Dynamic Duo

[bp739]

First off let me say Thank You for nominating my machines for TOTM…I’ve seen some beautiful machines on here that are way out of my league…I’m no expert just an average guy doing the best I can.

Well this whole hobby kind of started by accident, just about two years ago. I was asking my best friend Jeff about an old 4x8 trailer he used to have. I was looking for a smaller one than the heavy 6x10 utility trailer I have, just for those times when I wanted to haul the kid’s 50cc quad. He said that he still had it, and it was sitting behind his dad’s house in pretty bad shape…rotted floor, flat tires…but the frame was still solid. I offered to buy it, but Jeff said that I could just have the trailer. So a few days later I stopped buy to pick it up…when I walked around the corner of the house there it sat with the 86 200X on it. I had forgotten all about it.

Jeff bought the 200x in the early 90’s near Boise, Idaho while he was stationed there during his time in the Air Force, the trike was actually originally from Kansas. He brought it back home to Pennsylvania around 96’ or 97’ on the very same trailer. We used to ride the 200X around his camp on weekends, for about a year or so.

I immediately called Jeff to ask what he planned to do with the three wheeler, I offered to buy it. He was like “sure, how about $50”, to which I replied “sold”. At this point the 200x had been sitting out doors for roughly 7 years. Here’s a picture of it after I got it home and cleaned it up.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/DCP00122-1.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/DCP00121-1.jpg

It wasn’t in horrible shape, had a busted clutch lever, dry rotted seat, chain was shot, busted fenders and 7 year old gas in the tank…it was more like varnish at this point.Amazingly there was no rust in the tank.

The first thing I did was drain the tank, and pull the carb. It took me around 4 hours to get the “varnish” out of the carb. I drained the oil and changed it, and replaced the plug. After about 20 kicks she fired up and ran…I wanted to see how bad it was…I ran it for a while and surprisingly, no smoke.

From there I started the teardown, grinding and sanding the frame and every single part of the trike, prime and repaint, replaced every single bearing, rebuilt the forks, fortunately the rear shock was in great shape.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/atc200x31.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/200xframe-before1.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/200xmotor21.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/frame11.jpg

I replaced the stock plastic with new Maier fenders, all decals are from Harlan Lynse, Tammy and Rob Mosher restored the seat. My neighbor, Terry who does body work removed the dents from the tank and did an outstanding job repainting it. New Moose bars, 909 grips, UNI filter and a blue KMC o-ring chain.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/frame41.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/001_1.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/002_2.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/009_9-1.jpg

And heres how she ended up...not bad for a rookie....:thumbsup:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/DCP00377-2.jpg

[bp739]

Well at this point I’m completely hooked…I was about to finish the 200X, so I started to look for another project, I was about to buy another 86 200X when I stumbled across a post on 3ww.com about a 350X a member was considering buying locally. I P.M.’d him and asked him to let me know if he decided not to buy it, as I might be interested in it. As it turned out, he didn’t buy it because of its poor condition, he was looking for a rider. I promptly called the seller and picked up an 85 350X in sad shape a few days later.

This poor thing had seen better days, but with all its problems it had a solid motor. It started on the first kick, cold, no smoke, and ran through all 6 gears, so in my book it was worth the $400 just for the motor. This thing was like “Franken-Trike” it had a swingarm from an 83 200X attached with some make-shift brackets welded to the frame. Thank goodness the engineer who came up with this idea was a poor welder and I easily ground them off. It also had a “clutch” lever that looked like it came off of a Schwinn. There was not one brake on the entire trike…both the front and rear brake systems were non existent. The gas tank was completely rusted through and repaired with JB Weld, and the air cleaner was a shop rag held on with a hose clamp.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/DCP350x4.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/DCP00193.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/DCP00192.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/DCP00191.jpg

The parts quest began, I scored an entire, complete swingarm on Ebay for $145 shipped. I replaced the tank, front and rear brake systems, every bearing, rebuilt the forks, replaced the rear shock, rear wheels and tires, all skid plates, and just about everything else you can think of. New DG grab bar, MSR handlebars, Pro Grip grips, UNI filter, blue KMC o-ring chain. Once again the plastic was replaced with new Maier fenders, decals by Harlan, tank by Terry my neighbor, and the seat was restored by the Moshes’. I actually have a new set of wheels and tires which just haven’t made there way onto the 350x yet.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/002_2-2.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/001_1-2.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/006_6-1.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xframe002.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xroller2002.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xroller2007.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xmotor003.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xmotor002.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xmotor004.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xfender002.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/DCP00548.jpg

[bp739]

A year and a half later this is what I ended up with….the 350X is a beast it runs soooo… good…I just love it. Neither of these trikes will ever be beaten again…I ride them very little, maybe once a week, there more garage queens than anything…. I think they deserve a break and a good home, they’ve done their duty.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xfinished001.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xfinished002.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xfinished003.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350xfinished004.jpg

As for the next project..here it is, a “mostly” 87 bare frame 200X..I actually just picked up a set of 87 trees,with the dash mounts..hopefully sometime next year she'll be done...do I dare say TOTM may 2009 :thumbsup:

Thanks again for all the compliments, I hope you enjoyed the post.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/bp739/350x200x700001.jpg