If your thinking of racing/purchasing a Husky TE 250

I can see the frustration that the OP would have, but the fact of the matter is that dirt bikes and snowmobiles are subject to the most severe riding conditions of probably any 2 vehicle classes on earth.
They get the crap run out of them, period. Every once in a while, one of them goes POP!, sometimes for odd reasons, but mostly because of the stress they're under. It sux when it's yours.

PS, Like Woodschick says, it's all semantics about enduros. They may be timekeeping events, but during the special test sections, and many of the timekeeping sections, the bike is subject to the same conditions as a Harescramble or any other type of X-country competition.

At any rate, hope you at least get some parts support or something.....,besides the jap guys wouldn't have even acknowledged your complaint, much less offer support.

I have the exact same bike, and I've never mistreated it at all. Oil was pouring out of my sprocket shaft and I have recently (if you call it that) brought it in to the dealer to get the problem fixed. The only thing I know right now is that the mechanic told me that the bearing might have been bad from the factory and the steel balls have circulated throughout the engine.

Emotion is what crafted that post and I totally understand. It is natural to blame the brand for a failure. Been there with my KTM's and these are "racing motorcycles" and Enduro's are as much as a race as any off road event. Enduro's are as taxing as any off roading to the vehicle, so that is not even germane.

I would guess the facts are indisputable because they have root caused it to the shaft crack? But what caused the crack? Did that even happen first or after?

Like others have said, one case and not necessarily directly applicable to all 250's. For all you know, debris or something else may have gotten into the crank case, caused the bearing failure then the shaft crack from the loading with the lack of proper bearing support? Who knows..........Not knocking you, but you only know what you know and other things could have played into the failure and not necessarily due to a faulty part in and of itself. If these were truely faulty shafts, I would think you would hear about more of them?

Nothing worse than something wrong with my bike -- I feel your pain.

From a legal perspective, there probably isn't anything that can be done. Warranty or not, the only thing I can think of is to contact your states Consumer Protection Division if you think there is something unfair about what they are doing. I don't think there is from the legal side of things, but if you do then going to the state is a good place to start.

From where I sit, this is a business issue. I would think that by approaching the players with more a concilliatory tone [honey vs. vinegar] that you might be successful at getting some help. Acknowedge your racing by offering to foot the bill, but ask the dealer for the parts at cost and a discounted labor rate because this was a manufacturing defect. Maybe ask the distributor for a break on the parts cost. I would think that these people would be willing to help out with a discount or something.

No matter how you look at it, it sucks though.

Good Luck. BD.

good advice !

I feel the pain, but the uncertainty of this whole thing is
there is no way to tell if the shaft and bearing were subjected to excessive loads from the drive chain.

In a perfect storm, something like sand, mud, sticks, tall grass etc. getting into the chain or between the chain and sprocket, the tension can increase substantially the load on the shaft and bearing. This could happen without the rider even knowing it did.

I am in no way implying this is what happened, but this could be one of the considerations of the people at Husky/BMW. I don't know what they are thinking and it seems like they at least owe you a better explanation for the lack of support.

Man! sorry that's happened to you. That sucks.

I just read this thread for the first time. What I get from it is I don't like your dealer. If you dropped 9k with them and are a regular customer, I'd expect them to LIE for you!! Yes, I said that. And I do mean that, I really would. I'd expect from the first time you call them for them to say "bring the bike in and let us look at it" because they should have experience dealing with potential catastrophic engine issues and warranty claims on such. Once they saw it was an issue with manufacturing they should have told you they'd handle dealing with Husky corporate and request you stay out of the loop. Essentially, they should have told Husky what they wanted to hear to get the warranty claim processed. THAT is what I pay for when I buy a new bike from a dealer.

That said, I've found that level of service to be pretty far and few between. So, I've bought my last 3 race bikes used. I paid a total of $7,700 for those three bikes. Got no warranty and luckily have had no major issues, while winning 3 class championships along the way. But, I do understand major catastrophic issues happen because these machines are essentially abused when we're using them. So, I'm somewhat prepared to handle whatever may come. Regardless, I've saved a ton of money and count on only myself.

we are the customers of the dealerships and they are the customers of the importer/distributor. Plain and simple. If all supported their customer....no problem if it was a defect.

To BobbyKitchen:
Can you PM me the number you have to corporate? I need to take my complaints to the next level also.

That dealer can support his customers as he sees fit ... Its their game and he's an insider and he should be on your side 100% ...

I don't purchase new bikes either normally ... The warranty is the #1 reason for new paint and if that is not there ... oh well ...

What usually failes if the chain becomes too tight? It could be the engine case at the bearing pocket or the shaft or bearing or the chain or something at the rear wheel? I have heard of the case failing on the two stroke model the origional poster had to replace due to "the man".

It would be kind of nice to see a picture of the dot legal version and the close course version shaft and bearing in question.

Fran