350x WESTCOAST SWINGARM BUILD

[CRAZY70MAN]

Not much at the moment...this one is taking a good bit of money and time. Bought this bike a while back and decided to start from the frame up. I debated buying a gusset kit, but ended up making my own. Welded all the usual seems also. There was only one spot that had to be repaired by the seat grommet as usual, otherwise this frame was immaculate, from the west coast:drool: Had it blasted and powdered along with the westcoast swingarm. Decided to go with the 300ex rear axle and carrier swap. I have a dominator extended axle,lonestar dual row carrier,lonestar locknut. Still searching for tons of other stuff. Gonna have garageboy work over my motor and possibly have some work done to the head. 400 ex carb as well. Oh...came with a bassani aftermarket pipe that will go back on it. Gonna try to keep it vintage looking with fork guards, and a few other goodies. Progress will be slow....unless I hit the lottery:D

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/th_NCM_0199_zpscvosb3cy.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/NCM_0199_zpscvosb3cy.jpg.html)

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/th_NCM_0198_zpsp0yhdx1u.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/NCM_0198_zpsp0yhdx1u.jpg.html)

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/th_PC030039_zpseda31bb3.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/PC030039_zpseda31bb3.jpg.html)

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/th_PC030033_zps8dbec333.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/PC030033_zps8dbec333.jpg.html)

[6speedthumper]

I am liking it already!

[CRAZY70MAN]

Thanks. This is probably the most challenging build for me personally yet. It will end up being more of an mx bike for me, not ridden a whole lot in trails. Piece by piece, dollar by dollar....lol A whole bunch of dollars. Got a few color ideas for certain parts that I am kicking around also.

[I weld stuff]

That is the best way to build them right. Piece by piece. I have found that I am happier with the end result if I take my time and really think about how I want it to end up, rather than just finding parts that fit and putting them on.
That swingarm and frame turned out great BTW. Can't wait to see this come together.

[kiser]

You stink Andy! LOL! It's going to look great when it's done I'm sure! I still can't believe you found that swing arm. Man I wash I could find one!

[xrider]

Pumped for this. Gonna be killer Andy!

[CRAZY70MAN]

Pumped for this. Gonna be killer Andy!

Thanks Matt. Gonna be a while but I am pretty focused on this one. Hey Kyle...you should have made me a bigger offer when you were here....lol..
.price went up..lol

[kiser]

I offered all I had lol! I could have thrown in my first born but I don't think the wife would have approved of that deal lol!

[CRAZY70MAN]

^^^ ya, I don't sell kids or westcoast's either:p

[kiser]

I noticed that lol!!

[CRAZY70MAN]

Not a lot to see tonight...got a good stand to start work. Got new shock coming,swinger bearings here,chain guide,prm skid plate,decals for swinger.... Hope to have axle in and get working on front end in a few days...

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/NCM_0564_zpsbd0ncqm3.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/NCM_0564_zpsbd0ncqm3.jpg.html)

[ONEBAD350X]

THat is a great stand you made.. Its looking nice good job!

[f76]

Just out of curiosity, have you looked into the drive chain alignment using a 300ex axle in a 350x swinger?

[CRAZY70MAN]

My measurements say 350 x brake rotor will line up, sprocket is off at least 3/8 closer to half inch. Just going to shim it with longer countersunk bolts an washers or other shim stock. 350x brake hubs do fit 300ex axles by the way all spline wise. Will not have a positive fit and answer for all of it till I get her bolted up. Looks real close to a bolt up scenario though, with a few adjustments.

[CRAZY70MAN]

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/NCM_0594_zpsjk2oa5yl.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/NCM_0594_zpsjk2oa5yl.jpg.html)

Just ordered some westy swingarm stickers from mr. Clean!! Should have the rear together soon. Very impressed with the prm skidplate!

[f76]

202380202381
Here is two pictures of the alignment issues of using a 300ex axle in a 350x. You can get by with shimming the sprocket in to correct the alignment but I would be weary of doing that as you lose the mounting pilot of the hub. I'm sure it will hold but that's a lot of twisting for 4 bolts to take. A lowered powered machine I wouldn't worry about it so much, but the 350x produces some impressive torque and could cause issues. I looked high and low for any company that makes a 350x sprocket hub that could be pressed on to aftermarket axles, but no luck. The only company that makes a 350x sprocket hub is durablue, and their sprocket hub splines fit only their axles, I asked. So I took the plunge, dished out the cash, and purchased a durablue eliminator 300ex 2"+2" axle with a 350x sprocket hub pressed on. As you can tell from the second picture, it lines up perfectly. A 300ex rear caliper mount and brake hub rotor also line up with a 350x swing arm, I didn't have a stock 350x brake hub to test with though.

For anyone considering buying a durablue heavy duty +4" extended axle for their 350x, I would highly highly recommend getting the 300ex eliminator axle with a 350x sprocket hub pressed on, they will do it. The heavy duty axles only have a 6 month warranty, eliminators come with lifetime warranty to original purchaser. Also you have the ability to add 2" or 4" for your riding characteristics. You will need 250x,300ex,400ex,450r wheel hubs for the axle though as 350x wheel hub splines are different from a 300ex axle.

[CRAZY70MAN]

Thanks for info. The 350x brrake rotor does fit and lines up. Gonna kick around ideas on sprocket hub before just using shims...thanks...

[f76]

No problem. One idea I kicked around was having a machine shop turn a spacer that would mount over the 300ex sprocket hub pilot mount, then having the other side turned to match the inner diameter of the sprocket, therefor acting as a pilot ring. If only I had a lathe...
I don't mean to discourage your build, I would just hate to see something bad happen with the chain and sprocket and tearing up that beautiful swingarm you have!

[HairyJR]

"Crazy70man" please keep us informed with your fix for the 3/8" misalignment, I'm interested as my current project with a 350x motor in a TRX250R chassis has a similar issue.

"f76" your first picture shows the original 300x sprocket hub/axle and a bearing carrier, is it 300x or '86 350x? The second picture with Durablue axle is an '85 350x bearing carrier, any reason for the change? My next project is to install my +4" replica "Westcoast" swingarm purchased on ebay back several months ago onto my '85 350x and looking at a wider axle replacement.

"HJ" :beer

[CRAZY70MAN]

Will do. I have a few ideas for the sprocket issue...

[f76]

"Crazy70man" please keep us informed with your fix for the 3/8" misalignment, I'm interested as my current project with a 350x motor in a TRX250R chassis has a similar issue.

"f76" your first picture shows the original 300x sprocket hub/axle and a bearing carrier, is it 300x or '86 350x? The second picture with Durablue axle is an '85 350x bearing carrier, any reason for the change? My next project is to install my +4" replica "Westcoast" swingarm purchased on ebay back several months ago onto my '85 350x and looking at a wider axle replacement.

"HJ" :beer

First pictures shows a 300ex bearing carrier. Pretty sure anyways, the axle, swinger, and everything else was 300ex when I removed it from my 350x. That carrier was full of hairline cracks and looks like crap. Guess I had it backwards, I thought the carrier currently installed was an 86 350x carrier. Thanks for the correction. I switched because the carrier that came with the swinger had good bearings, seals, and looked better ha.

[CRAZY70MAN]

F76...are your pinchbolts threaded?? Or do you use nuts on allen bolts on the bottom side? Mine are not threaded. Post up a few side shots of yours,I would say it is a westcoast from what I see? Trying to get an idea of how many are floating around.

[f76]

202460202461202462202463202464202465202466
Please excuse how dirty everything is. My pinch bolts for the bearing carrier thread into the bottom of the sleeve, no use of nuts. I've haven't found a shock mount on a swing arm like mine. All the other 350x westcoast swingers I have seen use the vertical shock mount linkage orientation, mine is horizontal. I have seen 200x westcoast swing arms that have the same welds going up the tops and bottoms of the rails on the swinger, hence why I believe it is a westcoast.

[CRAZY70MAN]

Decent progress tonight. Got the decals on, just put them as close as I could to old stickers. New pinch rubbers in carrier. Mounted the rebuilt shock and some brake hardware. I gotta say,not much clearance for the shock,it actually touches the left side of the swinger barely. Gonna get hustling on the forks and front end to get it rollin.

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/NCM_0610_zpsdqy81gur.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/NCM_0610_zpsdqy81gur.jpg.html)


http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/NCM_0611_zps1uw3h1aj.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/NCM_0611_zps1uw3h1aj.jpg.html)

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/NCM_0608_zpshdvqfw79.jpg (http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/NCM_0608_zpshdvqfw79.jpg.html)

[CRAZY70MAN]

F76 your swingarm is totally different than mine.....mine is a plus 3 by the way.

[f76]

Ha I see that. Mine is kind of an ugly duckling right meow. I believe mine is a +4" but I do t have a stock 350x swing arm to measure against.

[CRAZY70MAN]

16 1/2" if I remember from swinger center bolt to center of carrier.

[Red Rider]

Did you just say meow?

[CRAZY70MAN]

Well 2 years later..progress. if I remember how to post pics...lol

[Ranvier]

Well 2 years later..Lol http://photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/KIMG2430_zpsaofzvm6e.jpg.html
Is it done? How did the rest of the build go?

[CRAZY70MAN]

http://s388.photobucket.com/user/andyatc70/media/KIMG2430_zps4lrhko7u.jpg.html?filters[user]=86812541&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=2

[CRAZY70MAN]

http://rs388.pbsrc.com/albums/oo321/andyatc70/KIMG2430_zps4lrhko7u.jpg?w=480&h=480&fit=clip