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Hi everyone,
As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.
When he passed, I worked with his kids to gather the necessary credentials to keep this site running. Since then (and for however long they worked with Coffee), Woodschick and Dirtdame have been maintaining the site and covering the costs. Without their hard work and financial support, CafeHusky would have been lost.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working to migrate the site to a free cloud compute instance so that Woodschick and Dirtdame no longer have to fund it. At the same time, I’ve updated the site to a current version of XenForo (the discussion software it runs on). The previous version was outdated and no longer supported.
Unfortunately, the new software version doesn’t support importing the old site’s styles, so for now, you’ll see the XenForo default style. This may change over time.
Coffee didn’t document the work he did on the site, so I’ve been digging through the old setup to understand how everything was running. There may still be things I’ve missed. One known issue is that email functionality is not yet working on the new site, but I hope to resolve this over time.
Thanks for your patience and support!
Check your ring clamps
- Thread starter Squidman
- Start date
AndrewS;133293 said:
What are some of the critical spots that need to be checked each ride? Hose clamps rank high for me now, but I'm seeing mention of sprokets, subframe and suspension. Can a few people give me a feel for their regular maintenance routines? I've been so wrapped up in first several rounds of oil change, engine break in, and power up stuff that I haven't established a general walk around for each ride, or monthly rule of thumb check up. Are there any husky specific trouble spots that need extra care? What kind of time are the average husky riders putting in to keep their bike in top shape?
racemx904
Husqvarna
Pro Class
To be honest...I really don't spend much time...everyone does their check different...I usually grab a 8mm socket and go around every 8mm bolt or nut...then a 10mm and so on...then I check spokes by taking the spoke wrench and hitting each spoke like a tuner...easy..total of 10 minutes..I do that every ride....
And normally you shouldn't have to check your hose clamps...but you will figure out what tends to loosen up on your bike...
And normally you shouldn't have to check your hose clamps...but you will figure out what tends to loosen up on your bike...
glangston
Husqvarna
Pro Class
glangston;133371 said:
Man for only $120,
http://www.electotronics.com/spot2satellitegpsmessengerorange.aspx
That's some pretty solid peace of mind. Thanks for the heads up.
AndrewS
Husqvarna
AA Class
Like racemx904 said, I just have my sockets handy and check any bolts I can see, going through the different sizes. I include the hose clamps but they're usually okay.
The most troublesome bolts I've found have actually been the bolts on my turn signals. If you're road legal and use the stock signals, make sure to check them. They like to rattle loose, even though they have the nylon bit in the nut that should prevent it.
I seem to recall people mentioning problems with banjo bolts coming loose, so keep an eye on those as well.
It's hard to say all the things I check without standing in front of my bike, but as I said, it really doesn't take long, especially when you make it a routine.
The most troublesome bolts I've found have actually been the bolts on my turn signals. If you're road legal and use the stock signals, make sure to check them. They like to rattle loose, even though they have the nylon bit in the nut that should prevent it.
I seem to recall people mentioning problems with banjo bolts coming loose, so keep an eye on those as well.
It's hard to say all the things I check without standing in front of my bike, but as I said, it really doesn't take long, especially when you make it a routine.
naga
Husqvarna
AA Class
I guess I just don't get it.
It's a high strung dirt bike. You ride it - it breaks.
That's what they do.
When it breaks, you fix it. Then go break it some more. That's the deal.
No bike comes from the dealer bullet-proof (ok, maybe from George or one or two others). That's what "break-in" is for. Dude, it's a dirt bike, it will kill you given half a chance. Why would you trust you life, particularly when riding alone and obviously over your head to something you haven't personally checked over yourself?
Sorry you got hurt - but maybe this isn't your sport?
It's a high strung dirt bike. You ride it - it breaks.
That's what they do.
When it breaks, you fix it. Then go break it some more. That's the deal.
No bike comes from the dealer bullet-proof (ok, maybe from George or one or two others). That's what "break-in" is for. Dude, it's a dirt bike, it will kill you given half a chance. Why would you trust you life, particularly when riding alone and obviously over your head to something you haven't personally checked over yourself?
Sorry you got hurt - but maybe this isn't your sport?
Squidman;133423 said:
Well I think it is, at least I hate getting hurt.
I've called and talked to George and he offered to look at it, I think it would be an excellent idea to take him up on that offer for many reasons. He could give the bike a quick look over and give his opinion on that, and everything else about the bike.
George is a fantastic resource.
Uptite Husqvarna
111 W. Dyer Rd., Santa Ana 92707
714-540-2920
Coffee;133434 said:Well I think it is, at least I hate getting hurt.
I've called and talked to George and he offered to look at it, I think it would be an excellent idea to take him up on that offer for many reasons. He could give the bike a quick look over and give his opinion on that, and everything else about the bike.
George is a fantastic resource.
Uptite Husqvarna
111 W. Dyer Rd., Santa Ana 92707
714-540-2920
Squidman: George is an amazing guy and I would definitely take him up on the offer. You can learn more from George in 10 minutes than you can by yourself in a year ( he is that good) . IF you have questions or need help feel free to post up your questions in here or anywhere or send me a PM and we can talk further.
Trust me, all of these guys posting in here are willing to help out a new Husky rider even if some of them are a little rough around the edges.
T
naga
Husqvarna
AA Class
HuskyT - thanks - I've reread my post and I still don't think I was hacking on the guy, but perception varies, I guess.
Squidman, if you lived near Reno I would be more than happy to spend a few hours going over your bike with you. You buy the beer, of course. But you don't live near, so you really should take George up on his offer.
Never, never, never trust anything mechanical that you haven't checked over your self. NOTHING comes from the manufacturer "ride ready". NOTHING. So you are left trusting either the overworked, underpaid mechanic at your dealer - or yourself. Hell even if George himself was my dealer - I would still check MY bike before I rode it. Because if something goes "kablooy" I'm pretty sure George would feel bad - but I would be the one paying the price in skin.
Sorry if I came across as attacking you. But I really am concerned that you were riding alone, in unfamiliar terrain, on a bike you just assumed was 100% because it was new.
Much worse things than a little burn could have happened.
Call George.
Squidman, if you lived near Reno I would be more than happy to spend a few hours going over your bike with you. You buy the beer, of course. But you don't live near, so you really should take George up on his offer.
Never, never, never trust anything mechanical that you haven't checked over your self. NOTHING comes from the manufacturer "ride ready". NOTHING. So you are left trusting either the overworked, underpaid mechanic at your dealer - or yourself. Hell even if George himself was my dealer - I would still check MY bike before I rode it. Because if something goes "kablooy" I'm pretty sure George would feel bad - but I would be the one paying the price in skin.
Sorry if I came across as attacking you. But I really am concerned that you were riding alone, in unfamiliar terrain, on a bike you just assumed was 100% because it was new.
Much worse things than a little burn could have happened.
Call George.
pvduke
Husqvarna
Pro Class
my routine for all bikes:
side panels- not too tight now! just snug or youll spint the riv-nut.
sprocket- tight! every bike, every ride. this is critical! tighten the nut.
misc hardware- small bolts cant be torqued too tight or they'll snap. just snug them w/ a t-handle and make sure they aint gonna fall off. esp your brake and kick lever!!! had a (pos) yz 490 loose both on the same ride!!!
dont- over tighten your drain plug or screen covers bolts!
do- lube all yer pivots and check your pegs pins cotter pins or replace same with small key rings.
spokes- on stand, spin wheel, let a screwdriver blade tink the spokes and listen for a flat sound, then tighten that one up.
squid- get some t-handles and a 12mm combo wrench (4 the back sprocket) & go over her after every ride, or before if its filthy. a pain at first but takes 5 mins once you get in the groove. go see george too, you wont regret seeing the king of huskytown, this i promise you. look me up for a ride sometime. but be warned, i play really dirty for an old fart.
braaaaap!
side panels- not too tight now! just snug or youll spint the riv-nut.
sprocket- tight! every bike, every ride. this is critical! tighten the nut.
misc hardware- small bolts cant be torqued too tight or they'll snap. just snug them w/ a t-handle and make sure they aint gonna fall off. esp your brake and kick lever!!! had a (pos) yz 490 loose both on the same ride!!!
dont- over tighten your drain plug or screen covers bolts!
do- lube all yer pivots and check your pegs pins cotter pins or replace same with small key rings.
spokes- on stand, spin wheel, let a screwdriver blade tink the spokes and listen for a flat sound, then tighten that one up.
squid- get some t-handles and a 12mm combo wrench (4 the back sprocket) & go over her after every ride, or before if its filthy. a pain at first but takes 5 mins once you get in the groove. go see george too, you wont regret seeing the king of huskytown, this i promise you. look me up for a ride sometime. but be warned, i play really dirty for an old fart.
braaaaap!
Coffee;133434 said:Well I think it is, at least I hate getting hurt.
I've called and talked to George and he offered to look at it, I think it would be an excellent idea to take him up on that offer for many reasons. He could give the bike a quick look over and give his opinion on that, and everything else about the bike.
George is a fantastic resource.
Uptite Husqvarna
111 W. Dyer Rd., Santa Ana 92707
714-540-2920
Thanks for the heads up. I wish I had known about George before I purchased from a dealer here in Riverside. I'd just as soon give him the business. I'll be bringing my bike down to him for the 600 mile check up and a few upgrades.
pvduke;133624 said:look me up for a ride sometime. but be warned, i play really dirty for an old fart.
braaaaap!
Will do once I'm healed up and wrenched the bike back into shape. Thanks for the input. Besides the T wrenches and 12mm combo, what else do you carry in your trail pack that is specific for Husky. The generals like spare inner tube etc,... I'm putting together already but interested to see what everyone else carries.
jellyrug
Husqvarna
AA Class
I'm at about 2,000 miles with a TE610ie, did the 600 mile service myself and just an oil/filter change at around 1,500 miles. I must confess, I did not go around checking all bolts and nuts.
Only thing that fell off, was the star nut that holds the ignition switch.
This bike has been everywhere, 10ft in the air, 95mph on the pavement and I have dropped it in the dirt more than I would like to remember. Not a thing has gone wrong. Chain still needs no adjustment.
Only thing that fell off, was the star nut that holds the ignition switch.
This bike has been everywhere, 10ft in the air, 95mph on the pavement and I have dropped it in the dirt more than I would like to remember. Not a thing has gone wrong. Chain still needs no adjustment.