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

PVL troubles

Discussion in 'Vintage/Left Kickers' started by oldnslo, Jun 19, 2016.

  1. oldnslo Husqvarna
    B Class

    Location:
    Pa.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1974 husky Mag
    Other Motorcycles:
    Ktm, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha
    Having issues with my PVL ignition. First the bike will only start and run if I catch it in gear. Will not fire from the kicker. Seems to have good spark but apparently not enough on tic over from the kick starter. Looking for better alternative ignitions on the market or advise on where to start in trouble shooting the current PVL. It's on my 74 Mag.....any help, words of wisdom or alternate solutions is greatly accepted and highly appreciated.

    Oldnslo
  2. Eric The Leg Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Currently Tacoma, WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1986 WR400, 1985 WRX400, 1979 WR250
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 Kawasaki KZ 440
    Have you pulled the cover and checked your timing since original setup?
    if the rotor is not keyed (my PVL is not), it could be spinning on the shaft. the shifting timing could explain the good spark but difficulty starting.
    Did you lap the rotor to the shaft with valve paste? That's recommended in the workshop manual for installing new rotors. A drop of Loctite can also help if you did lap the shaft/rotor and it's still not staying put.
    Bodger likes this.
  3. oldnslo Husqvarna
    B Class

    Location:
    Pa.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1974 husky Mag
    Other Motorcycles:
    Ktm, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha
    Hi Eric,

    I didn't install the PVL so I have no instructions to verify timing is correct. The bike had it installed prior to me owning it so I cannot confirm either of your questions. Maybe someone can help me with what is the correct timing required on a 74 CR MAG and I could pull it and lap as you suggest.
  4. disonny Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    upstate ny
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    73 360 wr/rt, 75 wr250 78 cr250,
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 wr250, 84 wr400
    Bodger likes this.
  5. oldnslo Husqvarna
    B Class

    Location:
    Pa.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1974 husky Mag
    Other Motorcycles:
    Ktm, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha
    Thanks..I called and am getting it sorted by Jack......well done men.....thank you both...
    Bodger and Eric The Leg like this.
  6. Bodger Husqvarna
    A Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    wr400 enduro 1986
    Other Motorcycles:
    triumphs, bsas, yam tt500
    I noticed Penton will test your whole Motoplat kit ignition, coil, stator for $35..seems pretty reasonable anybody had experience with them on that?

    Then there is the Motoplat service in the UK as well..

    I asked the other day about Runtronic ignitions...anybody use that?..they are model ignitioons used as well on MC's and cars...like the scooter ignitions that are sooo cheap, made in China, that I think it was dukkman was fooling with..

    The full Penton kit it a healthy $600-700ish price range for alternator and ignition. Yeeouch...'good tho'.
    ajcmbrown likes this.
  7. Kartwheel68 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Newnan, Georgia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 125XC, 250XC, 430XC, 430WR, 250CR
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 175WR , 76 250WR, 74 250 Mag
    The problem is the stock kicker, it does not allow enough stroke to spin the engine over fast enough to generate spark.
    DaveM and Bodger like this.
  8. grouty Auto Lover ...

    Location:
    South West UK
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    78 390WR, 78 390 AMX, 500 Humph
    Other Motorcycles:
    works 73 CCM 520, another 73 CCM520
    I have used 3 in the last year or so. The original Motoplat died after 38 years a couple of weeks ago on the 390 6 speed. New one required ! I have also had an Electrex World on the 390 Auto, and a Power Dynamo on the other 390 Auto. As far as the new ignition systems go, I am still on the fence ! The latest is the German Power Dynamo. The first major impression was the lighting capacity ..... brilliant. I have not run it long enough yet to see how it fares with heat and general running. The PD has no keyway, which for me makes timing a doddle.
    Bodger likes this.
  9. Kartwheel68 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Newnan, Georgia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 125XC, 250XC, 430XC, 430WR, 250CR
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 175WR , 76 250WR, 74 250 Mag
    I have MZB/Powerdynamo ignitions on several bikes, including my 82 430WR and they have all performed flawlessly.
    Bodger likes this.
  10. suprize Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Bendigo, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    WR 400, bike in a box Moto Villa 350
    Other Motorcycles:
    ktm 300
    im still running the original motosplat and ride with a packed lunch, tent and sleeping bag at all times;)
    DaveM, Bodger and dukkman like this.
  11. dukkman Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Warwick Queensland Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    85/WR 400,86/WR 240,83/430 is mates
    Other Motorcycles:
    69@71/TS90-76/TS100-72/DKW-78/PE
    Has that one got a motosplat and not the legendary SEM ?
    Bodger likes this.
  12. ajcmbrown Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Metung Victoria Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    400WR 250WR 07 WR500 430AE 360AE
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 500CR Ducati Multistrada 1200S
    My '88 is "lucky" enough to have the legendary SEM Mike, but being the good guy that I am, I'd sell it to you for the right price!! :eek::lol:
    Bodger likes this.
  13. oldnslo Husqvarna
    B Class

    Location:
    Pa.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1974 husky Mag
    Other Motorcycles:
    Ktm, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha
    Interesting thing is after I installed the " NEW" PVL system to my Husky it ran fantastic but slowly became harder and harder to start as the day wore on and I continued to race my moto's. found that the timing was again off when I checked it. Appears as though the rotor is rotating on the shaft.....Hate the PVL ignition ! going to reset the rotor once again, maybe apply aLittle more loctite this time around...the bike did run strong when I did run do I'm pleased about that but gave away most of my cold beverages to the guy parked next to me for pushing me and my husky to get it started prior yo each race! Cool guy !
    Bodger likes this.
  14. grouty Auto Lover ...

    Location:
    South West UK
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    78 390WR, 78 390 AMX, 500 Humph
    Other Motorcycles:
    works 73 CCM 520, another 73 CCM520
    Make sure you "lap" the flywheel in, with some fine paste. Wipe it clean and check the colour of the lapped area. It should be a dark grey. Then clean the area on the shaft and in the flywheel with some brake cleaner to get rid of any oil or grease. Fit and time the flywheel, torque to specs (mine is 90Nm). When you have run the bike for 5-10 minutes, re-check the tightness. Then clean the thread again with brake cleaner. Apply loctite to the THREAD ONLY and tighten to specs. I usually leave mine overnight to set.
    Bodger likes this.
  15. stormer254 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    England
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    More than I dare let her know
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yes!
    The torque for a PVL rotor was only about 25Nm on the document I found on the internet!
  16. dartyppyt Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Illinois
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    17 TE 150, 82CR 500
    Other Motorcycles:
    82 125,250,430&500 79 390 83 250
    Tip, use a permanent blue or black sharpy and color the crank and inside flywheel. Cause most peeps don't have blue machinist dye.

    Then lap. If there is any color left then you know it's not fully mating the taper surfaces.

    Do as rest says and clean lapping past off good.
    stormer254 likes this.
  17. justintendo klotz super techniplate junkie

    Location:
    mercer, pa/northwest pa
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    84 250,86 400,87 430,88 250,95 360
    Other Motorcycles:
    99 kawasaki zrx 1100
    was the flywheel lapped and torqued?
  18. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    Jack Penton didn't he help Kawasaki develop the KDX200 / 220?

    Just like on the old jeeps with the rear tapered hubs as with the flywheels I lap everything in that's tapered.
    The taper when mated properly needs to key.
  19. dukkman Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Warwick Queensland Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    85/WR 400,86/WR 240,83/430 is mates
    Other Motorcycles:
    69@71/TS90-76/TS100-72/DKW-78/PE
    Loctite does not work which is why the factory manual says " Lap the flywheel to the shaft ".
    justintendo likes this.
  20. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    There is different kinds of fine grit lapping compound.