Buyers guide for 86-87 models

Hello all,
Going to look at an 86 CR 250 and 87 430 this weekend, owner is not sure about 430 if it is a WR or CR.
What areas or signs do I need to look at for problems.
I know the obvious things to look at, frames, cases, shocks & forks.
Owned several off road bikes over the years but never had a Husky.....
Looking to correct that shortly.

thanks,

WR would be a 6 speed, CR 5. CR has upside down forks, WR has conventional. WR has rear frame loop, CR none. WR kickstand, CR no, WR rear brake stay arm, CR none. Just a few things to look for. Of course some could have been changed.

Other than what you already know to check, I'd be hoping that the left crank seals good (engine not not sucking gear oil) the pipes are good, restorable plastics like airbox and cover and side panels, good seat base and foam, that it's as original as possible and there's no non-reversable "butchery" that tends to occur! I've found that you can pretty much get everything you may need for them...since I found this excellent site!

which would be better for trail riding

The crank seal you mentioned HardCoreHusky, can it be diagnosed while running. I guess if gear oil runs low and has no visible leak, that would be a hint that the case seal is bad.
If they both turn out to be CR's would they be good for trail and woods riding.
I'm guessing the 430 would have better low end from what i've read.
Every article i've read on the CR 430 for 87 was that it wasn't very competitive vs the jap bikes.
They claim the motor didn't like to rev but had nice low end and mid-range power.
Do the 250 and 430 share any engine/trans components?

Thanks for the info.

Yes, I think it's fair to say that by 1987 the 430 was not a real competitive MX'er. But the 430 was and still is an AMAZING trail and play motor. A good '87 all set up the way you like it would be a great trail bike. Lots of pieces in the 250 and 430 will interchange.

Picklito, thanks for the info.

I have had a 430 CR since the eary 90s and they are a good MX bike. I had a friend who had a Honda 500 CR of that time and the 430 could keep right up with it. The Honda brakes are much better. He could stop on a dime not me. If you put a good pipe such as Dynoport or Up-tite it is amazing the low end and top end I also ran a Keihn carb. Great bike I love the thing. I think if Husqvarna was not bought by Cagiva at this time the 430 CR would have better marketed and people would have see how great of bike they where.

Some thing to look for is a bad kick start bearing, I have seen few covers broken from this. Cracked swing arm because of lack of bearing care. Bad shock linkage, sit on the bike if there is any creaks you got some new parts to buy. If it is a CR the WP 4054 fork parts are getting hard to come buy since KTM bought out WP. Breake plate crack are another thing to look at. Check the water pump seal its not a hard fix but it is common to leak. These are great bikes for the right price I think you really going to like it. I love mine.

nice

photoguy, that is a very nice 430

Motosportz that is cool 400! I have thought about doing that to another 87 430 CR I have. I have been keeping a lookout for a 610, 350 or 410 swingarm and frame and mounting the 430 motor in it. I have looked at the frames there is not much change from 85 frames.

Hmmm. The 87 430Wr I raced in the ISDE in Italy was plenty fast enough..
Won the Final MotoX in front of a crowd of about 50,000 Crazy fans..

Watch for the side cover area behind the w/p impeller.

Bob Bean

1986 ISDE Italy
1987 ISDE Poland
1989 ISDE Germany

Cracks in the swing arm is my pet peve. Can be welded or course. After I rebuilt the forks to spec. and had the rear shock factory rebuilt, I am pretty happy with the bike. Super light with a deep suspension travel. Very EZ to conrtol and ride. No wonder Husky won so many enduros. Everything on the bike was in need of rebuilding due to neglict except the motor. After 18 mounths of sitting it started on the first kick. I could ride my TE610e but the two stroke power is habit forming.

Bikes were both giant turds

Just got back from looking at the bikes and they were parts bikes at best.....
Not sure how they go from good running bikes overnight to partially disassembled and looking like they haven't ran in years.......

That's not surprising, unfortunately there's plenty of people out there who find it neccessary to blow a bunch of horse squeeze over the phone in order to get a potential buyer to invest time to come and look at something, and think that you will buy it once there anyway.......plain idiots:bonk:! And they stand there like "What do you think?"......What do I think?....You fed me a line of garbage you douche bag!!! ...That's got to be the most frustrating thing about dealing with those type sellers.

Yep it was a disappointment.... I will keep looking and hopefully find something......

Good luck in your search. I consider the 85-86 as one thing and the 87-88 as another. It also isn't worth the effort arguing about what year it is with the seller one has a white tank and the other has a black tank covered by white shrouds. A number of the 1988 bikes were dumped on the market (sold for probably less than they cost to produce). I bought most of mine years ago, with the exception of the ones I got with plates (less than ten years old and registered by the seller) they ended up as parts bikes which take a few to put together a complete ride able bike without an account at the dealer for parts. It is also becoming a lower percentage of what I order is available.

Nothing wrong with parts bikes and making 1 good bike from 2 or 3.
Not really picky on year so much, prefer air cooled but the water cooled bikes are good bikes too.
These bikes were scattered all over, could not tell what belong to which bike and if they were enough good parts for 1 good bike.
I don't think the seller had any idea either.
If anyone knows of a cr,wr,xc please let me know.

Thanks