Going to look @ a 350x TOMORROW, need insight as to trouble areas to look for

[Big Mike]

I am going to go check this out tomorrow:

85 350x runs , havent been used in over a year needs tune up , only thing missing is front brake

http://images.craigslist.org/3n63p63l75V05Z25P4aat9935216fe6e617ab.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/3n53k63mc5V35Y45Z0aat18ea5f4e9cfa1544.jpg


AND.. . . . I want the insight of y'all as to what I should look for on this trike, and what kind of value it has.

I am new to 3 wheelers having bought my 250sx this past summer.

Let me know your thoughts as soon as possible. Thanks guys

[fabiodriven]

I don't have any 350X's, but I told Mike about the obvious trouble areas in the frame. If I'm not mistaken it's usually where the rear part of the frame meets the main portion of the frame, kind of near the countershaft? Basically the lower rear frame supports I guess you might call them. Anything else? Mike obviously knows about bearings and stuff like that. I think he's looking for things that the big X may be known for.

[Rawlins350x]

Check the frame over really good for cracks/welds(esp the left side behind the motor, and even under the seat where the seat latch is located). Check the left side case where the sprocket is and see if it was ever cracked. check rear bearings, front bearings, steering stem bearings. obviously, look for smoke out the exhaust and header pipe, and the suspension for rebound. Nit-pick the little things such as: does it have tool box? compression release cable, parking break work? lights, cutoff switch, plastics cracked? (which I can tell the rears are already). check to make sure the hubs aren't welded to the axle. look at the tank and motor for gas/oil leaks. make sure all the gears work smoothly, that the kicker and shifter aren't welded onto the splines. Check compression.

Thats everything I could think of to tell you off hand. if something don't seem right point it out!

Hope that helps,

Lew

[Big Mike]

Thats exactly it brother. Like you said I know the mechanical aspects to look at pretty much, it is more the structural and the other common ailments of this machines. I think a 350x is going to be better suited for me since, fabio says (and I quote), "you look like a circus bear on that 250sx!"

[Big Mike]

Lew that helps a ton, thanks man. I will go over it with a fine tooth comb before I make an offer.

[yooperman]

Make sure you check the swing arm bolt holes, mine were egged out when I bought it didn't think to check it at the time. It turned out to be a hassle not really the egged out holes though. Had to take the exhaust off to get motor out, inwhich the exhaust studs were rusted so bad the threads were gone. So in the process all four exhaust studs sheared off. So now gotta fix the head also, and since will be that far into it gonna do rings also. So that one prob turned int to many. so just take a peak at the bolt holes also.

[fabiodriven]

Had to take the exhaust off to get motor out, inwhich the exhaust studs were rusted so bad the threads were gone. So in the process all four exhaust studs sheared off. So now gotta fix the head also, and since will be that far into it gonna do rings also.

That's some good advice.

In case you didn't know Yooperman, Dirtcrasher fixes those heads with stainless studs and does a beautiful job at it.

[yooperman]

Fabio I give good advice every now and then lol, I do better showing and explaining with hands on. Yeah I'm pretty sure I'm gonna send it to have him fix the studs and check the valves, and every thing else on it out. as long as it don't cost to much money getting tight, this machine requiring more and more money every time I turn my head lol. Its a usual thing though when you work on something lol. Once I get the frame and swing arm back from powder coater, I will get it back to a rolling chassis. Before I start on the motor don't want to many projects going on at once and chance losing stuff lol. Get one done tare into the other. So did you end. Up getting this bike Big Mike?

[mtsnieg]

Check to see it if wheelies and does powerslides.

[Big Mike]

Hoping to go see it 4 if not it will be 6:30 tonight. Anyone want to throw out numbers based on current info and pics as to what I should possibly offer? Thanks guys, you been a huge help already. Keep it coming and I will keep you apprised.

[spoon]

I would suggest 600-650

[TheRealFatShady]

I would suggest 600-650
I'd say that or even less, what is the original asking price?

I got mine for $360 or somewhere in that ballpark...didn't fully inspect it all, and the swinger holes were enlarged, one mount had broken, crap welds on the frame, smoked. Rear fenders were junk.

If those fenders are cracking/missing a chunk, they're $200 new from Maier. Plus, if/when you take the top end off, the head studs always seem to break. There's some more cash. And check the frame for welds or cracks. I chose to have mine gusseted as I'm a big guy, and I KNOW if I put money into it, it will destroy the frame on the first small jump.

[fabiodriven]

fabio says (and I quote), "you look like a circus bear on that 250sx!"

The circus bear effect-

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r275/fabiodriven/37472_1505633881735_1260904462_31400210_5690909_n. jpg

[spoon]

:lol::lol:

[Dirtcrasher]

Wiggle the bars back hard to rock the bike, any play in the axle, swinger, headset etc. will show up. You may need someone to find it while you shake it around.

Suspension should be smooth in the back and rise somewhat slowly. Front, raise the fork boot or look for signs of leakage.

Check the frame left side where the motor mounts VERY CAREFULLY, many have been fixed by an idiot. Oblong swinger bolt holes.

Check the air filter. Check the oil; Are they clean??

Ride it, get going 20MPH, pull in the clutch and upshift a couple gears, rev it up and let it out. Does it bog down or spin the tires? Good clutch. Does it rev up before it bogs down, slipping clutch. Get it NICE AND HOT for that.

Exhaust studs, smoke, does it idle?

Could be a 3-5-800$ trike, who knows. The more crap you find, the better.

[Big Mike]

Ok tomorrow is the day I am going to look at it. Today turned into a sh$%show for work so I just could not get there. I will let you guys know what I find tomorrow and if we make a deal.

Thanks for all the advice on what to look for. I'll let you know if I get it and will take it over to Dirtcrasher's track for a few laps maybe.

[Big Mike]

Original asking price is $1000.00, which I think is high to begin with.

[spoon]

ouch! way too high bro

[fabiodriven]

ouch! way too high bro

Absolutely. Looks like a $500 machine to me.

[Big Mike]

Well guys today was the day I went to look at the 350x. I drove an hour and a half up there to look at this trike, that turned out to be a total piece of junk!

The rear fender was almost completely broken off on the right side, the left engine cover was broken where the front sproket cover would have been, the fork seals where marginal, the front brake was completely missing with exception of the rotor on the front wheel, frame was cracked in 3 different places (one that was horribly repaired!).

It was missing bolts on the exhaust header pipe so exhaust leaked there and through a huge hole in the bottom of the muffler. The compression release did not work I think at all. Seat was all torn up, aftermarket handlebars bent, all 3 tires completely smoked. Took like 45 kicks to even get it to start, and

THE KICKER IN ALL OF THIS: He would not budge off the $1000 price tag. I told him I would give him $700 max because I had to put at least $500 into just to make it a ridable machine, and he tells me that it would cost at most $300 to just do a tune up and a couple other things to make it ridable. I told him no way, and he told me that he has already turned down an offer of $850 on this things. HE IS NUTS if he thinks he is going to get $1000 for that thing.

So guys, I am looking for a 350x that runs, doesnt have to look pretty but not a complete toilet, is all there that I can ride in the woods. I am looking to spend about $800 and might throw in my 85 250sx to sweeten the pot, let me know what you guys see. Thanks a lot everyone for your help on this.

[Dirtcrasher]

I know your just getting into this stuff Mike, but that thing would have been a horrible buy even at 500$

Ask anyone on the board and most of them will tell you that to make that reliable, some new tires and just forget the cosmetics - You could have dumped 1000$ into it like nothing. These parts are getting harder to find and more money every day.

[cosmohawk]

Agreed...I'm glad to hear you walked away. The seller sounds like a bonehead anyways...firm @ $1000...in that condition.

I don't suppose he refered to the bike as being in "mint" condition? That's what they do around here, on contraptions like that...that's how they get you to drive the distance to argue about their junk. Idiots.

[lazybiker79]

Make shore it has oil in it.. Is the oil clean? The first 350x I bought years ago.. The rings were bad so the guy drained the oil so the bike wouldn't smoke blue when I looked at it. I didn't find out until I got it home and was changing the oil..

[TheRealFatShady]

The rear fender was almost completely broken off on the right side, the left engine cover was broken where the front sproket cover would have been, the fork seals where marginal, the front brake was completely missing with exception of the rotor on the front wheel, frame was cracked in 3 different places (one that was horribly repaired!).

It was missing bolts on the exhaust header pipe so exhaust leaked there and through a huge hole in the bottom of the muffler. The compression release did not work I think at all. Seat was all torn up, aftermarket handlebars bent, all 3 tires completely smoked. Took like 45 kicks to even get it to start, and

So guys, I am looking for a 350x that runs, doesnt have to look pretty but not a complete toilet, is all there that I can ride in the woods. I am looking to spend about $800 and might throw in my 85 250sx to sweeten the pot, let me know what you guys see. Thanks a lot everyone for your help on this.

Good decision. I JUST sold my last 350X frame this week, if I had known I might have tried to get you set up with a better start than that one.

Unless it's perfect, plan on rebuilding it. Dirtcrasher does the head studs + frame gusseting.

Where was this guy located? Maybe if close by, I will look at it and point out the problems just to make him realize that it's not worth near what he's asking. Mine was under $400 with similar issues that you offered $700 for.

Expect a lot of 350x's to have a cracked frame, most have thrown chains through the side cover. OEM fenders are hard to find uncracked. Most have bad exhaust studs.

There was an 86 250R for $500 that looks really good, but needed a top end in south coast Craigslist yesterday, it got flagged. So if that was real, there are good deals out there.

[Big Mike]

Shady its in Leominster, right down the road from you.

This guy also had 2 other 3 wheelers there, a 200x and a 250r that were in a lot better shape the 350x. He said the 250r is probably going up for sale next, and just by looking at it and talking to this bozo, he is probably going to ask $4000 for it.

http://worcester.craigslist.org/rvs/2033048742.html

Dirtcrasher, I know what you mean, I started looking at the parts I knew this thing needed before I even looked at it and was already over $500 just in PARTS!!!

cosmo, he did not refer to it as mint condition, but he did blow me off 2 days this week about getting up there to look at it. so he was kind of giving me the run around on it.

I will keep looking and see what I can find.

[TheRealFatShady]

Thought it could be Ryan from Leominster, but not his number. He buys up a lot of my three wheeler parts and usually has some, but not many X or R parts. When he does he keeps em.

If you get one and need small parts I may have them, had a few parts machines and such I bought for the frame only, and I should hopefully use 450r rear end parts.

My build will be a long one, as will the ATC480r (Engine mount kits are ~$200, never mind the pipe!) But we will all go riding sometime! Deepa, fabio, dirtcrasher, maybe jeffatc250r, you, etc. Lots of riding spots in your area it seems. Here....not so much. Legally at least.

[fabiodriven]

It really pisses me off when guys do this. All it does is drive up the price of all the bike around. People see his and think since he's getting 1K for his, than that other one in good shape must be worth 2K or more. This guy is a real jerk and needs a reality check in my opinion. I hope somebody stupid doesn't go over there and give him good money for it. What a jerk.

[Bretmd94]

good move. That thing isn't close to worth 1k. Its completely worth it IMO to spend 1500 and get a 350x in great oem shape. I have been watching several come and go for around that price in great condition. It is just not worth paying 1k for a beat up 350x when there are really clean ones with the hard to find stock plastic in great shape for 1500.

[Twilight]

True to that. 1500 will buy you a mint trike around here. And there are deals out there. I bought mine for cheap and sold it for what I had into it to a collector. He drove 7 hours the day i put it up for sale just to make sure he got it.

Put a ad on saying your looking for a Honda ATC and see what comes up. you'll get some killer offers in the ways you wont think.

i woulda gave the guy 300 for that 350, and thats only if the engine was salavagable