Is the 185 engine more desirable for making an AutoX that a 200S engine?

[200XMichigan]

There was a post the other day about what engine to use in an AutoX, someone said that the 185 is the best engine for an AutoX. I have heard it makes about the same hp as a 200S engine. Is it really a better engine for an AutoX? Seems like the 200S would be have more power since it is bigger.

[Xfile]

I think the 200S has slightly more torque, but I don't think it would be very noticeable. Either engine is fine for an auto-X conversion IMO.

[hang&rattle]

I may have hinted at it, but it's what I was told from a long time owner and a few other guys commented they liked the 185 better, sorry, I was going off what I was told and they seemed to have better luck with the 185. Also, the 185's are around in my area, but not for sale, but the 200's are, so I thought there was something to that. Who else has an opinion?, I am more curious now too. We have a 200 in daughters.

[200XMichigan]

I have heard it that the 185 is better, but that's all. I'd really like to know. I think there is a difference in the power curve making the 185 more desirable but I don't know. Have not ridden either trike before.

I can get a 200s engine, good compression: $40

or I have a free 185S that is beat down, has been spray painted primer grey, ran when parked. I feel a little guilty ripping a complete trike apart, but it was about to have its axle cut off for a garden trailer before I got it.

What engine would you put in the 200x?

Or there is an old engine at the junk yard that might be an XR200 I can have for free. And I could make a XR200, 200X engine hybrid.

What engine would you guys put in there? I am leaning toward the 185 since its free, I could sell and use some of the 185 parts, and I know it ran when parked.

[oldskool83]

it wont matter, use a 185, bottem ends are the same, cylinders are dif bored...use a xr cyinder you'll be at a 200 but you wont feel the 10cc differance.

[200XMichigan]

If I pick up the XR200 engine I will use that with my old 200X engine. Probably put the 185 engine in it for now.

[JustEnough]

I have a 185 and a 200 AutoX. The 200 has more power and low end, but that is mostly because the engine is less worn.

The 200s engine you are considering may have problems that you have not discovered yet like missing or bad carb, transmission problems, worn or missing primary sprocket, ignition problems in spark advancer or stator.

[200XMichigan]

If the top end is all the same can't I just use my carb and intake and any other parts in the ignition system?

I have a complete 200X that blew the engine this spring. I haven't torn into it yet but it is definitely major. I was driving along on a ride with some friends and it made a grinding noise, jerked to a stop and the engine is seized up. I had done more maintenance to it that it had seen in years, I put new carrier bearing in it and my luck was the engine blew on the second ride out after the new carrier bearings, and I had just changed the oil and ran expensive motorcycle oil in it and that was the thanks I got. I think it went into shock from such expensive oil. My storage space is very small so it is all still together now. But my kicker gears were going, brake pedal pivot was worn to crap and the engine had been completely neglected by the previous owner. Not to mention the case was cracked where the sprocket cover goes over.

So there will be an another Auto-X build coming sometime. I think the 185 engine will be the best bet since it was running when parked. I plan to do the rings on it and lap the valves while it is out. The trike looks terrible and was spray painted but was just used for deer season and one year it didn't start so he just stopped using it. Shouldn't need too much, it was used very lightly.

[skypilot]

Hey guys, i used a 185 engine in my 200x, worked great, could tell a little difference, but the 200x motor had been bored out, so that was natural. Fried the 200x top end, installed 185, friends that had never rode the rodded out motor couldn't tell the difference, ran great!

[JustEnough]

Just to make sure we are not leading you down the wrong path, what year is your 200x?

[200XMichigan]

83-85, no worries there. But yeah its an 83. I got that covered.

[200XMichigan]

If I had an 86-87 200X I would have to rebuild its engine. Not just because the other engine wouldn't bolt in but because it would be awesome, and why mess up that.

[JustEnough]

The existing 200x harness, CDI and coil can be used with a couple of extensions from the stator wires to the harness (the wires coming out of the 185/200 are too short to reach the 200x harness).

You need to use the 200x intake to get the right angle to clear the frame. I think the 200x has a nicer heavy chromed slide in the carb, or maybe that is a aftermarket DG carb that has the heavy slide. I am not sure because every 200x carb I came across had the heavy chrome slide.

The cover for the primary sprocket has to be trimmed to clear parts of the frame.

Since the rear brake lever mounted to the 200x engine, a lever has to be mounted to the 200x frame. Reaming a 185/200 lever to 19mm to fit over the footpeg stub seems to be the most popular approach.

[hang&rattle]

Here's some pictures of wiring-