Can anyone identify this Husky Motor?

[Autopilot]

Hi,
just picked up a pair of 1984 125 Husky's from Italy which have been stood in storage for quite some time. One is a fairly standard WR and the other is a CR converted to an enduro. They have obviously come from the same stable as the rear mudguards have some nifty extra bracing which are identical on both bikes. Both bikes have paint markings on the wheels and frame which would indicate them having been used in top level competition. The Guy I bought them from said that the CR was a works bike of Brissoni's which I took to be the usual sales patter of your average Italian bike dealer but looking at the motor it certainly has had some radical work done on it.
After getting them back to the UK a thorough cleaning of the carbs and tanks was done, two new air filters fitted as the old ones had rotted away and some fresh petrol in and they both fired up straight away and sound really crisp. Further inspection of the WR has revealed the usual water pump rot, I don't suppose anyone out there has a good one for sale?
I'm going to take the CR version up to our Doddington Enduro next week to give it a really good thrash around.
I would be most interested to hear from anyone who could shed some light on this particular motor.

 

[Michel Dufayard]

The head has four nuts like LEJ Head. But it is not a LEJ Head and cylinder.
And there's a big part under the cylinder !
Can you send more pics both sides.
Thanks

 

[ronn450]

Peter Hansson could probably help you on that head as I was told by Peter that there was an Italian husky importer in the day that made these heads and he used one in the 1984 I.S.D.E and it was pretty fast . I have a 84 CR 125 setting in my shop and these bikes you do not see everyday . Nice find . Facebook Peter and send him some pictures and he will tell you for sure .

 

[visiteur1948]

125 ?

 

[Autopilot]

The head has four nuts like LEJ Head. But it is not a LEJ Head and cylinder.
And there's a big part under the cylinder !
Can you send more pics both sides.
Thanks

Thanks for the replies so far, I've taken a few more photo's if they are of any further help.

 

[Autopilot]

The head has four nuts like LEJ Head. But it is not a LEJ Head and cylinder.
And there's a big part under the cylinder !
Can you send more pics both sides.
Thanks

And a couple more of the strange block under the cylinder****************************************

Any ideas on what make of barrel? it's different to the WR125.

 

[Joe Chod]

no "H" cast in R side of cyliner......maybe not Husky and the need for the spacer

 

[ronn450]

That Head is a called a TAU Cylinder out of Italy .It came from an Italian Husqvarna importer in the day and they used the 125 Husky bottom end and crank . It was used in the 1984 I.S.D.E 125 class . The pipe you have has been modified . Is a little bigger than the stock pipe in the middle . I should know I own 3 stock pipes .

 

[silverpilen]

Is that a plugged hole in the side of the reed block? Boost bottle perhaps?

 

[ronn450]

Factory Production 1984 CR 125 Cylinders .

 

[visiteur1948]

motor TAU italy 125

 

[visiteur1948]

175 !

 

[ronn450]

Visiteur I also am thinking 175 with the spacer like the 1982 kits had . Peter Hansson was a factory Husky rider in the 80's and rode the early 125 bikes and used the TAU cylinder in the I.S.D.E in 1984 with a single shock frame . I have spoke with Peter on this set up and watched the films on his bike . He also used a SEM ignition also . Stock 125 bottom end and crank .

 

[Autopilot]

Visiteur I also am thinking 175 with the spacer like the 1982 kits had . Peter Hansson was a factory Husky rider in the 80's and rode the early 125 bikes and used the TAU cylinder in the I.S.D.E in 1984 with a single shock frame . I have spoke with Peter on this set up and watched the films on his bike . He also used a SEM ignition also . Stock 125 bottom end and crank .

Thanks for all the info guys, it's amazing the collective knowledge available out there. I did wonder myself about the possibility of it being a 175 conversion. I have both bikes running now and intend taking them out next week when we will be setting up for The Doddington Enduro, it will be interesting to compare the WR against the modified CR. I will report back on here how they compare. It will also be interesting to ride a 125 again having not been on one since my 1980 Cagiva 125 over 30 years ago! Darn sight easier to start than my big bore Husky's and definitely easier on the knees!!! Who knows, I may even get converted.

Silverpilen, the mark that looks like a plugged hole I think is just a casting mark in the rubber, looking carefully at the picture of the lovely TAU motor from Italy that visiteur posted, you can just make out the same cast mark on that inlet rubber too.

Ronn, do you have a contact email for Peter Hansson? I know you say he is on facebook but i cannot bring myself to get involved in that particular new technology. Thanks again for your info.

 

[ronn450]

Thats the only way I am able to talk to him and translation also . What I have posted was from what Peter has told me about the cylinder and how he got it . And the pictures on this sit proves it is a TAU cylinder . As of the plate I am sure its to make it a 175 cc bike . Remember over in Europe the was a 175cc class in those days .

 

[roberto75015]

I asked on an Italian big forum of vintage enduro (rugginose it's the name of the forum) and got one response from someone that at the time was heading TAU production department. He posted a scan of a test drive of one of a 125CR with this engine, done at the time:



(full res at http://imageshack.us/a/img199/7419/scansione0045a.jpg)

About 20 bikes like these were prepared by Husqy Italia, that at that time was owned by the Vertemati brothers, alas the guys who later on are going to found VOR and Vertemati. It's not only a change of cylinder and piston, also the main crank and the rod had to be replaced so to get to 56mm cylinder bore and 50,6 stroke. They say the engine after this changes is getting very good in term of max output and progression while keeping a good push at low regimes.

Definitely an interesting discovery!

 

[Autopilot]

Thanks again everybody for the information on this special piece of Husky history. As promised a quick report on how the bikes ran last weekend.... the WR125 was pretty much as I expected, not too much off the bottom but when wound up it was a pretty quick bike. The CR125 with the 'special motor' was very similar but just that bit stronger off the bottom and went like a scalded cat when it was wound out...much too frenetic for my taste I'm afraid, I have been spoilt by the lovely lazy power of the WR430 and TE510. The first 15 minutes of riding the course I wasn't liking them at all but by the end of the lap I had a big silly grin on my face just because of the buzz you get from riding the 125 flat out and ringing it's neck....try that on the 430 and you are into a whole new world of pain!
However now having had my bit of fun and satisfied my curiosity about the 125's I have decided to stick with my lazy 510 and 430 for the time being so these little beauties are up for sale. They will be on the HVA website sometime over the next few days. Both bikes are runners and complete but they are in need of cosmetic TLC. Anyone from mainland Europe interested I could get the bikes registered in the UK (for a fee) so that you could re -register in your own country with the right documentation. My friend and I do regular trips to Italy so arranging delivery to the continent is not too much of a hassle.