1986 HUSQVARNA 510TC AIR COOLED 4T QUESTIONS

Hey Guys,

Just picked up this '86 air cooled 510. Saved it from some hillbillies hedge... It was in rough shape to begin with. the front end was gone and plastics but the rest looks viable...

My plan is to restore it with a vintage body set and set it up for flat track racing.

I really am looking for some information on the engine. Performance, reliability, starting issues, problems or what to look out for (Its not currently running but has good compression, piston moves) etc...

Any help or comments would be much appreciated.

Obviously parts are discontinued, but Ive seen some beautiful restorations on here and any help with possible parts suppliers, gaskets, etc... would also be very helpful.

how swede it is!

in frame 1983
is beautiful !

Hey John,

Thanks much for the thread. That is a great resource. I have been reviewing it but was interested from your perspective who would be the best resources for this fairly rare model? looking for engine seals and gaskets as well as carb rebuild kit. I will be going through the spark/gas/air this weekend and will update as soon as I determine the spark issue. I was looking at the expensive Powerdynamo system: http://www.powerdynamo.biz/deu/systems/lists/husqvarna.php

Interested to hear from anyone who has installed one of these the pro's and cons. Is it worth the money?

Cheers,

HPI in Belguim or Electrecx world UK have ignitions (cheaper the powerdynamo). The early 510 LC runs the same ignition (inverted flywheel) so you may be able to find something on ebay.
Depends if your stator or coil/cdi is the problem?? check resistances on the stator
I know a 510 with the powerdynamo, and I believe it starts a little easier than with the standard ignition...(starts easier than mine..)

Its well worth reviving!

A lot of info has been written on the 510s in CH so well worth doing a search in the restos and here. in VLK
most parts can be found, just needs patience and $...some 2 stroke parts are common esp body parts - seat etc
the 87 l/c tank is the same as the yours, different shrouds.
Quite a few 410/610 parts are also fine..

Thank you for the Info SA63. I will check out those companies. if you have any links it would be much appreciated. I'm restoring this as I go. I'm setting it up for flat track initially but not modifying the frame so when I'm ready i'll restore it back to stock.

If you want some pics, ideas, or learn french...
http://www.leguidevert.com/_V6/viewtopic.php?id=229819

http://www.leguidevert.com/_V6/viewtopic.php?id=81834

I don't know if you have the shock or not but used ones are plentiful (and cheap) for this era. you may find you need a harder spring, and for flat track you may want to shorten travel with a spacer within the shock.
Pay careful attention to jetting /plug reading for WFO riding, standard is too lean...I nipped up my 510 ac at dirt track on its last outing...!!!
fire away with any Qs you have..

stick it into a twin shocker-83 model if you can, wicked bike with the ITC shockers and twin boomers out the back! great vinduro machine

If I recall correctly the twin shock models have a cylinder head that the carburetor attaches in a somewhat lower position.

As with any of the bikes with the frame design in the picture carefully examine all parts holding the engine into the frame and the swingarm junction spot. If you are serious about flat track racing it I would think to weld in something from the top of the outer swingarm pivot mount to the frame. I contemplated doing this but went to a frame from the older single can section on one of my projects.

I have a water cooled 510 and an air cooled 500 two stroke. What I note is the four stroke in the air cooled version has less or appears to have less finning while going to the radiator models the four stroke get longer radiators. Hence I suspect cooling was an issue and I believe some sort of oil coolers were made in the aftermarket.

As for preformance, you don't expect to do better than the rotax guys with the flowed heads do you? I don't know how those classes go just see a few of those rotax things entered in hillclimb every so often.

Rotax technology is so different because Rotax = Bombardier....and Bombardier is a BIG industrial Company in mechanical field....trains, aircrafts, engines, motorcycles and more.
Its like fighting between Davide and Golia....
The Swedish Husqvarna was a very small Factory, almost a family Company and had not so much money to spend in research and development exept on racing fields.
The first aircooled had serious lubrification problems around the connecting rod mostly because people did not change oil so often and because that engine had not an oil pump to pressure the oil inside the engine.
I dont remember having seen any aftermarket radiator for them but am sure our French guys will show us some interesting pics.........
IMHO, of course....

It is not so easy to use the aircooled 83/84 chassis. Use a 1984 250 or 400 liquid cooled chassis as they have a straight front down tube - but you will still need to squash the tube to get the exhausts either side of it...

Getting the carb to fit is the tricky bit and sorting the airbox. Don't underestimate how much work all of that is. If I were you, I would just dress up what you have with a retro look. 86 4t plastics are had to come by in decent shape - so if you are making a flat tracker - maybe just mod what you have!

We have some parts - check out the site www.hva-factory.com

Replace the valves with one piece Stainless ones - unless you want to risk it dropping a valve. This may have been done already of course...

Just bear in mind that the most valuable part of your bike is the motor - which you would have no trouble selling if you ever wanted to.

Andy.

Hose for sending oil on connecting rod. 90+ crankcases.

Inspirational...

Merci. Working on the French.

Michel = THE BEST no....LE MEILLEUR........ !!

Thank you Michel.

I am very interested to learn more about running this auxiliary oil line. Is there a link to this mod or can you please provide some more details?

I am tearing into the engine this weekend. What should I look for to determine if there has been oil starvation problems from previous owners?

Also does anyone have any suggestions on how to run an auxiliary oil cooler?

I have an earl's oil cooler but am unsure of where to pick up and return the flow.

Any comments on improving the oil flow and cooling would be much appreciated.

Thanks Fran...k and RUF. Very good points. I just looked at the swingarm and agree something needs to be modified on that swingarm brace.

Thanks for the comments HVA Factory and great site. I'll be placing an order after I rear into this engine.

Cheers

Kevin