Let the games begin! (1986 350X project)

[J!m]

Okay! So, after an 18-month or so search, I landed a big one. “King of the hill” ‘86 350X.

I was looking for either a 200 or 350, and it was looking like 200 based on current market prices but I came across this one and grabbed it.

Price was very fair for what it is, and a downright bargain with a second near complete engine included.

The engine on the frame (how do I determine if it’s the original one?) smokes well, which seller did say so no surprise there. Hence the spare motor.

It appears to have been restored recently. Fresh frame paint and shiny bolts here and there.

I will be asking many questions…

[J!m]

Problems with photo upload so I’m using imgbb










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[J!m]

I got a nice sprocket guard and some nice front brake hose guides. Looking at case sides now.

I was wondering about the rear wheels. I know the front is wrong and I intend to change that. But what do correct rear wheels look like?

[BOB MARLIN]

I got a nice sprocket guard and some nice front brake hose guides. Looking at case sides now.

I was wondering about the rear wheels. I know the front is wrong and I intend to change that. But what do correct rear wheels look like?

The original 86 wheels have kinda a slotted look and were nice and thick. I think they were the best looking wheels of all the trikes, and I believe they were only used on the 86 350x. Ive only seen one 350x in person that had all 3 matching.
The 86 also had a "helmet holder", again Ive only seen one and it was the same trike with the matching wheels.

[J!m]

I think the helmet holder is on top of the right fork, same as the 250R. Probably the same part number too, but I haven't crossed it yet.

And the front wheel for sure in 1986 only. It has a cast (maybe forged?) center separate from the rest of the wheel. It is very obvious even from a distance. You don't often see the rears really well (in pictures) to verify them, which is why I was asking. For all I know, these are right. They certainly have thick center flanges.

[Footy]

It would appear that you have a 1986 engine based on the clutch cable routing.
If the engine number starts with a (51) it would be 1986.
The front wheel looks like a 1985 and the rear look to be from a TRX or some other atv.
Yours looks to be in similar condition as the 86 that I have.

[Footy]

Here is the 1986 rear wheel.

[J!m]

The trike is a 3/86 build. I haven't checked the engine number but I think that is the original engine on it; I have another engine, unknown year, for parts.

How would I determine if an engine is original to a frame? Just serial number ranges?

[J!m]

Oh, it also has a roller bearing added in place of the plastic chain slider on the frame. Seems like a neat (although noisy I'm sure) option. I think it should be shimmed out further, or a flange bearing used, so the flange rides between the chain plates. The little plastic bit is hard to find useable and expensive for no other reason...

[J!m]

A technical question: It seems the engine bearings are not all available any longer. Is there a trusted aftermarket collection of bearings "approved" for use that performs as well or better than the originals?

Or do I have to slowly collect NOS Honda bearings as they become available? I mean, bearings are bearings and properly specified should work just fine. But maybe not?

I'm going to build one engine out of two, and I figure I won't be back inside in my lifetime so why not do all the bearings and seals while I'm in there?

And the clutch- although easier to deal with on the bike, what is the suggested cutch for a stock engine? I was thinking EBC brand for the clutch bit they seem to have several flavors and I'm not "hip" to what's what.

[dirtwheels]

Typically with Honda, the engine number and last digits of the VIN (serial number) are within 20 to 25 numbers. I think my 86 which I got off the original owner, the frame and engine are 12 numbers apart. When the bikes were being assembled, they had batches of engines being brought to the line and they would grab one and put it in a bike. So it would be unusual to have a wide gap in the serial number digits unless something happened to an engine that held it up from getting to the line. Yamaha, especially with the later 3 wheelers, would actually match the engine numbers to the serial digits on the frame VIN number, so the engines were designated for their matching frames.

For the cast center wheels, as Bob Marlin pointed out, they were only used on the 86 350x, but the marketing brochure images for the 1986 200X also shows those wheels, though they were not used in production. Some have said the wheels were used on Canadian 86 200x's, but it's difficult to confirm.

Best of luck with your 350X.

[J!m]

First bits are trickling in.

[J!m]

Received a REALLY nice rear skid plate today. So nice in fact, all I'm planning to do is clean it and install it! Typically, I'd glass bead blast it clean and repaint. But this one has shiny paint and shiny bare steel where it last whacked something, the bare steel has near zero rust! Amazing!

Along with that, I got a really sad headlight guard, that was painted twice, once white and again in black. Originally, it was blue! I've never seen a blue one, all I see are red and black. I'd like to go with that original blue if anyone has a color code/name or something I can use at the paint store. I'll probably do the brake master guard the same blue as well. It's a neat detail and I think it will set the look apart from the majority while preserving an OEM look.

But, as mentioned, that headlight guard is rough. It looks like the small cross bars broke off and were brazed back on. And it's not really straight in any direction either. If someone could take some pictures and measurements for me, I will endeavor to straighten the thing. and I can talk with my local fabricator- if there seems to be demand for accurate reproductions of this original, I can see what that'll cost. (I'll upload pictures of the headlight guard and skid plate shortly)

And a pair of rear wheels and a correct 1986 handlebar are both inbound. As I remove things from this trike, I will list up what I have in case someone needs something.

[J!m]

[J!m]

And here we are as of now.







I don't have oxy-acetylene handy to burn that braze off, so I used the tig torch to burn it off. Then I went back and filled in the holes (mostly) finally belt sanding and filing to near shape. I'll fill the problem areas with epoxy and sand it smooth, before priming.

Still hoping to get that blue paint code!