OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Husqvarna => Topic started by: PEZBerq on January 30, 2011, 06:09:34 pm

Title: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: PEZBerq on January 30, 2011, 06:09:34 pm
Finally managed to revive the 84 Husky 500 Auto that I have been restoring and successfully released it back into the wild today.  These beasts are a tad on the heavy side with the alloy engine casing not exactly your feather weight magnesium jobs ;D ;D  Thanks to the boys from Husky Central and to Paul Rooney for giving me the good oil on tuning and starting techniques ::) ::).  At one stage it was being prepared to push off a cliff :P :P  The 500 aka "ten fins of fury" is a 3 speed auto and is a tad quick for its brakes.  One road test is all I am game to do :o :o :o  Also thanks to others from the forum for suggestions made during the resto which helped me sort out many of the previous bush mechanic owner's stuff ups!  Cant wait for the start of the new season of VMX in SE Queensland and the CD8 enduro loop :D :D
(http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt272/berquist01/Husqvarna%20500%20AE/P1010007.jpg)

(http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt272/berquist01/Husqvarna%20500%20AE/P1010005.jpg)

(http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt272/berquist01/Husqvarna%20500%20AE/P1010006.jpg)
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: frostype400 on January 30, 2011, 06:16:21 pm
Very nice bike. :)
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: PEZBerq on January 30, 2011, 06:17:16 pm
Thanks also to Husky500evo for lots of help and advice, benefit of his experience and the tail light :D
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: PEZBerq on January 30, 2011, 06:19:28 pm
Thanks Frosty.  Must admit the PE400 is one of the most exciting machines I ever rode back in the day. Used to ride PE175's and when a mate got a 400 I was hooked on big bores!
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: frostype400 on January 30, 2011, 06:25:29 pm
I don't think it matters what make a big bore is they are all great fun I think my tm400 will be exciting to ride pre75 I have a big shed now maybe I might get a husky one day. :)
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: GD66 on January 30, 2011, 06:32:10 pm
Bloody hell PEZ. Mung beans and lentils won't be on the breakfast menu the day you uncork that baby for a race. Weapon !  ;)
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on January 30, 2011, 06:40:13 pm
not many to be seen I think???  Very nice!
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Slakewell on January 30, 2011, 06:57:55 pm
These things are the great holeshot weapon.

Hold the brakes on full about 1/4 throttle (get it right and the back wheel is spinning just before the gate drops) lean forward and hold it on all the way to first turn.
Take the outside of the turn as you wont be able to stop for the inside line.  ;D Then work you way backwards for good mid pack finish.
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: PEZBerq on January 30, 2011, 07:09:16 pm
Slakewell you have got my race strategy nailed  :D :D  While the tail light works I didn't bother with the brake light - would have been false advertising ;D ;D
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Slakewell on January 30, 2011, 07:22:00 pm
I had a couple of 84 huskies and I remember two things about the front brake. #1 you needed soft EBC pads and careful setup. #2 the stock husky cable was shit and you lost heaps of power just with it's flex, I think I drill the cable adjuster out on the lath so I could fit a Yamaha cable. There is a photo of me on my 84 with the rear wheel of the ground braking so it must have worked. ;D
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Mike52 on January 30, 2011, 10:13:06 pm
Sweet.
I especially like the nice looking headlight reflector ;D and the chain guard.
Did you buy the chain guard and if so where?
Need one of those. :)
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Hoony on January 30, 2011, 10:37:59 pm
nice resto, one good looking Husky.
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: mainline on January 31, 2011, 07:41:55 am
beautiful, nice work
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Lozza on January 31, 2011, 08:20:24 am
Looks like you put the kick start on the gear shaft though  ;D ;D ;D

Nice to see another big bore restored :D
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: mustanggrahame on March 06, 2011, 07:36:12 pm
That looks fantastic PEZBerg. Where did you get the sticker kit? I hope my 84 looks as good as this one day.
Cheers, Grahame.
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: PEZBerq on March 06, 2011, 09:37:43 pm
Got the stickers from MXM in the UK Graeme. They do the tank as a standard product on the website. I had them do the side panels and number plate as a special - their standard ones dont have model numbers etc. 

Just send them a picture of what you want and they will do them for you. Note the side panel should have had the H on the Husqvarna as a larger font than the rest of the text.  Also the tank lettering is not correct - font should be much smaller. All depends if you want same as OEM or just something that looks good.

Well done on snagging the 510 TE. Its a ripper.  I am keen on one for the next project .....but may be a while. 
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Maicojames on March 10, 2011, 11:57:07 am
Looks awesome to me. The engine and hub paint-is is semi-gloss black? Thank you.
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Freakshow on March 10, 2011, 02:46:46 pm
Nice looking bike, but......... get another set of fonts on them numbers................ekkkkkk
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: PEZBerq on March 12, 2011, 11:13:36 am
MJ - the engine is Wurth semi gloss on cases, VHT barrell paint satin.  The VHT is bubbling already though >:(

Freaky I just used the font MA specify in the rule book - arial round I think. Not very exciting I admit ;D
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Brian Watson on March 12, 2011, 02:17:48 pm
G'day Pez...I may have read it wrong..but was having a look thru the 2011 MOMs....and all I could find was a specification for numbers on Road Racing bikes...not MX or CMX...or others.....maybe I read it wrong... have another read tell me what you think!!...
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: PEZBerq on March 12, 2011, 04:34:49 pm
You are spot on Watto! I didn't notice that before  :-[ :-[. As I said I thought the font was fine so it saved me having to agonise over others ;D ;D. Its good we can do whatever we like ...unlike our poor road racing cousins....rise up and rebel brothers....twitter like there is no tomorrow...get the rule makers overthrown ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: GD66 on March 12, 2011, 06:36:45 pm
Not quite true : there was a requirement to run the dreaded Arial Round font in historic road racing for a couple of years, ridiculous. Looked utterly farcical on old race bikes. And a couple of years ago at the roadrace nats, Those Who Must Be Obeyed insisted the Arial Round font be adopted, but after the first 15 bikes through the scrutineering line had changed their numbers, the organising club ran out of numbers : game over !
 So I attacked when the Historic Commission minutes came out, pointed out the folly of the font and the ridiculous situation, and don't faint but the need for the font was deemed to be no longer necessary ! So that's gone from the GCRs for roadrace historics now.... gasp ! System at work...rising up and rebelling achieved !!

But a set of old, lairy numbers on the Husky should make it all the more gnarly, PEZ... ;) jeez, she's a good-looking unit, mate...
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Maicojames on March 13, 2011, 12:12:42 am
Pez-thanks for the reply. I am using Dupli-Color semi gloss black for my 77 390. I have had VHT burn off quickly before-but had good luck with Dupli-color. Thanks again for the pics-great bike.
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: bigk on March 13, 2011, 10:22:41 am
I use 2 pack satin black (mixed to match Suzuki engine cases) on everything that needs to be that color. Cases, cylinders, hubs, pipes etc. It's tuff as nails and doesn't burn or flake off anything. It is a tad more expensive, but you generally only do it once per season. VHT are the shitest paints I've ever used and anything from the $2 shop is better.
Cheers,
K
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Maicojames on March 13, 2011, 12:13:29 pm
The only $2 paint here is at Wal-Mart and it's not worth even $1.........K-i'm just really low bucking it now-given a better budget, I would have powder coated( have some here who can match all gloss levels etc well).//but hey it's pretty fun to see how decent I may can make it look with spray bomb cans......did I say that I really love my 390?
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: firko on March 13, 2011, 12:28:12 pm
Quote
VHT are the shitest paints I've ever used and anything from the $2 shop is better.
I'm with you on that one BigK. I'm painting three engines with Two Dollar shop satin black and it's turning out fine. I use el Cheapo flat black as primer, the satin seems to stick better with the flat black basecoat. I'm about to give the outer cases their final coat and I'll then bake them at 100 degrees C for 30 minutes and then leave them in the sun for a few days to cure. I've been doing it this way for years and haven't had any problems. VHT and PJ1 are the biggest rip offs out there in paintland. I reckon it's the very same stuff as the budget stuff but with the fancy price tag.

*Nice Husky by the way Pez.....and welcome back James.
Title: Re: Stranded White Whale Returns to the Wild
Post by: Mike52 on March 13, 2011, 10:10:16 pm
To test paint.
Put in oven while missus is away. ;D