Question on 350X cam

[lisnup65]

Recently just rebuilt my 350X motor. I replaced the cam and because of the cost this question has been dancing around my head. Bikebandit, Partsfish, and my local dealer wanted around $185.00 for this 3" cam. Well I found it for $125.00 and was all excited. The other option was to have it hard welded at webcamshafts.com. They wanted $110.00 for the cam and $45.00 per rocker. Well 110+45+45=200.00, and OEM stuff is 125+45+55=225. Well I can save $25.00 and get hardened parts that will wear much better over the soft metal that OEM used. Well turn around time and the fact that my 22+ year old machine was still running when I tore it down indicated that I could just use OEM stuff. Anyways to my point of this question. I found that the 87-89 TRX 350( which uses the same top end as the 350X) cam is only $50.00. The only difference I can find is the plastic cap that goes on the cam in the head. The part #'s are different, but all other parts besides the outter vavle spring up there work in all years. Well would this cam be a $70-130.00 price saver. Lets say the cam area that fits in the cap was slightly changed and the new cap is to accomodate. Well thats a $5.00 parts that should be changed any ways. The parts # for the head, valves, rocker covers, cam chain, cam chain gear, etc, etc are the same throughout all the years. What are your thoughts on this? I see web-cams even gives the samelift, duration and grind #'s for all years when they hard weld them. Maybe the TRX in those years had a little more or less agressive lift thus the new part #?! Well for $70-130.00 of savings lets discuss!!!!!!!

[hrc200x]

Are you ordering the TRX cam and going to compare? I'd probably buy one or two of them if they ended up being exact. Wonder if the TRX rockers are cheaper also?

I was looking at a 300ex and the end cap in their head is huge, I think its because the cam bearings possibly.

Is the TRX cam chain cheaper?

Also, did you get the price for the TRX cam at service honda? If not it will be even cheaper.

[lisnup65]

Are you ordering the TRX cam and going to compare? I'd probably buy one or two of them if they ended up being exact. Wonder if the TRX rockers are cheaper also?

I was looking at a 300ex and the end cap in their head is huge, I think its because the cam bearings possibly.

Is the TRX cam chain cheaper?

Also, did you get the price for the TRX cam at service honda? If not it will be even cheaper.

The rockers, cam chain, cam gear etc are the same same price with the same part #'s. The cam chain is $75.00. I purchased an aftermarket 1 for $47.00.

[lisnup65]

I did a little research via service manuals and the cam difference is not much. The later model has slightly less lift. If you want to get the most out of the motor then its not a good choice, but if you are happy with stock performance of the big bore then the cam would work fine. Its a $70-100.00 savings!!!!!!!!
Here are the specs;
1985
Cam height
In 1.4211
Ex 1.4129

Journal O.D.
R .9431-.9439
C .9423-.9431
L .7856-.7864

Bearing I.D.
R,C .9449-.9457
L .7874-.7882

1987-89 Trx350D

Cam lobe height
in 1.3933-1.3937
ex 1.3933-1.3937

Journal O.D.
R .9431-.9439
C .9423-.9431
L .7856-.7864

Bearing I.D.
R,C .9449-.9457
L .7874-.7882

As you can see the lift is slightly less, but unadjusted or worn rockers and cam can and will cause the same loss.

Discuss!!!!!

[hrc200x]

Are you going to buy a TRX cam and find out how it goes? Where did you buy your $47 cam chain? What brand is it? I wonder if the porting on a TRX head is the same as a 350x head.

[lisnup65]

Are you going to buy a TRX cam and find out how it goes? Where did you buy your $47 cam chain? What brand is it? I wonder if the porting on a TRX head is the same as a 350x head.

Just may end up buying the TRX cam and giving it a try in the spare machine.

The cam chain was a D.I.D...

Porting on a 4 stroke head?!!

[JayP]

Did you ever try that cam? I am considering it too.

PartsFish has 1989 TRX350D cam for $60 versus over $150 for a ATC350X cam.

[lisnup65]

Did you ever try that cam? I am considering it too.

PartsFish has 1989 TRX350D cam for $60 versus over $150 for a ATC350X cam.

In the next few weeks I will have the 350X project that noone wanted back on its feet. It will have the TRX cam in it. Lift is the only difference. I beleive that it will give a bit more lower end with less upper end. It will be fine for a trail general purpose machine.

[JayP]

I am interested in how it works out. Was the 1989 TRX350D the right one for me to use? I want to make sure I get the right one to fit in the bearings correctly.

Why was it the "project no one wanted"? I thought I had that one!!?

Did you consider using the whole haed of a 350D? I was wondering if this is an alternative to trying to find a 350X cylinder head.