restoring a Up-Tite 87 250 XC...

whatever the swedes used on those cases is excellent! when i encounter a set of cases with a ton of paint worn off, it makes you realize how long these engines can last!

Ha, Ha, yeah, starting a 430 on the first kick is good especially right after a rebuild! Great work.
My 430's trained me how not to start them... the hard way!

I pulled apart the 87 250 forks... the oil wasn't that bad considering.

Just for comparison, here's my 87 fork leg w/ damping spindle (top) and 88 fork leg w/ damping spindle (lower).
Notice the differences in damping components.

The yellow spring and spacer are from the 87 250 I'm restoring. Does the yellow mean a certain spring rate?
That's 70mm of spacer with a stock length spring! What does that tell you about who owned the bike and how he rode?

ive seen those spacers and yellow springs in an 87 xc430

I'm not sure what the yellow means. Does the yellow spring look like it was cut down or does the end look "worked on"?

Didn't appear to be worked on. The yellow 250 springs are the same length as my stock 87 430 springs. When you drop them into the fork tubes they come to the top, so the haven't been cut.

Hmm. Specific to the XC model?

Just found the "Yellow" springs for sale by HVA Factory. 1 pair only. The springs must have been available back in 1987.

http://hva-factory.com/lc-evo-parts/husqvarna-evo-fork-springs-40mm-forks-yellow-code-600mm-long

Somebody must know what the 'yellow' spring rate is. Maybe they were in the Husky Products catalog? I thought I saw a list of Husky Products at the end of some old tech manual.

Someone must know the spring rate...I however do not.

I counted the coils on my fork springs:
yellow springs: 48 coils
green springs: 51 coils
Both are the same length.

Question: Fewer coils = higher spring rate?

Jig up a test instead with a bathroom scale, you/we have no idea from here if the material is the same dimension and spec.Stock metal from a metal supplier is usually color coded so I am suspect that they used color coding on springs perhaps to indicate different composition/temper? when the size and coil count is readily seen.
hmmmm.

But if everything except coil count were the same fewer coils would give less deflection for the same size riderbutt.
YMWV.
Now my head hurts trying to think about it.......

Wouldn't Andy from HVA-Factory know the rate of the springs he sells?

if the coil wire is same diameter, then yes, more coils is softer spring.

Everfree, start on the plastics with a pocket knife. Pull the knife towards you with blade edge straight down , then dry sand with 150 then 180 grit, and then go to wet sand start with 220 then 400 then hit it with some 1000 and then polish it out with Maguiars cleaner wax. Its a real time consuming p.i.t.a. but it works if you are willing to put in the elbow grease.
I think your gonna love the 250 stroker motor it has long winded power in a perfectly spaced transmission.

84scrambler, thanks for the procedure. This is what I was thinking. I'll give it a shot and record the progress.
With all the white plastic on these LC Swedes, all my Huskys could use this!
I wonder if someone makes a plastic protector spray? To keep the plastic nice... at least for awhile.

Yep, can't wait to get the 250 running. Long-winded and perfectly spaced tranny sounds great for high speed riding.
With the porting / polishing that George did and all the other racing bits it has, I think I'll keep it setup for desert riding.
I don't want to waste its potential by setting it up for the woods.

I'm starting to clean the engine cases and frame for powder coating.

check this video out. It's very convincing.

once you have it worked to a decent sheen again, it will stay ok for a good while. i use "dolphinite" uv protector which is kind of like a mild armor all, but just leaves things looking new instead of "armor-alled"

I added an old-school Hi-Flite seat.
This Hi-Flite seat even has a stitched on logo! I don't think they do that anymore.

Here's the old zebra seat. I know it was popular in the late 80's, but I'm not a fan.



the new Hi-Flite:

looks good!
hopefully that kicker bump stop hasnt been like that too long..

Thanks.
Yeah, the case is bent and cracked at the kicker bump stop. I'm going to have the machine shop pound it out and weld it.
Hopefully we can get it looking nice.