350X Restoration Help

[208013544]

Hey guys. I am the original owner of an 85 350X. Changed the oil religously, and replaced the plug a time or two, but never did anything else. The first of the year I turned her over pretty hard and broke the rear fender. Started looking for a fender and found this place. Since then I have replaced the fender, sanded the scratches out of the front one, got a new OEM grab bar, rebuilt the carb, replaced front and rear axle bearings and seals, and have a decent machine again. Now I want it to look like some of these "show bikes" I see in the pics.

I have stripped the trike down to the frame (hellofa time getting the pivot bolt for the swingarm out). Thought about paint, but after a little encouragement decided to go ahead with the powdercoating, but I need to find a powdercoater in Alabama.

How do you guys make these engines look like new? I am sure that you paint them, but what about prep? What can I put on the front brake line to make it look good? How about the stock exhaust? What do you do to prep it before high temp paint? Tips on polishing parts- forks, wheels, axle, etc?

Thanks for the help.

[AirManCam]

you can try some engine degreser ;)

[BLAZERONE22]

I used a 4 inch wire wheel on mine with degreaser.

[AirManCam]

whats a wire wheel?

[208013544]

Blazer, yours looks great. I need a little more detail. I don't think that a wire wheel is going to get down in the "nooks and crannies" of the engine. Maybe the degreaser cleans and the wire wheel just knocks off any loose crud or flaking... I don't know.

I do know that some of these trikes, including yours, look like they are brand new, or better. I am sure that many many hours of hard work and quite a few bucks went into those projects. You guys should be proud.

[AirManCam]

But still..... whats a wire wheel? :?:

[208013544]

Wire wheel is a "wire wheel". I think he is referring to a wire brush that you spin (usually with a drill motor). They can be mounted on a bench grinder, but I am guessing this one is like this:

[208013544]

Well, pic didn't post. But it is a circular wire brush with an arbor that you tighten the drill chuck on.

[AirManCam]

Oh thats what i was pretty sure he ment but thanks for clarifying it ;)

[BLAZERONE22]

thanks for answering that.

[AirManCam]

I might have to do that tommorrow after work cuz she needs an axle or i could just ride the banshee :twisted:

[208013544]

What about the factory rims? I have some that I took off after a couple of years. How is the best way to clean these up?

Thanks

[AirManCam]

Buy some new ones :twisted: The factory rims are for 22 tires. i wouldnt go that big on a 350x if i was you.

[208013544]

btt

[AirManCam]

btt huh?

[TimSr]

Buy some new ones :twisted: The factory rims are for 22 tires. i wouldnt go that big on a 350x if i was you.

Rims only limit the inner diameter, (8" or 9" whatever is on the 350x). You can oput 18", 20", 22" or whatever you want that they make tires for on the factory rims.

[208013544]

Thanks, but what I really want to know is how best to polish them up.

[Tecate performance]

aren't the stock rims clearcoated? so polishing them with something like mothers polish might not work to well.

[BLAZERONE22]

To polish them, sandblast them and start from there.

[AirManCam]

Oh I never knew that blazer. Thanks for letting me know.

[Meat-BoX]

First get some cash up then go to www.sumax.com and talk to them. They polish,chrome, and powdercoat. My engine looked like crap allso, along with the rest of my 84 Tecate. So I did the whole ride for under $600.00
Here's a pic of my clutch cover.

[AirManCam]

Looks sweet! Can you get some pics of the whole trike?

[NSTATUIONALIZED]

141278Check out this pic.LOOK in front of sx front tire in back behind white box.You will see my 350x engine cleaned up and ready to paint.Wire wheel and scuffpads on drill worked great and easy.Also little wire brushes.

[Big Mike]

Way to drag up an ancient thread. 9 years ago was the last response.

[Jason125m]

Its also one of the most pointless threads i've ever seen.