best engine choice for an auto x

[200xranger]

just got a 200x roller for 100 bucks...been wanting to do an auto x for a while. whats the best choice for a donor trike as far as power, parts availability, and reliability? i may have a 200x top end available to put on one just not sure if its good yet. thanks and anyone around stl that has any parts feel free to pm me lol

[falloutboy]

185s/200s seem to be the most common

[atc350xer]

If you can get it, I'd use an '85/'86 200s motor with the 200x top end on it. The "newer" motors have the 5 up shift pattern... I did mine with an '83 motor and I didn't care for the 5 down shift pattern. Also, a little tip... a 350x rear brake lever works perfectly for the inevitable issues you'll come across(200x rear brake pivots on the motor).http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/128482-Why-didn-t-anyone-tell-me-%28auto-x%29?highlight=auto

[nicker71]

I have some extra parts laying around, just let me know what your looking for. My auto x is a 185s bottom with a 200x top end.

[oldskool83]

motors are about the same, 185s just has a smaller bore basicly. i had a 185 bored way over. it was a PITA to pill start with no decompression so keep that in mind. either motor is fine. even if you only get half a motor top ends can be swaped from any 185/200 honda up to 2002.

[200xranger]

nicker71 im shawn the one parked next to you guys at st joe a few weeks ago lol i got the 200x roller off cl in wentzville. ill let you know when i get further into the build thanks for the info now just need to find a donor trike

[Dirtcrasher]

motors are about the same, 185s just has a smaller bore basicly. i had a 185 bored way over. it was a PITA to pill start with no decompression so keep that in mind. either motor is fine. even if you only get half a motor top ends can be swaped from any 185/200 honda up to 2002.

I start excellent with "pills" :lol:

[74sickness]

why get an auto x the x is suppose to be manual and be fun auto just seems boring to me but up to you good luck with the build keep us posted.

[hillbilly 200x]

^^ not true. I had more fun with my little x when it had the 200m engine in it then I do now with a semi build stock engine.

[atctim]

I've built 2 Auto-Xs and I used an ATC200 motor in both. The first one I built I put a Goki electric start on it. That lead me to think about using an ATC200E (82-83 Big Red). In my opinion that would be the best, electric start plus hi-lo range. You will have to do something to the down tube of the frame for the electric start motor - BUT in my opinion it would be worth it.

[jb2wheels]

Put a Chinese clone engine in it and get e-start and a real lighting coil / charging system.

Or maybe a CRF230 engine if you have the coin.

But neither are auto-X. For auto-X, the best answer is probably, "Whatever is readily available."

[200xranger]

i already have a 250r and tri z. want something auto that doesnt beat the piss out of me when i ride it like those two. plus my fiance wants to start riding a trike and those arent for her one lil bit lol. been looking for a decent 200 on cl just havent found "the one" yet

[M.Pargiello]

I have been toying with the idea of using my spare TR200 engine ( electric start, semi auto) on a roller X...

[200xranger]

well i found what the guy says is an 86 200s and the cool thing is that it has 200x fenders and seat on it which i will be able to use. says it has compression but no spark. im sure i can figure out the issue. this a good donor motor?

[hillbilly 200x]

there you go, go get it and start building.

You also have to mod the frame for the gear box to fit. The 200e would make a sweet auto x for mudding.

I've built 2 Auto-Xs and I used an ATC200 motor in both. The first one I built I put a Goki electric start on it. That lead me to think about using an ATC200E (82-83 Big Red). In my opinion that would be the best, electric start plus hi-lo range. You will have to do something to the down tube of the frame for the electric start motor - BUT in my opinion it would be worth it.

[200xranger]

what do i have to do to the frame? In the pic of the bike it doesnt appear to have electric start???? http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/3275588298.html now it makes me wonder if is what he says it is lol

[atc350xer]

I would buy that in a heartbeat... that's an '86 200s with '85 200x rear plastics and seat... no electric start. The only ones with factory electric start engines that will work in a 200x frame are the 200m('84-'85) and 200e('82-'83 Big Red). As Tim said, the 200e also has hi/lo range. To make an auto x with either of these engines, you have to dimple the down tube for starter clearance.

[200xranger]

yeah im going to get it tomorrow from him. works good for me cause i can use the fenders and seat for my project. so what was Tim saying about modding the frame for the gearbox????

[trizilla]

yeah im going to get it tomorrow from him. works good for me cause i can use the fenders and seat for my project. so what was Tim saying about modding the frame for the gearbox????


with that trike in the pic you wont have to mod the frame. that one will work great for you. if you try to put the 200m or the 200e engine in you will have to dimple the front downtube for starter clearance. for the 200e only you would have to mod the left side of the frame in the countershaft area. the 200e's hi and low gearbox area will not clear the stock frame. now go get that 200s before you loose out!

[200xranger]

ok that make sense now thanks. i will have the bike tonight and will try to get it running before i disassemble it to do the swap. any suggestions on where to look for with the spark issue? obviously all the connections, coil, plug and wire...but after that

[200xranger]

pulled the motor out of the 200s and had to cut the rear motor mount bolt, the one with the spacers. however the bolt is stuck in the case. i have been shooting pb blaster on it all day and beating on it and it wont come out!!!! any tricks? havent figured out the spark issue due to the wire harness being completely screwed up so im going to start over with new parts once its in the x frame

[hillbilly 200x]

^^^ heat is your best friends, just heat up the case a little (blue torch for hose hold plumping is enough) then tap it one way if it moves get some wd40 or pb and hit it back the other way hen back and ward . I have heard of people using wax spot to heat up the bolt and melt wax on it. I have never tired it.

[200xranger]

got the motor mount bolt out and got the motor mounted in the frame. got the left foot peg shimmed, waiting till this weekend my uncle has a spare 350x rear brake pedal!! got lucky on that one. will try to get pics soon! thanks for all the help fellas

[200xranger]

got the 350x brake lever on...man was that easy...bolt it on, bend it out a lil and done. got the shifter cut down just need to weld it back together. the very tip of my toes was all that would hit it. its a wonder that honda didnt mass produce this setup being that they had all the parts and its so simple lol now just to get the spark issue fixed so i can ride it

[atc350xer]

got the 350x brake lever on...man was that easy...bolt it on, bend it out a lil and done.
Yep... I was just getting ready to fab one from the 200s and I decided "what the hell"... worked perfectly.

[captainweezy]

I'm thinking about the auto X conversion myself. I have a 200x and a spare running 185 engine now. Just do not want to be pounding on the swing arm bolt and kill it. How did yours turn out? Any updates?

[Cornholio]

Might wanna make sure it aint stolen ...

[captainweezy]

Might wanna make sure it aint stolen ...
Explain....? I don't recall seeing a post about it being stolen?

[oldskool83]

185s or 200s motor id use, but after i built up a motor with hi comp i went back to 200x motor.

[MRSOUND]

Sorry ranger don't want to jack your thread here but I have an x frame with (hopefully)all the parts in boxes I picked up this summer and a 82 200e motor sitting in the shed that I could possibly rebuild. Anyone done this actual conversion with the e motor yet? Define tweking of the frame? Cut and reweld or just stratigically indenting the frame tubes? I would love to see some pics if anyone has.

[captainweezy]

Sorry ranger don't want to jack your thread here but I have an x frame with (hopefully)all the parts in boxes I picked up this summer and a 82 200e motor sitting in the shed that I could possibly rebuild. Anyone done this actual conversion with the e motor yet? Define tweking of the frame? Cut and reweld or just stratigically indenting the frame tubes? I would love to see some pics if anyone has.
There is a few other post about it. Here is a picture post.http://www.3wheelerworld.com/album.php?albumid=1396
As far as this particular build goes..I will be taking over for 200xranger! It will be going to a new home tomorrow:naughty:

[Cornholio]

Explain....? I don't recall seeing a post about it being stolen? My 200x got stolen, Just never know, one of my buddies was stolen 2 years ago too. Seems like a popular thing to get stolen

[oscarmayer]

if you get a 200M motor, you can "notch" the fram and haev electric start then. no starting issues. then use the 200M harness and electronics and your set! the 200x top end is the same as any 200 except the decompression lever is removed and the cam is different. valves are the exact same size.
so there is no afvangate to going to a 200x head. i woudl alos look at doing a wiseco hi-cimp piston and minimum of an xr200 or more perfered web cam.

the issue with the "200e" stuff is chain alignement may be wrong due tot he gearbix ont he side. the 200m is a direct bolt in (asside from notching the down tube on the frame for the starter to fit)

[MRSOUND]

Would you just mount the battery box behind the air box?

[86T3]

if you get a 200M motor, you can "notch" the fram and haev electric start then. no starting issues. then use the 200M harness and electronics and your set! the 200x top end is the same as any 200 except the decompression lever is removed and the cam is different. valves are the exact same size.
so there is no afvangate to going to a 200x head. i woudl alos look at doing a wiseco hi-cimp piston and minimum of an xr200 or more perfered web cam.

the issue with the "200e" stuff is chain alignement may be wrong due tot he gearbix ont he side. the 200m is a direct bolt in (asside from notching the down tube on the frame for the starter to fit)

I haven't had a honda 200 in a while but after reading what you just wrote it looks like you could use a 200M head with the decompression lever (or any of the others with the lever) and a 200x cam to have the best of both worlds? Pretty neat stuff

[captainweezy]

Would you just mount the battery box behind the air box?im not sure on the battery box but if you decide to do this i believe atc-eric had a 200e motor at trikefest for around 100, maybe $125. I think it may still be posted in the trikefest swap meet link. Just got back from picking this one up in st lu along with a 250sx. Not sure if i will just have this as a rider or really do it up very nice.

[MRSOUND]

I have the 200e motor along with (3) 200s motors. All are of unknown condition as I have not heard any of them run. 2 of the 's" motors came along with the 200x lot when I bought it and the 1 is actually mounted in 1 of the frames (got 2 of those too). Of course they "ran before he tore it down to repaint everything". One way or another I'd like to have an autox for TF this year. I just like the idea of e-start option with the "e" motor. Probably won't get started till spring though. I will try to measure if there is a difference (if any) in the drive sprocket locations between the 2 motors and report back:D

checked out Eric's TF post and it was a 200es motor

[MRSOUND]

With just a quick look with a tape measure I eyeballed the left end of the motor mount hole to the center of the drive sprocket on both the 200e and 200s motor. Looks to be very very close if not the same.

[trizilla]

the 200e engine will bolt into the x chassis. the problem comes from the hi/lo gearbox area of the E engine fitting into the X chassis where the swing pivot is. i actually tried this once and if i remember correctly with a little grinding in that area i think it can be made to fit.

[MRSOUND]

^^^^did you complete it and run it? If so was it worth the time and effort?

[trizilla]

i did not as i didnt want to modify my frame. the mod didnt look to be that big of a deal but i had my x engine on the bench for a rebuild. i have seen it done with a 200m engine and rode one. im gonna go out and take a look at the x frame i have under the bench to see if i cant find the spot that needed shaved down. i'll get back to you...


you still got that 200s bottom end we talked about a while back? i still wanna get an up shift trans for my ol lady's auto x.

[MRSOUND]

Still got it....1 of the 3...not sure what years the other 2 are yet. Never got the #'s off of them to check.

[trizilla]

if you look at the left side of the frame just below the swinger pivot bolt slot you'll see the lower chain slide bolt hole. i do remember this is where my problem was.the outer side case hit this mounting hole and looked to me that it would easily fixed with a grinder. beyond that i dont know but you will have to start there. best thing to do is try to fit the engine in the frame, you'll know pretty quick where it isnt fitting.

[MRSOUND]

Thanks for the info zilla! Your right the best way to find out is just try it. Guess i was just looking for the easy answer without putting in the work. The more i think about the more I want to try it sooner.

[acidtuch10]

Does anyone have photos of the X frame on how much they had to bend the down tube to use a 200m engine?