• Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

  • 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.

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Running an 84 510 aircooled 4 stroke on Methanol

N

NIFF

Husqvarna
C Class
Just wondered if anyone has tried running the aircooled 510 on Methanol. This fuel runs cooler and I was thinking it might reduce the engine temperature on the bike. It runs well but seems to run hot. I have read several articles saying that Husky never got the heat problem sorted on the 510 untill they introduced watercooling. Mine is the 84 with the ignition stator (SEM) attached to the ignition cover. I'm new to the web site and have found some fantastic info so far.
 
Same here. Heat has never been a problem as long as everything is within spec's.
Granted the air-cooled models were prone to wear but not due to heat but rather the low volume of oil. Change oil often and clean air filter as often or more.
 
If you're really intent on useing alcohol for fuel you're going to have to do some pretty serious rejetting and make sure that the fuel lines and needle and seat are compatible with alky. You'll also probably need a bigger tank because you are going burn through fuel at a much higher rate.
 
Up the jets 250% as a starting point.

Like rajobigguy states, your hooska will become alcoholic.

I run my BSA Victor 480cc on Methanol without any trouble, but sometimes find that the 1 gallon tank is inadequate.

Surrey Cycles will sell you a Mk11 Amal already jetted ballpark http://www.surreycycles.com/carb_02.htm
 
I never have known anyone who had one of the air cooled four stroke bikes. I have noticed that with the water cooled 1988 model I have the radiators are longer than those on the two stroke and if you look at say a 500 two stroke for comaprison the two stroke air cooled one has a lot more fins than the four stroke air cooled ones I see pictures for. So I would from that observation expect the air cooled ones to have issues though they seem sought after. I am on my third timing chain, finally got a length of it from the bearing supply place but havn't used it much since I got the non stock chain. No real other issues besides the subframe attachment mushing out and getting attached with arc welding technique.

As for methanol probably just sonething to think about. Not for long range either in reliability or distance possibilities. Generally you use 12:1 compression or there abouts besides the totally different carb for way different portions of air fuel ratio. Never did it though on anything I have had.

Fran
 
Thanks for the comments everyone - I'll check the jetting and timing before I do anything. It's running on a delorto phm 40mm - what jetting should it have?
I read an article in VMX 19 which talked about the aircooled 510 running hot. Maybe I'm a bit paranoid about it, I don't have the bike that long - it's justI've heard scary stories about the engines. I've been changing the oil after every race meeting and cleaning the air filter. Also checked the reed valve inside the clutch casing. So far the bike is running well.
 
I have just seen this post,i to have had trouble with the head getting hot to the extent that the valves sunk into the head,and i have also wondered about running mine on methanol.i did try but it kept stalling on slow corners :(
 
If the head is getting hot and you have valve seat recession ..... what fuel are you using ??
I run all my bikes (4 and 2 stroke) using a 20% mix of 115 octane leaded race fuel with 99 octane super unleaded. They run much cooler and I do not have an issue with the valves drilling themselves up into the seats.
Make sure your ignition timing is spot on, and use leaded fuel !
The best option is to pay for a session on a rolling road.
 
Heat problem on a proper built and tuned Husky 4T in Ireland?
Agree with Oldhuskychuck:oldman:
I run them in Africa under adverse conditions in a variety of disciplines and no issues. True, keep moving as they dont like chronic crawling or standing around on idle for long on hot days.
The sinking valve seats are more a result of some not so good allu head-castings but even this is fixed by installing deep draw seats and radius cut SS valves which is par for the course on my cylinder head rebuilds. Together with some good flow porting, stock header pipes and reverse cone megaphones it performs real well without "heat issues".
The 86 barrels and heads have larger fin areas and are my fav upgrade. With 83/4 you can install the extra oilfeed which runs from the drainplug to crank case just below barrel, comes of the later pre oilpump 410s.

The aircooled crank lobes warble (for a lack of technical explanation) under severe rpm, or detonation, thus there is a limit to the abuse they will handle. Though these engines have an appetite to rev ít's not required, they make plenty low and mid.

Take care of it, they are special classics.
 
Not a 4 stroke guy, but could you install a oil cooler and possible a small electric fan that is thermostat controlled ?
 
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