350X shifter advice needed

[keister]

Every shifter I buy on eBay has splines that are stripped worse than the last.
I have also purchased several IMS, EMGO, and Moose type cheap Chinese pot metal crap shifters. Bottom line: they are terrible.

I would love to find a nice billet or other aftermarket shifter option for my 350X's.
Does anyone have any advice or a source that makes a high quality part worthy of the venerable 350X?

Also see some listings on eBay that say things like: Shifter fits 200X, 350X, 250R.
I know for a fact that 250R and 350X are different shaft splines, so that makes me even more confused and wary.

Thanks in advance for any help, and here is a picture for your time.

242113

[Dirtcrasher]

Some bonehead listed a NOS shifter for like 130$, :lol:

I've never had an issues but I think I always have Honda.

Personally, I'd message all the big sellers on EBAY and see if someone has one and "can list it for you" - know what I'm sayin.

Every crate (take out) motor I buy comes with one....

[SUPERBEAST]

what about a trx450 shifter?

[keister]

Personally, I'd message all the big sellers on EBAY and see if someone has one and "can list it for you" - know what I'm sayin.

Actually, I don't. Maybe I'm not too eBay saavy. Who are these big sellers you speak of? But like I said, there's no way to tell if the splines are any good by looking at the pictures.


Every crate (take out) motor I buy comes with one....

I've bought 3 take out motors. None had shifters. One did have a carb.

[keister]

what about a trx450 shifter?

I don't know. Does it fit? ATCTim, could you check this out for me?

[captainweezy]

What is wrong with vise grips welded to the shaft?

[keister]

What is wrong with vise grips welded to the shaft?

The 450R shifter wasn't even close.

I have been tossing around the idea of getting a welder anyway. Guess the time has come.

[fabiodriven]

I didn't reply because that was going to be my suggestion. If I were faced with this issue, I would find a good set of splines from another shifter and just make my own. That's probably your best bet I guess. Hard to believe this hasn't already been brought up if the only available options now are Chinese crap. That's disappointing.

[shortline10]

I just put a 350x shifter on a Raptor 700 and it was a perfect fit ,,, so theirs another option for you .

[Shawn Powell]

That's upsetting. I have an IMS steel one on my 400ex and have never had problems. It's also more than 10 years old so maybe they have cheapened them up. Also had the same lever on a xl600 , literally the same lever , so I'm shocked they don't swap over to the 350. Keep us posted if the raptor one works out or you find something better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[keister]

That's upsetting. I have an IMS steel one on my 400ex and have never had problems.
Another one of my 350Xs has had an IMS for a few years now. It isn't the worst thing ever, I guess.

For now I found another OEM Honda in my basement. I put it on and torqued it down tighter than I would normally be comfortable with.
I have no doubt that Hatfield McCoy will put the nail in its coffin, but maybe I can get a day or 2 out of it.

While I generally try to avoid crossing streams, I will buy a Yamaha shifter and try it out.

I still can't believe that with all the custom aftermarket goodies available, nobody sells a trick aftermarket lever for a 350X.

The search continues.......

[keister]

TAlso had the same lever on a xl600 , literally the same lever

Very interesting. I have a XL200. I will have to size that one up too. Thanks!

[Dirtcrasher]

The 250SX is a nice long 350X type lever as well.

However, sometimes we assume others have our same/better/less abilities than ourselves....

I'm stumped why your having aftermarket lever issues. Your shifter shaft may be the culprit itself.

When I was a young lad, I didn't do the best maintenance and shifters would get a bit loose and nearly strip out.

I use to use a hack saw and go PAST THE SPLINES a 1/16th to an 1/8th inch to allow it to clamp down further on the shift shaft.

[keister]

The 250SX is a nice long 350X type lever as well.

However, sometimes we assume others have our same/better/less abilities than ourselves....

I'm stumped why your having aftermarket lever issues. Your shifter shaft may be the culprit itself.

When I was a young lad, I didn't do the best maintenance and shifters would get a bit loose and nearly strip out.

I use to use a hack saw and go PAST THE SPLINES a 1/16th to an 1/8th inch to allow it to clamp down further on the shift shaft.

I'm not having aftermarket shifter issues, I have worn out OEM shifters and don't want to buy another cheap aftermarket.
My shift shaft has definitely seen better days, and maybe I am in denial, but it still looks usable.

I literally just bought a new OEM Craptor 700 one on eBay. I just need to get through this one ride and then I have lots of time to find a more permanent fix, if needed.

Which brings me to the question:
If the shaft itself is worn past its useful life, is that a very big and difficult job.
Seems like that job might be above my mechanic grade. I am ok with top ends, bottoms scare me.

[Dirtcrasher]

"I'm not having aftermarket shifter issues, I have worn out OEM shifters and don't want to buy another cheap aftermarket. My shift shaft has definitely seen better days, and maybe I am in denial, but it still looks usable. " - use a hacksaw and cut the opening slot deeper; PAST the splines.

The 350X shift shaft is one of the easiest and cheapest set of parts to deal with I have ever seen.

Pull your stator cover, make sure the 2 bolts with a shoulder are tight (look em up at Partszilla - then tell me what #s you wanna know about instead of going back and forth crap) - they often loosen and require loctite blue and red in the drum center. Yank out the 2.5" long stubby shift shaft and pop in a new one with a new seal or reuse the old one. Simply use an oiled corner of a plastic bag over it while installing the stator cover again to keep the seal away from damage caused by sharp edges. Reuse a good gasket just by putting grease on it, or take it off carefully and use a new gasket.

Probably the easiest shift shaft I have ever dealt with; NO RIGHT HAND cover removal and or other adjustments.... CAKE

[keister]

Just for some follow-up / closure on the topic......
The XL200 shifter was not even close to the right size.
As I suspected, my old stock shifter was flopping around after 30 minutes on Hatfield McCoy.
I pulled a brandy new Yamaha OEM Raptor 700 shifter out of my tool pack.
Tightened it down and rode worry free for the next 3 days. The best news is that my shift shaft splines are still serviceable.

Conclusion: Raptor 700 is a fine fit for the 350X, and I anticipate keeping it on there for the foreseeable future.

Thanks to Shortline for the tip!

[Shawn Powell]

Just for some follow-up / closure on the topic......
The XL200 shifter was not even close to the right size.
As I suspected, my old stock shifter was flopping around after 30 minutes on Hatfield McCoy.
I pulled a brandy new Yamaha OEM Raptor 700 shifter out of my tool pack.
Tightened it down and rode worry free for the next 3 days. The best news is that my shift shaft splines are still serviceable.

Conclusion: Raptor 700 is a fine fit for the 350X, and I anticipate keeping it on there for the foreseeable future.

Thanks to Shortline for the tip!

Picture of the raptor shifter? Might get a billet one myself.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ctk]

Thanks for the conclusion peepers.

[keister]

Picture of the raptor shifter? Might get a billet one myself.....

Great idea. Here you go. Remember, this is OEM..... well,,,, Yamaha OEM. If you do end up buying a billet cRaptor shifter, please post up a pic in here. Thanks!

242957

242958

242959