1. Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

Kent Howerton's 1976 Factory 360

Discussion in 'Vintage/Left Kickers' started by Crashaholic, May 13, 2018.

  1. Crashaholic Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Antelope Valley, CA.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    73 450WR 6spd motor in a 75 MK frame
    Kent Howerton's 1976 factory 360 featured on the Flashback Racing website. Sadly this was the last year Husky won an AMA 500cc Outdoor MX title.
    http://vintageworksbikes.com/1976Husqvarna360.html

    Surprising how simple these old bikes are compared to todays technology, but they did the job.

    DSC00899-898x617.jpg

    DSC00881-439x585.jpg

    DSC00879-905x687.jpg

    More pics on the Flashback Racing website.
    Crashaholic, May 13, 2018
    #1
    Steve-F, steadydirt and moto_surfer like this.

  2. visiteur1948 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    france Europe
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    husqvarna only
    250769_2632_1976500-howerton.png
    250769_3476_kent-howerton-1975.jpg
    visiteur1948, May 14, 2018
    #2

  3. visiteur1948 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    france Europe
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    husqvarna only
    Kent Howerton.jpg

    in action ....:thumbsup:
    visiteur1948, May 14, 2018
    #3

  4. ruwfo Administrator

    Location:
    NJ
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 390CR, 1982 430CR, 1984 400WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 250XC, 2016 FJ-09
    Kent's bike was very trick even back then, compared to a stock 76 360, shock's (fox air) & their swingarm mounts, front forks etc.
    ruwfo, May 14, 2018
    #4

  5. silverstreakNZ Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Christchurch nz
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82cr500,76gp360,90wr250,81 420AXC
    Other Motorcycles:
    74 tm400 , 02 gasgas ec 300
    What works are they ?
    silverstreakNZ, May 14, 2018
    #5

  6. Crashaholic Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Antelope Valley, CA.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    73 450WR 6spd motor in a 75 MK frame
    Agreed.

    I wonder what this doodad is bolted to the cyl. fins. Do you suppose the factory isolated a main source of cylinder fin ringing and used this bolt and spacer to stopped it?
    DSC00905-441x590B.jpg


    And then theres this mysterious allen screw. Wonder what purpose it serves?
    DSC00879-905x687 B.jpg
    Crashaholic, May 14, 2018
    #6
    steadydirt likes this.

  7. markt2 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Nevada
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1976 250CR (times 2)
    Other Motorcycles:
    Several vintage Yamahas
    Lots of trick little details compared to the stock 1976! It looked like to me that allen might be holding a chain guide "wedge" to the front of the swingarm?

    I also think I remember reading that fin would break from vibration on the 360's? Could be imagining things though. :excuseme:
    markt2, May 14, 2018
    #7
    2premo and watto450 like this.

  8. jimspac Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Connecticut
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250WR, 82 430WR, 84 250WR, 85 400
    Other Motorcycles:
    86 400WR, 82 Montesa Cota 349
    250769_2632_1976500-howerton.png

    Notice on the front engine mount that there are 2 front engine mounting points as opposed to one on the 360. This was a prototype leading up to the 77 390. The frame is clearly a 1977 because of the rear shock upward angle.
    jimspac, May 16, 2018
    #8

  9. 2premo Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Northern NV
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    98 WR360, 1987 WR430, 1988 XC430
    Other Motorcycles:
    Sherco 300, 2002 KTM 380EXC


    probably a wedge as you said, consider the angles with the sprocket so far from the swingarm, could be a rub issue at full extension
    on the odd bolt, this would be a "ported" engine, not sure of the vibrations due to an altered power band from stock
    2premo, May 16, 2018
    #9

  10. ruwfo Administrator

    Location:
    NJ
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 390CR, 1982 430CR, 1984 400WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 250XC, 2016 FJ-09
    The biggest mod's are the suspension, the Swingarm -looks stock at 1st glance, but it's braced in front of the tire,
    and the shocks mounts are relocated back further. And then there's a front chain wedge, or there would be too much slack, another mod. I found this out when i made a 76 works style replica, like my brother rode as Chuck Sun's team mate.

    Up Front custom made triple clamps, and those forks are the same length as what we'd get in 1979, who know's what modifications are done to the internals, & inside the motor.

    The more u study it the more you'll see...
    ruwfo, May 17, 2018
    #10

  11. Big Maico Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Texas
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    79' CR 250
    Other Motorcycles:
    2 Maico 490, KTM 525 & 450
    If I remember right that bike is sitting over the front door of a Friends House.

    He & Kent are really good friends & used to go riding in Colorado .

    I've meet Kent a few times at the Local Vintage races & got to see him ride a few vintage bikes!
    Big Maico, May 17, 2018
    #11
    Crashaholic and steadydirt like this.

  12. steadydirt Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Ontario
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2007 2002 wr 250 1994 wxe 250
    Other Motorcycles:
    fj 1100 cb500 cb350 rt 200 xs 650
    read somewhere he used a new clutch every moto/practise. left it in 3rd or 4th and clutched it; it was said one could heard it moan
    steadydirt, May 20, 2018
    #12

  13. Kartwheel68 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Newnan, Georgia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 125XC, 250XC, 430XC, 430WR, 250CR
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 175WR , 76 250WR, 74 250 Mag
    Compared to a stock Husky that bike is pretty trick, but compared to his competition it is outdated, which makes his winning the championship that year all the more impressive.
    Kartwheel68, May 21, 2018
    #13
    auto likes this.

  14. Motoduc84 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Nebraska
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1982 250 WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    Duc MTS 620, Yam SR500, Suz RM 125B
    When we were shooting the "BackTrack" DVD, Kent told me that at the last race in '76, the countershaft had actually cracked during the final moto and that the circlip was gone. Nothing holding the sprocket in place...except for the chain.
    Motoduc84, Jun 5, 2018
    #14