Frame Failures On Wrx400s

Hi chaps

Do the WRX400s have any issues with frames cracking at the front engine mounts??
I just noticed these on mine...

ive never seen them crack like that, usually at the weld fitment an inch or so lower. loosening front engine mount mounts is usually the cause, or even the rear swinger mount in the engine loosening. i like to use phils ss front engine mounts instead of the stock aluminum and keep them tight.

Mine cracked where the down tube meets the engine cradle on both of my '88s, that looks more like loose engine mounts caused that as justintendo said.
Tony.

It looks like the paint has been removed from the cracked section. Maybe it's been welded poorly. I think it may have been re-welded. That is supposed to be a straight section of tube. Now I have no experience with this model, but I do not think Husqvarna would put that weld there. It is too close to the mount bolt hole section. I agree with Justin and Brown.

Mine was a factory bike that was rebuilt for the rider and given to him with his 1986 I know the frame paint is original. I saw no signs of repair but my bike has only 1175 miles on it and I know the 2nd owner I bought it from was scared of it and maybe put on 20 miles at the most.

looking at it again that does look like a previous repair that did not hold..there should be no weld there, just the little bosses welded in for motor mounting.

Those frames are heat treated and drawn down. It was likely a spot that was cooled to fast. My father and I both had improperly heat treated countershafts on our MR250s We both had the splines wipe off and the countershaft spun inside the sprocket. Luckily there were still countershafts available when it happened(1978)

a lot of husky riders came from Japanese bikes and had never put a spanner on an engine mount in their lives...i went to kick over a mates xc once and the motor moved in the frame, the bolts were spinning in the mounts...im like "WTF" he is öh? whats happened there??" I said "you need to keep these tight!" and he just looked at me and said. "never had to touch those on the yammie".. so cracks, odd wear patterns and egg shaped mounts are all possible on husky's

its a 1985....how many hours on the frame, how many slam cycles, corrosion, flex cycles, hot and cool cycles, etc etc. It will be very hard without structural data recording to give an answer. But suffice it to say your 1985 frame cracked at a stress point that out lived it's design failure life.

"design failure life?".."Husky"...cant be in the same sentence....

most likely neglect and abuse

I have at least one 85-86 frame with a crack in that general area. Some of the issue is most likely there is no head mount as many other brands. I never put the cracked frame in service but have modified the frames with tig welding and ER70S6 rod, no heat treating and have had no cracking.

Vibration crack. Never seen a husky frame crank except one I purchased that went off a low bridge. Drinking was involved.