Starting my first resto!

[Blown 331]

I'm starting on my first restore, it a 1984 200X that we got with the 22 3-wheeler deal. So far I have it stripped to the frame with the exception of the swing arm, I'll have to cut the bolt. I've got the forks and triple tree pretty much ready to go. I'm working on getting the rear spring of the shock so I can paint it.
I have a couple questions. Are the lower fork tubes and axle supposed to be painted black? I platic bead blasted the paint off the forks and I'm gonna keep it aluminum, do I need to clear coat them? If so what should I use? Also the steering stem bearings were gone. The top looks just like loose ball bearings, anyone know what size? What is the lower bearing? Is it a tapered roller bearing? And my plan on the frame is to glass bead it then prime then paint, I guess that sounds good? And what do you guys normally do with the axle and misc bolts? Paint them? The engine was out of this thing when I got it and other things were taken off so I need some extra bolts, I'm hoping to come across a 200X bolt auction on ebay from someone who parted one out. I don't think I have a rear brake pedal or mastercylinder either. My buddy has a really nice 200X headlight seat and fenders from an 83, kinda sucks the seat is black.
The engine has a bad crank but it did come with another crank so I'll have to split the lower end. Is there anything I need to do in relation to the kick starter gears while I'm in there?
Any other suggestions, opinions or tips?

[el Pollo]

Being that I am relatively new to the trike scene, and am starting my own resto, I'll offer an opinion on the aluminum part for the forks.

If you want to keep the aluminum natural looking, then clear coat them so they won't oxidize. Or you can make it somewhat unique and polish them. That's the route that I am taking with my 225DX. It's black, so the polish would look nice.

[hondatrikesrule22]

Sweet! Keep us updated.

I have a question for you though. When you say cut the swingarm bolt, how would you cut it out. I have a RM 125 with a stuck swinger bolt, and I am not sure how to get it out.

[nouseforaname90]

If I were you, I would polish the forks. I did it on my SX and you can see how to do it if you click the "SX Project" link in my sig. Its not very hard to do, and they do not discolor or anything from riding. They are still as shiney as the day I polished them (with the exception of a few dirt spots ).

[edog]

Sand blast the fork tubes with Crushed Coal then paint them with a alluminum spray paint.Clear coat if you like.Just make shure you last coat of paint is dry.

Go to www.denniskirk.com and look for the Moose racing needle bearing setup.You will not be dissapointed with them.

Blast the frame with crushed coal,prime,paint,clearcoat.

Ow ya, about the rear shock spring,make shure you use a paint that is flexable.

The fork tubes are supposed to be black on the 84 200X.

[Blown 331]

Thanks guys. I would like to have polished fork tubes but I don't really want to spend that much to to accomplish that. One reason is I'm going to have a suspended 200s project shortly so I'm gonna be working on 2 bikes at one time. I know they do look good, they are polished on my 350X along with a lot of other things. I was thinking the forks were painted black from the factory just by looking at the paint but I had never seen that before, my buddy has an 85. I've never heard of blasting with crushed coal. We have sand, glass, plastic or walnut shells. I use plastic on aluminum parts and glass on steel parts. I'll check that needle bearing out, sounds like it's what I need. And with the swing arm nut removed there is a little room between the frame and swing arm, enough to get a sawzall blade in there.

edog, I just looked up that bearing kit, that looks awesome, I will be ordering that for sure!

[thedeatons]

I wouldn't bother clear coating, it always ends up turning a yellowy-biege color... Blast them, then sand them in the same direction (up and down the tube)... just go up to about 600 grit, then throw a light coat of Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish on them for a protective coating. Regarding your bolts, the best thing to do would be to get every bolt you need together, run a metric die down each one to clean it and chase the threads so they will thread back in correctly and then take the bag of bolts to your local plater and have them zinc plate them. My local plater said $50 was the plating rate, and that whatever I brought in they would plate for $50, this included my rear axle, brake actuating arms, and a bunch of hardware, basically whatever will fit in their basket. After they zinc it the bolts will be gray but ask them to plate them in yellow chromate for a nice finish to them, it should not cost you anymore. You will be surprised how new everything will look after you have it plated, and zinc is the best protectant for steel. Check my resto pictures in the thread in trikesylvania to get an idea of what it will look like.... Good luck, James

[edog]

My bad the 84 shocks are painted black.I new this ,the 85 are alluminum with a clearcoat of somekind.

[Blown 331]

OK, my swing arm bearings are wasted. On my 250R I used one peice urethane bushings from www.richardsbushings.com but apparently they are gone because I can't find them anywhere. I don't want to use bearings cause personally I think they suck for a swing arm pivot. Anyone know where I can find a swing arm bushing for a 200X?

[edog]

Dad's has them.I paid $40 for the whole kit.I won them off of ebay.He is a member here.

[short4stuff]

Dad's has them.I paid $40 for the whole kit.I won them off of ebay.He is a member here.

He has bushings? I don't think so, I think he just has the bearings. Right?

[Blown 331]

Well I found the swing arm bearings on ebay for like $24, if I can't find any bushings I guess I'll buy them and do like Timsr suggested and make them greasable. Someone please let me know where to get bushings!!!
Today I sand blasted the frame, swing arm, hubs, foot pegs and a few other things. Gonna prime tomorrow and hopefully paint on Thursday, should be a roller in no time. The triples and forks are ready to go with new blue fork boots. Need to order the swing arm bearings, axle bearings, and steering stem bearings soon.

[edog]

Are you looking for the bushing that goes in between the swingarm and frame?Dads sells all the parts to attatch a 200X swingarm to a frame,The only thing he does not provide is the swingarm bolt.

[short4stuff]

Are you looking for the bushing that goes in between the swingarm and frame?Dads sells all the parts to attatch a 200X swingarm to a frame,The only thing he does not provide is the swingarm bolt.

He wants bushing instead of the bearings. The bushings go in place of the swingarm bearings and eliminate them altogether ... that's what you want, Right?

[Blown 331]

He wants bushing instead of the bearings. The bushings go in place of the swingarm bearings and eliminate them altogether ... that's what you want, Right?

That is exaclty correct. And if I have to use bearings I just realized I won't be able to make them greasable because the bolt isn't hollow. I need the bolt, nut, chain tigheners and the bearings/ bushings. Plus I had to cut my bolt (previous owner mushroomed it and it wouldn't move with an air ) so the pipe spacer that goes between the bearings has a cut off bolt in it! With the bushings you don't need that spacer. There has to be bushings somewhere, Richard where are you?!