A very common 350x problem is that they get grooves in the head and head cap where the cam runs, I belive this is caused by a chunk of metal falling onto the cam and getting welded into the aluminum. That tube that is on the outside of the motor that goes from the bottom end to the top end brings oil right to the top of the cam and drops oil on it. So if there is a chunk of metal in there, your in trouble. Your running motor could have this problem, there's no way to tell until you take the head cap off.

I have 2 extra 350x motors, 1 of the heads is real bad with grooves, the other has one small groove but is usable, but 2 of the exghaust studs are broke off.

My question is this: does anyone know a way to fix the grooves in the head problem? I've heard of a cam that has bearings on it, my guess is that the bearing looks similar to a swing arm bearing. That would solve the problem but I don't know where to locate one, I've emailed web, no reply, looked on Powroll's web site and didn't find anything there, so I emailed them and am still waiting for a reply.

 

Hrc I don't think there is enough metal in the head to machine it for bearings.A 300ex has that kind of setup,brngs on the cam.I just got done rebuilding my 350x & it just didn't seem like there was enough room.You could mosy likey have the head machined where the cam runs & put some type of brass bushing on it.

 

Yeah, that could be a problem, but another solution the cam place could do would be to make the diameter of the cam where the bearing is smaller, that would compensate for the larger bearing on it. So the outside of the bearing would be the same size as the cam right now. Know what I mean?

 

That might work but will the cam be strong enough after making it smaller on the ends?Well anyway keep thinking,just don't give up on those engines they are getting harder to find.

 

The reason the heads stuff up is because of two reasons.Low oil level and wheelies.A person I know(unfortunately) used to hire 350x's at Pismo.His favorite party trick was to do wheelies as long as he could on his way back to the hire joint just so the head and cam would burn out or just start to.

 

There are billet needle brg. cams for the 350x to fit in the stock head or over sized.

 

MickeyDunlap: where do I find the bearing cams? How much are they? You say they either make it so it will fit into a stock head and a machined head? What about rockers, can you use stock or have to buy special ones from the makers of the cam?

 

I have 1 needle bearing cam left to fit into a stock head that is mildly scored for $265.