd have a hard time throwing it in a machine and actually running it. I think you could fix yours for less than $900 if you do it your self. Are you postive your cam, valves and rockers are bad?

[olive123]

i just had a similar situation where my topend was bad and I had a chance to get another trike. I opted to put the 500 that i was getting the other trike into parts.
cyl, piston, head, cam, cam chain, tensioner, etc.
got it running yesterday and am so glad that i went this route. All that money would have been wasted on another 22 year old machine. I have new parts and i should be good for another 20. I will email you a page of the guy I got my stuff from. It was in perfect shape. the cyl to the head w/ cam was 100.
looked brand new

[lisnup65]

Have you tried making an offer on the school motor? I still think one of them would be the coolest to own, I'd have a hard time throwing it in a machine and actually running it. I think you could fix yours for less than $900 if you do it your self. Are you postive your cam, valves and rockers are bad?

Its a business that has the motors and they said they are not flexable at ALL. They have 2 left out of 12. They only gurantee that it was put together right and they claim they will start it and run it for a few minutes before shipping. They will not start the motor until it is paid for.

The $900.00 is doing the machine myself!!!! The cam is almost completely rounded on the exhaust side, the exhaust valves are pitted on the seat and Honda Valves cannot be cut down. The rockers have serious uneven wear and should be replaced. It actually amazes me that the motor ran like it did. I could feel it losing power though in the last 6 months. The cam would explain that.

Wiseco Piston kit $85.00 at denniskirk
Valves Intake *2 $39.60
Valves Exhaust *2 $77.74
Rocker intake $59.65
Rocker Exhaust $40.65
Cam $172.36
Valve seat *4 $11.36
Valve springs *4 $33.72
Valve Guides *4 $44.36
Retainers *4 $26.04
Cam Tensioner $45.42
Cam Guide $26.98
Cam Chain $101.31
Upper cam gear $29.18
Valve seal *4 $25.40
Cap for head $6.51
Bore at local shop $55.00
Gaskets & O rings $35.00

Total $915.28


All prices are taken from Bike Bandit. Parts fish will save me around $56.00 for a total of $859.28, but once I add shipping back in the price is right back to over $900.00. Again this is doing this myself!

[lisnup65]

i just had a similar situation where my topend was bad and I had a chance to get another trike. I opted to put the 500 that i was getting the other trike into parts.
cyl, piston, head, cam, cam chain, tensioner, etc.
got it running yesterday and am so glad that i went this route. All that money would have been wasted on another 22 year old machine. I have new parts and i should be good for another 20. I will email you a page of the guy I got my stuff from. It was in perfect shape. the cyl to the head w/ cam was 100.
looked brand newThank you. I sent an email!

[hrc200x]

THat adds up quick. You might consider www.megacyclecams.com I belive these are the people that can make a 350x cam with bearings, it requires new cam, enlarging the journals in the head and head cap, and possibly rockers. Their web site has said what it says for at least a year so I don't think anything is happening with it soon, might be best to call them.

Also, tell that place with the motors that they must have been purchased illeagly out of a contract. I've emailed a few colleges that have atc 250r motors among other things and the deal was that the schools were never to sell them or give them away, they must be donated to another school or destroyed. be interesting to see what the guy says about that.

[Dirtcrasher]

It sucks, you pay 1000$ - 1800$ for what seems to be a nice 350X and then you decide to do the motor. Which I've heard numerous times that any way you slice it is 1000$. So you cruise it awhile and the carrier lets go, oops the axle journal is sho too anothe 300 - 400$. Then ya get some tires another 300$. So for 4000$ you've got a nice dependable X until the next component dies. Not all of them but many.
In the end you bought a new 400Z over the 4 yrs. you own it???