Kent Howerton's 1976 Factory 360

[Crashaholic]

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.







More pics on the Flashback Racing website.

 

[visiteur1948]

 

[visiteur1948]

in action ....

 

[ruwfo]

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.

 

[silverstreakNZ]

What works are they ?

 

[Crashaholic]

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.

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?



And then theres this mysterious allen screw. Wonder what purpose it serves?

 

[markt2]

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.

 

[jimspac]

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.

 

[2premo]

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.

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

 

[ruwfo]

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...

 

[Big Maico]

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!

 

[steadydirt]

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

 

[Kartwheel68]

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.

 

[Motoduc84]

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.