wanted 81 430xc is this a good model?

looking for a 1981 430xc. saw a blue one on ebay not running. I'm liking the blue color. was there a choice of color in 81 ? were all models blue? any major flaws or problems that year? also considering getting a 1979 390or which seem more available. how do these compare with each other ? Thanks for any advice or comments. I will be riding (not racing) it so not interested in showroom condition. something in the $1500 to $2500 range

What is blue beside some of the gasoline tank? The xc would have the larger tank than the cr in most instances. That silver frame up to 1982 as well will fit the earlier engine. The 83-84 frame is a bit smaller in the engine area essentially designed for the cases of that 430. A used dirt bike of any brand can be more worn out than a used street bike at least in my experience. It takes a few to put one useable one together and that was obtaining them 10 to 15 years ago. Of course there are major flaws and problems by now they were designed for the original owner to go out and get trophies. Look at the bikes in your signature, look at how many places the engine attaches, look at the pockets to hold the ends of the swing arm pivot bolt.

The 81 430 seems to be a desirable model at this time and most likely will be in the future.

For each used bike a ground up restoration is required. New piston, crank bearings, seals, gaskets, paint, new tires, tubes, wheel bearings, plastics, and sprockets and chain. Seat cover too plus cables.. The quality Swedish steels these bikes were manufactured from will out last my lifetime for sure. You end u pop riding a piece of husqvarna evolution history. A 390 or 430 are a fun exceiting ride. Once you ride one it won't be alone for long you will get more. Look around for the best buys. Check your local craigslist. The blue on eBay??

The 430XC is one of the best all around bikes ever made.

A ground up restoration is not required. My 82 430WR got an air filter, seat cover and tires, I didn't waste time and money rebuilding a perfectly good engine when it didn't need it. My 72 Penton 100 still has the original main bearings and seals, they work so there is no reason to change them.

Couple of years ago I was at a friends weekend ride and let a friend try my 81 cr430 . Within a week he bought 4 husky's and has purchased at least another 4 ! Out of that at least 3 are 430's and I think a pair of 390's . He rides these more than his new bikes . Another friend tried this same cr430 that weekend , couldn't get him off it for the rest of the weekend . I had a 78 390 and now own my 81 cr430 . Both are great bikes . Whatever you buy , take the time and go thru it first . Give it the service it needs .

I will go along with the above. If it is shedding metal pieces to the magnet in the oil and has been run that way well you get the idea. The frame tubes are a wonderful alloy, some of the hardening in the gears can be less than top notch for lasting past wearing out the tops of the footpegs and that is riding it basically easily.

It has been quite a while since I rode and air cooled 430. I found the air cooled 500 preferable to the water cooled 430 for power delivery trail riding in the forest around here earlier this year riding them back to back. The guy in post 1 has some modern four stroke big singles. He could obviously get into a water cooled power valved two cycle husky for the money listed.

Not being sure about when the engine was freshly rebuild of its original not servicing it means pay me now or really pay later if the crank or cylinder gets damaged. It's happened to me to many times now.

I suppose you could be right Bill. For me the starter gears and the bearing at the output where the chain/sprocket is are the first to go. Yes if you run a bad lower end bearing the pieces will get up through the transfers and into the top end and kind of make a mess. The magnesium cases probably have loosened up at the rear inserts and the swingarm pivot holes in the frame egged out at about the same time.

The crank is the last thing you are going to have a problem with on even a moderately well maintained Husky. I've said this before and people have disagreed, but you can NOT find bearings today of the same high quality as what came in these bikes. The worst thing you can do is take out those superior bearings for no good reason and replace them with lower quality new bearings, its stupid and a waste of money and time. Take my 430 for example, when I got it a few years ago I got it from the original owner. He rode a lot of enduros on it, but it was excellently maintained. The engine was as tight as new, no piston slap, no air leaks and no vibration. All it needed was a seat cover and an air filter, busting that engine apart just so I could brag about "rebuilding it" would only serve to boost my ego, not the reliability or durability of the engine.

if the bearings are smooth and tight, i never replace the originals....or whatever is in there. except for the countershaft output bearing, due to fluid leaking.

[QUOTE The guy in post 1 has some modern four stroke big singles. He could obviously get into a water cooled power valved two cycle husky for the money listed. ][/QUOTE]

Year and a half ago I was reunited with my 1974 Yamaha DT250 from childhood. I restored it to good running condition and joined a Yamaha enduro forum. Immediately I knew I needed something with more power. Found a deal on 4 1974 DT360s restored and sold 3 . It's a good group to ride with, one of the members brings Huskys out. So rather than getting too modern with water cooled, powervalve, mono shock bikes. Looking for something that still looks vintage but has a strong motor and descent suspension.

Original owner is the key.

I was buying whole bikes from a salvage yard. They were beat. Everyone ended up needing crank seals. Back then parts were plentiful because no one wanted husqvarnas. Now parts are harder to find(used). Not all the gaskets sets are available today too. This is why I say it might be worth it to restore it. There are exceptions like some bikes are hardly ridden. I had one out of 27 husqvarna like that. Do you feel lucky. I'm not those $200 pistons add up quickly.

was trying to quote fran...k above but couldn't figure out how

Yes, it's a good model.

Thanks for all the post replies, sounds like buying one on line is going to be risky. Will be looking to you guys for help in the future when I start wrenching.

Year and a half ago I was reunited with my 1974 Yamaha DT250 from childhood. I restored it to good running condition and joined a Yamaha enduro forum. Immediately I knew I needed something with more power. Found a deal on 4 1974 DT360s restored and sold 3 . It's a good group to ride with, one of the members brings Huskys out. So rather than getting too modern with water cooled, powervalve, mono shock bikes. Looking for something that still looks vintage but has a strong motor and descent suspension.[/quote]

sounds like a husky will fit the bill nicely. good quality machine, will really reward you for dialing it in as well.

I would leak down test it?

This 430wr has very tractable torque. Power at will she will take you anywhere you point it and wick it. You will like it.

Once you ride a husqvarna you will feed a herd of them.

Did a 12hour up and back to San Francisco area to look at a1981 430xc yesterday. UUUUUGH sounded good to go on craigs but wasn't. Owner had to pull the new carb apart and clean to get it running, put air in the flat new front tire, make excuses about several other items. stuff I was willing to get past even though I was $1000 north of my $2500 upper limit. So I asked about taking it down the street to check out the trans, owner agreed. Bike felt good but wasn't shifting past second gear, tried a few times starting from 1st then the clutch lever went limp. Owner started coursing a guy named Britt from Colorado Husky Restorations. Claimed the motor and trans were completely disassembled and checked out, all new bearings and seals. At this point not so sure about any claims made about this bike. The whole experience took some wind out of my sails

The hunt is fun. Should of offered a low ball price. Either parts or a restoration on the back burner and stay looking.

Ill bet the shifter return spring wasn't lined up with the pin on the clutch cover. The clutch could be a bad cable.

Click on the reply text near the number of the post in the thread. Need to be logged in or it won't show up. Then you can edit it down, make a few words bigger etc. Some folks have even figured out how to do multi quote on here.

Better luck next time. Something I noticed is when someone says it has new rings and I know it only has one ring it isn't long before they get something else wrong.