Lets talk CRATE MOTORS!! Actual experiences need reply.....

[Dirtcrasher]

I know Goat has his thoughts, and he deals with Jason (whom I respect very much) so I'm interested in whats been told as far as "bolt in and run" them goes. I respect you too Goatation!!

I have time, too much time and crate motors to mess with. I would LIKE to build another 350X with one of my crate motors and other mods we can all say YEAH!! about later on down the road.........

If I had a 250R crate motor, I would change crank seals as a lean condition can create havoc but other than that, I'd RUN IT!

So, who has one? who ran one? what were your experiences?

Mine are all dry and have been stored dry for 24 years now.

Guys say the clutches are shot and that valve springs MUST be replaced. Were any of these measured before junking them? Do the fiber plates appear or fall apart? O4r do they show an impression on there adjacent steel plate?

I'm tempted to toss it in and run it and see what happens.....

We find trikes that sit for nearly the same time without issues so I wonder what the deal is and I don't want "I think", I want "definitely!" answers here.

Whats the deal, do some of you guys tear them all down, replace all the oil seals and gaskets? I can see where a valve seal may dry out, but again, many of us are running old valve seals.

And the clutch? has anyone seen a fiber plate fall apart? or an oil level inside that shows how it has sat for years?

Thoughts are WELCOME, but I'm also interested in the guys that "I put it in and ran it" and the effects thereafter.

Plenty of you guys have some by now and don't just polish them for the "someday" trike

So............Share your crate motor stories and experiences please guys

I'm waiting to hear, it leaked oil, the valves were noisey because the springs had lost there sprungienest (my word ) and your clutch fell apart. If so, I wanna hear it!

[200xman]

You wanted it so here it is Steve. I put a crate motor in my 350X in 2004 and have beat it like I stole it since. The motor was complete with carb, oil cooler, kicker, shifter, sprocket and sprocket cover. The only thing I did was replace the clutches before I ran it because I heard they go bad from sitting. The motor still runs quiet and tight and never takes more than 3 kicks to start even if it has been sitting for a year. I helped Mike put a crate motor in his 350X and he didn't even do the clutches. I think they are now just starting to slip. Do yourself a favor and run one of those motors. You won't believe the difference from the old one. The biggest thing I noticed right away is how crisp the shifting is, you barely have to move your foot.

[jensenracing77]

here is my story. i got a crate motor for a friend. i installed it on his bike around 2002. i put it on and he had one summer on it. (maybe 40 hours tops) i never done anything to it other than adjust the compression release. he decided to up the compression on the engine and had me do it. i told him i would put new valve seals in it for him while it was apart because it sat so long. when i got it apart the valve seals were as soft as new so i never changed them. is is all stock other than the 1.5:1 piston. he put several hundred hours on it till around 2007. it has has not ben rode after that. he don't ride any more. i have never had the clutch cover off this engine and i do all his work. the clutch feels like new the last time i rode it. every time i changed the oil it never had any sign of clutch material in it.

i had two of these engines myself but was in the late 90s. i also never changed anything in them and never had a problem. one of those engines had the cam on the overlap side for all those years so the springs were compressed a little. if i had one now i would just run it. the only thing i would do is keep a close eye on the oil for a little while to see if any clutch material in it. i seriously doubt that you will have any trouble with it coming apart.

[jensenracing77]

the engine i am talking about is a 350X

[NESC104]

oops, I had everything changed in my 350X crate motor. How many new motors do you have?

[bigred1]

sorry guys what do you mean by crate engine ? does someone offer them some where? or is this an engine from the 80's but never been in an atc? thanks.

[mike from long island]

After I rode 200xman's 350x with the new motor.I was on a mission to get a take out motor.I got one for about $875 or so.I was just going to keep it until the orginal motor started to get tired.But a member needed a motor.So I offered mine up and we made the deal.I installed my take out motor,And after a little carb work.I have been more then happy.Just need to fix,( I hope) exhaust leak,and put the new clutches I bought 3 years ago!!! LOL And the bike is fine... Best investment on my 3 wheeler,other then buying a 350x!!!

[3Razors]

I'd "just run it", bolt it in, set everything up to stock specs and go. I've had dozens of both 250R's and 350X's that the owners lost interest in and had been parked since the late 80's. With just a quick change of lubes/filters and freshing up they run just as good as day 1 and keep running and running.

[fabiodriven]

I can understand wanting to replace the clutch but as far as the valve springs go I think it would be silly to change them. There are plenty of 350X's out there with their original valve springs that have been running for the last 24 years. What could possibly go wrong with one that has never even run?

(BTW Steve, I've got something for you at my house)

[Dirtcrasher]

Thanks for the confirmation guys, I'll just toss it in

"Crate Motor" - NOS motor that was removed from 85 and 86 model ATC's in the 80's when the CPSC said a whole trike could no longer be sold.

[SWIGIN]

I can understand wanting to replace the clutch but as far as the valve springs go I think it would be silly to change them. There are plenty of 350X's out there with their original valve springs that have been running for the last 24 years. What could possibly go wrong with one that has never even run?

(BTW Steve, I've got something for you at my house)

The difference is a running motor hasn't sat 24 years with the valves held open.

[devilman]

pick mine up yesterday!!! i guess i will spill the beans because someone will ask, $525.00 i tried for 400-450 but the guy wouldn't take it. came with carb, cooler w/lines, sprocket and cover, no cut wires, shifter, kicker, cables i think that is it, besides the cut head pipe. does have a couple scratches from being moved around, but is very nice. appears to be a no hour engine, but really can't say if it was started before tear down.

one question though, it didn't have anything in the spark plug hole. would it be safe to attach a clean rubber hose to a shop vac to get anything that may have gotten in there on top of the piston? with the way roaches and water bugs are around NC, i would doubt a couple be in there.

[inv3ctiv3]

Damn where do you guys find these? I'd buy one and put it in a glass case in my room till I need it haha!

[plastikosmd]

ya know, i was just tossin an idea around this weekend. I have 3 liquid R motors and dont really feel like tuning them and swapping them out into my perfectly good running R. I was considering getting a kart frame, maybe one of those little racing ones and adapting it for an R motor. That would allow me to 'play' swapping parts etc with ease and not take my R out of service (I do tend to get distracted and takes me some time to get back to projects.) I also dont really need another trike as a 'beater' for testing (bit short on space..and am happy with the 3 i got.

[thefox]

Damn where do you guys find these? I'd buy one and put it in a glass case in my room till I need it haha!

LOL, I just need the glass case! I have my crate motor on a table in my bed room. I don't ahve any plans for it but I just couldn't pass up the chance to get it.

I have heard clutches and stators go but I haven't opened mine up. I plan on getting a set of clutch disks though, with used motors they always seem to stick when they sit for years in one spot. Besides, if the motor is now, I might as well be confident the clutch will preform like new.