Question on frames.

[HuskyDude]

Will a EC 2001 frame be the same as a 2005 EC? Friend has a deal on a 250 01 and wants to swap parts to his 300 05. Isn't everything the same except piston and barrel?

[dank]

someone chime in if im wrong, but i thought they redesigned the frame in 05 for better handling.

[einsteingarage]

I can tell you that the motor will not bolt in. The bottom of the motor is different.

[Berkyboy]

You have a 50/50 chance that the motor will bolt in easily.

I can't remember which way it was moved but a motor mount frame tab was moved about 1/2 an inch (or so) in 2005. At the same time the engine cases were changed as well.

If you're lucky all you need is to provide an adequate width spacer. Pretty easy solution.

If you're unlucky you have to do some cutting and welding modifying the frame.

The axis location is the same, meaning horizontally the bolt hole lines up, its just the motor may net fall into place as the new tab location may be in the way.

Do a search here on the forums as I know it came up a few years ago.

[Stoby]

The earlier engines have different size swingarm bolts ,so engine,suspension linkage and frame have to be modified.Found this out the hard way!
Tried putting my 01 300 in a 05 250 frame.Lot of time taking things apart just to put my 300 back together again.

[Stoby]

Shock mount and tank mounting is different too........

[einsteingarage]

Originally Posted by Berkyboy

I can't remember which way it was moved but a motor mount frame tab was moved about 1/2 an inch (or so) in 2005. At the same time the engine cases were changed as well.


If you're unlucky you have to do some cutting and welding modifying the frame.

The axis location is the same, meaning horizontally the bolt hole lines up, its just the motor may net fall into place as the new tab location may be in the way.

That is correct, when I said the motor wouldn't fit this is the problem. I tried putting an 04 motor into an 05 frame and had to cut the tab and weld it a 1/2 in towards the outside so it would fit. Only the bottom tab by the shifter.

[Berkyboy]

As far as the swingarm goes the casting has been the same from 2001 on.

My understanding is in 2003 the pivot bolt, and the corresponding swingarm hat bushings, changed sligthly and are specific with the motor you have so you may need to replace them with the proper ones if your motor is older then 2003.

[Zman]

This thread did not address the difference in the swingarm pivot hole size in the frame that has to match the shaft. I wonder if a sleeve in the engine through hole makes the most sense when putting a new engine in an older frame. Then drilling the engine case hole to match the larger shaft for putting a old engine in the newer frame.

[prentice]

In 2008 I moved an 01 300 engine into an 04 frame, and did several early 2008 posts about that, and how I made it work, with excellent advice from forum members. Reviewing those posts may be of some help.

Now the initial question here in this post is about moving 01 parts into an 05 frame, not into an 04 frame like I did. From what I've heard, 05 frame tabs were in slightly different locations, as compared to 04 locations.

So if in fact the frame tabs moved (I not sure myself, but I heard they moved) there are more problems to be addressed than I faced and solved, as described in my early 2008 posts.

Good luck,
Prentice