Can someone list the differences between the 85 and 86 350X's, please?

[Hoosier_Daddy]

When i put up the pics of my 350X everybody pointed out the parts look like 85. I did a vin check on it and the vin says it's an 86. Maybe it is an 86 frame with 85 parts all transferred over? I don't know. But I was wondering if someone could explain (at least some detail please) some of the main differences between the two years so I can pinpoint what exactly I have?

[tanks350x]

Here's one difference I know of for sure,, The bearing carrier is alot different, the 85 carrier is narrower on the chain adjuster side.. If you look at the rear sprocket bolts, if there are nuts on the side of the carrier, it's an 85, If there are coned-tappered allan head bolts, that fit flush with the sprocket,it's an 86

[seadoo650]

Other than the colors. The 85 clutch cable runs down the kicker side and the 86 runs down the shifter side then behind the motor to the clutch arm. I know the 86 has a larger diameter bearing carrier and a little different brake set up. True 85 shrouds are a bit larger than 86. That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Here's one difference I know of for sure,, The bearing carrier is alot different, the 85 carrier is narrower on the chain adjuster side.. If you look at the rear sprocket bolts, if there are nuts on the side of the carrier, it's an 85, If there are coned-tappered allan head bolts, that fit flush with the sprocket,it's an 86
Mine has allen head bolts that fit flush on the carrier side(inside) of the sprocket and there are nuts on the tire side(outside) of the sprocket.

[tanks350x]

Ta Da!!! you must have an 86,,, or some sort of mutt 350X

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Ta Da!!! you must have an 86,,, or some sort of mutt 350XIt's most likely a mutt. I'll assume the engine is an 85 because i think the clutch cable runs down the kicker side. Here is a link to the pics I posted of it........

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=94267

[beets442]

Carrier and tank shrouds look like 86'

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Carrier and tank shrouds look like 86'
So, I think I have an 86 with an 85 engine, then.


I just checked the engine and the clutch cable is on the kicker side.

While I was looking I "re"noticed that there is some oil on the head on the right side. That's the only place, just the right top of the head. I noticed this before but I don't remember asking, what would cause that and what do I need to replace to fix it?

[The Goat]

I bumped a thing up to the top a few days ago...listed like 70 differences between 85/86.

check my recent posts in trikesylvania to see it. I'd do it for you, but I'm on myh phone.

[Dirtcrasher]

There are over 50 differences...

Honda, always striving for perfection!!

If you do a search it would be much easier than listing them again.....

The frame change, oil pickup location and clutch cable routing were the most valuable of all the upgrades.

But right down to a gold shock knob and a plastic cover on the lower tripple trees, there are allot of small changes....

[i58829]

Yeah what everyone else said, and if you look on the main page and the spec sheets the 85 motors have 50 after the - on the number tag, and the 86's have a 51. So although it wont tell you for sure on a 20+ year old machine you will at least know what the case is from...

[hrc200x]

This should be the message The Goat bumped up. Seems strange that Honda would change the color of a knob (on the rezzie) and color of the tripple clamp just because. Maybe the different clamp color was to hint at a steering bearing upgrade? Gold knob...maybe there is somthing different in the shock, I'm not sure, never had one apart. But why change somthing so simple, I wouldn't really call annodizing the knob a upgrade or improvement.

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=77087&page=2&highlight=gold


This might help someone in the future also if you get a vesrah gasket kit and wonder which o-rings go where. The following is a list of where they go, you'll need a caliper to measure them. the first number in the size column is the inner diameter size, second number is the thickness of the ring.

Description quantity size

rock arm pins x2 7.7X2.5
bottom of sleeve x1 85.3X2
valve cover x2
bottom of valve guide x4 10x1.6
intake x1 35.4x2.9
timing cap small x1 13.8x2.5
timing cap large x1 27x2.0
oil pump pickup (goes in case behind the pump) x1 17x2.5
oil pump tube (1 on eachside of dowel) x2 10x2
oil cooler tube (engine side) x2 11.8x2.4
oil cooler tube (cooler side) x2 9.6x2.4
dip stick x1 18x3
oil filter cover (goes in groove in right case) x1 11x1.9
oil filter cover x1 54x2.4

[Hoosier_Daddy]

This should be the message The Goat bumped up. Seems strange that Honda would change the color of a knob (on the rezzie) and color of the tripple clamp just because. Maybe the different clamp color was to hint at a steering bearing upgrade? Gold knob...maybe there is somthing different in the shock, I'm not sure, never had one apart. But why change somthing so simple, I wouldn't really call annodizing the knob a upgrade or improvement.

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=77087&page=2&highlight=gold


This might help someone in the future also if you get a vesrah gasket kit and wonder which o-rings go where. The following is a list of where they go, you'll need a caliper to measure them. the first number in the size column is the inner diameter size, second number is the thickness of the ring.

Description quantity size

rock arm pins x2 7.7X2.5
bottom of sleeve x1 85.3X2
valve cover x2
bottom of valve guide x4 10x1.6
intake x1 35.4x2.9
timing cap small x1 13.8x2.5
timing cap large x1 27x2.0
oil pump pickup (goes in case behind the pump) x1 17x2.5
oil pump tube (1 on eachside of dowel) x2 10x2
oil cooler tube (engine side) x2 11.8x2.4
oil cooler tube (cooler side) x2 9.6x2.4
dip stick x1 18x3
oil filter cover (goes in groove in right case) x1 11x1.9
oil filter cover x1 54x2.4

Thanks for the heads up on that info and the thread. I kept searching for the threads but I could only find 350X "difference" threads that when they were posted, the other boardies were telling that poster to "do a search" lol. I did a search and I could only find other threads that said "do a search". You guys have to admit, it's kinda funny although a little frustrating. Try it once. Do a search for "85 86 350X differences" and you'll see what I mean. haha:lol:

Anyway, thanks for helping me find some answers on this guys. i appreciate it. Here is what was in that other thread and it would go pretty good with the info above.


Well I did a search and found a couple of other different things to the 85 and 86

1.) White plastics
2.) 86 "shorter" tank fins
3.) different front hub (black and notches for rim)
4.) different front and rear rims
5.) more ribs on the front fork boots (~30ish on 86, ~15 on 85)
6.) different cosmetics on kill/HL switch
7.) front steering stem bearings different
8.) clutch cable routing (86 3 brackets on left side of motor, 85 clip on frame and one backet on right side)
9.) helmet holder and decal on 86 right fork
10.) black top triple on 86
11.) header pipe on 86 has a extra mount for the heat guard
12.) heat guard on 86 has 4 slots while a 85 has 3
13.) the metal part on the shield has extra tab on 86 to go on the header more secure.
14.) clutch cover plate arm pulls F B on 85, L-R on 86
15.) updated oil pump pickup on the 86... suppose to have a better pick up
16.) 86 head has better oil flow for the cam
17.) decals different (on rear mud flap, no "side" decals on 86
18.) 350X on 85 seat, ATC on 86 seat.
19.) front sprocket cover has longer slots on 86 than the 85
20.) carbs have some different stock jets, definitely the pilot jet.
21.) kick starter shaft gear ratio changed between 85 and 86
22.) cam chain adjusters different (86 is smaller, not sure if redesigned to assist with the clutch cable routing)
23.) clutch cables themselves different. rubber notch on 86 to go in bracket, metal spring shielding on a 85
24.) bottom triple tree on a 86 has a grey plastic "pinch pont" guard over the steering stops.
25.) 85 rear shock has a black adjuster knob on the resevoir... the 86 knob is gold.
26.) 3 or 4 generations of frames. The later 86 frames are the best. They have increased gusseting to help keep the frames snaping on the left side above the motor mount.
27.) muffler mounting by grab bar... one bolts direct on, other has a "post" it slides over. Forget which year is which... forgive me?
28.) rear axle bearing carrier is different. 85 has the spanner wrench on, 86 has a place to adjust by plugging wrench in and pulling back with the wrench.
29.) rear sprocket --- cause of the different carrier being wider on the 86, the 86 rear sprocket is bevelled to make the bolt flush with the sprocket
30.) obviously, the sprocket mounting bolts are different too.
31.) rear brake calipar mounting brackets are different. '85 has a multi link system that mounts halfway up the swinger. 86 has like a cam thing that's sandwiches in there.
32.) swinger's are different due to the brake brack there forementioned.
33.) rear hubs are a little different too... mainly color. Black 86, Grey 85.
34.) lug nuts are beveled on 86 for the center cast rims, regular on 85.
35.) 85 tank fins have an extra bracket behind the fins that hold them "out" (86 solved the fin hitting the front forks via #2 change above)
36.) tools... 85 has the spanner wrench for #28
37.) tool boxes are different. 86 is larger and has a flat end. It has a compartment for the owner's manual.
38.) tool box mounting brackets are different too.
39.) 86 rear plastic has "No Passengers" and "warnings info" molded into the plastic. Not sure if this was on the original shipments of the 86 models, or on later moldings of replacement OEM fenders.
40.) tank warning decals different
41.) red HONDA on 85 tank decals, white HONDA on 86. Seems like the feathers in the wings are different orientation too.

Mine must be a mutt. It seems to have a little of both on it. Seems like it must be an 85 engine? Maybe? 85 shock because the adjuster on the reservoir is black not gold. Everything else seems to be 86 but I'm sure I'll find more 85 stuff on there. Someone must have had a couple crashed trikes and put two together to make one good one. Doesn't really matter to me. I just want to make sure i buy parts that will fit when the time comes.

[hrc200x]

Other than looking up number on the engine a couple ways to check are the timing chain tensioner ('85 shorter and fat, '86 longer but thinner), Crank case breather tube (strait up is '86, 45 degree bend is '85 this changed because of the tensioner), clutch cable routing ( '86's will have tapped holes in one of the center cases behind the cylinder for a cable holder, '85's have two hex indents in the same spot, and oil drain bolt might be different, ('85's had a allen bolt, '86's were hex head I believe.)

[max]

Hey, I have had two 86 350x's now just like yours. On mine everything appears to be 86 except for motor and clutch routing. I was thinking mutt myself. But with your bike that makes 3 and im wondering if they just made some of these like this. Mabey a early 86 edition or late 85. I wonder??????????

[Dirtcrasher]

The only difference I've seen from early to late 85 350X is the frame gusset changing at the lower left motor mount - I haven't seen any other differences.

I've never seen an 85 with the 86 clutch routing, tripple tree cover, simpler brake setup etc etc etc. If you guys are seeing small differences, I can only imagine that the parts got swapped around.

Max, I'm confused, are you saying it appears your 86 has an 85 motor or your 85 is just like an 86 aside from the motor difference??

[max]

My old 86 and the one I just aquired had 85 engine and clutch cable routing. MOST everything else appeared to be 86. Black upper tripple, rear swinger/carrier/brake set up etc.