Oh man...DOUBLE 350X projects *1985 and 1986*

[Darius1502]

Ok...well I might have totally gone overboard...

But I could not turn down these two babies...

1985 and 1986 350x's.

Some pics.... this should be good.166130166131166132

[BIGREDGUY]

Awesome! !

[jays375]

Look pretty good.I couldn't have passed them up either.

[yaegerb]

why are they "projects"? They look pretty good to me.

[Darius1502]

"why are they "projects"? They look pretty good to me. "




He he...when I am done they will be minty fresh! I like to bring my trikes up to about an 8.5 or so out of 10. So they look almost fully restored but still rideable.

I'll probably hold these X's for the next 10 or 15 years and then maybe sell them...or just keep them forever...

Here is my Z.... this is where I want them to be....166135166136

[ebaccm26]

"why are they "projects"? They look pretty good to me. "




He he...when I am done they will be minty fresh! I like to bring my trikes up to about an 8.5 or so out of 10. So they look almost fully restored but still rideable.

I'll probably hold these X's for the next 10 or 15 years and then maybe sell them...or just keep them forever...

Here is my Z.... this is where I want them to be....166135166136

The 86 looks like it's there already! I wish my "projects" started off looking that good. :lol:

[dustrunner]

couple of beauties there.....great find.... WOW

[Dirtcrasher]

The 86 looks like it's there already! I wish my "projects" started off looking that good. :lol:

My thoughts exactly!

[ATC-Eric]

Wow nice pick up with those! You should swap me that stock exhuast off the 85 for the nice fresh stainless cobra I have here :naughty:

[Jason125m]

They look great!!! I fail to see how you can make the complete 86 any nicer! All it would do is lower the value because it is not original anymore! JMHO.

I trust that you got these for a good deal? :)

[JasonB]

Tuned in for this project!

[Darius1502]

They look great!!! I fail to see how you can make the complete 86 any nicer! All it would do is lower the value because it is not original anymore! JMHO.

I trust that you got these for a good deal? :)

on the '86 I am only going to clean her up and polish the plastics....clean up some bolts.

I paid 2500 each. The 86 is a bit nicer than the 85. Love them both

[Jason125m]

Love them both

Thats all that matters buddy! Definitely a good buy! Enjoy!

[Darius1502]

Here is one of the 86...kinda reminds of that old Honda ad (see the last attachment)

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[Jason125m]

Wow! That thing is clean!!!!

[Darius1502]

Wow! That thing is clean!!!!

Its pretty nice. I was quite suprised. Still the tank has dents and there is a couple of days of polishing the plastic and stuff...

but its the nicest trike I've ever bought. MY '86 R was close...

[ezmoney1979]

Wow!!! Congrats!! Well bought my friend, except for the one in a million shot you won't find a better deal IMO. That's like two for one these days. They sure don't seem to be popping up around here any more:beer

[ps2fixer]

They do look nice!

I bought one a bit worse shape than your 85 with an engine noise (sounds like valve adjustment) for $1500 and I know it was a steal :D. That 86 looks to be in good enough shape to be counted as restored in my book lol.

[Darius1502]

Doing some fender polishing on the '85. The '86 should be way easier since they are white:

There is about 20+ hours of work on just that one side alone (and they are still NOT PERFECT)...but about a 9 out of 10.

Plus I'll polish them again once I get the trike all done... (its never ending :)

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[ps2fixer]

I have seen people polishing up fenders, and they look nice, my question is, do you guys use some sort of power tool, or is this purely hand work? With fenders that bad, it seems like starting with sand paper would have been quicker? Say like 300-400 grit, then work your way up to the max, 4000 or w\e then buff.

[Darius1502]

I'll post what I did...when I finish...because its changing each day...but here is the basic process:

====== BY HAND =============

220 (wet sand - use clean water and wipe frequently)
600 (wet sand - use clean water and wipe frequently)
800 (wet sand - use clean water and wipe frequently)
1500 (wet sand - use clean water and wipe frequently)
2000 (wet sand - use clean water and wipe frequently)

166202

==== ROTARY BUFFER =======
Wool pad - swirl remover
Wool pad - polish
Foam - Novus #3 (Plastic Polish)
Foam - Novus #2 (Plastic Polish)
Foam - Novus #1 (Plastic Polish)
Buffing Foam Pad - with light Pledge Furniture Polish for lubricant (this step actually let's you run it at very high speed and lightly melt the plastic until its glassy smooth). This is a dangerous step and easy to mess up...but it works.

Crazy stufff...but the plastic literally 'drinks' this stuff in....and the buffing/melting locks it in from what I can see.

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[Darius1502]

Another shot in the garage...still more work to do.166203

[Darius1502]

A shot from today...here is the '85 stash of goodies... NOS OEM rear tires, 450R wheels, polished tank, headlight shroud, new OEM NOS air RAMs.... and goodies in bags.... :)

166205166215

[aldochina]

sweet score man!! seems they went to the proper place atleast!! Way to show them the love they deserve!!

[Darius1502]

UPDATE: Polished the 350X fenders to a nice shine. The 250R set next to them are basically brand new with zero scratches. I honestly can't tell the difference....

I am WAY happy!

See the picture...166257166258

[Jason125m]

Damn! Those fenders look nos! Great Job!

[Darius1502]

Mounted on the '85 with some other goodies....

166416166417166418

[Marty]

Good buy buddy and remember the 86 is more rare than the 85 so keep that 86 looking good and congrats on find!

[Darius1502]

Totally...I am going to polish the fenders and clean her up. Keeping her minty fresh...I love the look of both!! :)

[atc007]

What a pleasure to watch you work!! Now,get the heat gun out and bend that damn seat pan down to fit the tank lol !!!! Great work once again !!

[tri-Z ripper]

geez that's as clean as they get!!!!

[Darius1502]

They look better in the pics then they are....but for 28 year old trikes...yes they are clean.

Here is the '85. I did a light restore.

Polished the plastics...

buffed the case paint

touched up frame chips with detailer's paint

put NOS stock back tires on her

TRX 450 Rims in back

NOS tank rams

touched up the stock 'gun metal gray' hubs (same color as '86 R cases)

New OEM fork boots (the only way to go)

Considering one of Vintage Motorsports brake lines...that yellow line gets uglier the prettier the rest of the trike gets....

new grips

Still some work to do..but she's looking pretty good:

Once this is done its on to the '86....whew;.....

166488166489166490166491

[Darius1502]

"What a pleasure to watch you work!! Now,get the heat gun out and bend that damn seat pan down to fit the tank lol !!!! Great work once again !! "

Man...totally. I am so glad you mentioned that. I started on this last night.

They tend to bend up after years and years. Looking at the pics from '85 they are right up to the tank. See these.166492166493166494

[Darius1502]

A few cool 350X pics I've found....

I'll post more once my scanner gets working again!

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[tri-Z ripper]

huh i was thinking of velcro, but heat gun is even better idea!

[atc007]

What a magnificent beauty. You flipped that from a rider to show queen in under 2? weeks? None of my business,,,but ,,are you married ,kids ? lol,,,if so I hope they're watching and learning ! You have put a LOT of time in that garage the last cpl weeks ! A real pleasure to look at your results!

[Darius1502]

What a magnificent beauty. You flipped that from a rider to show queen in under 2? weeks? None of my business,,,but ,,are you married ,kids ? lol,,,if so I hope they're watching and learning ! You have put a LOT of time in that garage the last cpl weeks ! A real pleasure to look at your results!

He he...its all pure insanity and love of the 'wheelers'.

yep...Married and 2 six month olds... I am like most here..once I start I can't stop.

Formula: staying up till 5 am and sleeping 4 hours a night. :).... I am beat but this was fun!

However this was a mostly cosmetic project. Once you get the fenders shiny the rest is paint. Tires help....those NOS rear meats and the fork boots freshen it up a lot too.

Plus she was not too bad when I got her. Here is a pic of her before: 166523

[Darius1502]

Here are some pics from today.... Now time to start on that '86. I can't WAIT to spend the day blasting around on both of them and riding them hard.

How cool will the 'cover girl' shots will be with both of those babies together :)

16651416651516651616651716651816651916652016652116 6522

[atc007]

Absolutely impeccable. Congrats on the twins! Pic 7 would have given me my answer. You might wanna do a little rubbin n buffin on the wifie before the 86 lol . If Momma aint happy,,,aint Nobody happy!

[Darius1502]

Thans man! I think Oc250R's are impeccable. Mine are nice bikes you can ride :)

This is OC's totally amazing 350X...madness and genius!!

166524


Did you guys see this... a member here had pics of his '85 on the day his dad bought it for him in 1985. This is beautiful:

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[atc007]

Way cool. I hadn't seen Bill's or the new 85 pics... They just answered a Very important question I had about one of mine :) :)

[Jason125m]

Looking VERY good Darius!!! Beautiful machines. I didn't know the X came with a gold axle? That third picture of the new 350x, is it just the camera? Or did some come in gold?

[Darius1502]

The rear axles of most ATC's from that time were zinc plated. So they looked gold. I see a ton of guys doing this for their restorations. Really adds the touch!

The fender brackets are zinc plated on these and look gold/yellow too:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-honda-350x-atc-rear-fender-bracket-set-seat-bracket-set-gold-oem-/251248306479?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a7f90e92f&vxp=mtr

[Jason125m]

Interesting, i knew the R's were gold, but i thought the axles on the 350's were nickle plated. Thanks for the info.

[Darius1502]

That is what I think. I think its maybe cadium?

[350xman]

Nice 350x 's you have there. Did you pick them up locally or did you have to hunt for them for quite a while? You need to do the big family picture shots of all your 3 wheelers. I think that would make awesome pics! Keep the pics rolling.

Later 350xman

[Darius1502]

Thanks man. The '85 was local about 40 minutes from me. The '86 was in California. It was an ebay listing that did hit the reserve. I told the seller I wanted it. It was in much better shape than I expected.

Yeah I need to do that...big family picture. One day for sure I will. The 3 wheelers now are:

1986 ATC 250R
1986 Tri Z 250
1986 ATC 350x
1985 ATC 350x

Plus a 1990 LT 500R Quadzilla16664816664916665016665216665316665416665 5166657166658166659166660
Plus a few KTM 500, 550's and 440's

[yaegerb]

Holy Shite! You have the showroom that I always wanted. Anal as all hell, you are my kind of guy!

[Super350]

wow....that '91 MX500 is incredible :naughty:

[Darius1502]

Rolled the '85 outside yesterday. Going to bring the '86 350X home today and S-L-O-W-L-Y start on it...

It was fun to compare it the '86 R.....too

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