Author Topic: HotRods Crankshaft... New Design? (Read 9991 times)

nathan89 · « **on:** August 14, 2014, 02:09:51 AM »

What's up guys?

I haven't been keeping up with the 250r forums until I found this site just a few weeks ago. I used to be a member on trx250r.NET but I stopped visiting that site about a year ago.

I remember reading a thread on .NET one of the last times I visited the site that was about HotRod cranks. Someone was saying that HotRod had slightly redesigned the 250r cranks to help with tin failures. I think I remember reading that the new, updated cranks were shipping in a different color box or something...?

Is there any truth to this? Since I've been out of the game for over a year, I would like to know how the HotRod cranks are holding up in some of your 250r engines.

Sorry if this has already been talked about. I searched around here and didn't find any info on this topic.

Thanks guys,
Nathan

rk88r · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2014, 07:36:04 AM »

Rumor has it that the ones in the tannish box are the new ones. The red, white, and blue boxes are the older ones.

JesseA420 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2014, 07:59:43 AM »

old style box

new style box

Tbone07 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2014, 08:28:14 AM »

^^^that last picture is the one you want. There's lots of guys running those with no issues

nathan89 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2014, 09:31:57 PM »

OK cool thanks for the info. Does anyone know what exactly they changed with the new cranks...? I am going to freshen up my engine soon and put a 310 ESR cylinder on it. The crank I am running now is the OEM crank that came factory in my motor, and it has never been rebuilt. I want to either replace with a Hotrod crank or have my OEM crank rebuilt for peace of mind. Can't decide between the two options. What would you guys do for the most reliability?

Here is what my crank looks like. Not the best looking but it's in spec. This picture was taken about a year ago.

Tbone07 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2014, 10:02:07 PM »

You definitely want the OEM rebuilt crank. OEM is the best quality by leaps and bounds

Japan > China

nathan89 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2014, 10:07:50 PM »

True. I know the OEM crank is superior in quality. I have heard that if the person who rebuilds the crank doesn't do it right and treat the crank nice that it can cause tin failure. I wish we could still buy new OEM cranks because it would be a no-brainer!

I usually have CrankWorks do all my 4-stroke cranks. Are they good with 2-stroke cranks as well? I would assume they are. What rod kit would be best to use for rebuilding an OEM crank?

kb250r · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2014, 11:16:25 PM »

If it was me,i would run the hotrod crank for $225 or so,you could have a brand new crank..just imo

udontknowme · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2014, 11:50:06 PM »

put that oem crank on the shelf for a hotrods ? you must be joking

crankworks has always done a good job for me on several 2t crankshafts. they even did some custom work boring out pin holes and machining down the wheels. it turned out well

the new hotrods usa rod may be ok. never tried one but if the bearing is still from taiwan and i think it is then i would probly pass. i dont think you can go wrong with prox. unless you can find a oe rod somewhere

kb250r · « **Reply #9 on:** August 15, 2014, 08:11:41 AM »

I under stand standing by oem,but I run a 750.00 crank works built crank and if you've done business with them there is nothing cheap about them..So depending on what you are having done sometime it makes sense to just go New for the same price...And yes I would hang up a 25 year old beat on rebuilt crank ,for a 2014 hot rods crank....

rsss396 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 15, 2014, 08:32:10 AM »

If you luck out you will get the new Hot Rod USA machined rod (not so sure they are forged here), the same supplier still had both because a customer of mine got the new USA rod version a few weeks before I ordered from the same supplier and got the China version. There are both still the newer version in the same box but HotRod is starting to machine and heat treat the rods here in the US for better quality control. The USA version rod will have a copper color while the Chinese version will be a steel color
I welded the tins on both to be safe even though it seems that they have fixed the loose tin problem that would peel off the crank.
The cr500 guys seem to still have problems with loose tins, but honestly the cr500 HotRod rod took allot abuse in my +6 and +4 stroked cranks making over 100hp so I have no problems with them.
And the nice thing about a trx is they can be bought from hotrod already stroked +4, the other thing about a used crank is every time you rebuild them the press fit on the crank halves slightly loosen,so welding the pin becomes a good option

Bio86 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 15, 2014, 10:02:14 AM »

If there was enough clearance, would be slick to machine out an H-beam and come up with a better design so average garage monkeys can change the rod bearing and inspect it easier. Easier said then done obviously.

udontknowme · « **Reply #12 on:** August 15, 2014, 08:16:32 PM »

from everything ive seen on youtube and other sites it appears the hotrods has had a few problems in the lower bearing area, atleast on some of the crankshafts. some make it 10min and others an hour. others dont have a problem like rsss said. maybe the bearings are sourced from various manufacturers. its hard to say

as for throwing out a 25yo crank. trying to recall the last time i seen or heard of a oem crank break one of the snouts off or break in half. never seen one that i recall. seen alot of wisecos though, broke in half, broke off snouts etc. dont recall seing anyhotrods broke but seen a few pics of the tins fly off and heard quit a few stories and vids of the lower rod bearing going tits up in a hour or less.

i think its bullshit honda wont sell the rod seperate. ill bet they didnt want every backyard hack trying to rebuild these tinned cranks is the reason why

i see wossner makes a rod. not sure if its any good or not http://www.wossnerpistons.com/products/product-details/id/WOS-P2042/name/wossner-connecting-rod-honda-trx-250

nathan89 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 15, 2014, 08:54:57 PM »

I think I am going to go ahead and have CrankWorks rebuild my OEM crank when I take my engine apart. Pretty sure I am going to use a Pro-X short rod version. Found one on eBay for $92

matt250r21 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 15, 2014, 09:06:42 PM »

Take a look at Ken Oconnor Racing, he is the guy I'm sending my cranks to have rebuilt soon. He has some cool vids on youtube about rebuilding the tin can honda cranks right.