I thought it might be of interest to some if I summarise the lifespan of this thread:
Alright, I started this thread nearly exactly a year ago****************************************! This Husky has really put me to the test, I have spent a lot of time hating it but more time digging in and learning a heap. I think I can safely say (geez I hope I don't jinx myself) that I have the big issues sorted.
Initially the bike just didn't want to start, I had it through 3 mechanics with good reps, one doing a shim check. In their defense they were not Husky trained but the dollars spent didn't fix my issues, one didn't charge me as couldn't work it out.
Then I fiddled with the carby - did the recommended upgrade of needles etc - worse! So went back to standard! The aftermarket air/fuel mix screw was a good find.
So a mate of mine went over the rest of the bike - new wheel bearings, chain, sprockets, clutch master cylinder - all very helpful but none of which tackled the fact this bike didn't like to actually run.
So on the umpteenth weekend ride cut short, I decided to pull off bits till I found something wrong. Off came the cylinder head cover, a cursory look at the decomp setup, couldn't tell if anything was up there. Out with some feeler gauges and checked the valve clearances, exhaust were right on spec and one of the inlet was half way through acceptable range with the other being near the end of the range. So I took these back to spec. I really didn't think this could make a drastic difference so really thought the decomp could be a problem but it sounded too hard to get off with a high chance of damaging it so I decided to put it all back together and see if there was any improvement.
So back together and I push the starter button and kapow!!! instant start - you should have seen my smile!!!
So happy with myself I did a service, loaded with you beaut expensive oil and off on a test ride. Stop-start-stop-start hot cold and no worries until 30-40mins and the whole shebang dies, arrrghhh! More fiddling, checking sparks and head scratching to no avail.
All advice pointed to an electrical problem but where??????
Lots of forums mentioning stator or coil problems - Coil not too expensive so I nearly bought a new one to try my luck, the desk guy at the Husky dealer says "Bring us the bike, we are the service agents" so I did. They tried to get info off Husky Oz but of course they don't reply, so at my request they loosened the flywheel bolt and gave it back to me (no charge, thanks Graham Boyd Motorcycles) All that beautiful oil lost though.
Spoke to Steve at Betta Bikes in SA, 20 or 30 years experience and he promised he'd have it on his test bench for a day and fixed - the weeks went by, he wouldn't call, he wouldn't accept defeat, damn Husky electrics spent many hours on his test bench with heat applied, with cold applied and worked faultlessly. So we are at around the 5th week (he is busy and bench needed for other bikes too) and I suggest he give up and send it back, "give me one more day" - he wasn't going to let it beat him. So the next day we chat, he says he resorted to hitting bits while on test until something failed. This really didn't fill me with confidence - so a hammer broke something????
Anyhow what broke was the pulser and pickup coil. He replaced these, I handed over a significant amount of cash and he posted them back.
So put it back together, more expensive oil, Somehow got all wires running into correct connections as when I pushed that button, kapow**************************************** She lives again! Had time for a half hour ride so off I went, all good on the trails but no time to push it past that 40 min mark. I get home, neighbours wife wants to berate me for never working so I push kill switch - nothing**************************************** Now bike doesn't want to stop****************************************!!!
I stall it, have a chat, go to restart and dead****************************************! Surprisingly I have reached some form of Zen (the book must be right) as I just smile at the bike and push it into the garage. I go off spend time with family and the tv and as everyone heads off to bed I know I will not sleep so down to garage and a dismantling I go...tank off and ting, ting, ting a bolt bounces its way through the bike and onto the floor. More smiles as a quick look shows the coil hanging loose. Put it all together and of course she lives again.
Have had a couple of hour+ rides now with no fault.
So now I feel like I have won, I would have preferred to have a bike that just went but I have learned a heap. Now I have some decisions to make, do I spend money on working up the suspension and there is still a possible leaking clutch hydraulics niggle?
I have ridden a little 200 2 stroke and really like it, I just don't need the grunt of this bike being the Captain Slow of dirt bikes!
I will likely keep it as I don't have the cash and wont get near what I have spent on the Husky. So off to search the suspension mod threads - anyone with recommendations of who to take it to in Newcastle or Sydney and how much?
So there's my story so far, being new to dirt bikes I have learned that these things are more than just something to ride, you have to involve yourself in their repair and sometimes you can do a better job yourself and need to find the right help for any problem. They are an expensive little hobby to have. Lastly, thank the heavens for sites like this, else my bike would never have breathed again!
Cheers All
