Consequences of NOT replacing a TE449 crankshaft at 70 hours

[Marc Noel]

Greetings:

Newbie here, awaiting delivery of a new 2011 TE449. Just found the shop manual on-line, and noted that it's recommended to replace the CRANKSHAFT at 70 hours. This is ridiculous. Who wants to spend $ 10,000.00 on a bike and have to keep rebuilding it every 6 months? Anyway, anyone have any input as to what to expect if the crank isn't replaced every 70 hours?

 

[Coffee]

Greetings:

Newbie here, awaiting delivery of a new 2011 TE449. Just found the shop manual on-line, and noted that it's recommended to replace the CRANKSHAFT at 70 hours. This is ridiculous. Who wants to spend $ 10,000.00 on a bike and have to keep rebuilding it every 6 months? Anyway, anyone have any input as to what to expect if the crank isn't replaced every 70 hours?

Correct. I certainly would not replace a crank every 70 hours. Hopefully someone with some longish experience with a 449 or 511 will chime in with some input.

Welcome to Cafe Husky.

 

[Xcuvator]

Welcome Newbie,
For some reason Husky chooses to include statements like that in some of their manuals. I suppose a new crank would be neccessary after 70 hours of continuos dusty WFO, with no shutdown or oil change.

 

[sharpie1]

Since I dont own a Husky with the BMW motor I really don't know for sure but all new bikes will come with rediculous rebuild intervals like that, I think Honda recommends a new top end on their 4 strokes every 15 hours.

 

[Dirtdame]

Phooey, I have nearly 9000 miles and 380 hours on my 07 TE450 motor. I would've thought of my engine as just broke in at 70 hours!

 

[cbreakin]

Just a conjecture on part, but I believe printed short service intervals like that are A) quoted for extreme racing use B) allow the manufacturer an out when it comes to warranty work. So if you don't replace the crank at 70hrs (and no one short of a race team will) and have an engine failure for whatever reason the dealer has the latitude to deny your warranty claim based on "not following recommended service intervals."

 

[glangston]

Maybe if you let Ty Davis ride it for 70 hours

 

[mnb]

Could have been a typo... the check put in the wrong column. I've seen incorrect data on spec sheets before...

 

[Marc Noel]

Thanks for everyone's input. A thought just struck me... would it void the warranty if I DIDN'T replace the crank at 70 hours?

What a bunch of nonsense. I assume that materials science and metallurgy have advanced over the years, yet this is what it's come to: riding an hour a day, then having to replace the crank, etc., after 2.5 months. What's the crank made out of... Silly Putty? Thirty years ago, I read about a Corvette owner who changed his oil and filter every 1,000 miles, and a pic of the crank at 165,000 miles was captioned (paraphrased), "In mint condition! Put it back and it'll go another 165,000!"

Anyway, any ideas as to how the crank deteriorates? Is it the journals wearing too thin, or metal fatigue, or what? Would it be catastrophic failure, or just reduced potency?

 

[Marc Noel]

Phooey, I have nearly 9000 miles and 380 hours on my 07 TE450 motor. I would've thought of my engine as just broke in at 70 hours!

Madam,

You mean you still have the original crank?

 

[Marc Noel]

By the way, thanks for the welcome, Coffee.

 

[Dirtdame]

Madam,

You mean you still have the original crank?

I still have the original everything. The only thing that I have replaced in the engine besides oil, filter and sparkplug, is one valve shim that got out of spec about 500 miles ago.

 

[7point62]

It looks like Husky just copied the BMW G450x service interval. I did hear something about "microcracking" of the crank after the Beemer engine came out, but no details, unfortunately. Perhaps it's been developed out already.

Where's the hotline to Husky's design office when you need it?

 

[Marc Noel]

Everyone:

Please, if possible, answer ASAP the following question: Would you allow this 70-hour crank replacement bit to prevent you from buying? I am awaiting paperwork to do the deal, which is supposed to arrive today. The dealership has said it will de-restrict the bike, but still honor the warranty. I have spoken with another dealership's service and sales, and the service guy said he would talk to the Husky rep and get back to me, while the sales guy said the frequent rebuilds only apply to de-restricted bikes, which this one would be. I really don't want to be put in the position of having to rebuild every three months in order to keep the warranty intact.

HEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPP!

 

[Dirtdame]

sales guy said the frequent rebuilds only apply to de-restricted bikes

Just so you know, my 07 was set up with "competition" jetting and tuning when it was new.

 

[Marc Noel]

Dirtdame,

Thanks for the prompt reply. Is the maintenance schedule for yours similar, and, if so, did you know before buying?

I am at a loss as to the appropriate course of action. I want it, but I can't afford the expected maintenance.

 

[Muddy Waters]

Mark here's the deal if you look at it from warranty stand point;
Not sure where you're from but here in the USofA the warranty is only six month
If you de-restrict (put it in competition/race mode) the bike you atuomatiy void the warranty "on paper"
That dos'nt mean your Husky dealer won't fix your bike and that Husqvarna won't try to make good on something that was their wrong doing as long as you're not being an ash-ole about it (I guess...)
If you're worried about the warranty (which clearly you are) you can ask the dealer to leave the bike stock and wait till the warranty is gone and then make the bike run proper with the power up...it's only six month, it'll be over before you know it...
That's what I think about it...does it make sence to you?

 

[Marc Noel]

Muddy:

Thanks for your input. The thing is, I'm in Canada, and this is a non-current, new 2011 with a 2-year warranty.

 

[Dirtdame]

Dirtdame,

Thanks for the prompt reply. Is the maintenance schedule for yours similar, and, if so, did you know before buying?

I am at a loss as to the appropriate course of action. I want it, but I can't afford the expected maintenance.

Admittedly, I don't check those sorts of things out when I buy a bike. I have old bikes that are cross country competition models and their technical service manuals call for top end rebuilds every 20 hours. (Some of the manuals even suggested that I take the cylinder off and run a hone through it after the breakin procedure as well. I found that to be the most absurd thing that I have ever heard of!) I would have to be the World Champion of whatever the bike was built to compete in, in order for me to have to follow that schedule. Even when I rode my old race bikes in regular competition every weekend, I only replaced the top ends about once a year. Now that I trail and street ride, bikes go for years before they see any engine rebuilding, and it's always the top end before the crank. I have one four stroke 300 cc trail bike that's 12 years old now. A couple of winters ago, I pulled the topend off of it, when the valves were getting out of adjustment way too fast. I had the valve seats cut, put in all new valves, gave the cylinder a light hone and put in a new piston and rings just because. I think that manufacturers want to cover their butts, because they have no idea how hard the machine will be used. Most of us will never ride our bikes hard enough to warrant the kind of maintenance schedule that is suggested by the manufacturer.

And I just checked my TE450 manual. It suggests that I service my crank/connecting rod at 40 to 80 hour intervals. And no, I wouldn't buy anything that the lower end only lasted that long on.

 

[Marc Noel]

So, based on your comment (below), I read this as, if you had known about the servicing requirements, you might not have purchased the bike. However, having purchased and used it, you have not adhered to the schedule, yet have not encountered dramatic problems.

And I just checked my TE450 manual. It suggests that I service my crank/connecting rod at 40 to 80 hour intervals. And no, I wouldn't buy anything that the lower end only lasted that long on.